Newsletter Jan. 2025

Happy New Year 2025

I hope everyone had a relaxing, fun break!  Please note:  I sent an email to all for a much needed school supply for first grade.  WE NEED GLUE STICKS!!  (0.77 oz./22 g. size)  Here is a link to order from:

https://shorturl.at/8FHmz

Grandparent/Special Guest Mass

Catholic School’s Week is fast approaching.  One of the special days during that week is Grandparent/Special guest day.  It is currently scheduled for Friday, January 31 and will be at Holy Spirit Church.  Help your child invite an adult to join them at mass. It really is meaningful for all if your child has a special guest on that day.  And yes, we are expecting the grandparent/special guest to pick up your child from school for the mass and take the child home after the mass.  There will be a note for your child to return about who is coming on this special day in their take-home folder soon.

All School Auction Basket

The St. Malachy School Gala and Auction is Saturday, March 1.  This year, the entire school will be responsible for one basket to be auctioned off.  Miss Surma (5th grade teacher) is in charge of collecting the money and purchasing items for the basket.  She is asking for a donation of $1 from every student in the school by Friday, January 31.

Dates to Remember

Friday, January 10 - Spirit Day (pay $1 to wear sweatpants)

Wednesday, January 15 - PTO 6 p.m.

Friday, January 24 - Spirit Day (pay $1 to wear sweatpants)

Sunday, January 26 - Saturday, February 1

Catholic School's Week

(more information to come!)

Reminder:  Friday, Dec. 20, all students need to bring a sack lunch and drink.   After lunch, they will sing Christmas carols in the gym with their Advent Angel.  School will be dismissed at the regular time, 3:10 p.m..

For Your Information:

•   There will be "Christmas spelling" next week.  The final test will be on Thursday!!
•   No blog update next week (Merry Christmas!!).  
• Please return the take-home folder on Friday so you do not have to keep track of it over the holidays!!!

I wish you and your family a safe, blessed Christmas holiday.  May the peace and goodwill of the holy season be with all of you.

See you “next year”!

Mrs. Levine

Advent Activities

• Everyday in the classroom, we open our day by lighting and praying around the Advent wreath.  We try to focus our attention on the coming of Jesus into our lives.  At mass on Wednesday, December 4, our Advent wreath was blessed.
• On Wednesdays during Advent, your child gets together with their assigned Advent Angel (older student in our building) and does a specially planned activity.  These various activities are centered around the meaning of the season of Advent.  Be sure to ask your child each week what they are doing in their Advent angel activity.
• The school has some adopted nursing home residents in need.  Please donate on Spirit Days and noisy change collection masses.
• On the final day of school before Christmas vacation, Friday, Dec. 20, all students need to bring a sack lunch.  After lunch, they will sing Christmas carols with their Advent Angel. School will be dismissed at the regular time, 3:10 p.m..

Dates to Remember

Friday, Dec. 20 - Spirit Day

$1 to wear sweat/windpants

• Wednesday, Dec. 11 - Noisy Change collection at mass 

(for our nursing home friends)

Friday, Dec. 20 - Spirit Day

$1 to wear sweat/windpants

Saturday, Dec. 21 - Sunday, Jan. 5

No School

Christmas vacation

Thanksgiving Note

Please remember:  The PTO readathon is ON!!  Previously, information was sent home about the program and special days.  Please check it out!!

 Winter Gear

This is just a "heads up" for making sure your child is prepared for the snow and cold weather.  I always say that St. Malachy students are prepared!!  Just a couple of thoughts:  Please mark your child's name on their snow boots and snow pants.  It really helps everyone so no "mix ups" occur.  And, for your information, if the air or wind chill are below 0 degrees, the students stay in for an "indoor recess".  If both air and wind chill are 0 degrees or above, the students will bundle up and go outside.  I check very carefully to ensure that your child is zipped, snapped, and covered before they go out!!  I try very hard to see that everything goes home each day (items may need to be dried and/or laundered).  As always, if you have questions, please contact me.

    No Spelling next week (because of the very short week!). 

Also, no Take-Home folders will be sent home next week! 
And, no first grade blog update!
Enjoy the holiday!!!

Have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving with your family and friends!!

Dates to Remember

Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29

No School

Thanksgiving Vacation

Monday, December 2

School resumes 

 Corning Opera House Field Trip

Last week, I sent home information about a field trip that the Kindergarten, First, and Second grades will be attending.  Next Wednesday, November 20, we will travel to Corning to enjoy lunch (each student is to bring a sack lunch), take a tour of the facility, learn about the productions, partake in some interactive dramatic play, and appreciate fine arts.  We plan to leave the school at 11 am and return about 2:30 pm..  Please have your child wear their class T-shirt that they just received and, yes, they may wear jeans on a mass day for our field trip.  

Dates to Remember

Wednesday, November 20

Field trip to the Corning Opera House

Please wear our class T-shirt and jeans are OK!!

Thursday, November 21

PTO/6 p.m.

Friday, November 22 - Spirit Day

(pay $1 to wear sweatpants)

End of trimester

Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29

No School

Thanksgiving Vacation

Cold weather note

Cold Weather

Please help your child remember their warm coat, hat, and gloves/mittens.  We have been very lucky with the unseasonably warm weather, but this is Iowa and we all know that it will not last!  When the weather turns colder, your child will be going outside for all 3 recesses (if the air and/or windchill is above 0 degrees).  Also, a reminder that your child will need snow boots.  “If there is snow on the ground, they will need boots on their feet!”

Dates to Remember

Friday, November 8 - Spirit Day

(pay $1 to wear sweatpants)

Wednesday, November 13

PTO/6 p.m.

Wednesday, November 20

Field trip to the Corning Opera House

Information is in today's take-home folder

Friday, November 22 - Spirit Day

(pay $1 to wear sweatpants)

End of trimester

Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29

No School

Thanksgiving Vacation

                                          

Halloween Note

 No Spelling and no blog update next week because of the short week and conferences.

Halloween Afternoon (Reminder)

On Wednesday, October 30, the first graders will enjoy a Halloween afternoon of fun.  Your child may bring their costume to school to put on before the Halloween parade.  Please try to make the costume easy for your child to get on by themselves or with little help. (Hopefully, something they can put on over their clothes.) I am asking that no make-up be used to help make the preparation less difficult.  The Halloween parade will be at 2:30 pm and all are welcome to watch. You may take your child with you after the parade, but please pick them up from the classroom. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Please remember that the dress code changes slightly on 

November 1st.  No more shorts until March!!

Dates to Remember in October/November

Wed., Oct. 30 - Halloween Adventure

Wed., Oct. 30 - Mass planned by Kindergarten & First

Bishop Joensen will be here! 

Mon., Oct. 28 - K,1, 2 will walk to our school's "safe place" for practice.

Mon., Oct. 28-Wed., Oct. 30 - Conferences after school

Thurs., Oct. 31 - Conferences (8 am-11 pm) 

No School

Fri., Nov. 1 - No School