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RELIGION In Sunday’s Gospel, we heard  John the Baptist’s testimony that Jesus is God’s Son, the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helped Jesus do his work on earth. The Holy Spirit helps us to do our work as followers of Jesus. The Holy Spirit guides us to do what is good and the Holy Spirit helps us pray. The children recognized that spirit may describe interests or talent

Check the SFX BLOGS for information about Catholic Schools Week  that starts Sunday, January 26. Enjoy the photos of the creative First Graders at  our Tech Art class, HAPPY CREATORS

RELIGION In Sunday’s gospel, we meet the Holy Trinity. As Jesus comes out of the waters of the Jordan River, the heavens open. The Holy Spirit rests on Jesus in the form of a dove, and a voice from heaven says, “This is my beloved Son.” The story of Jesus’ baptism reveals the Holy Trinity. PROMISE notes that the Holy spirit helped Jesus do his work. We as Christians are given the Holy Spirit i

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  WELCOME 2020!! RELIGION The lessons this week identified angels as God’s messengers. We learned that Jesus’ name means “God saves.” We recalled that Mary and Joseph said “yes” to God. The children recalled that Jesus came as a human baby as we discussed that the Christmas story is the story of Jesus’ birth. We learned that Jesus came for all people and that

Thank you to the many parents who have registered their K-3 students for the upcoming season of Intramural Basketball in the St. Joseph Gym. Online registration is now closed. However, parents still interested in late sign ups are invited to email Mike LaRaviere at mlaraviere@gmail.com. While only one spot remains in our K-1 Girls session, we seek additional registrations for our 2nd-3rd Grade Girls program. Boys ses

RELIGION Gaudete Sunday: we light the Third Advent candle to remind us that we’re very close to celebrating Jesus’ birth. Children noted that God’s actions and messages bring joy. Students learned about ways Mary and Joseph got ready for Jesus’ birth. Both Mary and Joseph said yes to God. The children learn that they say yes to God when they make loving choices. LANGUAGE ARTS Advent and Christ

RELIGION Sunday’s Gospel told us that John the Baptist tells people that God’s coming is near and he urges them to prepare. He baptizes those who repent of their sins and resolve to turn their hearts to God. The children wait in anticipation with Mary and Joseph like  the people of Jesus’ time waiting for the Messiah God promised them. God sent Jesus so we will be able to live forever with God in he

RELIGION Students learned that Advent is the season of joyful anticipation and preparation – for the celebration of Christmas {Jesus’ first coming} and the Second Coming. Our readings stressed that  children can get ready by contributing to the happiness of others. Our class made a paper wreath out of children’s handprints and added four candles, one for each week of Advent. St. Nicholas visited the

Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate traditions! One of the best-loved parish traditions happens at St. Francis Xavier Church when parish first graders bring the Christmas nativity story to life at the 3pm Christmas Eve liturgy. A half pew is reserved for each first grade family that participates. SSJFX Parish asks that interested first grade families please sign up to participate in this special liturgy here.

Thank you to Mr. Kirk for sharing his experiences  while working with NASA. He worked on the space station for a number of years. The children had many great questions, considering that they had all just traveled to the moon. which he patiently answered. SFX students celebrated a joyful  Thanksgiving Mass  before heading home for the holiday weekend. I am thankful for all of the wonderful parents who attended Parent

RELIGION Our class began a supplement to our Religion series PROMISE. Each week the message of the gospel is read and explained with a real world message appropriate for First Graders. This week the core message is that we should trust in God, who made us and loves us. Children explored things that made them afraid or worried and learned that Jesus can be trusted to care for them. Children recognized that God is our

Our snowy Monday morning began with welcoming our First Grade guests, Grandpas who were Veterans of our country’s Armer Forces. They each shared their personal experiences of their service to our country and then celebrated a special St. Francis Veteran’s Day Mass with us. We are very grateful to our guests for helping protect our country. RELIGION We completed Unit 1, God is our Good Father.  The childre

The first grade will be hosting our annual “Veterans Day breakfast” tomorrow. This is open to first graders and Veterans who they know and have been specifically invited by a first grader. The students look forward to listening, learning, and asking questions! There will be donuts and coffee provided. Thank you to our room parents who have organized the treats! If you have a family member who is a Veteran

RELIGION Our week began with our teddy bears Baptisms. Children shared the stories of their Baptisms with the class, talking about their godparents, and the the religious symbolism of Baptism.  Children learned that being a Christian commits us to spreading God’s love, we should share the light of Christ received at Baptism. LANGLUAGE ARTS The objective this week was reading fluently, many of our readers have b

RELIGION Through Baptism we become children of God and Christians. This was our focus as we prepared for our “pretend” Teddy Bear Baptism. Children learned that water is a gift from God and it is important to all of us because it does so many things for us. Water has a religious symbolic value. Children learned that in Baptism we receive a new life and we are given our names. We received a name like the n

RELIGION Our week began learning the Biblical story of Joseph and the importance of trusting God to guide us, like Joseph did, even though Joseph didn’t know what God’s plan was for him.  The “coat” the children made for Joseph helps remind us that God is watching over us, no matter where we are and what is happening in our lives. Our new chapter presented to us that the Our Father is the pray

Our School Library is growing a Storybook Pumpkin Patch, and we need your help! Families with students in grades 1-4 are invited to decorate a pumpkin to look like a favorite storybook character, and bring it to the library to “plant” in our Storybook Pumpkin Patch. Download a flyer with directions here. Students who choose to submit a pumpkin must fill out the entry form at the bottom of the flyer and br

RELIGION We listen and God listens, children learned  about the Old Testament story when God communicated with Samuel and were reminded that God continues to speak to us.  We recalled that God talks to us in the quiet of our hearts and through other people.  We reviewed the different types of prayer: praise, asking, thanks, and sorry. Children practiced ways of saying “I’m sorry” and remembered that

RELIGION Our new Chapter is God Speaks to Us.   The focus was to learn that God speaks to us in silence, in the Bible, and through helpers. We learned to examine wonderful things in nature that take place silently, things like flowers growing, caterpillars changing into butterflies, and we grow in silence too.  Our mind, bones, and muscles all grow without a sound.  We learned that when we are quiet  God can speak to

RELIGION Chapter 4 GOD OUR FATHER reminded us that we worship God in church by words and actions. Children learned to describe how Jesus is present in the church building in a special way and to identify some of the holy objects in the church building and  understand their purpose. We thought of holy things in church, which helps us pray and remember that church is a holy place. Oct. 4th was the feast of St. Francis

RELIGION Our class prepared for leading the all school Mass this week. Students participated in rehearsing the petition, gifts, readings and songs. The First Graders acted and sounded like perfect angels! Children learned that each person is unique. They determined their own special qualities and wrote and colored pictures of themselves. The children expressed ways that they are special. MATH We wrapped up our first

Thank you all for attending the SFX Back to School Night! I was delighted to meet new parents and greet familiar faces. We are off to a fabulous start and with our partnership and I am confident it will be a fabulous First Grade experience for all of the girls and boys. Please remind First Graders that they should not bring any toys to school – this includes all balls! An afternoon “Working Snack” h

RELIGION Students learned the biblical story of Creation and related the beauty of creation to God’s goodness.  Learning to care for God’s world is our responsibility.  Our God designed a beautiful world for us.  It took six days to form our earth and on the seventh day God rested. We celebrated each day with a project called “Creation on a Stick” to help the children retell the story of creat

We are off to a great year in the library. Classes have been visiting our wonderful library space and we are learning/revisiting library routines and beginning to checkout to students in 1st-8th grade. Kindergarten students will begin checking out later this fall. I am excited to share that our first author visit of the year will occur this month. In partnership with the Book Stall in Winnetka, award-winning author M

RELIGION We started our text book CHRIST OUR LIFE. In the first Chapter titled Jesus is Our Friend, the children learned a story of Jesus and his love for little children. Students learned that the stories of Jesus are found in the Gospels, which are read by the Priest during  Mass. Learning about saints and, in particular, Saint Gregory who is the patron saint of teachers kicked off our periodic study of the many sa