SBS Weekly Update
January 23rd, 2022
Principal's Notes
What a week this has been. This past Monday I tested positive for COVID, being fully vaccinated and boosted I was certainly surprised by my symptoms and the extent I've been effected. Thank you to my staff who've stepped up to cover during my absence. I anticipate returning midweek and have begun working through emails and apologize for delayed responses.
Peace: Our current Fruit of the Spirit is Peace. Kindergarteners and 8th graders have been working together to spread Peace throughout the school. Together they hosted the school Mass and had students throughout the school contribute to a "Peace" board, pictured above. Students were asked to draw or write something they felt represented peace. The "Peace" board is in the cafeteria for all students to see.
COVID Update: Two classrooms were shut down this past week for issues related to COVID. Please continue to check your children for symptoms before heading to school. Keep children home if they exhibit any cold like symptoms.
Karate: Forms will be sent out this coming week.
Open House: This coming Sunday we will be hosting an Open House for new families from 9:30 to noon. Please share with your friends and family. Word of mouth from our current families continues to be our number one resource for reaching new families.
All my best,
Matthew Collins
Principal
Calendar Raffle Winners
Congratulations to our third set of winners!
1/15 - Philip Frappier - $100
1/16 - Winner and Seller Janice Doherty - 2x $250
1/17 - Lisa Richardson - $100
1/18 - Maryellen Barton - $100
1/19 - Allison Gates - $100
Teacher Spotlight - Grade 8 - Mrs. Read
In Mrs. Read’s grade grammar and writing class, the 8th graders are beginning a unit on suspense reading and writing. Suspense is an element of literature used to hold onto the interest and anticipation of a reader throughout a story. Suspense can help readers feel connected to the characters as they constantly wonder what will happen to them. Mrs. Read begins the unit with using some model texts. The students have just completed reading “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe and were eager to read some passages in “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell. After reading a passage the students found details in the text and debated whether a detail was “suspenseful” and why or “not suspenseful” and why. This was a very energetic debate in which students had to give evidence to support their claim. The discussion led students to think about what suspense really is and they started relating the concept to movies and music that the students are familiar with. For example, they connected suspense to the movie “Stranger things” and the music from “Goosebumps.” Making connections really helped them to recognize the elements of suspense. Lastly, Mrs. Read challenged the students to write the beginning paragraph to a suspense story. Students choose a setting such as “an abandoned movie theater,” “cobwebs hanging from the rotting velvet curtains,” or “a wobbly broken balcony with missing places.” Once they develop the beginning paragraph, they will work on developing the characters, the plot and conclusion to the story.
Connecting reading writing is a strategy that helps students develop both their reading and their writing. Literacy experts have found that reading instruction is most effective when intertwined with writing instruction and vice versa. Research has found that when children read extensively they become better writers and when they write, they become better readers. Mrs. Read uses mentor text to support this reading- writing connection. Mentor texts are written pieces that serve as an example of good writing for student writers. The texts are read for the purpose of studying the author’s style and provides students a model they could imitate in crafting their own piece.
~ Mrs. Rousseau, Instructional Coordinator
The Week Ahead 1/24 - 1/28
- Please pray for our Faculty and Staff
Tuesday, January 25th:
- Please Pray for our Students
Wednesday, January 26th:
- Intramural Basketball 5:30 - 6:30 - Spellman Center, Whitman
Thursday, January 27th:
- Please pray for our Clergy
Friday, January 28th:
- Early Release 11:10 am
- Free Dress Down Day
- Term II Progress Reports for Grades 3 - 8, via email
Saturday, January 29th:
- First Penance for our 2nd Graders at 11am, please pray for them!
Sunday, January 30th - Open House for new families from 9:30 - Noon
Looking Ahead 1/31 - 2/4
Catholic Schools Week - Thank you for supporting Catholic Schools!
- Please pray for all Catholic Schools
Tuesday, February 1st:
- Fruit of the Spirit - Love, Grade 5 for the month of February
- School Mass 9 am, Grade 5 Hosting
Wednesday, February 2nd:
- Father Adrian - Free Pizza Day! All students will be given pizza for lunch!
- PTO Meeting
Thursday, February 3rd:
- Please pray for our SBS Community
Friday, February 4th:
- Blue and Gold Free Dress Down Day - Show your school spirit!
- Early Release Day - 11:10 am
Saint Bridget School Contact Information
Email: sbsoffice@stbridgetschool.us
Website: www.stbridgetschool.us
Location: 455 Plymouth Street, Abington, MA 02351
Phone: (781)-878-8482
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaintBridgetSchoolAbington/?ref=bookmarks