St. Francis Xavier School
234 Pleasant Street
South Weymouth, MA 02190
781-335-6868

saintfrancisx@comcast.net

CORI FORMS FOR 10-11 ACADEMIC YEAR

Reminder if you have not sent in your CORI FORM…YOU MUST do so now. The final CORI Forms are being submitted by June 4th. Reminder, I need to have a copy of your license attached to each form in order to submit and be accepted. You MUST complete a new form each school year.

Please remember that you must complete the course "Protecting God's Children." We have in the office a list of parents who have completed the course already, so there is no need to send that information in again if you have done so already.

I thank you in advance.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

Please note that the last day of school has changed to Tuesday, June 15; Closing Liturgy will take place at 9:00 am and dismissal will be at 11:30. Wishing everyone a safe and wonderful summer!

OUTREACH DIRECTORY IMPORTANT INFORMATION
***PLEASE NOTE CHANGE BELOW***

The Outreach Committee is taking a different approach this year. If you DO NOT want your child's address and telephone number to be included in the Directory, please go to the SFX website and submit the "Do Not Include in Directory" Form, which can be found under Monthly School Bulletin. Again, this is for those families who DO NOT want children's information included in the 2010-2011 SFX Directory. Please note, that regardless if you submit the form or not, all students name will be listed on the Class List which is part of the Directory.

If you have any questions, please let us know. Thank you"

PRE KINDERGARTEN

We have fun activities planned for the last week of school that are sure to bring smiles to little faces. Thursday, June 3rd will be the last day of Pre-Kindergarten. We will have an end of the year party on Thursday.

Have a wonderful summer!

KINDERGARTEN

The kindergarten students are eagerly looking forward to moving up to the "big school". We will be visiting both first grade classrooms to learn all about life in first grade.

The girls and boys have been working very hard to get ready for their graduation, practicing prayers, poems and songs to perform for their families. Graduation is on Thursday, May 10 at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

The kindergartners were sad to say goodbye to their eighth grade prayer partners and made them special cards with a very special wish for each of them as they move on to high school.

GRADE ONE

We love the month of May. We enjoyed a lovely visit with our grandparents and other older friends after our first Friday Mass. It's really wonderful to witness the special relationships between the generations. The children really enjoyed showing their families their classrooms and classmates.

Our Art Fair was a big success. I think even the children were amazed at their own artistic talents, especially in the setting of an "art gallery". Hats off to the students and Mrs. Bell!

We've learned most of the prayers of the Rosary in preparation of our May Procession. The first graders are truly respectful and reverent when it comes to thoughtful prayer.

After we finished our Rain Forest unit, the children were very eager to dive into another science unit. Now we're studying insects! Be prepared to learn more than you probably ever wanted to know about bugs.

Our money unit is coming along nicely. Don't be discouraged if your child needs extra help with this concept, it's a tough one. Keep at it, and they'll soon be able to take over your finances.

We're winding down the year and it's coming too fast. Soon, our first graders will take wing and be ready for second grade. They've grown so much in every way. It's amazing to see. We're cherishing the time we have together. Summer will be here before you know it.

Thanks for all of your support.

GRADE TWO

It's June already, the time has gone by so quickly. Grade 2 students have learned and accomplished so much in such a short time. June is the time when we prepare for summer time with ocean stories, activities and videos.

Grade 2B and 6A culminate our prayer partner experience by celebrating the first Friday Liturgy.

We've enjoyed our time together and wish all the best to our students as they continue their journey of learning into grade 3. Have a super summer vacation and good luck next year!

GRADE THREE

Grade 3 has been "full steam ahead" since April vacation. We were so proud of all our contestants and audience at the WOW Show. Every student was well prepared. The two first place winners were Julia Campbell and Nicholas Hurley.

In math, we finally completed all our times tables and now we are on geometry and fractions for the rest of the year.

Our language arts/science unit on New England tide pools has been fun and exciting. It all began with "Elisabeth, the Treasure Hunter and Sunken Treasure." Each class performed the play A House for Hermit Crab and students have been studying all the various tide pool animals and plants. We've even created our own tide pool in both classes! For creative writing, the students have been writing a Haiku and Cinquain about their favorite tide pool animal. Our trip to the beach was the best!

"Make It in Massachusetts" is our state wide social studies unit. We are studying government, history, natural resources as well as famous and historical sites that our state has to offer. As a culmination of this unit, Grade 3 will be visiting Plymouth Plantation.

What a great year we've had in Grade 3!

GRADE FOUR

In religion and written expression the fourth graders completed a written composition about Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American Saint. The students incorporated Collin's type 1 writing as well as a four square template to organize their thoughts in sequential order. These techniques have been very helpful during the writing process. The students did a fantastic JOB!

In science we have been learning about simple machines, energy and how things work. The students had fun learning that everyday objects are actually simple machines. Ask your student to show you some simple machines around your home. In school the students completed a project depicting the six different types of simple machines.

GRADE FIVE

Grade 5B students worked with Mrs. Bell to make time capsules to chronicle their journey this school year and record how they have grown "in wisdom and in grace." Their time capsules will be labeled "Do not open until June 2017," the date of their high school graduation.

Henry David Thoreau once wrote that, "Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads." How truly his writing is manifested here in the halls of the fabulous St. Francis Xavier School. This year, as in years past, students and teachers have been blessed with the opportunity to embark upon an educational journey rich in academic and spiritual growth. By inviting Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into our classrooms each day to travel with us, we've been able to grow and learn in a secure environment of respect, friendship and achievement. Through the sharing of time, talent and treasure from dedicated staff, parents and volunteers, we've witnessed and celebrated many successes in our school community. Truly, the extraordinary work of God can be seen many times over in the hard work, growth and development of the fine students at SFX. May the journey continue next year with as much success, if not more!

May God bless your vacation, and may we all enjoy the heaven under our feet this summer!

GRADE SIX

It is very hard to believe that we have reached the end of the 6th grade journey with your children. It has been an exciting, productive and wonderful year.

It's always great to end on a high note and everyone seemed to enjoy our culminating activities in social studies and science. The International Food Festival and our field trip to Pond Meadow Park were memorable events. We want to thank all our 6th grade parents who made these activities possible. Your support throughout the entire is greatly appreciated.

We will use of the time remaining to prepare for final exams. Students will receive the exam schedule and outlines for study will soon.

GRADE SEVEN

Grade 7 Literature We are continuing to work in the genre' of non-fiction and will probably end the year with some Medieval legends in the "Harry Potter" tradition.

Students will be given study guides and will be taking a Literature final near the end of the school year (exact dates to be determined.)

Grade 7 Social Studies The class has begun a unit on the War of 1812. Some of the notable topics we will be studying are the writing of "The Star Spangled Banner" our national anthem, The Battle of New Orleans and the emergence of Andrew Jackson as a national figure.

Study guides will be provided and final exams will be scheduled near the end of the school year.

Grade 8 Social Studies The students and staff are fresh off our trip to Washington, DC. In lieu of a final exam, the students will submit a report on one of their favorite exhibits from the trip. These reports are due on Monday, May 24.

Our next general topic will be westward expansion and we will attempt to get as "far west" as we can before the year ends.

CLASS OF 2010

The Eighth Grade has returned from their much awaited trip to Washington D.C. During the four days away they saw most of what our capitol city has to offer, including its beauty and its majesty. The students returned home, filled with a sense of awe, for what they observed and what they had experienced.

Their Saint Francis Xavier journey is coming to an end. On Monday, June 7, the students will enjoy a day of recollection. This year we are meeting in the Parish Center and the Church. They will rehearse for graduation that week, and the final two events of their year will take place. On Wednesday, June 9, the graduates and their families will relax, socialize and feast at the Graduation Banquet that is so beautifully hosted by the seventh grade parents and students. On Friday, June 11, at 6:30 p.m., the Class of 2010 will process into the church one last time in order to celebrate their graduation liturgy and to receive their diplomas and awards. When they walk back out the church door, they will be graduates of our school, but not gone. They have left their mark in classrooms, in hallways and in our hearts, and St. Francis will always be their school.

Please Remember

Graduation Liturgy
Friday, June 11
6:30 P.M.
Reception to follow in the school hall
Please join us!

SPANISH CORNER NEWS

The 7th grade students have been introduced to the world of "shopping" by learning to identify, describe and shop for school supplies and clothing. They have learned to use singular forms of the verbs that end in -ar which will help them to communicate in various situations that arise when shopping, to state colors and size preferences, to speak to people formally and informally, and to discuss differences between schools in the United States and in Spanish-speaking countries. Role playing exercises have been assigned to the students so they can practice the different situations that take place during "shopping." During the final exams period, the students who are exempt from taking the Spanish exam will be asked to help out in the first grade classrooms by teaching their prayer partners a Spanish lesson.

The highlight of the month of May has been our "celebration of the Mexican culture." The 7th grade students went on a Field Trip to Tio Juan's Margaritas Mexican restaurant in North Weymouth. They were introduced to the Mexican culture by studying the folk art that is exhibited at the restaurant and by tasting some of the native foods of that country. The program included a presentation on Mexico's traditions, folk art and traditional crafts, as well as a tour of the restaurant and a demonstration on how to make salsa casera and guacamole. Finally, the students, Sister Teresa and the teachers enjoyed a delicious lunch which included a beef, cheese or chicken enchilada, beans and rice, and a fried ice cream dessert. The students were given an assignment based on the contents of the field trip.




The 8th grade students have been busy finishing Chapter 5. They have been working on readings about dining hours and meals in the Spanish-speaking countries. The readings compare dining times and eating habits in those countries with those in the United States. The students have been preparing situation cards that simulate real-life situations that require students to communicate in Spanish as though they were in a Spanish-speaking country. Soon, they will be learning how to describe their families and some family functions. They will design their own "arboles genealogicos" (family trees). They will also learn how to describe their homes, to tell their age and find out someone else's age, to tell what you have to do, and what you are going to do, to tell what belongs to you and to others and finally to talk about the structure and the importance of families in Spanish-speaking countries.
During the final exams period, the students who are exempt from taking the Spanish exam will be asked to help out in the second grade and AM kindergarten classrooms by teaching their prayer partners a Spanish lesson.
FELIZ VERANO!!! and we look forward to another successful and exciting year of celebrating the beauty of the Spanish language and the Hispanic culture at Saint Francis School.
The following are the language classes and levels that the 8th grade students will be taking in high school next year:
SPANISH:
Joseph Tenaglia Level I HONORS, Edward Fisher Level I HONORS, Sean Keenan Level I, Olivia Mahidashti I ACCELERATED, Marissa Guerard Level II CP, Robert Goodick Level I, Ryan Roach Level I HONORS, Stephen Karlberg Level I CP, Steven Gustafson Level I CP, Richard Smith Level I ACCELERATED, Miranda Boutin Level II HONORS, Connor McCarthy Level I CP, Marykate Butler Level I CP, Amanda Argiro Level I ACCELERATED, Meaghan Carnell Level I ACCELERATED, Elizabeth Johnson Level I HONORS, Molly Cormican Level I, David Ferrara Level I, Lauren McGillivray Level I HONORS, Alexander Silver Level II CP, Thomas Dillon Level I ACCELERATED, Amanda Flaherty Level II HONORS, Robert Camardo Level I CP, Jessica Hunter Level II CP, Gregory Finnell Level I HONORS, Dominic DiPietro Level II HONORS, Patrick Coleman Level I CP, Brian Donohoe Level I HONORS, Connor Hayes Level I ACCELERATED, Ryan Quieto, Level I ACCELERATED, Victoria Mackin Level II CP, Christine Feloney Level I, Alexis Crowley Level II CP, Kristen Keefe Level I CP, Christos Padazis Level II HONORS, James Spencer Level I, Clayton Toner Level I, James Sheppard Level I, Anthony Conte Level I, Emily Frazer-Tully Level II HONORS, Connor Spurr Level I.
FRENCH:
Mark Letaif Level I HONORS, Emily Ahlstedt Level I HONORS, Dalena Vu Level I, Erin Cunningham Level I HONORS, Sara Walsh Level I.
GERMAN:
Shannon Wood Level I HONORS, Joseph Flanagan Level I

NEWS FROM THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASS

What a great year we have had in Physical Education class! The students have learned some new games and have played many tried and true favorites such as kickball, soccer, baseball and cookie monster tag.

Also, we have talked about the importance of exercise and good health and the students are encouraged to continue exercising over the summer. How about 50 jumping jacks a few times a week??

We also talk a lot about teamwork and good sportsmanship and the value of each.

We are looking forward to Field Day on Monday, June 14th here at the school. What a great and fun way to end the school year.

Have a safe and happy summer!!

NOTES FROM THE NURSE

Dear Parents and Students,

In preparation for the academic year 2010-2011 you will find the State of Massachusetts mandated immunization and physical requirement forms for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, grade 4 and grade 7 and new students posted on the website. A physical performed after September 1, 2009 is acceptable. If you do not have a current physical, please use the summer months to make an appointment with your child's physician. All forms must be submitted to the office by August 15th.

Annual physical forms are always welcome at any point in the year for all grade levels even for those classes that are not included in the mandated health form years of pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, grade 4 and grade 7.

In addition, State law mandates that no medicine can be administered in school without written authorization from both the child's parent and doctor. This policy applies to all medicine, both other the counter and prescription. If you anticipate your child needing any medication during the school year, please contact the office for a medication authorization form or download the form from the school's website. Your child's physician's forms are also acceptable.

This year we have had a number of episodes of students with known asthma having asthma exacerbations at school with no medication available. If your child has asthma, please send the appropriate physician authorization and quick relief inhaler in its original pharmacy labeled packaging to school. For students and staff it is a frightening experience to not have medications available. Please help us by providing your child's quick relief inhaler.

Enjoy a wonderful, healthy, safe summer.

Lisa Stieb RN

COMPUTER CLASS

Kindergarten - The students in Kindergarten have been very busy! Using Sammy's Science House, they created a movie, and then we learned about the Paintbrush feature in Kid Pix. To end the school year, we will review alphabet and vowel sounds in Key Skills.

Grade 1 - Grade 1 has been amazing with their computer skills! They've been using Word to type Monthly Poems and decorate using Clip Art, Word Art and even Page Borders!

Grade 2 - Using Kid Pix, the students created animal posters and then we went onto the Internet to play Poptropica! To finish the year, the students will use MS Word for a Goodbye poem using Clip Art.

Grade3 - It's all been about our favorite season of the year! We started in Kid Pix and pasted our picture in MS Word and will finish the project creating a Power Point presentation.

Grade 4 - The Olympics aren't over yet! Grade 4 has created mystery books containing an Olympic theme using column breaks; spell check and inserting Clip Art.

Grade 5 - Skittles and M&M's were a big treat as Grade 5 charted the percentage of each color in a bag using Excel. We then moved on to create a Cinquain poem in MS Word that came out beautifully!

Grade 6 - Grade 6 used MS Excel to track temperatures across the U.S. and calculate the average temperature. We then kept with the Excel theme and using various formulas created a Team Standings spreadsheet and updating weekly for the MLB.

Grade 7 - We are learning a lot about each other as Grade 7 conducts their interviews. Each student will then write a newspaper article on the results of their interview!

Grade 8 - What do you want to be when you grow up? Using a career questionnaire online, the students were able to match their interests with a career. They then created a Power Point presentation on their career choice.

PARENT ASSOCIATION

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Parent Association is to support St. Francis Xavier School by coordinating fundraising efforts and to help promote the development of community through the sponsorship of school - related events. It is also a place to help facilitate and encourage volunteerism. All of you who have children enrolled in the school are considered members.

Presidents-Carleene Flaherty and Kate Marshall
Vice Presidents - Joan Best, Maura O'Keefe
Secretaries- Loretta Boutin and Kathleen Butler
Treasurers - Jim & Maryellen Barrett

PARENT ASSOCIATION NEWS
JUNE 2010

Calendar of upcoming Events

Summer Sizzler- Friday, June 4th
8th Grade Banquet- Wednesday, June 9th
Field Day- Monday, June 14th
Faculty Luncheon- Tuesday, June 15th
Golf Tournament-Monday, September 20th

Update of Events

Grandparents Day was a huge success. The grandparents were delighted to visit the classrooms and to see their grandchildren hard at work. A great big thank you to all those grandparents that did attend!

Spring Raffle Thank you to all those who purchased Spring Raffle tickets. We appreciate your continued support!

Summer Sizzler Dance The dance will be held on Friday, June 4th. The invitations have been sent home with your children. Please note dance times: Pre-k-grade 3-5:00-6:45pm
Grades 4-6- 7:00-8:45pm

ALSO, PLEASE REMEMBER, ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.

A very big thank you to Rita Cummings and Cheryl Leary for all their hard work planning this event.

8th Grade Banquet- The 7th grade class will be hosting a banquet for the class of 2010. CONGRATULATIONS to the 8th grade class! We wish you the best of luck as you continue your journey! Each student will receive a graduation gift from the Parent Association to remember their years here at St. Francis Xavier School. A great big thank you to Trisha Keating and her committee for hosting this wonderful event!!

Field Day- Our annual Field Day is scheduled for Monday, June 14th. Please be sure to put sun block on your children before sending them to school. Also, please be sure to send your children with a couple of waters on that day. The children get very thirsty from playing all day in the sun and heat. A great big thank you to Nicole Bell and Michele Howes for planning this event.

Teacher's Luncheon- The Parent Association will host the annual Teacher's Luncheon on Tuesday, June 15th. The luncheon is a special thank you from all the parents and students, to the faculty at St. Francis Xavier School. A very big thank you to the wonderful staff at SFX!!! We appreciate your dedication and hard work!!

President and Secretary Positions A special thank you to Kate Marshall and Carleene Flaherty (Presidents) and Loretta Boutin and Kathleen Butler (Secretaries) for serving on the Parent Association Board for the last couple of years. They did a fantastic job and will be surely missed!!

Golf Tournament

SFX Fall Classic ~ Save the Date Time: Monday, September 20, 2010

SFX Fall Classic ~ Monday, September 20, 2010
South Shore Country Club
Hingham, MA

8:00 Golf Registration
9:30 Shot Gun Start
12:00 Bowling
1:30 Cocktail Reception
2:30 Dinner, Awards and Raffles

$125 per person

or if only interested in bowling,
$40 per person for Bowling, Reception, Dinner and Awards

www.sfxfallclassic.com ~ coming soon

Any questions, please contact Scott O'Keefe at
781-447-3534 or mccsokeefe@comcast.net or
Ron Ciccolo at 781-335-7170.

Schedule of Meetings

The next Parent Association Meeting will be held in the fall. These meetings are posted on the monthly school calendar.

We wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe summer!

---