Blessed are the merciful...

 

World Renew (formerly CRWRC) offers a very real opportunity to share the love of Christ with those around the world in severe need. Each class at South Side will work together to bring a love offering to chapel on December 19th. A representative from World Renew will be present to receive gifts from each class of students. The students in our class voted to work at home in the hopes of raising a few dollars to donate to this cause. Our goal is to raise $60 to purchase a sheep for a family in Guatemala and/or a mosquito net to be given to a child in the hopes of reducing the risk of malaria. If you could talk with your child about the great need in the world and this opportunity to help, the experience will allow your child a tangible way to share Christ's love and demonstrate mercy to those in need. December 14 is our last day of collection. We have already collected several dollars from a few students, and they really seem to feel good about the help they are able to offer. 

Next week will be our last week of swimming. We are at the pool Monday-Thursday from 2:00-2:35. You are welcome to watch any of these days. On Thursday, December 6, they'll have extra time to show off the skills they've learned. If it works with your schedule, come and watch all that we can do :)

Our focus in writing this month is to make our stories readable not just by an adult, but also by peers. Partners have worked together to share tips they have learned in the past months of writing. I'm thrilled with the growth that the students are making. You'll notice this improvement in neatness, spacing, basic spelling and punctuation. Your children are like sponges; so eager to learn, grow and stretch! Our next author celebration will be next week.

Eric and Ellie offering each other hints and helps they've used in their writing.

Thank you to Mrs. Hoekstra, our story reader for November.

Meta was pretty proud of his mom :)..and possibly dreaming of the donuts his mom took along to share with everyone!

Above, you see the children examining a world map. They were trying to find Mexico. For the next few weeks, we'll be immersing ourselves in the culture, geography and customs of Mexico. Watch for lots of fun projects and new knowledge coming home!

December 20 will be our classroom Christmas party. Our wonderful room moms are planning this party. Please be on the look out for a $3 gift that your child can bring to school to be exchanged at the party. If you could, please, wrap the gift and mark it with a tag "For a (boy or girl), From (your child's name). We want to make sure no one goes home with a lump of coal (oh dear, that was meant to be a joke but I now have a horrible vision in my head...please be assured, I always have extra gifts on hand for "emergencies")!

December 19, from 10:30-11:30 our class will sing Christmas carols to the residents at Rest Haven. Can you imagine how blessed the folks at Rest Haven will be that morning? When our children's singing voices drift down the halls of South Side, it just makes my heart soar. What a gift to offer to others. You are welcome to come a join our class. We'll walk from South Side to Rest Haven, sing for a while and walk back to school in time for lunch.

The yellow reading incentive forms are ready to wrap up. Please return the last 1/4 slip on Monday, December 3, which your child can exchange for a simple prize, a bookmark and coupon to Pizza Hut (funny story...I took the big cardboard box of all reading incentive gifts for the year along to the pool last week to divide for the South Side teachers. The students sitting near me, of course, wanted to know what was in the box. I told them it was a surprise for the reading incentive program. Then, I overheard one student whisper to another that they were probably iPads for each student. Oh boy, well...at least the bookmark is the scratch and sniff kind.) I have SO many moments throughout each day that make me smile and laugh. SO many proud moments I wish you could be there to see your child in action living out the love of Christ to others and to me. Truly, blessed are these merciful little people, for they shall receive mercy.