St. Aedan/St. Brendan Principal Newsletter
“Nurturing the Spirit, Educating the Mind”
December 2012
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
St. Aedan-St. Brendan School Community!!
Words from the Principal..
As we prepare for Christmas during these weeks of Advent, let us keep in mind the true meaning of this season. Our children have been doing just that with many activities in their classrooms and with other events. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a joyous Christmas holiday with family and friends and good health and much happiness in the New Year!
Home/School
Our Home School Association has been very busy these past few weeks and they are still not done! The Pie/Cake Sale went very well. Under the direction of Mrs. Natisha Vidal and fifth grade teacher, Miss Criscuolo, parents and friends ordered over $6,500.00 in goods. Home/School will make about 40% profit from the sale. The Home/School also just completed a Mixed Bag fundraiser which raised over a $1,000.00. Under the direction of Mrs. Conlan it seems this fundraiser did quite well for its debut!
Our Home/School will also be providing a Christmas Store again this year. This will allow our children to purchase, at very good prices, presents for family and friends. The store will be opened on December 4th and 5thand will be located in the advanced math room downstairs. Thanks to Mrs. Conlan for getting this annual event off the ground! This year the Home/School also sold Christmas wreaths. Wreaths were purchased from Perrotti Brothers and sold for $14.00. We thank Mrs. Payne, Mrs. Vidal, and Mrs. Couden for their help in organizing this event.
The Home/School is constantly looking for volunteers to help out or chair the special events that take place throughout the year. Keep in mind that the association meets once a month and anyone is able to attend the meetings. We are currently looking for ideas to for our annual large Spring fundraiser. Come to a meeting or call with any ideas you may have!
Christmas Concert/Christmas Tree Raffle
Just a reminder that our annual Christmas Concert will take place on Thursday evening, December 20th at 6:30 pm. Every student in our school will be participating with his or her homeroom. Attendance at this event is mandatory for all our children. We look forward to a wonderful evening with outstanding performances by our children singing and playing instruments. Last year’s concert was standing room only so plan on arriving early for the best seats! The concert is under the direction of our music teacher, Mrs. Mehinovic and our Band Director, Mrs. Hernandez. The Home/School Association will also be conducting a Christmas Tree Raffle at this event. So be prepared to buy some tickets so you can try to win the tree of your choice!
Blue Jeans for Babies
The faculty, staff, and students of our school participated in the Blue Jeans for Babies initiative on November 16th. Under the organization of Mrs. Santillo, Title I teacher, our school took part in this very worthwhile cause which benefits the March of Dimes. Our school was able to donate $190.00to the organization.
Fourth Graders Become Christmas Tree Decorators
Our fourth graders were chosen by one of many classes in Connecticut to help decorate a Christmas tree at the Knights of Columbus Museum. Under the direction of our Art Teacher, Mrs. Ireland, Mrs. Boynton and her class went to the museum on November 29th to decorate a tree which is actually a contest. The students did a great job and enjoyed snacks and treats as they completed their holiday task. Mrs. Ireland reports that she received many compliments not only about the work of our children but also on how well behaved they were. We encourage all of you to stop by the museum and view this wonderful exhibition.
Basketball!
I am very happy to report that this basketball season our school has five teams competing in the Quinnipiac Division, (
Our BoysVarsity Team made up of 7th and 8th graders is being coached by former St. Aedan student, Mr. Hugh Bullock. The team members are:Darrell Draughn, Toure King, Yohance McClashie, Chris Mena, Brandon Moore, Rory O’Connor, Chris Payen, Vladimir Payen, Justice Roberts, Roy Smith, and Jacob Spell.
Our girls’ Varsity team also made up of grades 7and 8 is being coached by Ms. Felicia King. The girls on the team are: Destiny Cogswell, Deonne Edmonds, Morgan Edwards, Jalyn Johnson, Sadaf Khokhar, Natasha McQueen, Joelle Mendez, and Kneijee Wubah.
We have a Boys’ Junior Varsity team being coached by Mr. Tom DiLella. The players are: Troy Charles, Anthony Jenkins, Noah Khokhar, Aaron Roberts, Justin Spell, Chase Tyson, and Jeremiah Vidal.
Our last Basketball team is our Boys’ JJV Team. They are being coached by Mr. Matt Kennedy. The players are: Jayden Averado, Dejavon Amos, Dylan Bellinger, Jalen Bradshaw, Aaron Brogdon-Hill, Derrick Draughn, Avery Hansen, Kevin Hardy, Mikhail James, Ben Kennedy, Eddie Moore, Elvis Quiroz, and Matt Wickcliffe.
And we are happy to announce that we will also be having a Cheerleading squad with Mrs. Thais Moore as coach. The squad consists of: Nyimah Ambrose, Phylese Davis, Ashley Gelin, Asha McClashie, Dana McEachem, Rehab Senanu, Camryn Tyson, and Ada Umeugo.
Thanks to all those who are volunteering to coach our children!!! We wish all our players a great season!!
(Check the website above for dates, times, and places for games as well as standings.)
Reaching Out to Others
Deacon Arthur Miller from the Office of Black Catholics recently spoke to the 8th graders. He focused on the value of recognizing our talents and the talents of those around us and building community by praying and working together. Students enacted scenes from scripture and actively discussed their feelings on the importance of treating others with respect.
Nina Brandi, a sophomore at Quinnipiac and an intern at our school, will speak to the students on her mission work in Haiti. She will show a DVD to highlight the importance of responding to God’s call to help those in need.
Grades 3-5 Visit Peabody
Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes visited Yale’s Peabody Museum last week. Grades 3 and 4 learned about Connecticut’s Native Americans and other North American Native Americans. Grade 3 viewed the dioramas of the North American habitats. Each class had their own program and really enjoyed the trip. Grade 3 was able to visit the “Touch and See Room” where they were able to touch many things like animal fur and bones and they could view live ants in a colony, snakes, and poisonous frogs.
Prayer Service
On December 6th our school will be taking part in an Advent Prayer Service in the gym at 8:45 am. Under the direction of Mrs. Toni Boynton, our children will be preparing for their part in this season of Advent with the help of this important part of curriculum. All parents are welcome to come and join in the service.
The Cougar Gazette
The newspaper staff of the Cougar Gazette is busy at work preparing the Christmas edition. Students work every Wednesday afternoon writing stories, editorials and creative poems. They also enjoy designing cartoons and puzzles. Following the writing, all articles are edited and then given to our editor, Deonne Edmunds. She then formats the paper and our illustrator, Isabel Adolphe adds illustrations suitable for the articles and creative pieces Look for our Christmas edition coming out soon. Members of the staff are: Dee Dee Edmonds, Jonathan Williams, Nomble Tanner, Ashaliegh Carrington, Chris Payen, Tatyana Alvarez, Destiny Cogswell, Morgan Edwards, Sabah Banse, Isabella Ostrowska, and Isabel Adolphe.
Our staff wishes all a Merry Christmas!
What is happening in our classrooms???
Pre-K/Readiness-Mrs. Zvonkovic, Mrs. Bonini, Mrs. Rosaria
For the month of November we talked about families and how thankful we are for them. The children brought in a family photo and we learned how families are the same and how they can be different. We talked about Thanksgiving-why we celebrate it, and how we are thankful for our family. We ended the month with a Thanksgiving Feast where the children performed songs and had their own “Thanksgiving Feast.” We are so proud of all their hard work and how well they performed. It was an event enjoyed by all.
In the month of December we are going on a field trip to the Peabody Museum and will discover all the amazing things there, including dinosaurs! During this month we will be talking about the different holidays that people celebrate in December, finishing up our unit on families and doing some different gingerbread activities including decorating a gingerbread house! We hope you enjoy your holiday and our December vacation. See you in January!! Miss Lisa, Miss Erin, Miss Taisha
Kindergarten-Mrs. Odell
This month will be filled with a lot of learning and a lot of fun!. In math we will be learning how to count and write up to 31. We will also be estimating, skip counting and learning how to use tally marks. In Phonics we continue with “Explode the Code” to learn how to identify sounds and use our comprehension skills to answer questions. We will begin to write more independently as we become more comfortable with our sight words. In Science we will be discussing the winter season and in Social Studies we will be discussing the December holidays. It will also be a busy month preparing for our holiday concert, shopping at the school’s “Holiday Shop” and collecting toys for those less fortunate. We will be ending our month with a Polar Express Party, more information to follow.
Grade One-Mrs. Timmeny
Who are the best stewards this year? Mrs. Timmeny says it’s her First Graders! Each child with the help of his/her parents has decided on a chore to be done at home. They will earn $1.00 each week. This will be used as a donation to a soup kitchen, or to purchase needed items for those individuals less fortunate than us. This will continue throughout the year. Little ones can do BIG things!!!!!!!!!! We’ve also been getting ready for Jesus’ birthday! We’re trying to decide what “to get” Him.
Grade Two-Mrs. Pacelli
The Second Grade class has been focusing on the theme, “what are different ways of giving?” The students have learned that giving does not always have to be something monetary. Gifts can be giving of your time and your talents to help others. The students have also learned that it is important to help others who are less fortunate. The second graders are earning chore money, which will be used to buy an animal through World Vision for a family who is in need. The students realize that just $25 dollars can buy two chickens, which will provide the family with eggs for nutrition.
During December, the second graders will be writing letters to Santa. They will also be developing their cursive writing skills with the alphabet. In Math, the students will be focusing on the value of money and being able to add different amounts. The second graders have begun to explore magnets. They will learn about why magnets attract and repel. At the end of the month, the class will create gingerbread houses as part of our Christmas celebration.
Grade Three-Mrs. Slayton
Grade 3 will follow Advent with special daily calendars and a classroom service every week as we light each Advent candle. We will celebrate Jesus’ birthday with a special birthday party celebration with each student bringing a gift only they can give to Jesus. The South Central Regional Water Authority will be presenting the Estimation and Experimentation program in our classroom and we had the “Water Wizards 2” loan box for classroom experiments. Our Character Counts theme is Caring and in Reading we will begin the third theme, Conflict Resolution.
Grade Four-Mrs. Boynton
During Advent, grade 4 will participate in an “Advent Angel” activity in which everyone is assigned to be an “angel” for someone else during the four weeks of Advent. Details will be sent home with each student during the first week of Advent.
Please remind and help your child to practice the multiplication facts nightly as we are into our chapters of multiplication and division. We are continuing our study of the Northeast Region and in reading we are wrapping up Theme 2 of our Voices series. We will begin Theme 3 which will be “Conflict Resolution” and the central question is “How can we solve conflicts in our lives?”
Grade Five-Miss Criscuolo
In grade 5 we are continuing our study of the American Indian in Social Studies. We are also involved with preparing ourselves for this season of Advent. Grade five wishes everyone a happy and faith-filled holiday.
Middle School
Language Arts-Mrs. Couden
The eighth graders are beginning a unit on short stories. They will focus on character, setting and plot development and will continue to analyze pieces of literature. Using literary strategies the students will make predictions and compare and contrast characters and stories.
All middle school students are beginning their December book for independent reading. They will make literary journal entries using their writing skills. All are encouraged to write from their point of view and also the point of view of the characters.
Art work is always encouraged to enhance their entries.
Miss Anastasio-Math
Grade six is working on decimal and fraction operations. They are also using extra math time for enrichment activities like spatial reasoning. We have been using geoboards and logic worksheets to explore geometry and problem solving. The students enjoy hands on math and figuring out the logic problems. There are many critical thinking and problem solving holiday worksheets the students will find challenging and fun.
The seventh graders continue to work hard on fractions, percents, and integers. The students enjoy the challenging one and two step algebra problems. They relish in completing challenging holiday critical thinking worksheets. We did election, Veterans’ Day, and Thanksgiving activities. The students are looking forward to Christmas activities.
Students in eighth grade are continually practicing basic fraction, decimal, and percent skills. They are learning one and two step algebra problems. They are currently working on coordinate graphing projects that will create a holiday picture when complete. They will also be doing more problem solving and cooperative learning activities this year.
Mr. Garitta-Language Arts and Social Studies
Voices- 6th grade will be conducting their third book report of the year. Projects will be due the last week of the December school year. In addition, students will continue to expand their vocabulary using supplemental worksheets. Ask them how they are doing! These sheets are high school level and all of them are doing great!
Ancient Civilization –6th grade will be studying the history of India throughout the month. Early in the chapter we read Jataka Tales and summarized our stories. We will be looking into Buddhism and understand the steps to reach enlightenment. The students will later compare and contrast Buddhism to Christianity.
Geography - 7th grade will be learning about Mexico and its people. Throughout the chapter we will compare and contrast the Mexican economy to the US. By the end of the chapter students will see that Mexico and the US are both similar and quite different.
American History - 8th grade will be learning about the first President of the United States. Throughout the month we will see how the first few Presidents set precedents for future Presidents to follow.
Mr. DiLella-Spanish
Grade 6: We will spend the next few weeks learning vocabulary for pastimes, as well as learn how to ask and answer questions using question words like que, cuando, and como.
Grade 7: We will continue learning about the Present Progressive and use it in conjunction with "school" vocabulary and some new expressions. We will also review indefinite articles and begin asking "How much?" and "How many?".
Grade 8: We will learn the purpose of and how to use reflexive verbs. These verbs show actions that a person does to his or her self, including "to dress oneself", 'to brush one's teeth", and "to get out of bed".
Mr. Celentano-Science
Our 6th graders are learning about the exciting world of…SOIL! They are realizing that it is not just sand or dirt but actually consists of numerous “ingredients” including something called “humus”. Humus is actually organic material that gives soil the ability to grow things. Labs will include examining, comparing and contrasting different types of soil and also taking a closer look at humus. They will also do projects which will investigate soil erosion.