Two trimesters are done and now we enter our last trimester. This is a good time to reflect on where you are in terms of the benchmarks you need to cover and have a plan for ensuring all remaining benchmarks are addressed. Parents will have access to report cards by Friday. Be sure you are scheduling appointments with parents of students you are concerned about retention, remediation, and general academic/behavior concerns.
We will also soon be entering the season of Lent. Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. Start talking to your students about what they will do that is special for Lent. It doesn't always need to be something like I'm giving up chocolate. Tell them to think about what they can give up that takes them away from Jesus and what they can replace it with to grow closer to him. The easiest thing for students to relate to is technology. Ex. give up 30 min. of video games to read the bible. Give up social media to watch movies about the life of Christ. Give up group chats and instead spend time with a sibling playing a board game. The list goes on. Playing a board game may not seem like it can bring someone closer to Christ, but it can. Spending time with family and focusing on important things in our lives brings us closer to how Jesus wants us to live.
While we do not have a retreat scheduled until Holy Thursday, religion teachers should incorporate Lent into their lessons over the next few weeks. Some of you may have received an email with a resource that includes just about everything you could need, including links to CRS, which sponsors the rice bowls. If you missed it, you will find it below and you will need to copy/paste it. https://ncea.org/NCEA/How_We_Serve/Resources/Lenten_Resources/NCEA/How_We_Serve/Resources/Lenten_Resources/Lenten_Resources.aspx?hkey=e6cd993e-a8e0-4419-8eb3-8dc44ae49ca9
Speaking of rice bowls, I believe we have them, or they should be here soon. These should go home on Ash Wednesday. Religion teachers should plan a lesson from CRS to be presented on Ash Wednesday or the day before so that students understand the significance of the rice bowl. Melissa will let you know when they are due back to school. There are also some great resources regarding kindness and how Lent is the perfect time to practice this. Everyone should also use the Studio 3:16 lesson as they are very engaging, and this one is free.
The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This is a perfect time to incorporate the Works of Mercy into religion. I have sent a resource to all teachers. There is a reflection sheet that students should be completing (or something like it) when they complete a service project. This also is a good resource to focus on Feed the Hungry and connect to the rice bowls. Remember to send these lesson plans to me, as they make great evidence for our action plans.
This week we will work on Terra Nova make-ups and 6th grade will finish their testing on Monday. Please remain quiet in the halls this week as we finish testing. Friday is Marvelous Mustang and the kick-off for the Spirit Raffle. Please be in the gym by 2:30pm that day. Students should pack up before you head over. Middle school students can bring their backpacks if they go to the church parking lot for dismissal.
I wanted to include a funny meme like this...
But then I found this...
And for everyone who promised to give up food and go to the gym more after Christmas, there's this...
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