What's Up at St. Mark's? 9-22
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:19
Mr. Zobel led chapel last week and brought in a stack of jigsaw puzzles to help us with our "Connected in Christ" theme. He used the parables about the lost sheep and the lost coin to remind us that when we aren't connected because we have turned away in sin, God is always there ready to re-connect us to His family because of Jesus' death and resurrection.
Preschool and Kindergarten had an Excellent turnout for Grandparents' Day last Monday. We had over 70 grandparents join us in making Traffic Light Treats and hearing the Humpty Dumpty Story from Mother Goose. It was great to have these visitors! All the students also finished their Bible lesson about how Adam and Eve sinned, but were forgiven. Preschool learned the color green this week. We have also been practicing sorting and our new shape is the circle.
To end their unit on "Summer" Kindergarten began writing an alphabet book about a fly, patterned after the story, "The Old Black Fly". They also learned the letter T this week and practiced it by decorating a tie with tissue paper, playing Tic-Tac-Toe, and sponge painting a turtle shell.
First Grade also enjoyed having Grandparents visit last week on Monday. They asked their grandparents questions about life when they were children. Kadence, Caris, and Claire learned that grandparents walked to school. Trinity and Joel learned that grandparents did chores after school. Bailey learned that her grandmother liked math best in school. Jaden learned that her grandma moved 12 times! Aaron and Claire learned that their grandmothers wore dresses to school. Mia learned that her grandmother brought frog legs to school for lunch! Ryleigh learned that her grandma went to Trico and didn't get to read the Bible at school. The children also read books to their grandparents, gave them a book the class made about what a grandparent is, and did an art project with the grandparents.
Have you seen the bug displays in the hallway yet? You won't want a picnic lunch for a while after seeing the bug collections that the Second Grade put together. The class talked about Joseph in religion and enjoyed watching the musical about him. In art they made American flags using tissue paper. They also read the book "What Lives in a Shell?"
Third Grade studied the Passover in Religion. We learned about the angel of death passing over the Israelite houses that had the lamb's blood on the doorpost. We made matza and haroseth, foods that the Israelites might have eaten that special night. Matza is the bread without yeast. Haroseth is chopped apples mixed with nuts and cinnamon. We also drank pretend wine: grape juice. We are thankful that God rescued them and are thankful that God also rescues us from sin by the Lamb's (Jesus) blood shed on the cross.
Fourth Grade is talking about New England and what it was like there when the Pilgrims and Puritans first came to America. They have been talking about the textile mills and fishing and shipping that were the early industries in these regions. The class has also learned that now there are many service industries in this region.
Some of the Fifth Graders have completed their artwork with patterns and creative playing cards.
Sixth Graders have been busy with a test in religion covering Old Testament stories from the Creation to the Tower of Babel, and a world history test about the Mesopotamian civilization. After learning about Hammurabi's Laws (where the "eye for an eye" idea came from!) they don't think they would have enjoyed living under his rule, even though his laws were supposed to be more fair than others!
Seventh Grade is studying the northern part of Africa, from Egypt to Morocco and has learned about the Muslim influence in that region. They really enjoy listening to music from these countries and will be trying some food made from dates this week as part of learning about the culture.
Eighth Grade will be doing their FREE car wash Friday, September 24 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, September 25 from 8:00 a.m to noon by Steeleville NAPA. Come, have your car washed for free, and help the class earn the money for their trip to Washington, D.C.