tvc . dsj . org | February 7 , 2017 catholic schools 19 Queen of Apostles First Graders Learn about their Country through Gingerbread Men
Saint John the Baptist School Gives Back
Extra-curricular Activities at Saint Lucy
Holy Family School Winter Classic Boys Basketball Tournament
Eighth Graders at Saint Leo the Great School Explore Science
tvc . dsj . org | February 7 , 2017 catholic schools 19 Queen of Apostles First Graders Learn about their Country through Gingerbread Men
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Gingerbread men from around the country arrived at Queen of Apostles School throughout the months of December and January . The first graders and their teacher anxiously awaited each one and could not wait to learn about where the gingerbread man had traveled from and the stories of its creators .
Mrs . Anna Rodriguez , the first grade teacher , at Queen of Apostles heard about this gingerbread man exchange online and soon the first graders were busy creating gingerbread men on their
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own . At the end of the exchange , she learned that nearly 300 schools had participated . Students created everything from scientist gingerbread men , to Sharks hockey gingerbread men , to Princess Leia and Darth Vader gingerbread men , each of these representing something special about the Bay Area . They also wrote accompanying letters to tell first graders across the country , who would be receiving these , what makes the Bay Area unique .
Not only did the students learn the geography of the United States of
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America , but they also learned how vastly diverse a country , it is . They were surprised to learn about schools with less than ten children per class and about schools where they could see cows from their classroom windows . As each letter was received , the accompanying gingerbread man was attached to the classroom map .
For the first batch of letters , the first graders enjoyed cookies and milk and heard about other first graders , who as one first grader put it , “ Are just like us !”
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Anna Rodriguez and some of her first graders with their classroom map filled with some of the gingerbread men they received . |
Saint John the Baptist School Gives Back
The first grade class at Saint John the Baptist School has decided that giving to others who are in need is a very important part of being a good citizen and good Catholic , especially at Christmas time .
Together with the Milpitas Fire Department the class planned to help underprivileged children in our local community . The goal was to bring hope and joy to children who are in need and remind everyone that Christmas is about giving . The school collected toys for children 0-15 , and on December 15 , the Fire Department came to Saint John ’ s in their fire truck and fire engine . The first graders and firefighters were overjoyed with the number of toys collected .
In middle school , Ms . Emma Henderson and her sixth grade class held a coat drive in an effort to “ be like Saint Martin .” More than 150 coats were collected and donated to the Sacred Heart Community Center to be distributed to those in need . The sixth graders are happy to know they were able to help so many in our community in need !
Student learning at Saint Lucy School is enriched through a rich extra curricular program , consisting of School Athletic teams , Cooking Club , Crochet Club , Book Club , 8th Grade Friendship Quilting . This allows multiple opportunities for students to broaden their school experience and try something new . Faculty collaborates with parents and alumni to moderate each school club and team and make them available for the students .
Extra-curricular Activities at Saint Lucy
When students reach fifth grade they are very excited to be eligible to play on the Saint Lucy School Lightning athletic teams . The primary goal of the athletic program is to enhance the complete education of the student-athlete , to promote good sportsmanship and a spirit of fair play , and to reinforce the value of healthy exercise . All students in grade 5-8 are eligible to participate in the following sports : Fall : Football ( Boys ),
Volleyball ( Girls ); Winter : Basketball ( Boys and Girls ); Spring : Track ( Boys and Girls ), Volleyball ( Boys ), Softball ( Girls ). Student athletes compete with other schools in the Diocese of San Jose Catholic Athletic League - West Division . Saint Lucy School hosts tournaments in January and February . Parents and students are encouraged to come on out and cheer for the home team ! “ Go Lightning !”
Saint Lucy School fifth graders take second place in their first home tournament .
Holy Family School Winter Classic Boys Basketball Tournament
The First Annual Winter Classic Boys Basketball Tournament was held at Holy Family School in January . The four-day tournament , initiated by Athletic Director Kevin Hashimoto , brought several diocesan schools together for an opportunity of friendly competition . The level of play by each school demonstrated strong fundamentals , which resulted in exciting games , including several that went into overtime ! Hearing the supportive cheers for all our student-athletes reinforced the focus on sportsmanship and appreciation of the players .
Hosting a tournament is a community effort and the Holy Family parents and friends came out to assist . So many volunteers took charge of welcoming the visiting teams , serving food at the snack shack , and being responsible for the score table , allowing the tournament to run like clockwork .
Saint Francis Cabrini seventh grade were crowned the champs and the eighth grade Holy Family Bears were hailed as the champions . An All- Tournament Team , comprised of a student-athlete from each school , was announced at the end of the championship games . Win or lose , all the teams showed great sportsmanship , team work and dedication to the sport .
Eighth Graders at Saint Leo the Great School Explore Science
Matthew Watson , eighth Grader at Saint Leo .
Saint Leo the Great Catholic School eighth Graders sat with their queasy stomachs , their curiosity , and their care to dissect sheep hearts . The students very methodically opened up the hearts to examine the structures . They wrote down their observations and conclusions while comparing it to what they know about the human heart .
Mrs . Jordan and Ms . Scofield , the two Junior High Science teachers , prepared the students with information about the heart . The students did their own research and work , prepped for their dissection lab , and “ oohed ,” “ aahed ,” and “ yucked ” their way through the lab . We are grateful to our parent volunteers who helped supervise the budding scientists !
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