GLVN Bulletin
News for GLVN Volunteers (Thông Tin cho ThẦy Cô GLVN)
December 9, 2016
Dear Catechists & TAs,
What a fun weekend we had last week during the Advent Retreats and our Christmas Party! I won't say much else and just let the photos below tell the story about the fun weekend. Thank you for everything that you did to make it a time of spiritual renewal for our students and for each other as we prepare our hearts for Christmas.
The Santa's Workshop was a hit with the kids! They really got into the spirit of giving, and it put a smile on my face to see the kids so excited to buy inspirational gifts for their parents, siblings, family and friends. See below for more details on the continuation of the Santa's Workshop over the next 2 weeks.
Let's continue to make these last 2 weeks of Advent a wonderful time of preparation for our students! Be sure to read all the news below for updates since we are not going to have a teacher meeting this month.
In Christ,
Chi
No Teacher Meeting in December
However, please join us in the teacher's lounge this Sunday morning from 9:30-9:55 a.m. to enjoy some donuts and coffee together in celebration of December birthdays!
VN Teacher Meeting
Để tiếp tục thảo luận về đề tài: Dạy Tiếng Việt không đánh vần, thân mời tất cả các Giảng Viên Việt Ngữ đến tham dự buổi họp ngày 11 tháng 12 , lúc 10:00 AM , phòng 103. Sự hiện diện và đóng góp ý kiến của quý Thầy, Cô sẽ giúp cho chương trình ngày càng tốt hơn.
Thân ái trong Chúa
Nương
Sunday, Dec 11, 2016, 10:00 AM
Room 103 Teacher Meeting Room
Visit the Nativity and Give a Gift to Jesus!
We will place Jesus in the nativity on our last day of class before Christmas (12/18). A basket of hay is also at the nativity, and we invite all students and teachers to write what you're gift to Jesus will be on a piece of hay and place it in the basket. Before Mass on 12/18, we will bring these prayer intentions to Baby Jesus in the church.
Each class will be provided an envelope with strips of "hay" for you to write your gift on. Please find some time with your class to visit the nativity and place your gifts in the basket. Encourage your students to think of the various ways they can give a gift to Jesus. Here are some examples, but have your students be detailed when writing their own gifts to Jesus:
- Listening to their parent more
- Helping their parents around the house
- Playing with their siblings
- Sharing with their siblings
- Smiling at someone who may be lonely
- Helping a friend in need
- Sacrificing something they love doing so that Jesus or others can be happy
- Going to Mass more, praying more during their day
Thank you for helping your students continue to live a spirit of giving this season as part of this Gift to Jesus.
Watch for the 3 Kings!
Over the next few weeks they begin their travels, and may just appear in your classroom! If one of the kings is in your classroom, please use that as a teaching moment to share the story of how the 3 kings anxiously seeked to find the newborn King.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND HANDLE THE 3 KING STATUES WITH CARE!!!! THEY ARE FRAGILE AND WILL BREAK! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS AS THE KINGS VISIT YOUR CLASSROOMS.
Letters to Baby Jesus
A "Mailbox" has been placed in the hallway outside the GLVN office across from the Nativity for anyone who wants to write a letter to Jesus.
Please encourage students to write a letter telling Jesus all about their life today, who they are, who they dream to be, where their faith is now, about their family, what they like, what they hope for, what their fears are ... anything that they want to tell baby Jesus.
Envelopes will be provided. If students write their full name and grade on the envelope, we will hold on to these letters and return it to the student when they reach their last year of the GLVN program. This will be a yearly project that will be something fun to give the students years down the road to help them see how they've grown and changed in their love for Jesus and in their spiritual lives.
Teachers & TAs are more than welcomed to write a letter to Jesus too! We will keep it filed away to give back to you in a few years :-)
Visit the North Pole (a.k.a. Student Lounge)!
The Student Lounge will be transformed into the North Pole beginning this weekend!
Santa's Workshop (Part 2)
A number of students did not bring money last week, and so we want to continue to give them the opportunity to purchase any of the remaining items that we have. There's plenty still. We will continue selling the items in the Student Lounge during the lunch breaks for anyone who wants to purchase any last minute gifts. You all are more than welcomed to shop as well!
North Pole Photo Booth
The inside room of the Student Lounge has a fun Christmas photo booth set up. Feel free to find some time to go there and take some fun photos with your students!
Have fun!
Final Exams for First Semester & Our GLVN Curriculum
As previously shared in our teacher meetings, these exams are meant to help you monitor the progress of your students so that we can continue to help them achieve the outcomes that we want for each grade level. From our perspective, there is no such thing as a pass or fail in religious education; we all have much to learn always about our faith and to grow in our love for Jesus.
That being said, please use these exams as a way to encourage your students to keep on learning about their faith -- rather than a way to reprimand them for not studying or paying attention in class.
Over the next year, we plan to take a closer look at each grade book and curriculum so that we can continue to enhance our materials and objectives to help the students and to help you as teachers. To assist us in this, we ask that you please share with Anh Bao and Chi Nuong a copy of your exams for this year. This will help us see more clearly what we have been able to get through in a curriculum during a semester/year, so that we can adjust accordingly when/if we update the curriculum for next year.
We plan to involve all teachers in this process, so stay tuned for more info during the next few months!
Morning Prayer Together
Don't forget to join us exactly at 9:45 a.m. each Sunday morning in the Teacher's Lounge for morning prayer together. It will be brief (2-3 minutes) so that you can get to your classrooms before 10. Whether there are 30 of us or just 2 of us -- this brief prayer time will take place every Sunday, so please join in to offer up our day to Jesus!
All-School Prayer for 2016-2017
KINH NHẬT TỤNG THÁNH TÔ-MA AQUI-NÔ
Lạy Thiên Chúa của con, xin cho con một trí tuệ để nhận biết Chúa, một trái tim để tìm kiếm Chúa, sự khôn ngoan để gặp gỡ Chúa, mọi hành động được đẹp lòng Chúa một lòng kiên trì chờ đợi Chúa, và sau cùng là niềm hy vọng sẽ được ôm chặt lấy Chúa. Amen.
St. Thomas Aquinas Daily Prayer
Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you. Amen.
Important GLVN Documents & Forms
New updates to the calendar below as of 10/25/16. See blue & pink highlights.
- First Review and Exam dates have been moved to January
- Parent/Teacher conferences have been moved to February
- Ephata Confirmation retreat is now scheduled for Feb. 3-5
Chuong Trinh Giao Ly Viet Ngu
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Email: chipham.sasjhparish@gmail.com
Website: www.gxannagiusehien.net
Phone: 763-639-4566