"Our Lady of Guadalupe School fosters Gospel values, inspires academic excellence, and develops service and leadership. We face this as a sacramental community united and empowered by the Holy Spirit."
April 14th Newsletter
April 14, 2016
Dear OLG Families,
The past two weeks have brought some big news at OLG School. In June, we will be saying a loving farewell to three wonderful staff members, sending them off to new adventures!
Ms. Barbara Zbraracki, who has given OLG students a loving, supportive start to their school journey while opening their hearts and minds to faith development and academic growth, will be leaving OLG after 26 amazing years. She has skillfully nurtured a love of learning in so many children and wisely helped families navigate the early school experience. Ms. Zbaracki has the opportunity to spend some time caring for her 90-year-old father and has discerned that she doesn’t want to miss this special opportunity. Ms. Zbaracki has such a kind way with children, a gift for teaching children to pray and to know God’s love for them, and a tremendous depth of knowledge about child development. Our students have learned so much, both academically and socially, under Ms. Zbaracki’s expert guidance. We are so grateful for her inspiring commitment to Catholic education and all that she has given to our OLG community, and we keep her and her family in our prayers!
Mrs. Susan Sutton will be leaving to explore new challenges in her career, after twenty-two years at OLG. Mrs. Sutton will be leaving an incredibly strong legacy at OLG, having served in our before/after school program, as a PE teacher, as our middle school math specialist, and as the school’s technology coordinator. Mrs. Sutton has really been the driving force behind creating OLG’s strong technology program and has been flexible and repeatedly taken on new learning challenges to keep it current and to ensure that technology is an effective learning tool for students and teachers at all grade levels. Her commitment to ongoing learning and professional development has been very impressive! Mrs. Sutton has also educated many, many OLG students in math, as well as wisely and caringly helping them to navigate the challenges of middle school. She has been instrumental in curriculum research, data analysis, and has been a leader in implementation of MAP testing at OLG. It is exciting to see alumni return and thank her as they share stories of their success in upper-level math classes in high school! As a staff member, Mrs. Sutton is always willing to dive in and take on new projects, instilling confidence and bringing new ways of thinking. I appreciated her wise leadership during the accreditation process, and her dedication, problem-solving ability, and sense of humor will be greatly missed! Her work at OLG has helped the school develop and grow in so many ways.
Mrs. Debbie Bellia, our fabulous art specialist, has been splitting her time between OLG and St. Benedict School, fostering creativity, confidence, and joy in artistic expression in so many students. She had an opportunity arise to work full-time at St. Benedict’s and has decided to accept, as her commute will be eliminated, and she will not be juggling her time and energy between two schools. (She shared that it was a very hard decision, as she has loved working with her OLG students and colleagues.) Mrs. Bellia is responsible for creating the art program at OLG, launched by funding from our school community. She is a ray of sunshine as she works with our students, and the artwork they create is truly phenomenal. Her many gifts and positive approach with students will be greatly missed. Mrs. Bellia has agreed to work with us to find someone with a similar approach to step in as our next art specialist.
You will definitely be hearing about opportunities to honor and thank these amazing educators.
Facebook Spring Chess Tournament Results Congratulations to Wyatt Bradley, Eleanore and Mimi Katz, and Henry Vornbrock for their third-place team placement in this spring’s tournament. Wyatt Bradley also brought home an individual third-place trophy. Bravo!
Second Grade News
Second Grade is working hard on all fronts despite the rising temperatures and Spring Fever. I’m asked on a daily basis, “Do we need to wear our jackets?” I always reply with a yes, but I’ve noticed a pile of jackets on the steps or grass, depending on where recess is held. The mom in me spills over into my teaching world!
We will practice the Procession for 1st Communion and taking the Bread and Wine next week with Mrs. Ramos and Helen’s assistance. There is a Morning of Reflection and Rehearsal meeting on 4/23/16 from 12 -2 that you will need to attend.
Math, Fractions – We have moved on to fractions. During this unit students will be taught how to model and name halves, thirds, and fourths based on the number of equal parts a whole is divided into. We will use visual models to compare fractional parts. Using identical models, students will also compare fractions and distinguish a greater fraction from one that is less. Students will also learn that a fraction with a greater bottom number is not necessarily greater in value than a fraction with a bottom number that is less.
Science, New Plants – Students will develop an awareness of the diversity of life in the plant kingdom. They will care for plants to learn what they need to grow and develop. Students will also observe the structures of flowering plants and discover ways to propagate new plants from mature plants (from seeds, bulbs, roots, and stem cuttings). They will also observe and describe changes that occur as plants grow, and organize their observations in their green notebook.
Religion – In the next month we will focus on Unit 5, Morality, Our Lived Faith. Topics will include, Being Like Jesus, We Share God’s Life, Following Jesus, and Making Choices.
Spelling – Unit 16 words have been posted on Spelling City. These words include sight words, r-controlled “u,” and academic vocabulary.
Reading – Sarah Housknecht and I have reading groups on Mondays and Tuesdays using SIPPS. In the near future we will be beginning another reading program that we will use along with SIPPS.
First Communion – First Communion Banner materials were sent home in late March. Please work on these as a family. If you need ideas Pinterest is a great website to glean some great ones. Students will be practicing the Procession for First Communion soon. They will also practice to take the Bread and Wine in the next few weeks. Donna Ramos and Helen Oesterle will be assisting with this.
Field Trip – A field trip to the Arboretum is scheduled for May 18th, 2016, to connect with our exploration of plants in science!
Spring Art News
It is hard to believe how quickly the school year is moving! Our students continue to stay focused, work with passion and exhibit their creativity during art class. As I walk the halls and see their work as a whole, I applaud them for their uniqueness. It’s been a really fun and productive school year.
The pre-k, kindergarten and 1st grades have been working on many different projects. They completed black Sharpie and colored pencil jellyfish drawings with an emphasis on drawing relaxed lines. They added block printed fish that they drew and printed on top of their drawings
to create a mixed media piece of art. Currently they are working on drawing and watercolor painting butterflies and large flowers. The butterflies will be cut and added to “fly” over the flower paintings as if in a garden. They have done an amazing job drawing the subjects and painting them!
The 2nd grade students are completing a large glue and chalk pastel drawing of a butterfly. They worked on drawing symmetrically using glue as an outline on black poster board. In the next class they are filling the spaces of the butterfly and background with chalk pastel. The completed work will be inked in with black block printing ink to create a dark outline on their work. Their drawing and use of color is very impressive. They will be working on drawing insects, plants and flowers as they prepare for a field trip to the arboretum in May.
The 3rd grade students are completing authentic red,black and white painted African masks as part of their study of Africa. They are completing the final painted details and will be adding raffia to them in the coming class. They have done a great job creating unique designs and the completed masks will be displayed in the hallway. They will begin a pastel drawing of the solar system as part of their science studies in the coming classes.
The 4th-8th grades are working on scientific insect illustrations using fine point black marker and blended colored pencil. They are working from books and photocopy references to do observational drawing of 3 different insects on individual squares and rectangles. When the
drawings are completed they will glue the 3 drawings to a large background sheet. The 3 drawings will have colored shading around the outside of each and the students will draw an intricate and accurate habitat background around each insect drawing. They will continue to
use blended colored pencil to integrate the 3 habitats together until the entire background is covered. The end result will be similar to a storybook illustration. The drawings that the students are working on are incredibly impressive and exhibit a very high level of observational drawing skills!
Once again, it has been a very productive time in art! The students are a true blessing and joy to teach and their receptiveness and willingness to think creatively and work hard is a what makes working with them pure joy! Thank you for sharing them.
We are approaching our deadline for accruing commitment hours for this school year. The deadline is April 30th, so please be sure that your commitment hours for this year are logged. Record hours here! Contact Laura Campbell, PO Commitment Hour Coordinator, with questions.
Mark Your Calendar!
Upcoming Events:
Friday, 4/15/16 – Jog-a-thon kick-off assembly
Thursday 4/21/16 – Jog-a-thon packets go home
Saturday, 4/30/16 – Commitment Hours Deadline
Friday, 5/13/16 – Jog-a-thon – More information coming soon!
Sunday, 5/15/16 – Sunday Coffee & Donuts with 1st Grade
Removing the Stigma of Mental Illness as a Welcoming Faith Community
Join us on Saturday, April 30th from 10:00 – 11:30 am in the Walmesley Center/gym as we learn more about mental illness. Fr. Patrick Howell, author and professor, will provide a biblical perspective on mental illness and suggest ways that faith communities can be supportive. Drawing on his own personal experience of mental illness, he will share stories, help us to understand the struggle and stigma often associated with mental illness, and recommend ways to break down stereotypes. This is event is sponsored by OLG’s Life, Justice and Peace Commission, which has chosen to focus on mental health during this Year of Mercy. All are welcome. For more information, contact Jennifer at (206) 935-0358 x120 or visit our website.
April Community Meal Volunteers Needed
Happy Easter! Come help us celebrate this season of new life by volunteering at the April Community Meal. Through service, community, and delicious food, we find joy and life in one another. The Community Meal happens each month at OLG and strives to provide a free meal for anyone in the greater community who wishes to attend. We are looking for volunteers who can help on Sunday, April 24th in the Walmesley Center/Gym with food service and visiting with our guests (12:30 pm) or cleanup (2:00 pm). You do not need to volunteer all day – only during your shift! If you’re not able to volunteer but want to be involved, we are also in need of homemade or store-bought desserts to share with our guests (drop off any time after 9:45 am). The Community Meal consistently comes together because of all of you who generously offer what you can. Children and families are most welcome! If you’re available to help out in any capacity, please contact Colleen, our Volunteer Coordinator.
2016 Day of Service: Come Join Us!
The 2016 OLG Day of Service is next Saturday, April 16th, and 137 members of our parish, as well as volunteers from Peace Lutheran, will join together to serve at nine different locations throughout the region. Haven’t signed up yet but want to help? Consider stopping by the Walmesley Center/gym anytime between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm to help with projects for OLG’s funeral ministry. We’ll be making cards and rosaries that Fr. Jack, Helen and Marion can share with grieving families. For more information or to sign up, go to the parish website or email Karen Fitton.
Our Lady of Guadalupe School & Parish acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present, and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.
