Flowers are blooming, days continue to get longer and the weather is beautiful as we get ever-closer to the end of this school year.  This month is also dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus.  There will be a Mass for Mary on Friday, May 7, but we should remember to keep her in our minds throughout this month.  When we take time to think about her, it is easy to remember what a strong woman she was.  She bravely accepted God's will even though she would face ridicule from members of her community.  She watched her son grow up and eventually die on the cross, and still trusted in God.  

    As this school year draws to a close, it is an excellent time to reflect on the past year.  Your children have grown and matured, received their First Eucharist, and are ready to move on to third grade.  They are proud of their accomplishments, and they have proven that they can achieve great things.  However, like an athlete, they should continue to practice and refine their skills during the "off season" in order to be ready for next year.

     Finally, I would like to congratulate all the second grade students on their First Eucharist.  They worked so hard to make  that day particularly special, and it could not have gone better. So enjoy the longer and warmer days!

Hello again!

 One week from today is First Eucharist!  We have been practicing and preparing for so long, and I think we are almost ready.  In addition to First Eucharist, the class is incredibly excited to have won a pizza party from the Pennies for Patients fundraiser.  It was amazing to see all the dedication from the students.  If you are unfamiliar with the Pennies for Patients program, it is a fundraiser in which all the proceeds go toward finding a cure for leukemia and lymphoma.  Room 103 raised almost $200 in only three weeks, earning a pizza party.  

 We have also been working on our reading, writing, and speaking skills by creating short plays.  The students are creating, directing, acting, filming, and helping to pull everything together for a day full of premieres on Monday, April 26.  The creativity and initiative shown by the students makes this a very exciting and enjoyable project!

 With our busy schedule, I haven't even begun counting down to the end of the year!  There are so many activities I want to do with the class, and I'm always wishing for a few more minutes to the day so we can fit everything in, but there is never enough time.  It's time for me to continue enjoying the short amount of time that's left with this class!

March seems to have come in like a lamb, but I certainly hope it does not go out like a lion!  We are much too busy to have lion-like weather in second grade! The students are busy practicing their cursive handwriting, addition and subtraction, and, of course, readying themselves for their First Eucharist.

 I wanted to remind all parents of the upcoming events related to the First Eucharist.  The Bread and Juice ceremony is Thursday, March 4 at 6:30 in the church basement.  Please have your child there at 6:15 so we can start promptly at 6:30.  Students should wear church appropriate clothes (no jeans, sweatshirts, sweatpants, etc). 

In addition to Eucharist preparation, the students have been busy gathering their best work to show you at conferences.  If you have any questions about sign-ups, please call me at (319) 233-1720 ext. 245 or email me at dwilliams@cvcatholic.org. 

 I have been busy searching for new web sites for to use at home.  At http://www.spellingcity.com/dwilliams103/ you can find our weekly spelling list as well as online games to help your child study for the upcoming test.  Simply click on the title of the current week's story to find the spelling list for the week.  From there, the students can select "Teach Me," "Test Me," or "Play a Game" to practice.  Check back weekly for the new week's words as well as a review of past words. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.  Click on Meet the Teacher to find my contact information.  I am certainly enjoying my first year at St. Edward's School, and I look forward to seeing everyone at conferences!

Hello again!  Can you believe it is 2010?  I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year.  As always, once I check something off my list, I begin looking ahead. 

The next few months will be an exciting time for your children.  We will begin preparing for First Communion as soon as we are back in school.  The first parent meeting will be Thursday, January 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the Church Proper.  Be sure to check back to the Sacramental Bulletin page for all the dates and times.

I have been busy updating my Web site and would like to mention two new things to check out.  My weekly spelling list page will include the words your child will need to know by the end of the week.  The photo album will be updated throughout the semester to include things we are doing in the classroom.  You will find the link to these pages in the navigation bar at the top of this page.

Congratulations to everyone in cursive club!  We will begin learning lowercase letters first, and then move on to uppercase letters.  Look for handwriting homework on Mondays, but feel free to practice the letters we've learned anytime!  I will be looking at each letter's slant, shape/form, spacing, and how heavy the letter is written.