August 2015
Hello, and welcome to you and your first-grader! Ms. Jordan and I are very excited about our class coming up this year. First grade is not a sacramental year, yet it is a most important year in the young Catholic's faith.
In the first grade we will introduce your child to the fundamental principals of the Catholic faith. We will learn the basic postures and behaviors to use during church as well as the physical changes the church takes on during the liturgical year. We will focus on learning the basic prayers of the rosary and also the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We will begin our year with learning the first statement of our creed: "I believe in God the father, creator of heaven and earth." As we move through the year we will look at the lives of Mary and Jesus. We will show your child why Jesus is important in their lives, and why we honor Mary as his mother and our holy mother.
Our class will include reading time, activity time, song time, and prayer time. Periodically we will have special visits from our saint friends. We may also take walks at one time or another, so please be sure your child has appropriate outerwear for the season at each class. We will visit the church, observe the sacramentals there, visit the Stations of the Cross, pray the rosary, and notice the liturgical colors and decorations. We will not provide snack in our class unless it is a portion of our lesson, such as learning the Grace Before Meals and Grace After Meals, or unless we show a movie. Snacks during those times are provided by Ms. Jordan and me.
We will need YOUR help this year!!! Please be aware of notes that we send home. Soup drives, parish fund-raising activities, items to bring to class the next week...homework! Sometimes we will ask our class to perform special tasks during the week and come back the next week and tell us what they did. Also, we need your help as parents in taking your children to mass, encouraging them to observe the postures during mass...kneeling, standing, reverance, prayer. Also please, please work with your students on the prayers for the first grade at home. By the end of the year, your child should know all the prayers for first-graders (located in your parent folder), and will be asked to say them.
During the course of the year we will call on your child to recite a prayer, and rewards will be given for those who can do that at that time. Your child might also receive a token for exhibiting exemplary behavior, such as leadership, helping a friend in need, following directions, or compassion to others. We will not give tokens on a weekly basis to everyone in the whole class, so please discuss with your child that he should not expect tokens. They are rewards.
Finally, and quickly--some house cleaning-- please make sure that your child uses the restroom before class. No drinks or food are to be brought to class. No toys from home. Please remain on campus, or leave us your cell number should you leave the building, in case something arises with your child and we need to reach you right away. This has only been done once, but it only takes once...we just want to be prepared.
Ms. Jordan and I are looking forward to the new year. We will see you on August 9!
Be blessed,
Miranda Jacks
205-405-7163
mibb1975@gmail.com