Kindergarten Home Lesson for April- (class April 24)
As Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday, etc come up on the calendar, ask your child to share his/her Holy Week Wheel and recount some of the stories they learned.  Ask them to show you the sculpture of the Last Supper on the main alter and the stained glass window of Jesus praying in the garden-encourage them to tell the story and ask questions.   This can be done on/off all month as you finish your Lenten promises and prepare for Easter.  Hopefully they will have a lot to share!
Below are some short, cartoon-y videos (YouTube) about specific Holy Days and activities we talked about.  I know they are a little repetitive but young kids seem to like them.  Please watch if it’s possible.

• Saddleback Kids The Story of Easter (the Triumphal Entry)  3:08
• Saddleback Kids The Story of Easter  (the Last Supper)  3:29
• Saddleback Kids Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet  2:36
• Saddleback Kids Stories of the Bible Jr./Easter  1:32
• Saddleback Kids (Jesus Appears to Thomas)    2:35
• Saddleback Kids (Jesus’ Ascension)  2:59

There is a “mosaic” cross sent home for the kids to decorate and hang for Easter.

There is a Hail Mary worksheet you can use to help memorize this short prayer.  Next class there will be an activity with this prayer.

At the next class (April 24) we will be shifting gears from learning about Jesus and starting to learn about the third part of the Holy Trinity:  The Holy Spirit!

Mrs Beecher and parent helper Mrs Davis will be teaching (I will be attending the baptism of my grandson )  They will introduce the concept of the Holy Spirit and have planned a fun activity centered around the “fruits of the Spirit”.
As usual, the class will be adding another patch to their (almost finished!) banner and there will be a short trip to church at the end of class to visit another area that most people have never seen.

Kindergarten -At Home Lesson for March (class March 20)
Dear Parents,
I was so impressed with the kids at our last class!  They really learned and remembered the miracles and parables of Jesus and they did an amazing job sharing their “special” miracles.
I hope you have had a chance to work on your child’s Lenten promises/mobile for this Lenten season (sent home in the bags last class).   Please make sure you review with them the purpose of Lent and why we PRAY, FAST, and GIVE during this time—see notes in packet.  If you haven’t started yet, there is still plenty of time during Lent to work on it.

In the upcoming class (March 20) we will be focusing on Holy Week and the times shortly after Easter.  Please have your child color, cut, and bring in the “Easter Story” top to the wheel we will be making in class.  We will be talking about Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, and the Ascension—using interactive posters/dioramas and our Holy Week wheels.

Keep practicing the Hail Mary!  In our class in April, we will be doing something in class surrounding this prayer!

At class, we will also be making a trip to church to visit the main altar and tabernacle plus have a chance to see and feel the sculpture relief of the Last Supper on the main alter table.  We will briefly discuss the Stations of the Cross as well—we will NOT be focusing on the violence of Good Friday’s crucifixion.

Thank you again for all you do!
Cyndi Vespi
 

• We will be canceling this weekend's in-person Faith Formation session for Pre-K - Grade 5. We have asked that the Pre-K - Grade 5 catechists prepare an alternate at home lesson to replace the in-person session. Since the original January at-home lesson just went out this week, we intend to send out the "replacement" lesson at the end of next week so that the catechists have enough time to prepare the lesson. In the meantime, you can work on the lesson below if you have not already done so.

• We talked about the Holy Family, the Nativity, and the story surrounding Jesus’ birth
• We shared our favorite nativity piece from our home sets
• We talked a little about the season of Advent and some family traditions and fun events we shared
• We made Holy Family ornaments for our home trees and added a Star of David to our wall hangings
• We visited the church and learned about Joseph’s alter, Mary’s alter, and a special stained glass window depicting Gabriel’s visit to a young Mary.  We even “lit” candles and said special prayers at Mary’s alter!

• We reviewed God as Father/Protector for each of us
• We practiced making Sign of the Cross in the back of church with Holy Water, and when genuflecting before entering pew
• We checked out St Mary’s baptismal font and talked about how God the Father invites us to become part of his family through baptism.
• We shared ways we have helped/served others and how that makes God our Father happy.
• We also shared our rock and baptism stories while starting on our Trinity wall hanging project (this will be on-going through the class year).

1. In the kids take home bags, they have an Advent chain to be started Nov 28 or as soon as possible!   Each day remove a chain with a suggested Advent activity….this acts as a “countdown to Christmas”.  Try to do as many activities as possible… help the kids think of one activity they particularly liked that they can tell the class about. 
2. In class, we will be talking and reading about the birth of Jesus and the stories surrounding that time (angel’s visit to Mary, journey to Bethlehem, shepherds and Star of David, Wise Men and gifts, etc) If your family has a Nativity set, let them help you set it up and discuss the story with them.  Have your child either bring in a nativity piece or draw a picture of their favorite character from that scene to share with the class. ( ie shepherd, donkey, angel, Mary, etc)
3. We will be spending the next several months learning the Hail Mary-taking it one line at a time.

Kindergarten -At Home Lesson for Nov 1-13 (class Nov 14)

Dear Parents,
   Our first Faith Formation class went very well!  The kids all introduced themselves using their posters and everyone participated in the activities.  Here’s a recap of what we did:

• We reviewed God as Creator of the entire universe-including every person, even US
• We made bookmarks with “3 cords” of colored yarn to represent the Holy Trinity
• We used an apple and storybook to compare an apple to the 3 parts of God (Trinity)
• We introduced making the Sign of the Cross and made “buddies” to help us practice at home

1. Serving (helping) someone you know or love. There are so many ways to do this! (Examples: make cookies for a friend, rake neighbor’s leaves, send a card to a grandparent, help clean a sibling’s room, etc). Help the kids come up with their ideas!
2. Perform random acts of kindness. This means doing something loving for someone you don’t even know and not expecting “credit” for it. The kids brought home (from last class) a paper bag with a rock, paint, and brush inside. Help them think of an encouraging word or phrase to paint on the rock (with your help)! Examples:  TRY AGAIN! , GOD LOVES YOU, YOU CAN DO IT!  DON’T GIVE UP, LOOK FOR JOY). Place the rock where a stranger may find it and be uplifted--a park, under a tree, etc. I am sure the kids can come up with good ones! We will share what we wrote and where we put our rocks in class. As a family, look for other opportunities to perform random acts of kindness and talk about it
3. Serve (help) the underprivileged. There are many opportunities this time of year (and always) to help those in need. Help your child become actively involved in giving (examples:  go through toys and donate any items they no longer play with, donate children’s hats/mittens to “Christmas Outreach” program by dropping off in wooden box in Dougherty Hall entrance before December 5, donate non-perishable food to CCIA food pantry – collection box in entrance of Doughery Hall, purchase an item at Dollar Store and add to their collection box, Toys for Tots, Salvation Army red kettle, etc). Any type of giving to the needy is perfect! Explain to your child the importance of helping those less fortunate.
4. In class, we will be talking about baptism. Take a few minutes to tell your child about THEIR baptism… Where was it? Who was there? Who were the godparents? Did they sleep through it or cry? If possible, have your child bring in a small momento from their baptism, like a photo or special book, candle, etc. We will share stories with others in class. If your child hasn’t been baptized yet, that’s ok! Discuss someone else’s baptism...

   Thank you so much for your help and support of your child’s faith formation!
   Once again, we will be sending home a bag with some materials for the “homework” for December’s class. One item will be a “countdown to Advent” paper chain… every day a chain can be removed and it gives possible crafts or activities your family may want to consider.  Advent begins November 28, so you’ll want to pull that out at that time.
   There will also be a project for the kids to work on to help them start to learn the Hail Mary—this can be done closer to our December class-more details to follow well before then.

November at-home activity for ALL grade levels: We are hoping to spread some Thanksgiving cheer around our community and would love for you to help us with that. Before our November 14th in-person gathering, please create a Thanksgiving card that can be shared with someone that may need a little extra cheer this season. The design and cheerful/thankful message can be any you choose, but for safety's sake, we ask that the kids only sign their FIRST name inside the card. Bring the card(s) with you to our November 14th gathering and we will send them on to parishioners and/or community members on our prayer list, in living facilities, in the hospital, etc. Thank you for your help with this project! :)

Kindergarten-At Home Lesson for the week of October 9-17

One of the lessons we will be exploring in class on Sunday Oct 17 is the nature of God the Creator.

Please work on the following projects at home before class:

1. Take a walk around your home, yard, street or neighborhood. Together, point out all the wonderous things you see, hear and smell. Thank God for all these things-explaining that He created everything in the universe.
2. Make a poster (doesn’t have to be large or elaborate- use whatever materials you have on hand-a plain sheet of paper or side of a cardboard box works) of items you can think of that God created.  Bring this to class to share with the other kids. Examples- draw pictures of stars, moon, sun; glue on leaves, pebbles, small pine cones; or draw pictures of beautiful places you have been or seen
3. Discuss with your child that God created all people on Earth too, each one with special features and talents.  Explain that God knows every single person he created by name and loves us all. Help your child think of the special things God created in THEM.
4. Make another poster or sheet of paper with items or drawings that symbolize what makes them special and unique.  Bring to class – the kids will use these to introduce themselves to the class. Examples: blue eyes like my grandpa, big smile that helps me make people laugh, fast legs that help me be good at soccer, good at math or reading
5.  If possible, watch the following 4 minute video on God’s creation of the world. God’s Story: Creation-You Tube   
6. Parents:  See below the main items we will be covering in class. Ask questions about the projects and what they mean.  Thank You!  Hopefully the kids will be excited to share what they learned!

• Kids will introduce themselves and share their posters about God’s creation in THEM and in the universe around us
• We will discuss the concept of The Holy Trinity (God the father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit).  We will make bookmarks to symbolize and remind us of the power of the Trinity.  Ask the kids what the colors and symbols mean (Gold + crown= God the Father, Purple+cross = God the Son, White+dove = Holy Spirit)
• We will learn to make the sign of the cross and discuss times to use (in church, prayers before bed or meals).  There will be a take home activity for the kids to use to practice making the sign of the cross.  Try practicing once a day (at meal or bedtime with a short prayer)
• We will visit entrance of church and practice with Holy Water!