Start of School Letter to Parents

Dear Parents:

Welcome to the Solemn Holy Communion and First Confession class of SS. Peter & Paul Sunday School program! Mrs. Pandolfo and I are excited to return as your child’s Sunday school teachers and promise to do our best to get your child ready to receive the sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist. It is apparent that we will have a small class this year, but that will give us an opportunity for more personalized attention and learning.  

This will be the second year that our blog www.mrsplush.blogspot.com will be used as the preferred method of communication. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with it; your feedback is most welcome. 

We will continue to use the Welcome textbook, in addition to classroom activities and worksheets that are designed to reinforce the children's learning in a creative way.   

Notes for Parents of First Grade Students:

Your child will be given a textbook and will be required to read, with your help, the designated chapters.  If you think that your child is ready for the challenge, feel free to have them answer the questions at the end of the chapters.   

Notes for Parents of Second Grade Students:

Your child is being asked to reuse the books they were given last year.  Moreover, they will be required (to the extent that they have not done so already) to complete the review questions at the end of each of the chapters.  We will begin checking their books for completion beginning next week.  Our thinking is that by the start of second grade, most of the children are in a position to work more independently, in terms of both reading and writing, such that the assignments are “doable” and not overly burdensome.

Second year students will also have small workbooks for each semester that will (in the fall) introduce them to the Divine Liturgy and (in the spring) focus on an understanding of the Communion Prayer, with a hopeful eye on committing it to memory.  

Also, we will need you to complete a Candidate Information Request Form for your child. Hard copies are available in the classroom or the form can be downloaded by clicking on the "Administrative Business" tab on the home page of our blog.  At this point in time, we expect to have 4 children receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Solemn Holy Communion in May.  Please see the "Second Grade Student Material" tab for a link to download the Sacramental Preparation Handbook.

Notes for All Parents:

(1) In our lesson planning, we have created a 20-block blueprint (See “Curriculum tab) that we hope will facilitate your child’s learning.   We will use classroom activities and worksheets to teach each of the 20 study areas.  You will notice that the textbook chapter reference is identified with the expectation that the home work assignment of reading and, for our second graders, answering the review questions, would reinforce what your child has learned in class. In general, the material sequence is in chapter order, but you will see that, at times, we will either be moving ahead or circling back.  So please make an effort to invest quality study time at home.  This is the absolute best time to capitalize on your child’s innocence and sincere desire to know, love and serve God. 

(2) If you have not done so already, be certain that a Model Release Form has been completed. (See Administrative Business tab)  We hope to have fun posting pictures of some of our classroom activities! 

(3) Hopefully you will take the time to get familiar with this blog.  A lesson overview will be published weekly.  Please check it out and give us your feedback through blog comments or by other means.  We are always looking to improve!

Finally, we would like to thank you, in advance, for faithfully bringing your child to Church and Sunday school, for helping them prioritize their spiritual development, and for your overall support of our program.  We are truly honored to have the opportunity to work with your child.  

Sincerely,

Mrs. Plush