St. Viator Parish School

This has been a fun and educational year thus far for the students in 8A. They have been enjoying their classes and the activities that are special for 8th grade. The academics are designed to prepare them for high school, but we still make time for some fun and socializing. Students have also really enjoyed their visits with Mrs. Cirone and her kindergarten student peace pals. Many of the kids had Mrs. Cirone as a Kindergarten teacher, so they have come full circle and feel the joy of their accomplishments here at St. Viator. In social studies, we are currently learning about The Progressive Era. They have created posters about "Titans of Industry", learned about push and pull factors for immigration and explored virtual field trips through Ellis Island and tenement houses. They have recently completed a family interview and written an essay about their own heritage and roots in America.

We are all looking forward to a great Christmas break and the start of the New Year! Hooray for the Class of 2023! ~Ms. Garner

Terra Nova School Report

The Terra Nova scores indicate how well the child is doing in relation to students across the country. These tests include content students may not have been specifically taught, but they could be expected to be mastered according to their cognitive ability. Terra Nova test scores indicate the potential the student has for learning certain concepts. The results from these tests represent a holistic understanding of a student’s strengths and opportunities for growth in each subject area.

It is important to note percentiles are not percentages. A percentile score of 60 does not mean that the child got 6 right out of 10 – that would be a percentage. Percentiles are rank order scores, indicating that, in a national group of 100 children in the same grade, this child is doing better than 59 of them. Through data interpretation and dialogue St. Viator administration and faculty have begun to disaggregate the 2022 Terra Nova results. The administration has identified the following four benefits of reviewing the testing results:

• teachers will use these results to improve instructional strategies
• teachers will use these results to develop and improve curriculum
• teachers depend on these results to monitor student growth over time

Please ensure your family has received and reviewed the individual student reports sent home on December 8th, 2022. Please contact Mrs. Kiss with any questions about the Terra Nova standardized tests.

Thank you to Fr. Rinn, Fr. Bill, Fr. Egan, Mrs. Kiss, and our 2nd grade parents for a beautiful First Reconciliation ceremony on Tuesday, December 13th! A special thank you to Mrs. Vena and Mrs. Rivas for preparing our students for this special day.

God says many wonderful things about you, things such as: You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are loved unconditionally and accepted. You are precious and honored in His sight. You are the wonder for which He sent His son Jesus to the world. As we prepare our hearts and families for Christmas, remember how much you are loved. Also, please take the time to tell those around you how much you love and value them. If we can’t say it at Christmas, then when can we say it, right? (I’m paraphrasing a movie in that last sentence ha ha!)

But it’s true. This is the time of year when we can freely and without reservation love on those around us! We can sing in our loudest voices, we can eat all the candy we want, we can openly praise God for all He gives to us and marvel at the Christmas miracle of the newborn baby Jesus. And we can also give love to those who may be alone and who might feel forgotten. We never know what someone may be going through. We may not be able to see behind the smile. We may not know what to say to a person suffering. You don’t have to have the perfect words my friends, all you need is to hold space for a person if you know they’re hurting or alone. Holding Space for someone can mean different things for different people, but it really just means to be present with someone without judgement. It means you donate your ears and heart without wanting anything in return. It also means you don’t have to fix anything for anyone. Just take a deep breath, and be present. I hope this helps.

Merry Christmas to you all and I wish you the happiest New Year!! Enjoy your family time and I’ll see you next year. 2023.

Blessings to you,

Monica

CHRISTMAS BREAK ~ DECEMBER 19TH - JANUARY 2ND

May your loved ones be blessed with joy, love, peace, health and happiness this Christmas and throughout the New Year!