March 2016 Panther Pen

Saint Pius X School
PANTHER PEN
Dear SPX Families,
Our 2nd annual Family Service Night took place on Wednesday, February 24th. The
evening was wonderful and the families in attendance helped SPX support some very
worthy organizations. It was a wonderful sight to see so many of our families
come together to give back to the community. We were able to donate 45 blankets to My
Very Own Blanket, 515 sandwiches to St. Lawrence Haven, 100 activity bags to
Nationwide Children's Hospital and over 100 personal care bags to the HEART food
pantry. We also donated 96 bags of food that will be distributed to local school
children. Many dogs at the animal shelter will be happy to play with their new toys made
out of donated t-shirts. Thank you again to all those who helped out!
We recently learned that 9 or our 8th grade students were awarded Merit Scholarships to
continue their Catholic School education at Bishop Hartley High School.
These
scholarships are awarded based on student achievements in academics, service to school,
parish and community, participation in extra-curricular activities, and leadership within the
classroom, school, church and/or community. The scholarships acknowledge the impact
these students will make on the six pillars of BHHS: Faith, Preparation, Service,
Community, Spirit and Leadership. Congratulations to our 8 th graders! We plan to publish
names once we receive all scholarship awards.
March 2016
Special points
of interest:
 From the Principal
 Pizza with the
Pastor
 March Calendar
 Teacher Inserts
 Veterans Outreach Flyer
 And more!...
Re-registration
Re-registration forms were due back to the school office February 12. Please return the form indicating whether
your children will or will not be returning to SPX as soon as possible. An accurate enrollment number is needed
to plan next school year’s budget.
Please keep in mind that the deadline to apply for Diocesan Financial Assistance for the 2016-17 school year is
rapidly approaching. Applications must be completed by visiting www.factstuitionaid.com by March 15, 2016.
There is a $30.00 fee for the application, taxes must be filed and verified and the students must be re-registered
for the 2016-17 school year. Families receiving assistance from Saint Pius X School for the current school year
must apply for Diocesan assistance to be considered again for assistance from the school.
Please feel free to contact Mrs. Winkel with any re-registration or financial aid questions or concerns.
Page 2
Saint Pius X School
Congratulations to our students who earned “Pizza with the Pastor” for
February. During the month of February, students from each homeroom in grades
1st, 2nd and 3rd were chosen to have a pizza lunch with Monsignor Funk on
February 24.
1-111
Ryhs M, Alexis K, Sophia G
1-113
Karli J, Iain O, Lauren I
2-112
Luke S, Eva G, Evie C
2-114
Mick T, Kristin B, Nick S
3-213
Hannah V, Micaila K, Landon C
3-214
Alex L, Audrey H, A.J. Sauer
Students in grades 7 and 8 will be chosen by their homeroom teachers in March
to enjoy Pizza with the Pastor on March17.
A Look Into
Kindergarten Lions, Tigers, and Bears
“Oh, My”
Valentine’s Day
We celebrated Valentine’s Day with many activities: graphed candy hearts, made valentines for
our 6th grade buddies, and practiced writing valentine sight words. Our 6th grade buddies also
helped us make our Valentines Boxes. We concluded our celebration with our last class party for
the year. We would like to give a special thank you to all our volunteers who helped with our
parties.
Although we did not have school on President’s Day we did want to learn about George
Washington and Abraham Lincoln. We read many books, watched two short biography videos,
played a sorting game on the SMARTBOARD and completed a Scholastic News- Let’s Find Out.
Math
We have now learned to write, count, and model numbers 11-19. We are working on mastering
our addition and subtraction facts 0-5 and beyond.
With the start of Lent this week, we learned about this new season of the Church. We are growing
closer to Jesus as we try to do good things for others, pray, and sacrifice. We are also praying the
Stations of the Cross together each Friday afternoon during Lent.
In reading, we are focusing on comprehension and fluency as we continue to grow as readers.
Students are really enjoying reading books independently and taking quizzes on Accelerated Reader.
We just completed one of our author studies on Kevin Henkes! Students loved getting to know him
through his funny stories and lively characters.
In math we are learning about place value and comparing numbers. We are still working hard on
addition and subtraction facts and strategies.
In Social Studies we learned the meaning behind President’s Day. We also studied American
symbols and what they mean to our country.
We just finished learning about the food groups and how to eat healthy meals as well as how to keep
our teeth healthy.
Second Grade News
We are excited to be in full preparation for the
Sacrament of the Eucharist. We will learn about the Last
Supper and learn how we are united with Jesus and one another through
the Eucharist. The study of the celebration of the Mass will be our focus during March.
We will practice full participation at Mass as we go to Mass once a week. We are
learning about Lenten practices and also participate in Stations of the Cross each
Friday afternoon with the rest of the school. Students who have not made their First
Reconciliation may do it at the School Penance Service on March 10.
In Math we are learning about money and counting coins.
We will tell time time to the five minutes on a digital and analog clock. There
are a variety of games on the school website for students to practice counting
money. Students have been advancing in Accelerated Math and many have just about
mastered addition and subtraction facts in Math Facts in a Flash using the ipads in
class.
In Language Arts we continue to read independently to take AR quizzes. A unit
on folktales will be our focus in Language Arts as we learn about different countries and
cultures as we read fables and folktales. We also will read fairy tales, fables and tall
tales in class. We will learn about author’s purpose, plot and theme, context clues, and
compare and contrast some different stories and themes in the genres. Students will
read a variety of tales before they are given the opportunity of writing their own tale!
While one class is doing folktales the other second grade will do state reports in
Social Studies and Language Arts. Then the work will be switched to the other class.
Our “Night in Green” projects are completed and we are looking forward to
having parents view and bid on our works of art! A Night in Green is on March 5.
Third Grade Times
Social Studies:
In Social Studies our students have
Arts:
been studying about important
American Citizens. They have
written reports and made a timeline
on an American Citizen of their own
choice.
Language
We are continuing to work on our
Daily 5 rotations . Our students are
setting their own goals and
strategies for the month. We have
learned how to spell words that are
homophones, variant vowels, and
plural words. Our grammar skills
Science:
In science, we are continuing our
have focused on complex sentences.
study of Physical Science. We are
Math
learning about heat, sound, light,
We have begun our study into
and electricity.
Fractions.
These chapters are
always fun for the students
Religion:
because we talk a lot about food!
Pizza, pies, brownies etc.,
We have just finished Ch 12, God’s
anything we can cut into pieces
Healing Love. We are reading a
is fair-game to use in our study
story each day from A Family’s
of ‘parts of a whole’.
Journey with Jesus through Lent. We
are talking a lot about God’s desire
to give us forgiveness. We just need to
ask for it.
Volume 2, Issue 7
2/19/16
Special points of
interest:
 Science fair informa-
tion will be sent home
on 2/29 in your
child’s Monday folder
 Jump Rope for the
Heart will take place
in gym classes this
week
 Wednesday, Feb. 24:
SPX Service Night
 Date: Ch. 5 Math Test
 For the next two
weeks, students and I
will work together in
grammar notebooks.
Grammar test on
2/26 over p. 21:
Learning this
Week:
Religion: Lenten unit
& Stations
ST PIUS X
Fun &
Learning in
4th Grade
Stations of the Cross
Last week, we unfortunately were unable to
have our class mass because of the school cancellation. Fortunately,
third and fourth graders
are putting on the next
Stations of the Cross on
Friday, February 26th.
Since Leah, Luke S., and
Logan were unable to
read at mass, I wanted to
give them an opportunity
to read at Stations.
Room 212 in charge of
reading Stations 9
through 12, so I will add
an additional reader to
our group of three– Katie!
These kiddos will each be
in charge of their own
station as noted:
Station 9: Leah
Station 10: Luke S.
Station 11: Katie
Station 12: Logan
In the mean time, if your
child is a reader, please
encourage him/her to
practice at home. Thanks
a billion!
I hope you can all come
experience the Stations
with us on the 26th at
1:45 in the chapel.
(See a picture of our
readers above)
Math: Chapter 5 test
on Wed. Feb. 24
Grammar: Run-on
sentences
Science: The
scientific method
Secret Student
Last week, the secret stu-
thing you saw someone do
that name a lot, and it is
dent was Anai! I really en-
this week?
my friend’s name.
joyed reading what Anai
LA: Number the
Stars Think-Tac-Toe
Writing: Class stories
New novel next week:
All About Sam
said about what makes her
special. It’s true– no one
SS: I saw someone help a
friend clean up their mess.
can be better at being you!
MA: If you could choose a
(And that’s true for every-
new name for yourself,
one!)
what would it be and why?
MA: What’s the coolest
SS: Nolan, because I like
MA: What are your plans
for this weekend?
SS: Play “Call of the Mini
Zombies” on my tablet
Guess who!
Mrs. Mangan’s March Panther Pen
Religion: Lent: This is a time for people to connect with Jesus and be truly sorry for not following His example. Let us practice being holy in our own way. Math: The students have put forth their “whole” effort into learning multiplication and division. Now they are working with a “fraction”: numerator, denominator, proper, improper and mixed numbers. Don’t stop there, please reduce. Will the students ever be “whole” again? Reading: The students tried Literature study. The stories were good, the vocabulary challenging and the content was good discussion. Ohio History: Ohio has moved people into the cities. Farming is still important but industry has changed the lives of many people. The students have learned that the good and not so good effect of a growing state. Health: We have talked about safety in our home, at school, and in our community. Students know that they can be helpful in many ways. 5th Grade News
In Religion class, 5th graders are focusing on ways we can make Lent a
time of renewal and make our faith stronger. We are also going to be beginning
our study of the sacraments.
We are finishing up our study in Math decimal division. Next we will
start our work with fractions.
Our study of space is coming to a close. We will have a game day in one
of our Science classes so that students can share and play the games they
created.
D.A.R.E. class has begun. Officer Fulton from the Reynoldsburg Police
Department teaches our students once a week about the dangers of drug,
alcohol, and tobacco use. She will give them strategies to use to help them
now and in the future to resist such behavior.
In Language Arts we are studying the genre of historical fiction. We are reading as a
class The Watsons go to Birmingham. We will be discussing the time period of the
1960’s and the hardships during the civil rights movement. We are also continuing to
add to our writing portfolio.
In Social Studies we are discussing the United States East of the Mississippi
River. Students will be identifying the industries and agriculture in each region. We
will also explain how the United States government‘s actions have affected the land
and people of the Unites States.
6th Grade: Mrs. Farrell and Miss Harting
In Science, the students are learning about rocks & minerals and
we will start the rock cycle soon. In Math A & B, the students are
converting between fractions, decimals, and percents in Chapter
4. Hopefully we will start Chapter 5, algebraic expressions, by the
end of March. In Religion, we will be talking about the Holy Spirit
and the Mystery of the Church. In Health, we are finishing up our
discussion on the dangers of tobacco. The students will have a
project at the end of the lesson. After we finish the lesson on
tobacco, we will discuss the dangers of alcohol.
In Language Arts, we read “The Gold Cadillac” by Mildred D.
Taylor and have been working on responses to the story.
Although pushed back a bit, our next story will be Blood on
the River, a novel by Elisa Carbone that takes place in
Virginia in the 1600s. Our next major writing project will be
research writing, so students will be learning to gather
information and cite reliable sources.
In Social Studies we will be continuing with the Eastern
Hemisphere, looking at Northern Africa, India, and China. We will
focus more heavily on the economic issues of these areas.
The Junior High Journal Important Dates: March 4 ­ No School March 5 ­ “Night in Green” in Gym at 7:00 PM March 12­13 Confirmation Retreat March 14 ­ Pi Day and Spring Pictures March 24 ­ End of Grading Period Language Arts Eighth grade students wrapped up Agatha Christie‛s classic mystery ​
And Then There Were None​
by
bringing the story into the 21st century. Through casting, altering for this century, and troubleshooting,
the students produced an updated version of the story. They also learned quite a few new vocabulary
terms and applied them to their own sentence creation.
After covering fragments, compound sentences, and run-ons, we will continue instruction of sentence
mechanics with comma, semicolon, and colon use. Ask your student what an AAAWWUBBIS is or what
FANBOYS are.
Accelerated Reading Goals must be meet by Thursday, March 24.
Remember to read – for fun – every night!!!
th​
The 7​
graders have finished up their second book about the Holocaust. They examined the
book in small book groups, ranging in size of three to six people. They will be creating a
magazine about their book and the Holocaust. S
​eventh grade will begin an English/grammar unit.
They will focus on the parts of a sentence that will improve their ability to vary sentence length and
structure. They recently completed short stories that I am just starting to read.
Accelerated Reading Goals must be meet by Thursday, March 24.
Remember to read – for fun – every night!!!
Mathematics Math 7A and 7B
Math 7A and 7B students are currently learning about unit rates, rates, ratios, proportions,
scale drawings, and similar figures. Following this unit, students will learn about finding percent
of a number, the percent proportion, the percent equation, percent of change, sales tax & tip,
discount, and simple interest.
Math 8B Pre-Algebra
Students in Math 8B Pre-Algebra are currently learning how to find rate of change, constant of
variation, slope, write and graph linear equations. Following this unit, students will apply their
knowledge of writing linear equations when they explore sets of real world data to find lines of
best fit. After finding lines of best fit, students will solve systems of equations using graphing
and substitution.
Math 8C Algebra 1
In Math 8C Algebra 1, students are currently learning how to multiply and divide monomials with
exponents, how to use rational exponents, multiplying and dividing with scientific notation,
graphing exponential functions, finding exponential growth and decay, and applying geometric
sequences. Following this unit, students will study polynomials and quadratic equations.
Religion 8th Grade Several important Confirmation dates are coming up! ● The Retreat is Saturday/Sunday March 12­13 at St. Peter & Paul Retreat Center. Your child received registration forms and information Tuesday 2/23, and they are due back soon, so please ask your child about it if you haven’t seen them already! ● The Sponsor & Candidate reflection is Sunday, May 1 at 2:30pm in the Church. ● MANDATORY rehearsal is Sunday, May 15 from 1:30­3:00pm. ● Confirmation Mass​
is Monday, May 16 at 7:00pm. Confirmandi & sponsors should meet in the gym at 6:15. Moving forward on the Church timeline, we are in the Middle Ages, when life on earth was so terrible for most people that they clung to the hope of heaven and a better life with Jesus. How did life circumstances shape people’s faith? How did the Church and society influence each other? Did you know that at one point the Pope lived in France? Or that at another point there were multiple people claiming to be Pope? Ask your child about these interesting aspects of Church history. Seventh Grade
How do you see Jesus? After weeks of consulting the Old and New Testaments, the Apostle‛s
Creed, and the Nicene Creed, students created Jesus Word Clouds to depict Jesus as
evidenced from our reading. They were able to describe Jesus using words, phrases, and shapes.
In conjunction with Lent, we talked about our call to almsgiving, prayer, and fasting in
preparation for the celebration of Easter. Students are keeping a Lenten Journal to track their
Lenten journey and its connection to the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. It will be due
on Holy Thursday.
Science Eighth­graders are becoming proficient with the new inclined planes, data minders, photo gates and constant speed carts in the lab. We’ve done labs asking them to calculate speed and acceleration and observed how an object moving in a straight line at a constant speed has no acceleration. Next we’ll explore conditions that affect motion, such as friction and Mass, using the air tracks (loud, but fun!) Quick! Name 5 elements on the Periodic Table of Elements! Can you? Your seventh­grader should be able to. Students will never be required to memorize the Table, but will become familiar with many elements during our study of chemistry. We’ll start with matter, atoms, and the organization of the Periodic Table, and eventually explore chemical changes and reactions. Social Studies Seventh Grade Social Studies
Currently in Seventh Grade Social Studies, students are learning about the expansion and
decline of the Roman Empire. They will learn about the rise and fall of the Byzantine Empire.
Following that unit, students will study the contributions of the Ancient Islamic Civilization and
the development of African Civilizations.
The 8th graders have been learning about the Revolutionary War. We are wrapping up this unit
and will students just finished Battles of the Revolution Booklets. We have dissected the
Declaration of Independence and its four very important parts. They have been learning about
the late 1700‛s a variety of ways including making timeline, pro-loyalist and pro-Revolution
posters, videos, songs, readings, famous documents and battle maps. This is one of my favorite
periods of U.S. history and the students are enjoying it as well! Next, we will learn about the
Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
Health Eighth­graders have looked at diet and exercise as part of building good health. This month, we look at the emotional and psychological aspects. Is all stress bad? (Spoiler! no). How do we cope with busy schedules and demands that come from many directions? How much sleep does a teenager really need? (Hint: more than 6 hours, less than 14). How can we support each other in managing our day, as called for by our yearly theme of “Everybody, Not Just Me” and our focus on empathy? Kleptomania ­ Panic Disorder ­ ADHD/ADD ­ Phobias ­ PTSD ­ Tourette’s Syndrome In conjunction with our school theme of “Everybody, Not Just Me”, seventh­graders are researching mental and emotional disorders in order to be compassionate and empathetic towards people living with them. Each student chose a mental/emotional disorder, researched and presented it to their classmates. Hopefully, as they have gained knowledge by their research, they have also gained insight into what a person with a mental/emotional disorder goes through. Once again, we had another wonderful art show.
Every student was represented and from these works
of art, I had the incredibly hard task of selecting 18
works to go to the Diocesan Art Show to be held at
Holy Spirit on Saturday, March 12th and Sunday,
March 13th from 12:30-4pm. I picked one piece
from each classroom so each class will have a representative in the show. I tried my best to give those
who have not
been
selected
previousl y
a
chance (I can’t
guarantee I didn’t
select any art
show alums...but
it’s hard to keep
track over the
years who’s gone
and who hasn’t.)
Back to our art
show, it was just
a great opportunity and self-esteem builder that I want as many people as possible experience.
I am pleased and honored that this year’s fundraiser will help benefit the Arts program we
have here (both Music and Fine Arts). I have
spent considerable planning and class time trying to develop lessons that help show how powerful of a tool technology can be in helping us
investigate, observe, organize, and create art.
One of my goals is to start developing an electronic portfolio, starting in the Junior High, and
use it not only to have a record of our work, but
to also have visual evidence of our journey and
progress as fine artists. There are also plans to
have a classroom digital camera set and additional art apps for the iPads. So thank you in
advance for your support in this wonderful annual event (and I’m not just saying that because
it involves me...but it helps).
Kindergarten through second grade students have
been discussing and reading about all the various
celebrations in February and March. This month we will be
reading books about Saint Patrick's day as well as
discussing Lent.
We are covering “Digital Citizenship” in all the
Media Skills Classes, grades 3 to 6. Third grade lessons
will involve topics such as being good digital citizens,
protecting oneself by thinking carefully about shared
information, and being an “Upstander” when it comes to
cyberbullying.
Fourth through sixth grade lessons include how to
identify the features of phishing scams and schemes.
Check out the bulletin board in the Media Center for our
Digital Citizenship Pledge.
The junior high will continue
to use their time in the Library
Media Center as a resource time
for Accelerated Math, Accelerated
Reading, research, and other
class work.
Music Notes
Kindergarten has been working hard on keeping the steady beat in music class. We’ve been working on keeping
the steady beat on different places on our bodies, while walking and moving around the room, and by playing
instruments to music. Loud/soft and fast/slow are constantly being reinforced throughout class as we begin
learning a new comparative: high/low.
1st and 2nd graders have been working on steady beat vs. rhythm. The month of March focuses on using the
rhythm syllables ta and ti-ti to read, write and sing rhythms. They are also using picture icons to read high and
low sounds. By the end of the year, they will be able to read, write and sing notes on the staff!
3rd grade has begun learning how to play the recorder! We start with the notes and fingers G and E as we review
lines and spaces on the staff. 3rd grade will begin Recorder Karate, a system of songs that progressively get
harder as they learn new notes and build upon what they have learned in the last song they mastered.
4th and 5th grade have really been moving along in their Recorder Karate unit! 4th grade is working on Twinkle
Twinkle Little Star for their Brown Belt and 5th is working on the very last song, Jingle Bells, for their Black
Belt and will soon be Recorder Karate Masters!
6th, 7th and 8th graders have been reviewing rhythm reading and note names on the staff and have been learning
classroom instrument parts to the hymn “Prayer of St. Francis”. First up are the tone chimes, then xylophones
and metalophones. We will be getting into reading notes in the bass clef as well reading chord charts and what
notes make up those chords. By the end, we will have a beautiful instrument ensemble to play as we sing the
hymn.
The Gold Choir will begin learning new songs as they prepare for a Spring Concert.
The Blue Choir will begin learning the songs required to participate in the All Diocesan Honor Choir set for
March 15th at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Grove City.
We are also working to have both choirs perform at a nursing home this Spring!
The Spring Musical this year is The Lion King, Jr.! Practices are well underway and the music and dancing are
looking great! Performance dates are April 15th at 7pm and 16th at 1pm in the SPX gym.
Please feel free to contact me by e-mail at [email protected]
Mrs. Karen Smith
Physical Education
Thank You!
Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart is wrapping up this week. I am so thankful for
the support of the St. Pius family. St. Pius has been such a strong supporter of The
American Heart Association for many years. I am so impressed with the number of
students who participated in the event. Thank you again for helping such a wonderful
cause!
Next Unit:
K-4 – Students worked very hard in the jump rope unit. I saw a lot of improvement in their technique and the
number of jumps they were able to accomplish. Juggling and dance will be the next units for the K-4 grades.
5-6 – Students will learn the fundamentals of floor hockey.
7-8 – We will finish our basketball unit, and move on to cooperative games.
Sarah Hennessey
[email protected]
February 26, 2016
This month in Spanish…
Kindergarten learned family vocabulary words and used them to create a special
gift for their families! This month, we are going to learn classroom object vocabulary
and use our own classroom to help!
First grade had a great time learning transportation vocabulary. They did
movements and even heard a cool song! Something else the first graders have been
practicing is counting! We are up to number 59! Our next unit will be animals.
Second grade had a great parts of the body review! Now we are working on our
food unit. We started with food groups and moved on to the marketplace. We will
start learning food vocabulary words next. There is a special menu activity, too!
Third grade After our parts of the body review, we started learning animal
vocabulary. Not only are the third graders learning the words, they are discussing
the diets and habitats of the animals as well. There is a lot of great discussion in this
unit! We will be working on this for the next month.
Fourth grade actually learned sports vocabulary in February and now we have
moved on to animals. In our sports lessons, the students discussed rules and
characteristics of many sports. Besides learning the vocab words, they learned the
history of bullfighting and the cultural connections around the world. We did a lot of
categorizing and comparing/contrasting!
Fifth grade did a great job in their animal unit and moved on to sports. They played a
fun game, like a scavenger hunt, to work on vocabulary recognition. Now we are
going to look at the food groups and different types of food!
Sixth grade finished the time unit and moved on to family. We have been using the
Spanish vocabulary to describe family relationships. They will continue working with
these words for the next couple of weeks and then we will do a project! After the
projects are complete, our next unit will be food groups and the marketplace!
Junior High is wrapping up their conjugation practice for now! We will take a break
from grammar and look at currency! They will use the currency from their Spanishspeaking country assignments (from earlier this year) to work on conversions. This
will enhance their math skills and let them see the value of the American dollar in
comparison to currencies from around the world. This will also allow us to work on
counting and forming high numbers in Spanish!
1st Grade
The first graders have been taking tests in Accelerated Reader. They have also used the links on their teacher’s
webpage to access sites for practicing a variety of skills, including Math Facts in a Flash. We will be starting
to work on our “Jelly Bean” Prayers for Lent.
2nd Grade
Second graders have worked on their math skills by using Math Facts in a Flash and Accelerated Math. They
also have done some Accelerated Reader tests. In addition, the students have used the links on their teacher’s
webpage to access sites for practicing various skills. Currently they are working on money skills.
3rd
3rd Grade
Grade
Third grade students continue to work on their keyboarding techniques. We are challenging our students to set
their own weekly goals for “Keyboarding for Kids” by Ellsworth. It will be important for them to practice this
at home. You can access this program by choosing the link from my teacher website under keyboarding.
4th
4th through
through 8th
8th Grade
Grade
The fourth through eighth grade students use the computer time as an extension of their regular class work.
Students in 4th grade have been learning the MLA format using Microsoft Word. Fifth graders have been
creating an animal project in Microsoft Publisher. The sixth through eighth graders are in constant
use of their chrome books for note taking, various Google classroom assignments, and research.
Our students are building on their previous keyboarding skills by using the online program, “Keyboarding for
Kids” by Ellsworth. Each student will receive a keyboarding homework log. This log has an entry for each
week of the quarter. Every time the student practices at home, the student will first fill in their goal for the
week. Then they will mark the column with the times for the days they practiced. At the end of the week, they
will determine if they met their weekly goal and write an ending statement in the final column. Students need to
practice enough so that they will reach their grade goal by the end of the year. The requirements are as follows:
Fourth graders must be able to type a full page of double spaced, 12 point text during one class sitting by the
end of the school year.
Fifth graders must be able to type two pages of double spaced, 12 point text in one class sitting by the end of
the school year.
Sixth graders must be able to type three pages of double spaced, 12 point text in one class sitting by the end of
the school year. In order to meet this goal, the students have been assigned keyboarding homework.
Mrs.
Signoracci’s
March
2016
ADVANCED MATH AND 8A MATH
Last month the fifth-grade students developed fluency in adding and subtracting fraction and mixed numbers with like and
unlike denominators, and began to multiply fractions.
The students in sixth grade finished a unit on linear functions in February, exploring topics such as relations, functions, rate of
change, slope and direct variation, and started to explore probabilities and predictions.
The seventh-grade students completed an in-depth study of linear functions and graphing last month, and learned to multiply
and divide monomials, to evaluate numerical expressions containing negative exponents, to compute with scientific notation,
and to identify nonlinear functions. This month real numbers and right triangles are the main topics.
The 8A Math class studied ratios, proportions, similar figures and dilations in February. Currently the students are studying
about linear functions and graphing.
GRADES 2-4 ENRICHMENT
The last PEP groups for Grades 2 and 3 meet this month through the end of the school year.
Grade 4 PEP students will continue to work with partners to complete math extension activities, such as solving challenging
word problems and identifying the number of triangles in a complex figure.
MATH LEAGUE CONTEST
Advanced Math students in Grades 6-8 participated in the Ohio Mathematics League Contest on February 17. Scores for
the top 5 students in each class will be forwarded to the Math League to compete with other local schools. Congratulations to
the following winners:
Grade 6: 1st place, Travis L.; 2nd place, Emily G.; 3rd place, Will H.; 4th place, Riley M.; and 5th place, Gabby D.
Grade 7: 1st place, tie, Caroline B., John C., and Piper O.; 4th place, Pailyn G.; and 5th place, tie, Samual G. and Megan L.
Grade 8: 1st place, Andrew C.; 2nd place, James F.; 3rd place, a tie, Eric L., Lauren M. and Grace S.
Pi Day Celebration
The 5th-7th Grade Advanced Math and 8A Math classes will participate on Monday, 3/14, in activities designed to celebrate
our favorite number, 3.1415926535897932384626433… Pi is an irrational number-it doesn’t terminate or repeat. Pi has been
calculated to over ten trillion decimal places to date! Students in each class will compete to determine who can recite the most
digits of pi. Look for more details about Pi Day in next month’s Panther Pen.
Metric Olympics
Mark your calendars for Friday, April 29, the date of our Fifth Annual Metric Olympics for all students in Grades 5-8. The
students will be divided into teams and participate in outside events during the morning that will help them use and understand
the metric system and get to know students in other grades. Most of the favorite activities will be back, such as the 400 meter
relay race, bean bag toss, disc throw and noodle toss. Volunteers are needed, so if you are eligible to volunteer at St. Pius X
and can assist from 8:00-11:00 that day, please contact Mrs. Signoracci at 614-866-6050 ext. 230 or
[email protected].
Enrichment Opportunities
Check out the following opportunities for your child. Cost, dates, application deadlines and requirements
vary, so check the links for more information.
Be Wise Day Camp is a math/science camp for girls entering grades 7 or 8 in the Fall of 2016.
Application deadline is April 1. A description of all classes, dates and fees is available at
www.bewisecamp.org.
The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) has a variety of ongoing special events and workshops. Go
to www.cosi.org to learn about them and to get more information.
The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the premiere national science competition for
students in grades 5 through 8, is now open for entries. Students must complete a video entry and submit it
online by April 20, 2016. Go to www.youngscientistchallenge.com for additional information and
official rules.
Mrs. Rogich’s Reading Room
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!!
March 2, 1904.
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go."
— Dr. Seuss, "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!"
Skill of the Month: Reading With Ease/ Fluency
 Children who read word by word often don’t understand what they’re reading. They miss the meaning
of the story as they focus on each individual word. Fluent readers read whole sentences smoothly and
with expression. They recognize words quickly and comprehend easily.
 How does a reader go from learning single words to reading entire stories with ease? Through practice
and repetition.
 Try the following suggestions to improve your child’s reading fluency and comprehension.
o
Listen to Books on Tape

o
Learn Sight Words

o
As your child comes across new words while reading, have him/her write the words in interesting ways.
For example, he/she could write them with his/her finger on a steamy bathroom mirror, in sugar, or flour
on a cookie sheet, or in washable glue on a piece of paper (sprinkle glitter over the glue, and shake off the
excess once the glue dries). Using his/her sense of touch will help your child remember the words more
easily.
Try Choral Reading

o
Help your child hear the difference between an exciting reading voice and a boring one. Read a paragraph
or a page aloud in a monotone voice. Then, read it with expression by changing the tone and volume of
your voice. For instance, speak in a low, growly voice if the character is a bear, or in a high pitched voice
for a bird. Ask your child to tell you which way sounds better and why. Have him/her try reading both
ways. Which method does he/she think makes reading more enjoyable?
Build Vocabulary/ Spelling practice

o
Fluent reader recognized and read sight words, so as “a,” “you,” “they,” “have,” and “because,” without
sounding them out. A good way to practice sight words is to point them out in the books your child reads.
For example, ask him to count how many times he can find the word “saw.” Which word is used more
frequently in his book- “and” or “the”?
Add Excitement to Reading

o
Enhance your child’s reading fluency by giving him/her books on tape. Audio books, as they’re also called,
are available at libraries and bookstores. Often the book is included with the CD of the story being read
aloud. Encourage your child to read along in the book while listening to the recording. He/She will hear
examples of smooth, effortless reading that he/she can imitate when reading aloud.
Reading aloud together can improve your child’s reading fluency. Choose a book that is slightly more
difficult than what your child is used to reading. If he/she stumbles on a word, help him/her figure it out.
Then, encourage him/her to concentrate on reading smoothly as you reread the sentence together.
Perform a Play
 To practice expressive reading, pick a book with lots of dialogue. Example: a book in Arnold Lobel’s Frog
and Toad series. Each of you choose a character. Tell your child to pretend he/she is an actress in a play
reading her character’s lines with a great deal of expression. Take turns being the narrator and reading
the non-dialogue parts of the story.

Note: While doing these activities, choose books that are appropriate for your child’s reading level. If he/she
know every word in a book without hesitation, the book is probably too easy. On the other hand, books that are
too hard may make him/her want to give up, and he/she won’t be able to focus on understanding the story. If a
book is just right, your child will be able to read most of the words fairly easily, and it will have just a few tricky
words to keep him/her challenged.
Mrs. Rogich 
Classroom Guidance Updates for February:
Kindergarten – We discussed our fifth rule, in our I-Care Rule series: We Are Responsible for What
We Say and Do. As a class, we read the story, My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook and discussed
how we can demonstrate self-control. Be sure to ask your child what they can do to keep their words
from “erupting!”
1st/2nd grades – We talked about a bug and a wish in 1st and 2nd grades! The students learned a
simple phrase, “It BUGS me when….” and “I WISH you would….” to express their feelings in a positive
way. After we read the story, A Bug and A Wish by Karen Scheuer, we role played scenarios and
practiced using the phrase. Each student received their own bug and wish wands to take home – the
more practice the better!
3rd grade – We finished up our book series by reading, Tough! by Erin Frankel. This story was told
through the perspective of the bully. In the story, the main character was able to develop an
awareness of her behavior and realized that by hurting others she was also hurting herself. Be sure
to ask your son/daughter about the boomerang theory!
4th grade/5th grade – Conflict resolution was the topic of discussion this past month. 5th graders
learned that there are always two sides to every story. Using optical illusions, we practiced seeing
things from different points of view. Be sure to ask them about the wolf’s point of view (from Little
Red Riding Hood). 4th graders were introduced to I-Messages and played a fun roll-a-dice game to
practice how to express their feelings in a non-threatening way when they are upset.
6th grade – Time management and “putting first things first” was the topic of discussion. The
students learned a way to prioritize their tasks by first identifying their “big rock” activities, followed
by “pebble” and “sand” activities. Be sure to ask your child to explain the demonstration and
encourage them to use this strategy at home when planning ahead!
 Mrs. Sullivan
Intervention Intersection
By Shelley Shoemaker, Intervention Specialist
Motivating the unmotivated student
Reprinted in part from: http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/motivating-the-unmotivated-student/
Is your child completely uninterested in school? Are you at your wit’s end? How can you motivate
the unmotivated student? Of course, as a parent, you recognize the value and impor tance of
education to your child’s future. Academic apathy can be a complicated issue, however, and
generally no amount of lecturing, pleading, or threatening will change a child’s point of view. First
and foremost, then, you need to understand the causes behind this lack of motivation. Once you
have a better idea of the source of the problem, you can more effectively develop a strategy to help
combat your child’s seeming indifference toward education.
What causes lack of motivation?
Low self-esteem
Kids who have a poor self-image avoid activities that they deem beyond their capabilities. Even if
they can actually complete a given task, these students engage in self -defeating behavior to protect
the little self-worth they do possess. For them, it is better to withhold effort or to procrastinate
rather than risk trying, failing, and feeling even worse about themselves .
Lack of support at home
The home environment shapes the initial attitudes that children hold toward learning. In a home
where curiosity, questions, and exploration are encouraged, children are given the message that
education is worthwhile and personally satisfying. These kids are more likely to take the risks that
are inherent in academically challenging pursuits. On the other hand, in a home where learning is
not encouraged, children are given the message that education is of little value and that they lack the
competency and ability to learn.
Low expectations in the classroom
Students mirror their teachers’ attitudes. If teachers believe that their students can learn, their
students are more likely to trust in themselves and their abilities. Such teachers assign challenging,
meaningful, and achievable tasks that promote motivation and link effort and success. Conversely, if
teachers take the stance that they are the source of all knowledge and that their students are
incompetent, their students are more apt to tune out, stop trying, and fail.
Pressure
Many unmotivated students are simply responding negatively to pressure. Whether the ten sion is
perceived or real, these kids rely on defense mechanisms to protect them from the discomfort
pressure generates. Through procrastination or avoidance, these students are trying to escape from
their fears of failure and inadequacy. In time, they come to accept the consequences of their
behavior, so they appear nonchalant and composed, even as the pressure they are trying to dodge
mounts.
How to motivate your child
Provide an encouraging and secure home environment
Children need to feel that their parents value learning. Show your kids that academic exploration is
worthwhile and education is important, and they are likely to develop similar attitudes. So sparks
their curiosity about everything. Further, let your kids know that failure is often a par t of the
learning process, and let them fail without penalty. Kids who are not afraid to fail are more willing
to accept scholastic challenges and less likely to sabotage their own academic efforts.
Use rewards carefully
Students who possess intrinsic motivation take on activities because of the feelings of enjoyment
and accomplishment they evoke. Students who possess extrinsic motivation perform to gain a
reward or avoid a punishment. Students with extrinsic motivation will generally put out the minimal
amount of effort to complete tasks in the easiest way possible. In addition, external motivation only
exists as long as there is external compensation. In other words, extrinsic motivation is likely to
result in limited progress that vanishes when the reward disappears. So be discerning when offering
rewards for good work.
Avoid power struggles
Realistically, you won’t be able to take on every struggle that comes along, so choose your battles
wisely. Make a clear-cut list of unacceptable behaviors and resulting consequences. For instance, a
failing grade in a class might result in the loss of a favorite privilege until the grade is raised. Resist
the temptation to ground your child indefinitely or to take away all prized possessions. If you act
reasonably and calmly, there is hope that your child will follow suit.
Build on strengths
Find an area in which your child excels and focus on it. Constant failure is certainly unmotivating,
and when the primary focus is on weakness, self-esteem and motivation will undoubtedly be
lowered. If your child can find success in a nonacademic setting, you can work together to
determine the elements of that accomplishment. Perhaps you and your child will be able to
formulate a recipe for success and apply the ingredients to the educational setting. In conclusion,
unmotivated students do want to succeed, but they are being held back by some sort of obstacle.
With patience, understanding, and hard work, you can help your child find a path to academic
achievement.
March 2016
Sun
Mon
Tue
1
Wed
2
Thu
Fri
5
4
3
No School
K-Screening
6
7
9
8
PSR 12:00 Mass
Home & School
Meeting
6:30PM
PSR 1:15-2:45PM
P A R I S H
Confirmation Retreat
8th Grade
M I S S I O N
16
13 - 15
Reconciliation
Service
Gr 2-8 9:15am
11
Yearbook Sale ENDS
Stations 1:45PM
Gr. 3 & 4
18
17
K to Franklin Park
Conservatory
Spring Pictures
“A Night In Green”
Gym, 6:30 PM
12
Confirmation Retreat
8th Grade
St. Peter & St. Paul
19
Stations 1:45PM
Honor Choir to OLPH
St. Peter & St. Paul
Gr. 1 & 2
Pizza with the Pastor
Gr. 7&8
PSR 5-6:30PM
20
10
Gr. 5 to JA Biztown
Sat
21
22
23
24
Holy Thursday
25
Good Friday
26
Earth Awaits
End of 3rd Report
Period
PSR 5-6:30PM
27
SCAAP
28
29
30
The
Resurrection
E A S T E R
31
Easter Sunday
No PSR
E A S T E R
B R
In Stillness
E A K
B R E A K
2010
S T. P I U S
X
2016
MILITARY O U T R E AC H
Calling All Military!
If you have a relative
within your family child, spouse, grandchild,
or other relative who is in
the military (Active,
Guard, Reserve), please
contact Paul Yarger
at (614)746-6115
or [email protected].
Do you have a relative deployed overseas?
Will you have a military family member or relative deployed overseas this spring? Please
contact the St. Pius X Military Outreach program. With the help of VFW Post 9473, St.
Vincent de Paul and SPX parishioners, we will be furnishing care packages to overseas
military from St. Pius, the VFW, and from that of our sister parish, St. Elizabeth Ann
Seton. We will send them a goodie box filled with some of the comforts of home! We have already received a very generous donation of Girl Scout cookies that we know
our military are going to enjoy! We also have handcrafted rosaries being made by a
fellow parishioner, and cards by some of our SPX students.
Have Questions, Need Service Hours or a Service Project?
If you are a student, boy scout, or girl scout in need of some service hours or a service
project, we may have some opportunities for you. If you have any questions or if you
would like any more information regarding our program, please call Krista Schumacher at
(614)323-7048 or email [email protected].