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St. Marys October
Newsletter
The leaves are changing color, the temperatures are falling, and once
again my room has been invaded by leering jack-o’lanterns, creepy
spiders and bats. It must be October.
October seems to be the month of field trips for the younger students.
On October 9, the first graders attended the annual FFA Safety
Awareness Days. Each year, the Greenville High School FFA sponsors
Safety Awareness Days. The high school students set up different
stations to help the younger children learn about safety and to also
learn where we get our food. Representatives from the Greenville Rescue
Squad and the Greenville Fire Department were also on hand. Members of
the rescue squad demonstrated some of the things that they use to help
sick and injured persons. The fire fighters taught the children about
fire safety. Perhaps the most important lesson taught by both groups
was that they were there to help the children, so the children should
not be afraid of them. Mother Nature was not very cooperative this
year, and due to the incessant rain, the event was held in the Swine
Barn. On another depressing note, at least for me, I am now officially
extremely old. Usually I meet former students who are FFA members when
we go on this field trip. This year, the high school teacher who is the
club advisor was in the high school band back when I was a uniform
lady. (major sigh!).
Last Wednesday the preschool through second grades went to Brumbaugh’s
Fruit Farm. The weather was a little more cooperative for the next
field trip. Even though the sky was gray, the rain held off until we
returned to school. Of all the field trips, this is the favorite of the
younger students. They learned about bees and their importance to fruit
production and how apples are harvested. They had a hayride and each
child got to pick a small pumpkin to take home.
October is the month of the Rosary. After morning announcements
students from the seventh and eighth grades begin the Rosary.
Throughout the day the classes join in prayer to complete the Rosary.
Since my students are so young, we just finish the decade started by
the older students. The teachers are participating in a book study
about the Rosary. The book entitled Linking Your Beads is written by
Patricia Ann Kasten. It gives a history of the development of this
devotion and how it is prayed.
The yoga club met for the first time this year on October 17. Eileen
Stegall from ElementsLife is giving yoga instruction to interested
students once a month.
October is Fire Prevention Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and
Anti-bullying Month. On Monday, October 20, the kindergarteners will
visit the Greenville Fire Department.
Last Wednesday, the students wore red and brought in donations to help
purchase materials to teach about dealing with the problem of bullying.
Next Wednesday, October 22 , the students will wear pink and bring in
donations to help fight breast cancer. Both the “red” and “pink” days
were sponsored by the student council.
It is really hard to believe, but the first quarter ends October 24. At
St. Mary’s we try to be good stewards of the earth’s resources. The
report cards will be available on line in order to save paper. However,
any parent wishing a hard copy, need only call the school.
October began with field trips and ends with two field trips. On
October 28 through the 31, the sixth graders will be at Glen Helen. The
Glen Helen field trip is the highlight of sixth grade. The students
spend four days at Glen Helen, an outdoor learning camp. The students
learn about nature and conservation while hiking through the preserve.
On October 29, the first through fourth grades will travel to some
local retirement homes to sing Halloween songs for the residents. The
students will of course be in their Halloween costumes.
Finally the students will enjoy celebrating Halloween on October 31
with classroom parties and tours through the eighth grader’s haunted
classroom.
Enjoy the beauty of autumn and eat a little Halloween candy!
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