March 18, 2020

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Please know that during this time I am praying for all of you.  I pray for your health and well being. We are in a time of such uncertainty, I pray my students are able to keep busy and be productive while having some peace of mind during their time away from school.  I miss them all very much; packing up the classroom on Monday was very difficult as it hit me that we don’t know when we will be together in our classroom again. I pray that will happen soon, while I know this is the right thing in the moment to keep us all safe and healthy.

In the meantime, please know that we are working hard to ensure that learning continues during this time away from school.  My primary source of communication to the students in my Math classes, Religion classes AND with my homeroom will be through Google Classroom.  All assignments and communications will be posted there. I may need to email them at times, and if I do I will notify them via Classroom to go check their email as I know seventh graders aren’t in the habit of doing that regularly.  The distance learning will begin on Monday, March 23rd.  

While I have not done distance learning before, we have been preparing for this for a couple of weeks.  We are going to do our best to make this work. The plan is to give the students 20 minutes worth of work to do each day in each subject. 

Math:    Sometimes that 20 minutes will involve watching a video of me or another video explaining and showing a math concept to them. Other times that 20 minutes will be them working out/practicing problems as we do on homework.  When I am explaining math to them, they should be taking notes so they have those notes. I really stress to students how important their math notebooks are and this will be no different. They need the notes for reference in the future.  My hope is to set up Zoom meetings at least once a week for all who can make it for them to ask me questions and for me to check in with them. If students aren’t able to make the time of the meeting that is completely understandable. I will be available during school hours for them to email questions or, as many have already done this year, to text me their questions.

Religion:   In Religion classes we had already started an ongoing assignment with Lent as our topic, and we will continue that.  As in Math, I will be communicating all assignments and material via Classroom. I am hoping to meet with my Religion mods face to face in Zoom meetings as well.  In the meantime, prayer is so important for our country and world as we navigate these unprecedented times.

7D Homeroom:   I am hoping to set up a class meeting next week with my Homeroom students.  I will send them all a survey via my Homeroom Classroom to see when most of them think they could attend a Zoom meeting with me.  This meeting will involve them clicking on a link that I send them and they would need a computer, phone or other device to participate.  We can check in to see how they have all been spending their time, and have some reassurance in reconnecting.  

I suggest that you help your child set up a work area in the home, so they have a “school place” to minimize distractions.  Please know that we realize how difficult this time is for all of you. If you have a situation of sharing devices among several children in your home, we understand the challenges that will bring.  Communication will be key to making this work. Please let me know what I can do to clarify or help in any way. My goal is to move my students forward in their Math and Religion education during this time of school closure.  

You are all in my prayers.

Blessings,

Mrs. Harrison

I wanted to post a link to our upcoming Book Fair for you.  We will visit the Book Fair the week of February 24-27 during our Study Hall.  Students will bring paper fliers home with information.  We always look forward to the Book Fair!

 SPSL Book Fair

Our seventh graders have been taking some very important steps towards their Confirmation.  On January 21st, the students were invited to their parish along with their parents to learn more about the expectations and meaning behind Confirmation and the preparation for it.  Students learned about what will happen at the actual ceremony and what steps need to be taken by them as they begin this journey.

In the meantime, in class at school we began learning about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Fruits that come as we receive those graces.  The seventh graders learned of the connection between Baptism and Confirmation.  Students have already begun to complete service activities that have included wrapping soda bread with the Knights of Columbus, helping with our Kindergarten and Pre School Roundup and wrapping models of pre born babies for a Pro Life organization.  

Finally, the students have chosen the saints whose name they will take for Confirmation.  I have included some pictures illustrated by our students of those chosen saints. As a teacher, I have always felt very blessed to be a part of this decision the students are putting so much thought into.  Do you remember your Confirmation saint name?  I recommend you take a few minutes to reacquaint yourself with your saint.  Confirmation is a beautiful sacrament and one the seventh graders look forward to next December.