On the first day back from their long Christmas recess, students were asked what was the highlight of their time away from St. Joseph School. Here are their responses:
          The best thing to happen for Ashlynn Elizabeth was spending time with her family on Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day because they are the people she loves and wants to be around all the time.
          The best thing to happen for Iyanuoluwa (Miracle) was playing the drums because playing them and hearing the pounding sounds felt great.              The best thing to happen for Dante Xavier was going to Sandy Hook Beach where it was windy and cold and the sand kept flying in the faces of his parents and him. The family took pictures and hope to go there again soon.
          The best thing to happen for James Michael was going to a cool light show and seeing his aunt, uncle, and cousin.
          The best thing to happen for Mahnoor (Moonlight) was finding a way with her mother to help others. Mom and daughter both enjoy giving and donating to places and people who need it. Mahnoor’s mom found a website online saying that a particular charitable organization needed bricks in order to build a new place in their community. After making a charitable donation, Mahnoor noticed something else pop up on the website. It asked individuals to donate bricks for loved ones who have passed away. Mahnoor replied, “Of course I couldn’t say no.”
          The best thing to happen for Andrew was being surprised with an electric drum set that he really wanted, but had not ever played before.
          The best thing to happen for Emma Aniya Grace was trying waffles for the very first time for breakfast one Saturday morning.
          And, the best thing to happen for Camilla was making new friends while on quarantine and getting closer to the friends she already has.         
          January is a busy month. For the week beginning January 11th, students will be administered the Midterm Exams. The Social Studies test is scheduled for Monday followed by English Language Arts on Tuesday, Math and Religion on Wednesday, and Science on Thursday. There will be no school on Friday, January 15th due to the Bishop’s Holiday. In preparation of the mid-year assessments, students have been provided study guides and instructions to help foster structure, confidence and optimal results. During this time in January, students are also practicing for a Spelling Bee in which two students from each class in Grade 5 to 8 will participate in the school-wide Spelling Bee. Fifth grade students have received lists of selected spelling words in early December to use as a reference.
          Catholic Schools Week will commence on Sunday; January 31st, with a 10:00 A.M. Mass at Saint Joseph Parish. Monday is designated as Community Day in which students will create thank you cards for essential workers who have put themselves on the front lines during the COVID-19 health crisis. For Tuesday, students will be permitted to wear pajamas, but footwear must consist of sneakers, boots, or shoes. Movies are planned for the morning and educational games such as Brain Bowl will be held in the afternoon. Although Wednesday will primarily focus on academic instruction, students will be allowed to attend school in crazy hair and crazy socks fashion. Students will be encouraged to sport their favorite team jersey on Thursday with STREAM activities taking place in the afternoon. Catholic Schools Week will end with Mass on Friday with a special time set aside for Teacher Appreciation. Friday will be a half day with a 12:00 dismissal.
          In Grade 5 English Language Arts class, students are currently reading an excerpt of Gary Soto’s autobiography titled, “The Gymnast” in which students are able to observe a real character who is envious of his cousin’s talents. For recreational yet sustained reading practice that also enhances fluency and reading comprehension, students are currently captivated with author Avi’s novel, "Old Wolf", about a senior canine coming to terms with the last phase of its life in the wilderness. In grammar, students are steadily moving on from spotting and understanding adverbs to interacting with prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. The name of the grammar book is "Voyages in English" and students are continuing to sail along.
          In Math class, students are still finding patterns while adding and subtracting fractions with common denominators. Students have been drawing pictures to illustrate fractions for the purposes of symbolizing, comparing, as well as adding and subtracting. Students are constantly being reminded that a fraction such as ½ represents a division problem with one as the dividend and two as its divisor.
          In Science class, students are studying the push and pull power of forces. Using pennies, each student was able to demonstrate Newton’s Law that states “things in motion tend to stay in motion and things at rest tend to stay at rest.” Next, students will investigate the non-contact and invisible force of magnetism using ring magnets.
          In Social Studies class, students have been learning about explorers such as Francisco Coronado, Hernanando Cortes, and Francisco Pizarro who helped grow the Spanish Empire during the 16th Century. Along with the navigational prowess and courage of John Cabot, Giovanni da Verrazano, and Henry Hudson, students are bound for a search of a Northwest Passage through North America to Asia. The students’ geographical travels are bringing them a little closer to home in the Northeast region.
          In Religion class, students will begin to focus on a chapter that informs them on how “God’s Word Feeds Us.” Students will read the stories about the Boy Jesus in Jerusalem, the Journey to Emmaus, and Saint Jerome and the Scriptures. Whether it is found in the GOOD NEWS BIBLE or the BLEST ARE WE workbook, students are coming to understand that throughout the ages, all people have struggled to find the bravery and strength to do what’s best and to do what’s right. All people are a work in progress and our fifth grade students are proudly progressing.
          Recently in Math class, Dante Xavier was asked what he had learned about polygons that day. He replied, “The smallest polygon is a triangle, but the biggest polygon is as big as my imagination will take it.” Dante Xavier proved that discoveries in Math class are endless. Below is a poem titled "Dreams" that Dante Xavier has written to feed us, his readers, with inspiration, confidence, and hope.

As I fall asleep,
I will fall down
into the world
inside my head
into my dreams
called imagination.

Using my brain
is like playing
a video game.
Anything can happen
in that brain
of yours. 

You can talk
to animals
or be dancing
on the moon.
You can kick
a soccer ball into Mars
and ride on dinosaurs.

You can hit a baseball
across the world
and be in a movie
with your favorite
movie characters.

You can interact with
famous poets and hear
what they have to say.
You can make a whole
crowd laugh and cheer you on.

The best thing about dreams
is that when they end,
you can tell your family
and friends about
what you have dreamt.

Dante's Winning Scarecrow
Halloween 2020

 

     Whether St. Joseph’s students are Zoomers (virtual learners) or Roomers (in-school attendees), fifth grade students are on the move.
     While reading and discussing the biographies of Waterhouse Hawkins, Leonardo da Vinci, and Jane Goodall, students have been discovering the importance of the bonds of trust, loyalty, and friendship between a pig and a spider through the literary journey of Charlotte’s Web.
     While examining fractions, decimals, percentages, polygons, and patterns in general, the sixtieth day of school occurred on November Thirtieth. Students determined that sixty days out of 180 is equivalent to one-third (⅓), thirty-three hundredths (0.33), and thirty-three percent (33%). The students calculated there is still two-thirds (⅔), sixty-six hundredths (0.66) and sixty-six percent (66%) left of the 2020-2021 School Year. Time stands still for no active learner.
     While reviewing elements, atoms, molecules, and the four states of matter (solids, liquids, gases, and plasma), students were inflating balloons at home and placing them in refrigerators to discover how cold temperatures contract the room temperature of the air inside a balloon. What would happen if a twelve ounce can of diet Coke and a twelve ounce can of regular Coke were submerged in water? Would they float? Would they sink? Try it to determine something about density.
     While studying about the European explorers of the 15th Century and their encounters with the native people and cultures already present in the Western Hemisphere, students have been learning about presidential parties, electoral colleges, and Alexander Hamilton’s role as an author in the U.S. Constitution and as the first Secretary of the United States Treasury.   
     And while learning about Jesus’ ancestry through the Jesse Tree and in preparing the way of the Lord through Advent, fifth grade students have helped to sponsor the school Mass on Veterans’ Day as well as the December 5th Family Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent.
     Allow me to leave you with some seasonal words of gratitude from our fifth grade classroom:

     Julianna is grateful to be healthy especially around this time of year and thankfully, she doesn't get that sick when she gets sick.

     Ashlynn Elizabeth is grateful for her dog because she jumps and tries to come on the top of the bunk bed so she can pet her when she wakes up.

     Iyanuoluwa is thankful for books because they are so yummy and his brain loves eating them and he is thankful for his sister Eri, because she encourages him.

     Dante Xavier is thankful for his friends because they are all on a journey together and his friends are with him the whole time.

     James Michael is grateful to have nice downstairs neighbors because they are giving and helpful.

     Mahnoor is thankful for the "best stuff "(water) on Earth in her kitchen because it is so pure and clean and it is the cure for thirst.

     Andrew is thankful for his parents because they help him and buy things that he needs. They also are very nice and fun.

     Camilla is thankful for Ms. Batz because she was the best teacher and she's glad they were her first students to whom she ever taught gym.

     Emma Aniya Grace is thankful for the home that she lives in and the food before her.

     And Mr. Szewczyk is thankful for the nine bright, beautiful, curious,  and enthusiastic learners he gets to enjoy greeting and being with every school day.

Despite the wearing of protective masks and social distancing in the pews, Grade 5 assisted Father John in conducting their class Mass on the 14th of October. Student participants included Iyanuoluwa who presented a reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians, James Michael who read the Responsorial Psalm, and Emma Aniya Grace who read the list of our seven Intercessions. Fifth Grade Mass coincided with the first day of MAP testing that began with its section on reading. In their hearts, students must have felt God’s presence looking over their shoulders with an encouraging nod. Fortunately, all fifth grade students successfully completed the MAP testing on time with no need for make-ups. Overall, student attendance, whether in school or in Distance Learning at home, has been excellent.

In Religion studies, students are currently learning about the Sacrament of Baptism which frees us from sin and leads us into becoming the children of God. Through Baptism, we become members of the Body of Christ, also referred to as the Church. Future lessons in Religion studies will focus on the topics of Confirmation, Grace, and Faith.

In Language Arts class, students are presently reading about the strange eating habits of ants, owls, and snakes in the expository nonfiction of “Exploding Ants.” Students recently finished reading an inspiring biography on the late Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Student Ashlynn Elizabeth indicated through her writing that she wants to develop a strong, smart, and sharp confidence as evident in the Notorious RBG. Even Camilla has announced to the class her plans to become a lawyer and Mahnoor ambitiously wants to be the President of the United States one day.

In Grammar, students are closely examining language to understand the purposes and uses of all of its intricate components. In our Voyages grammar books, the class is focusing on the wide variety of adjectives and their applications. Students are continuing to explore how language operates which in turn they are effectively implementing into their scary stories that shadow Halloween themes. All students get to share their writings and are guided into how to compliment and strenthen fellow budding writers. In spelling, the words of the week use the prefixes /under/, /out-/, /super-/, /over-/, and /sub-/. Fifth grade students understand that to be an outstanding super-speller, they must possess an overachieving desire to memorize the spelling vocabulary in all subjects.

When students arrive at Homeroom, they begin each day working on the assigned section of the Daily Math Practice packet. After morning prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and announcements, students check and discuss the problems and solutions in that packet. This is just one of their many daily academic routines. In Saxon Math, students study and practice an array of concepts and skills along with the basic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Currently, students are recognizing halves in fractions, understanding the placement of parentheses with the associative property, listing factors of whole numbers, and accepting the challenge of the division algorithm. And as the days of the season continue, students are often asked to determine the ever-changing elapsed time of daylight and nighttime to acquire a hint of our proximity to the first day of winter.

In Science, the class began the school year exploring astronomy with particular emphasis on our planetary home, Earth. If asked the whereabouts of the largest ocean, you might think the answer is the Pacific Ocean. However, fifth grade student Dante researched and discovered that the largest ocean is located on the planet, Jupiter, which greatly surprised his classmates and teacher. At home, students used sponge ball spheres and flashlights to demonstrate how the rotation of the Earth results in our daily 24 hours of day and night. Students were also provided with small aluminum trays with transparent plastic tops, sponges, and grass seeds to build a model biosphere of Earth. A poem titled “Home Sweet Sphere” accompanied the project to drive home the idea why Earth is that unique planet in the solar system that supports life. Now, the class is learning about matter, mass, elements, and though they are not visible even with a microscope, students are exercising their scientific faith that through the atomic theory, atoms do exist.

In Social Studies, students are presently reading about the Native Americans of the Southwest, the Eastern Woodlands, the Plains, and the Northwest. As the students study the history and culture of these native groups, they are also reminded and guided to reflect on their own family backgrounds as being an integral part of a living culture within our society at large. During this national and global pandemic, we have learned that history is not just something that happened in the past, but exists and surrounds our present day lives. We all are an actual living part of history as we help make history happen everyday.

My goal as a fifth grade teacher is to help make every student a critical thinker, a comprehensive reader, an active writer, a curious researcher, a precise mathematician, an inquisitive scientist, and a humble factual historian with a heart. In general terms, I want all of my students to be a lover of learning and to embody a meaningful depth of understanding, compassion, and respect for all others.

Here is the poem, “Home Sweet Sphere”, that describes and honors our planetary home.

We all share a great big sphere,
It’s the Earth sphere, it’s the biosphere,
It’s the great big globe of life.

New Jersey is located on the Northern Hemisphere
giving us
autumn in September,
winter in December,
spring in March,
and the summer Sun in June.
New Jersey is also located on the Western Hemisphere
giving us daylight
when it’s nighttime in China.

We all breathe, fly kites, and jump in the atmosphere,
it’s that net of air that surrounds the Earth.
We all hike, climb, and kick rocks on the lithosphere,
it’s those solids like sand, soil, and stones in Earth’s crust.
We all drink, swim, and bathe in the hydrosphere,
it’s the H2O that makes up three-fourths
of the Earth’s surface
as well as our own bodies.

We all share a great big sphere,
It’s the Earth sphere, it’s the biosphere,
It’s the great big globe of life.

 

October 2020 Newsletter

The above recess Sunrise was drawn by fifth grade student, Dante.
September 17, 2020

     "Remember the people who love you and send you to school each day" is the first rule in our fifth grade classroom. Each day I will be teaching and guiding the students as if they were my very own children. My name is Michael Szewczyk and the last name is pronounced 'chef-chick'. My post-secondary educational background began at Middlesex County College where I later transferred to Rutgers University to earn a Bachelors of Arts of Social Work. At Kean University, I acquired certification in Elementary Education and later received there a Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies with a concentration in literature. While studying at Kean, I also fulfilled the graduate coursework for certification in the Teaching of English as a Second Language. Through the graduate school of Fairleigh Dickinson, I completed the required coursework for the Orton-Gillingham program that utilizes a multi-sensory approach in addressing learning disabilities, particularly dyslexia.

     After more than 32 years of teaching, I retired from the Irvington Public Schools where I believe I learned as much from the students whom I taught. One memorable English Language Arts supervisor repeatedly said, "Every subject is a reading subject." In other words, all learning is interwoven and connected. Nothing exists in isolation. Here at school, the fifth grade uses a rich textbook anthology of literature that will help students improve their skills and strategies related to comprehension, vocabulary, word usage, grammar, and spelling. Students will also be reading entire novels on a weekly basis for the mere pleasure of reading. Poetry will have an omnipotent presence in instruction for it fosters literary appreciation, confidence, fluency, and academic enthusiasm. Daily writing will be encouraged and assigned in all subjects and students will become responsible for maintaining individual portfolios, notebooks and journals.

     For the second time in my professional career, I am teaching Religion, an area that reflects the power, strength, and immortality of the Word. I am excited to continue this journey with students in hope that they, too, discover the poetry, the messages, the teachings, and the inspiration abundantly found in the Bible.

    In Mathematics, students have begun recognizing patterns and practicing fundamental math operations using the Saxon series textbook. Other concepts that students have been working on include ordinal sequence, place value, odd and even numbers, comparing and ordering numbers, determining elapsed time, and understanding the reciprocal relationship between addition and subtraction. 

    In teacher workshops over the years, I have often heard, "science is a verb." We live in a physical world and understanding the processes and science behind this world becomes more tangible when students interact with it up close while engaging in hands on activities. The Interactive Science book will help frame our academic direction and goals and serve as the catalyst for the topics of study and projects we complete during the school year. In Science, we have begun our focus on the solar system.

    In Social Studies, another major reading subject, students will be studying the history, land, government, and people of our nation. Current events will often be raised and discussed in class, especially topics related to the environment and technology. Instruction will also be devoted to learning about the vibrant town of Carteret as well as the pivotal state of New Jersey.

    Parents are the most important teachers of their children. I am honored and privileged to be your child's fifth grade teacher. I look forward to working with you to make your child's learning experience one that is positive, successful, and memorable. If you need to reach me, just send a note in to school with your child or e-mail me at  mszewczyk@sjps.net. For now, let me share with you a poem that fifth grade student, Mahnoor was inspired to write after reading a poem by William Carlos Williams.

So much depends upon ...
the awakening at dawn
the clouds up there
so proud, so high
up above the calling sky
and just as yesterday
there must be no delay
to start what we call today.

SCHOOL CALENDAR for JANUARY 2021

January 4 to January 8 (Monday to Friday)
Remote Learning for all students

Wednesday, January 6
Faculty Meeting, 2:30 P.M.

Friday, January 8
12:00 Dismissal

Monday, January 11
Mid-term Exam for Social Studies

Tuesday, January 12
Mid-term Exam for Science

Wednesday, January 13
Mid-term Exams for Math and Religion
Virtual H.S.A. meting @ 7:00 P.M.

Thursday
Mid-term Exam for Science

Friday, January 15
No School, Bishops' Holiday

Monday, January 18
No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Thursday, January 21
Dress Down Day

Friday, January 22
End of 2nd Marking Period

Sunday, January 31
Beginning of Catholic Schools Wee
10:30 A.M. Mass at Saint Joseph Parish
All are welcome!

Catholic Schools Week
Januar 31, 2021 -- February 6, 2021

(The following three lines are from a song written by a Native American ruler of the 1500s named Nezahualcoyotl. Students were asked to write a fourth line to the song lyrics.)

Even the Aztec and Inca are Conquered

Even jade is shattered,
Even gold is crushed,
Even quetzal plumes are torn …

Even trust is withdrawn,
Even silver is smashed,
Even land is taken,

Even gold will not rust,
And even bricks are broken,
Even the Aztec and Inca are conquered,

We must be strong with each other,
but we will fight together till the end.

Grade 5
January 4, 2021



I Wish ..........

I wish to be rich because I want to give it to the poor.
I wish to become an actor next year because I want to be like my favorite 
          actor.
I wish I will be a nice man at all time because it could earn me friends and a
          good life.
I wish to see God in my after life because I want to see that He is real and
          see His son.
I wish that dinosaurs were still alive because my dream is to see a live
          dinosaur one day.
I wish o ride a horse again soon because I love to ride horses and I know
          how to ride them.
I wish to be a MLB player when I grow up because I love to play baseball
          because it is super fun to me.
I wish for knowledge because I would like to understand and have the       
          judgement of what is right and wrong.
I wish to have more pets in my house because I love animals and I want to
          learn how to learn to take care of animals.
I wish the vaccines for the Corona virus are highly effective and eventually
          masks and social distancing will disappear and students will attend
          school in-person full time.

A Collective Effort
Grade 5
December 4, 2020



School Prayer for Lunch

Dear Lord,

Thank you for this meal we are about to receive.
Please help those who don't have a meal on their plate.
Thank you for the pure water we are about to drink.
Please help quench everyone's thirst.
Thank you for letting us come to school to be with other children.
Please help other children get the chance to return to school.
Thank you for this day in hope that one day we will not need to wear
     a mask.
Please keep our lives clean, whole, and safe. Amen.



So Much Depends Upon ...
(Inspired by William Carlos Williams)

So much depends upon
paying attention,
waiting your turn to speak,
being kind to all neighbors,
sharing snacks,
washing hands,
masking up,
physically distancing,
and loving your folks
before and after
you leave the house.

September 24, 2020

A Tradition Called Snow Shovel

       As the snow was to approach, the tradition that was passed on from northern generations to southern generations was taking place. As the Norman family were getting ready for the tradition, there were rules for them to establish. The tradition was called “SNOW SHOVEL”. The title is the rules. It is a challenge between the entire family. Although the snow was fun for the children, the parents didn’t feel the same. So that is why their oldest ancestors made this tradition. It is to mainly get the kids to shovel away the snow so the parents can have their beautiful green grass and deep blue sky. Tomorrow was the day of the “SNOW SHOVEL”.
       Mom, dad, Annie (sister), and David (brother) had all chosen their shovels. The days were getting colder and everyday was a new shiver. There were two teams. The parents were on team Python and the children were on team Ostrich. The children really wanted to win so they went to get supplies from the nearest store, a pharmacy. Of course there wasn’t much there, so they began to get hungry. They went to the nearest restaurant and then they heard a shatter and saw a few pieces of broken glass.
       A waitress called out, “SORRY! SORRY! PLEASE EXCUSE THIS INTERRUPTION!"
       Then on their way out they saw a group of people who were donating to a charity. So Annie and David also donated a few dollars. Then they began their journey home.
       The parents did not try at all in the “SNOW SHOVEL”. They always made an excuse half way through the game. The parents went inside, watched football, and ate chips. When Annie and David arrived home, they just relaxed and saved their energy for the game. Annie read a chapter of “Stone Fox” as David was doing his homework that was based on a hyphen. They went to bed and soon enough the Sun rose.
       To win you must astonish (the viewers). Everyone had to attach their belts and put their game faces on. The neighbor from across was the referee, but only because he was getting paid with a pumpkin pie. The neighbor said “3...2….1… GO!" The children began shoveling and so did the parents. The parents shoveled much much slower than the children. Not too long from when the game began the dad said, “I think I may have to go inside. Something happened to my leg and I can’t walk very much.” The dad began to pretend to limp to the inside and sat on the couch. Once he was inside he grabbed a bag of chips and the remote.
       In the middle of the race the children said, “What’s the prize?”
       The mother said, “Don’t worry about it. You’ll see”. Then mother said, “Oh, my back. It hurts very much. I can no longer participate. I guess you guys win." By the time the mother said that, the children were finished cleaning up all the snow.
       The parents both said, “Well, it looks like you won again. Your prize is a …… china cup!” The children looked at the parents strangely.
       The children both said, “What a great waste of time!"

Mahnoor
December 17, 2020



Snowflakes Fall In

When winter comes, I think of cool air
and snow and remember the words
of Robert FROST, “No surprise
for the writer, no surprise for the reader.”

During the winter, I think of Christmas
because it comes during December
when snow usually comes and the wind
is cold and Robert’s last name is “FROST”
and that, too, reminds me of the winter.

When winter comes, I see snow
and I see people wearing gloves, hats,
and other warm clothes
because it is a cold time of year.

When winter comes,
I hear Christmas carols
because people are filled
with Christmas joy and happiness.

When winter comes,
I smell the fresh cold and crisp air
because of the weather.

When winter comes,
I taste the small snowflakes that fall
and dissolve on my tongue.
It tastes quite like water
because when you go outside
to play with the snow or look
at the snow and the snow is still
falling, you look up and open
your mouth as the snowflakes fall in.

When winter comes, I touch the snow
because I usually go outside
during winter time and play with the snow.

When winter comes, I think about
Christmas and the cold weather
because this is the time of year
for the weather to get colder
and the time of year Christ was born.

Mahnoor
December 11, 2020

 

Thinking About All That Had Happened

For gym time I went outside for a deep breath of cool, crisp, and fresh air. Before I went outside I grabbed my binoculars. I went outside and took a seat on the swing. As I pushed off in the air I pulled up my binoculars. I was still swinging and I looked through the binoculars looking at the trees. One by one I was looking at every branch looking for birds. As the trees had no leaves, the branches had no birds.

  So I then decided to water my plants and water my mother’s plants. That’s when I heard shaking of leaves or shaking of a bush. I pulled up my binoculars to see what it was. I took a few steps closer. It was a ……. squirrel! Relieved, I went back to watering the plants. Lastly I just took a walk around the yard a few times, thinking about all that had happened.

Mahnoor
December 10, 2020

The Right Path

I wish for knowledge because I would like to understand and have the
            judgement of what is right and wrong.
I wish for more happiness because I want happiness that makes others
            happy around myself.
I wish for protection because I want to be protected from harm and from 
            the wrong people and places.
I wish for guidance because I want to be guided to the right path and make 
            the right decisions.
I wish for more curiosity because your curiosity can take you to places you
             can never imagine.
I wish for strength because that makes me hopeful and keeps everything
             together.

Mahnoor
December 4, 2020

 

Coder Z & Me

     Today, I had no problems at all with Coder Z. Everything went smooth and no errors. I was very pleased with the results. I was very stuck on a mission today. So I switched some of the codes. I had finally got it to work. I was relieved. I began some more missions and got through them pretty easy. Every week when I begin Coder Z, I learn something new on the topic of coding. I had a great experience today. Although sometimes I did need a little help, so I got some tips. I think that it is okay to take some tips sometimes. If you are really stuck, then use the tips the game provides. I also like to figure it out. I mean figuring it out is the point of Coder Z. I must say that the first few weeks with Coder Z was glitchy. Now everything has been going nicely. I hope that it continues this way.

Mahnoor
November 10, 2020
 

ABCmouse & Me

     I believe the first electronic device I ever touched and used as a child was a desktop computer. This was not my desktop computer, of course, it was my mother’s. I was in school this one evening in kindergarten and my teacher sent a letter to my mother. The letter was for a program you are probably aware of. The program was ABCmouse. I did not know how to use a computer. I wasn’t the best and most accurate at it because I was a child. I did not use it very often because my mother used it for studying. I began using it when I was around five or six years old. I would only use it for school purposes. This desktop computer is still in my house today. That desktop computer must be strong and old.

Mahnoor
November 10, 2020

Ten Things About Me

1) I enjoy writing books, stories, poems, or even a letter.
2) I unfortunately do not like pickles.
3) I like to write and speak in detail with my words.
4) I appreciate small gifts in the same amount that I appreciate big gifts. If       you give me a small handmade gift or even a card as a gift, I will     
     appreciate it as much as I would appreciate a desk or an electronic.
5) When I begin something, I will not stop until I am finished.
6) I am cooperative when working with other people.
7) I like to try something new.
8) I like to take photographs of many different things.
9) I like to add a little more effort in most things I do.
10) I like to experiment with things. I would say this is my least favorite     
       because compared to a few other things such as I like taking
       photographs.

Mahnoor
Grade 5
November 3, 2020

Two New Friends

     Andy’s family just moved from Boston to San Antonio, Texas. Andy was unhappy at his new school and wished he was with his friends in Boston. As he was riding home on the school bus, he was thinking about his friend, Mike, who was back in Boston. All of a sudden, Jose sat down next to him. Jose was in Andy’s class. They had played basketball at the Church of Notre Dame’s recreation center several times.*
     Andy didn’t notice Jose until Jose gave him a pat on the shoulder. Jose was also a new student.
     Jose said, “Hey, you look a little unhappy. Everything okay?”
     Andy looked over to his left and saw Jose. Andy said, “Uhm, hi, it's nothing. Everything is fine.”
     Jose had a feeling Andy was lying, but he didn’t want to question him too much. Jose decided to introduce himself.
     Jose said, “Okay then, well, I’m Jose.”
     Andy said, “Nice to meet you, Jose. I’m Andy.” Andy thought they were getting along quite well.
     Jose said, “I’m new and I came from Boston. It seems like you're new, too.”
      Andy said, “Really? I’m from Boston, too! I am new as well. I’m a big fan of basketball”
     Jose said, “I am also a big fan of basketball!"
     The two of them just made themselves a friend. From that moment on, they talked and discussed different topics everyday on the bus.

Mahnoor
November 2, 2020
*Taken from the Blest Are We book, page 97.


An Important Event in My Life

An important event in my life
was when I went to Canada,
an eight hour long drive.
When we arrived,
it was a relief.
We went there because
one of my cousins had died
a few weeks before we arrived.
My cousin was very nice
and helpful.
We went to Canada to see
his grave.
It was not a very joyful day.
You must keep in mind
that not all memories or events
are the joyful ones.

SHORT POEM:
Life is too short
for memories to export,
But what I do remember
was two years ago in December ...

Mahnoor
October 15, 2020


SO MUCH DEPENDS UPON

So much depends upon
the awakening at dawn
the clouds up there
so proud, so high
up above the calling sky
and just as yesterday
there must be no delay
to start what we call today

Mahnoor

My Interview

          I was in northern New York and I was going to the zoo made by Julie. I was going for my interview. I wanted to astonish them so I could be chosen. Once I got past the gates, I went to the southern part where the interview would be. I saw some cheetahs growling at ostriches. I went in their cages and comforted them.
          Then I saw why they were growling. They were not growling at the ostriches. They were growling at a python that found its way into their cage. I brought an empty bottle made from the pharmacy I just went to.The python's strong grip and long body was going to be a challenge. I made the bottle shatter on the python’s head and it slithered away.
          Julie saw everything and was amazed. She said that I didn’t need to do the interview because I was already hired. I punched a fist in the air happily. I was on my approach to making my dream come true.

Iyanuoluwa
December 17, 2020



Prayer Unites Us as Families

One of the beliefs I want
to pass down is on every holiday
is that everybody takes turns praying.
We always do it.
I like it especially since it is
something that contributes to God.
It gives us a chance to tell
each other what is on our minds.
I believe in it because it
unites us as families.
I love praying to God
because it makes me feel better.
It all depends upon a fiery God
who will protect you with his rod
and give you everlasting water
so you can stop with the blabber
and make fresh new days in heaven.

Iyanuoluwa
December 8, 2020



A Good Life

I wish I will be a nice man at all times because it could earn me friends and
            a good life.
I wish I will be the best soccer player ever because it will give me lots of 
            money for bills and charity.
I wish cheetahs do not go extinct because they are fast animals, but         
            cruelly treated by farmers.
I wish I can get four scholarships in biology, zoology, soccer, and 
            mathematics and maybe philosophy because it will mean I am very                smart and everyone will be proud of me. I won’t even have to pay for
            college, right?
I wish everyone would be nice because there is enough cruelty in this world
            already.
I wish for everyone’s wishes to come true because you matter, too.

Iyanuoluwa
December 4, 2020



Come Along

Rainy days
mainly are in May,

but in this time of year
it gives me fear,

Global warming
is bad for farming,

We better stop
before we are caught
by the nature cops,

Take care of Earth
so that at our baby’s birth

there will be no greenhouse effect,
and this Earth will be correct,

Come along and help me out,
so we can take the right route

and help all creatures,
to put them in the right feature,

Help me use solar energy,
then we can have a better century.

Iyanuoluwa
November 13, 2020


Ten Things About Me

1) I am a very good soccer player. Try me and I will make you leave with a         good report.

2) I love ANIMALS. I can name almost every single animal in the world,              (Well, maybe not everything, but most of them.) because I love them. So       sad that several of them are about to go into extinction.

3) I also love dinosaurs. They lived millions of years ago though. I still like         them because they look ferocious and are very interesting.

4) I love the color blue. I liked the color yellow before though, but after my         sister was born, sometimes my Mom would take Eri outside with me             and I’d just look up gazing at the sky. That is how blue became my       
     favorite color.

5) I like speedy cars even though it is kind of dangerous. I especially like   
     one car called the Supra. It’s not the fastest one, but I still like it. I wish I
     was old enough to drive.

6) I like video games. I have so many I can’t even count them all. My fingers
     are fast on the keyboard and on controllers.

7) I really like comedies, especially when I’m sad. Some of them can make
     you laugh until you cry.

8) I honestly dislike chores.Yep, I do, even though I have a trick that rids me
     of them. Just make sure you do them for like an hour or so. Your
     parents will probably just take over, or say you don’t know how to do it.

9) I hate anything that has beyond 27 grams of sugar. It is way too sweet         for me.

10) I like comforting crying people. It makes me feel good. I wish I could
       have a service dog.

Iyanuoluwa
November 3, 2020


It's a Good Old Dream
(Inspired by Walter Dean Myers)

Love that poem
like a bird loves to fly,
I said I love that poem
like a bird loves to fly,
Love to read it in the morning
and I'd call everybody
in the morning and I'd say,
"Read it with me."

It's a good old poem
that keeps me alive,
I said it's a good old poem
that keeps me alive,
I keep it with me everyday
and I make sure
everybody reads it.

Iyanuoluwa
September 27, 2020

The Long Fun Day

       One day a little girl went to a charity event at a pharmacy store with her mom. Her mom wanted to go because she could bid on ostrich eggs and china plates for her collection and maybe a hook that can attach on to the inside of the car to hang things on it like clothes. All of the compassion sent a shiver down her back. A fake python plushie was there and she found it very interesting.
       There, people could challenge themselves in games to win prizes. On the invitation letter it said it would astonish you and it kind of did a little bit. They even had a blanket making place where her dad made one from his ethnic background and the colors on their flag and put them into one big blanket.
       There was a southern tea tasting there ,too. They had made a new southern tea and wanted to establish it across the globe. It also had a witch that you could approach and try to get candy from. The little girl saw her friend there and she dared her to shatter a china plate, but she didn't do it although she did shatter one.
       The little girl lives in the north and there it started to snow and it was very cold outside. When they got home, they had to shovel the snow. At home, she read a chapter of a book she had gotten at the pharmacy store and in one of the sentences they used a hyphen for the number sixty-three. That night, they ate out and the little girl got to choose where to order from so they could eat at home. She had chosen the new restaurant that just opened across the street. Then after she ate, she went to bed after the long fun day she had.

Ashlynn Elizabeth
December 17, 2020



I Hear Kids Cheering

When winter comes, I think
of it snowing outside
because I love to play in the snow.

When winter comes,
I see my family
because I love them.

When winter comes, 
I hear kids cheering
because Christmas Day
is near.

When winter comes,
I smell the delicious meal
for Christmas night
because it is time
to eat with family.

When winter comes,
I taste the delicious food
that my mom cooked
because she is the only one
who cooks the dinner
because she said so.

When winter comes,
I touch the ones I love
and it is great
because I love them
so very much.

When winter comes,
I think of how happy
people are because they get
to see what I got them
for Christmas and I love
to give people gifts.

Ashlynn Elizabeth
December 11, 2020



I Love Bears

I wish to ride a horse again soon because I love to ride horses and I know 
            how to ride them.
I wish to get an A+ in Math because I would like to get my grade up in 
            Math.
I wish that I can become a science teacher because I love to tell people
             what to do and I love to be with younger kids.
I wish to go to the beach with one of my friends because I love to hang out
              with my friends.
I wish to succeed with raising awareness with bears because I love bears
              and I don’t want them to become a distant memory.
I wish to make some more poems because I love to write and because I like
               to describe things.

Ashlynn Elizabeth
December 4, 2020

On My Way to Dance

Poem 1

It all depends upon
a galloping horse
beside bronze train tracks
glazed with raindrops

Poem 2

The horse can walk
The horse can run
The horse can do
what she wants

Poem 3
It all depends upon
the gray wolf
beside a tree
with her playful pups

Poem 4
It all depends upon
the rushing cars
on the bridge
the roaring waves
into the sand
crunching leaves
at the autumn season

Poem 5
It all depends upon
the harsh wind
the brown sticks
and the falling leaves

Poem 6
It all depends upon
the warm summer sand
the cool clear water
and the squeaking dolphins

Poem 7
It all depends upon
iron bars
the roaring lions
at the zoo
the growling bears
climbing the trees
and the speeding cheetahs
across the field

Poem 8
It all depends upon
the sun shining bright
the air that fills
the atmosphere
and the rocks
we kick in
the lithosphere

Ashlynn Elizabeth
November 10, 2020


Reaction to Reading WHO IS RUTH BADER GINSBURG
Pages 80 to 103

I feel Ruth Bader Ginsburg is very smart and mysterious because you don't know what the Notorious RBG is going to do next. I want to be like her when I grow up and not be afraid of what other people have to say about my opinion or what I say at all. RBG was fearless, strong, kind, and caring and she helped women with having equal rights while at the same she taught law at Rutgers University. I think she was a great, great, great lawyer and Supreme Court Justice. I wish to be more like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and help people when they need help.

Ashlynn Elizabeth
October 27, 2020


Dear Camilla, Julie, and Mahnoor,

I wish we could meet, but we can't.
If we could, there would be so much
I would want to talk to you about.
I wish we could meet soon.
Enjoy the rest of your day.

Classmate,

Ashlynn Elizabeth
Grade 5
October 5, 2020


It All Depends Upon ...
(Inspired by William Carlos Williams)

It all depends upon
darkness and light
day and night
from stars to sky
so high and proud
thank you and
good night

Ashlynn Elizabeth
Grade 5

God Treats Us Equally

I wish to see God in my after life because I want to see that he is real and
            see his Son.
I wish to become a lawyer because I like to solve things and I watch a lot
            of shows where they have lawyers and it interests me.
I wish to become a good artist because I love art and I want to improve.
I wish to see my grandfather because I haven't seen him for seven years
             and I miss him, but I can't see him until my life comes to an end and
             I can go see him in heaven.
I wish to have world peace because I love to make peace and I want to
             make the world peaceful.
I wish that poor people can have homes and money to buy their needs
             because the poor are people like us and they should get treated 
             right.
Everybody is human and should be treated equally like God treats us equally.

Camilla
December 4, 2020



Dear Father John,

       I really like doing art and music. Music is really fun to dance to and listen to and I sing if you’d like. to hear me. People say I have a nice voice whenever I sing, but I always get scared when I sing. When I build up my confidence to sing, I stop stuttering and feel better when singing.
       The same is true for art. I’m scared to make a drawing for someone and they might hate it, but then I realize I shouldn’t care what other people think. I’m also a pretty shy kid.
       My friends always say I have a sense of humor. I guess if you get to know me better I won’t be that shy because I’m used to talking to you. I’m also pretty calm when I’m doing something.
       When I grow up I want to be a lawyer. My mom and grandma say I have strong opinions even though I’m a shy kid.
       My favorite color is a light blue or yellow.
       I am also Ukrainian. I understand Russian so you can talk to me in Russian or Ukrainian if you know the language.
       My favorite animal is a cat or a bird. That's all from me about me for now, so I hope you have a great day with everyone else and stay safe! Wash your hands of course.

Camilla
Grade 5
November 9, 2020



A Prayer for Thanksgiving

Dear God,

       Thank you for life, our health, the oxygen, our clothing, shelter, water, food, teachers, family, and friends. Even though we are going through rough times, I keep my Lord in my heart and praying that he keeps my family and me safe. What I’m most grateful for is God and Jesus Christ because they protect us. Jesus sacrificed himself for us. I have been grateful every year ever since I’ve heard of him and God. I know we can get through these rough times together. We just need to keep our heads up, keep our masks up as well, wash our hands, and most importantly, don’t keep your hands by your face. Now please stay safe and take care of yourself. What I like to say a lot is “Love yourself” and can you do that? Yes you can.

Camilla
November 25, 2020



I Still Have Those Memories

The most important event 
that happened in my life
is my grandfather taking me
to the zoo when I wasn't feeling my best.
He carried me and even picked me up
when I couldn't see the animals.
We ate together and also
went horseback riding.
I still have those memories with him
when I was younger,
from ages one to five.

Camilla
October 21, 2020

Dreams

As I fall asleep,
I will fall down
into the world
inside my head
into my dreams
called imagination.

Using my brain
is like playing
a video game.
Anything can happen
in that brain
of yours.

You can talk
to animals
or be dancing
on the moon.
You can kick
a soccer ball into Mars
and ride on dinosaurs.

Also, you can
hit a baseball
across the world
and be in a movie
with your favorite
movie characters.

You can interact with
famous poets and hear
what they have to say.
You can make a whole
crowd laugh and cheer you on.

The best thing about dreams
is that when they end,
you can tell your family
and friends about
what you have dreamt.

Dante Xavier
January 6, 2021

 

These Can Be Challenging Times

          When it snows, you need a shovel. If you need one, do not approach the pharmacy. I might have established this a lot, but it is snowy for me right now in the month of December. You can get snow from southern and northern parts of the world, but some might have more. Places with a python or an ostrich or two might have snow as well because I am certain they might. When stuck in your house, just read a chapter or three in "Charlotte's Web" and see what happens. Draw a picture and astonish yourself after the work you have done. I have chosen what I will do and it is something that will be nice. I can wash my china dishes and donate them to charity. Attach your feelings to others in need. If it is cold and you see people shiver in the cold, give them a jacket for free. Do some math problems with a hyphen so you can educate yourself. These can be challenging times, but it will be fine in the end.

Dante Xavier
December 17, 2020


 

Many Reasons to Be Happy

One important belief I have been taught is about God. God is our creator and He sent His son, Jesus, to Earth to save us from sin. God gives us so many things. He gives us life, health, love, and many reasons to be happy. We should acknowledge all this and praise Him always.

Another important belief I have learned is to be kind to people. It is important to be kind to others because it is how I would like to be treated. Being unkind can hurt a person and make them sad. It is not showing God’s love. We should always try our best to be kind to each other.

One last important belief I have learned is to love and care for our family members. We like to spend time with each other. We are very loving to each other and we like to help out. I think that God likes that we are very caring. 

These are some of the things that have been taught in my family from generations. I hope to teach these things to my children some day.

Dante Xavier
December 8, 2020



                           If We Could Go Back to the Way Things Were

I wish that dinosaurs were still alive because I have always wondered what
            it would be like to live among them. I wish I can own a parrot one   
            day because birds are the descendants of dinosaurs.
I wish I could meet Chris Pratt some day because he is one of my favorite
            movie actors and I enjoyed Jurassic World, Guardians of the 
            Galaxy, and the Lego movies.
I wish that the human lifespan would be longer because it would be nice to
            see people around longer and enjoy our time together.
I wish a cure for COVID-19 becomes available soon because it would be
            great if we could go back to the way things were before the
            pandemic.
I wish poachers would stop hunting and killing animals for their skin and
            meat because God gave us a mission to protect His creation which                is being destroyed by this behavior.

Dante Xavier
December 4, 2020



Thoughts on Computers, Electronics, and Technology

Computer class was fun and I enjoyed every bit of it. I like programming from Coder Z, but it gets glitchy, boring, and hard sometimes. I wouldn't be surprised if the program is really old because of how glitchy it is. It can get boring because sometimes when you do something wrong you have to start over and you don't know what to do. It can be hard because when you try adding, it gets hard because you don’t know what's coming.

My favorite electronic device is a video game console because I like to play video games, especially during the pandemic. I think it can relax people's minds. Another reason I like video games is because they have fantasy or real life events that can help you or inspire you to create a video game. Video games can be entertaining. They can be funny, sad, scary, and frustrating. The last reason I like video games is because they help you take a break from real life and chill and relax like a movie, except you control what is happening in the story elements.

My family uses technology daily. My mom needs her phone and computer to do her work. She calls her job for meetings and needs the calculator on her phone to check numbers on the computer. My dad uses technology to check the news and call my mom to check if she and I are okay. I use technology to do school work and also entertain myself from boredom. We use technology every day.

Dante
Grade 5
October 27, 2020

The School Day It Snowed

          When gentle snow stated to fall, I was astonished I did not actually think it would snow. I knew in a couple hours I would need to shovel the driveway. It would seem that Mother Nature has chosen New Jersey to see snow. I knew the northern region would have much more snow although it would be cold. I was almost to the next chapter of my book under a warm blanket. when it started snowing. I know this description is short, but I donated toys for charity and to be attached in memory to the snow.

James
December 17, 2020



I Want to Touch the Moon

I wish to be rich because I want to give it to the poor.
I wish to be 18 because I want to learn how to drive.
I wish for my parents to never age because I want to be able to visit them.
I wish to be immortal to damage because I want to join the military and not
            be hurt.
I wish to have super speed because I want to run fast.
I wish to jump really high because I want to touch the moon.

James Michael
December 4, 2020

I Like When People Say Nice Things to Me

          It is important to be respectful to others because it might hurt their feelings. If you think that you are saying something mean or not nice, then do not say it. Remember, if you will not like someone saying the same bad thing that you said, then do not say it.
          I like when people say nice things to me, so I try not to say mean things. I do not think that others' appearance are funny either. The only time I get mad at someone or say mean things to them is when I am frustrated or when they annoy me. In Aesop's story, the Lion makes fun of the Mouse because he is little, but in the end the Mouse is the one that saved him.

Andrew
December 14, 2020



My Most Important Beliefs

My beliefs are that we have 
to be kind to one another
and we have to care for others.
I have to love and respect my parents 
and learn from them 
when they tell me to do something. 
My belief in God is that Jesus 
is our savior and that he died 
on the cross to take away our sins. 
I believe that God created the Earth 
and we go to heaven after we die. 
I believe that when we die 
we will see Jesus. 
That is why I try to do 
what Jesus wants me to do. 
That is what my parents 
and teachers have taught me.
I also listen to what the priest says 
at Mass and I learn from him. 
Those are my most important beliefs.

Andrew
December 8, 2020
 

A Home Run

I wish to become a MLB player when I grow up because I love to play 
            baseball because it is super fun to me.
I wish to have more friends to play with at home because I am sometimes                bored or lonely.
I wish I could learn how to drive because I love playing car video games.
I wish I had a million dollars because it would be nice to have things to buy. I wish my cat was alive because he was my best friend.
I wish I could hit a home run over the fence in baseball because my Dad   
            would be super proud of me.

Andrew
Grade 5
December 4, 2020

Nobody Wants to Get in Trouble

          It’s important not to judge a person by their abilities and appearance because if you judge them and other people, they might not want to be your friend. They probably would not even talk to you because they are either afraid that you might judge them because they are not wearing the latest fashion or that you're not wearing the new shoes that just came out.
          They might tell the principal that you're making fun of them and I know nobody wants to get in trouble with the principal. If you got in trouble with the principal at my old school, then you know that you did something really bad. The principal at my old school was so nice that if you accidentally hit somebody or you hurt somebody on accident, then she would be so very kind and give you a warning not to do it again.

Emma Aniya Grace
December 14, 2020

 

I'm So Happy I Could Snowboard

          Today is a snow day and it was a challenge because we weren’t allowed to go to school today and I like school. I had to shovel my car out and my porch. It was fun to play in the snow but I was astonished that there was so much snow outside. My mom might have to go to CVS pharmacy today because she needs to get her medicine.
          I had chosen to go snowboarding because I love to snowboard. I’m so happy that I could snowboard this year because last year it didn't snow at all. This year, maybe I can get Ashlynn's dog and tie her to our sleds and her dog could pull us down the hill by my house.
          Today I almost shattered somebody's window because I was snowboarding and someone was snow-blowing all their snow at me and I couldn’t see. So, I tried to stop but I almost crashed into their window.                    That's what happened so far on this very snowy December 17th, 2020.

Emma Aniya Grace
December 17, 2020



I Want to See My Grandma

I wish to become an actor next year because I want to be like my favorite 
            actor.
I wish to get a new phone for Christmas because my phone is my mom’s
            old phone and it just stopped working.
I wish to have a seafood boil with my grandma because I really want to eat
            seafood and I want to see my grandma.
I wish to get a lot of presents for Christmas because last year all I got was
            clothes.
I wish to never have to wash dishes again because I was washing the
            dishes and I saw a bird come flying into my window and I got scared
            and dropped the dish and it broke.
I wish that I could start a slime making business with my best friend
            Ashlynn because then she can come over to my house everyday
            after school and she can practice making slime.

Emma Aniya Grace
December 4, 2020
 

Sacrifices a Kid My Age Could Make

A kid my age could give their money
that they had for ice cream to a homeless person.
They could also buy a homeless person food
or a drink so that a homeless person doesn’t waste
the money on something useless.
A kid my age could give food to a food pantry.
They can also help out at a food pantry
by packing and delivering food
to people who don’t have enough food.
A kid my age could help out at an animal shelter.
They can buy food for the animals
and they could help walk the animals and feed them.
A kid my age could also help a homeless person
get up from the ground.
These are just some sacrifices a kid my age
could makefor the good of someone else.

Emma Aniya Grace
November 16, 2020