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Mrs. Elizabeth Carpanzano » Biography

Biography

Elizabeth Carpanzano

Grade 1 Teacher

Email: [email protected]

  

Teaching at The Catholic Academy of Stamford is an opportunity for me to share the blessings of the Catholic faith with my students, their families, and my colleagues. I am grateful that my two daughters were educated in Catholic schools from Pre-Kindergarten through college and are now serving the Stamford community, one as a kindergarten teacher at Mater Salvatoris Catholic School and the other as a registered nurse at Stamford Hospital.

 

I have lived in Stamford with my husband and have been an active parishioner of the Basilica of St. John the Evangelist for the majority of my life. The former St. Cecilia School became the primary avenue for me to volunteer my time as a parent for many years before spending more than a decade in kindergarten, first as a teacher assistant and then as the teacher.

 

Three years ago, I was given the opportunity to expand my current teaching experience from first grade teacher assistant and resource teacher to first grade teacher. I recognize the richness of the gift of Catholic education that makes all students lifelong learners.

 

It has always been a privilege to educate these young students, especially in the Catholic faith. In fact, teaching has never felt like a “job” but rather a vocation, a passion for serving God by sharing his love with my students and their families. What a blessing it is for me to teach where I can infuse God’s message of peace, hope, and joy into my students’ educational experience each day! My approach with students is simple: good choices make God smile so we shine with the light of Jesus.

 

 Education/Certification:

  • B.S., Summa Cum Laude, State University of New York at Geneseo
  • M.A., University of Massachusetts-Amherst
  • Certificate, IMSE Comprehensive Orton-Gillingham Training
 

Posts

Reminders and Homework Info 4/8-4/12/24

Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!
 
We all enjoyed last week's  Zoom visit with Jack Hartmann in the Church Hall with PreK and 2nd grade! I frequently use his educational, engaging videos to reinforce concepts in Math and Phonics, so your children were familiar with him and we all had fun learning some new songs last Tuesday. We have now incorporated a few of his "good morning" songs into our Morning Meeting time which gets everyone moving and singing before we settle down to do our Word Work and Reading with the Superkids!
 
We started our new Math chapter on Measurement last week which is lots of fun because there's much hands-on practice that is incorporated into each lesson that helps my students learn the information in a meaningful way. We used measuring tools that are nonstandard (connecting cubes, paper clips) as well as standard (inch ruler). Please include your child as much as possible in cooking together, especially measuring in cups, pints and quarts as well as pounds which is what we will learn this week. Continue practice at home measuring different items correctly with a ruler. Experience is a great teacher!
 
There will be a Religion Chapter 22 Test on Friday about the Eucharist. Your child will bring home a review sheet in their folders tomorrow. There will also be the usual Friday Spelling Test. If your child will not be in school on Friday, please know that your child will take these tests upon return to school after the Spring Break. If you know that your child will miss any part of this upcoming week or the week we come back from Spring Break, please let me know. It helps for planning purposes. Thank you for your cooperation!
 
As you can see from the posted Homework Cover Sheet, your child will complete and hand in a worksheet that is attached to the packet for the main story "Fire!". This will also come home in folders with the Homework packet. The focus with this story report sheet is to understand the problem and solution of the story and then write it on the sheet which is due on Friday with the rest of the Homework. We have learned that a character has a problem and that during the story it is solved either with the help of someone else or by him/herself. We will discuss this in class as well again this week for the "Fire!" story. 
 
There will be NO GYM on Friday! As per Miss Brady's instructions, all students must wear regular uniforms and shoes to school on Friday. 
 
Thanks to all who returned the RSVP paper for Grandparents' Day! If you did not return it, please let me know tomorrow (Monday, 4/8) whether or not your child's grandparent(s) will be attending the event. Please let me know either way! I need to send the RSVP's to the committee on Tuesday for planning purposes.
 
Many thanks to all families who sent in additional supplies that were requested! Adding to my original list of thanks to the families of Anthony, Kaia, Raaga, Gohar, and Leo...Thank you to the Murphy and Omanoff families for sending in the wipes, Ziploc and tissues as well as paper towels! If you have not had a chance to donate one of these necessary depleted supplies, please consider sending it in this week. Thank you!
 
As always, please see the posted Homework Cover Sheet for additional information about our week in 1C.  Please let me know if you have any concerns or questions. Have a wonderful week and a super Spring Break!
 
Blessings,
Mrs. Carpanzano

CoGats and NO HOMEWORK week of 3/11-3/15/24

Dear Parents, 
 
As you may already know from the CAS Sunday email blast and several previous written communications from Miss Brady and myself, there will be standardized testing (CoGats) this week. There is no way to prepare for these tests other than to get a good night of sleep and a healthy breakfast as we will not eat snack until 10:30.
 
Please be sure to have your child arrive promptly (as close to 7:45 as possible) as we will start preparing for testing right after morning announcements. This will avoid interruptions from tardy students entering our classroom as we prepare to take and start testing. These tests will take place each morning until 10:30am Monday through Thursday. Please do not schedule appointments during these times. If at all possible, please reschedule any appointments this week that you may have mistakenly made that will interfere with our testing.  Thank you!
 
Therefore, as a result of CoGat testing, and as per Miss Brady's requirement, there will be NO HOMEWORK, TESTS, or QUIZZES this week. However, I encourage that you continue reading daily with your child (no reading log due).
 
Please continue sending in coins (or dollars!) with your child to fill our class coin collection pot for the Penny Challenge this week (ends Friday).
 
If your child wishes to dress casually on Thursday 3/14, please send in an item for the Neighbor to Neighbor list sent home in folders on Friday (or you may access it on the Sunday email blast). First grade will bring in cans of tuna, spam and/or canned chicken.
 
There will be Stations of the Cross at 1pm instead of Mass this Friday 3/15. Wear gym uniforms and sneakers.
 
Let me know if there are any questions!
 
Have a most blessed week,
Mrs. Carpanzano
 
 
 
 
 

Reminders for week of 3/25-3/29/24

Dear Parents,
 
We had a very busy, fun week! Next week will be short, but filled with Easter religious/holiday activities. Please let me know via a note in your child's folder or email me if your child will miss any of the school days leading up to and/or after Easter break. I would appreciate the heads-up. Thanks!
 
Many thanks to the parents who organized and came into our classroom this past Tuesday to make "Resurrection Gardens" with the students to reinforce our Religion program. These will be coming home on Wednesday for your child to take care of by watering a little every other day and setting the pot in a sunny window. There is moss on top of the soil that has been planted with grass seed. Hopefully by Easter Sunday the students will enjoy the sprouting green grass! If not, the Easter season lasts for weeks, so keep caring for it and watch it grow! Last year, I kept mine outside on the porch once it got warm enough and appreciated the reminder all summer that Jesus is Alive and with us always!
 
We also enjoyed 5th Grade Buddy Time at the end of the day on Wednesday in our classroom doing an Easter measurement activity to prepare for our next Math Chapter which is measurement! They also colored Easter pictures and created their own "Peep" with funny, adorable favorites to write about and draw with their buddies. It is always a very special event when our buddies are involved! They have bonded with each other at Mass and really seem to enjoy each other's company. This next week we are in for another buddy activity: the Easter Egg Hunt on Wednesday! We are looking forward to that very much!
 
 
Our class was blessed on Friday with a special visitor, Dr. Susie Shim! Most of you may already know her as the mother of Danny and Noah Rhee, but did you know that she is a pediatric dentist?! When Danny was in my class last year, she did an amazing interactive dental health activity with our class. She graciously offered to come in again this year to first grade to do the same hands-on presentation! I am sure that your children have already told you all about "being" a lifesized tooth, using exploration tools on tooth models, best brushing practices, which foods are bad for your teeth (besides candy!), and... Sugar Bug Doug!!! The students were even given a tooth prize from her treasure chest to hold future lost teeth! Dr. Shim has such a remarkable way of engaging the students in dental health that is interactive, fun, and very informative. I am very grateful and thrilled that she visited our class and taught us all so much in such an interesting hands-on way! If you know Dr. Shim, please join me in thanking her for sharing her expertise, knowledge and time with our class!
 
Please refer to Homework Cover Sheet and the Sunday email blast for important information regarding the upcoming week.
 
I pray that you will all be able to participate in as many Holy Week and Easter liturgies and activities at your church as possible with your families this week.
 
Have a Blessed Holy Week and Easter!
 
Blessings,
Mrs. Carpanzano

Reminders for Week of 3/4-3/8/24

Happy March!
 
The year is flying by and your children are working hard and playing with enthusiasm! They are showing God how much they love Jesus with their good deeds written on our hallway Love is an Action Lenten cross. We sing our Lenten song each morning and pray for the many homebound that Sr. Sally and Fr. Mariucz visit as well all those who are sick and/or in need of prayers. They are such a special group of compassionate, bright students! I cannot believe we have less than 70 days left with each other in first grade.
 
To challenge the students this week, and in honor of Dr. Seuss' Birthday as well as Read Across America week, we will be doing a lot of rhyming and reading! And, to change things up a bit....for Homework this upcoming week: We will NOT have a Reading Log to do but rather two "My Favorite Book" sheets to do. They are attached to the Homework Packet. Your child should still be reading daily, but only two books should be chosen as favorites for these mini-book reports. Since we have been working on opinion writing in class, these two sheets are a perfect way to reflect and connect to books being read at home. Please be sure that your child hands in quality work that is thoughtful and neat with their best handwriting and coloring effort. If your child needs extra "My Favorite Book" sheets, please have your child ask or send in a note. The two "My Favorite Book" sheets are due when the Homework Packet is handed in on Friday. Thank you for your support!
 
This Friday (3/8), we will have a spelling test as well as a Religion test for Lent. Please use the review sheet that I will send home on Monday for your child to review key concepts. The chapter is a short one, but it will come home by mid week as another way to review. We talk about and have practiced Lenten actvities since Ash Wednesday in class, and many students are using the Lent pathway at home to keep track of the remaining time until Easter. Others are attending Stations of the Cross with their families and Sunday Mass to grow closer to God with prayer, fasting and giving. These are wonderful ways to show Jesus our love during Lent as we prepare for Easter. The students did such a great job at our first Stations of the Cross on Friday in the church. I was so proud of their ability to follow along in the book and reverently "walk" the stations with Fr. Mariucz as well as the other students and parents. Come join us at the remaining Stations of the Cross on Friday 3/15 at 1:00pm! 
 
Please continue to review counting coins and provide your child with mixed coins to sort and count by 5's and 10's as well as quarters to count to one dollar. I LOVE the creative ways that families are practicing to count coins at home! From playing store to restaurant and even bank, this family support is crucial to your child understanding how to count coins. In a world that does not use them often, it is still a valuable skill that does not get enough practical use. So, I greatly appreciate your participation in extra practice at home. This is quality time that is fun and productive.
 
On Monday we will start the second part of the math chapter: Time. We will continue to review coins with games, activities and worksheets while we work on time to the hour, half hour and elapsed time. Please reinforce these concepts at home with analog and digital clocks, if possible. Our chapter test for money and time will be the week of March 18th since no tests or quizzes are allowed during CoGat standardized testing next week.
 
Please continue to collect money for the rice bowls that were sent home last week and return the paper box taped/in a ziploc as soon as possible.
 
In addition, please support the St. Patrick's Coin Competition for our school. We already have our green pot in the classroom to start the collection, and are trying to fill the pot as many times as possible with coins (or dollars!) to not only support the purchase of new recess equipment but to maybe win a prize for our class! 
 
Please remember that if your daughter's hair is shoulder length or longer, it should be pulled up in a ponytail or braid. Colored nailpolish, jewelry and toys are not allowed in school. All of these are distractions and sometimes cause problems in the classroom, during Aftercare, or on the bus.
 
Also: Please EMPTY FOLDERS DAILY!!! These should not be used as a means of storage but rather as a way to transport papers back and forth to school in order to keep everyone informed. In addition, the homework packet and blue notebook needs to stay in the folder at all times...even if your child did not do the daily homework yet. (I do not check until Friday!)
 
I am very impressed with the independently stretched sentences with end punctuation and capital letters that I am seeing not only with homework but also with classwork! Many of our students stay in aftercare daily, and I am blessed to be assigned as their teacher on most days. I see firsthand how independent the students are writing with neat, properly formed handwriting as well as the quality of the thoughts being written on their own! Keep up the fantastic work, students! I am proud to be your teacher! The level of effort on the part of most students is high. Please continue to encourage your child to work to their best ability and make God smile. The weather may be gloomy outside but inside our classroom it is shining! Thanks so much for all you do to support your child's learning in first grade!
 
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns...
 
Have a most blessed week,
Mrs. Carpanzano
 
 

Info/Reminders Week of 2/26-3/1/24

Dear Parents,
 
You will notice that we have the same Spelling Word List this week as last week; however, this week we WILL have a Spelling Test on Friday 3/1.
 
In addition, your child will need to write the words that the contraction represents. For example, I'm = I am   we're= we are  etc. Feel free to have them write the words next to the contractions on the Homework cover sheet or a separate sheet to study as this skill will be part of the weekly Spelling Test on Fri. 3/1.
 
Also, the same stories will be used this week: "It's So Hot!" and "The Wish".
These stories have been reattached to the Homework packet for this week.
 
Since our time in school last week was short, we are going to complete the Superkids workbook pages as well as reading and writing components with the same spelling words and stories as last week. Even if your child has already read the stories at home, please encourage them to be read again and ask more questions about the story events and character feelings while relating them to your child's life. In other words, please continue to practice fluency as well as Reflection and Connection to the stories being read! What part of the story did your child think was their favorite? What does the story make them think of? What connection to the story can they make as it relates to something in their life? Share your ideas and thoughts on these topics to model the information they need to focus on.  We will be addressing these topics in class as we usually do, but it helps when parents also reinforce them at home. Thanks for your help!
 
For Math, please be sure that your child continues to have experience with counting real coins at home as we do at school with our plastic coins when practicing how to count nickels (by 5's), dimes (by 10's) and using "counting on" skills when pennies are added to the mix of coins! Ask your child to "trade" coins with you to make a fair trade ( ex: 5 pennies for a nickel). Ask your child if there's enough money in a group of coins to buy something at a certain price.
 
Have fun with coins! They are not something we use often these days, as everything is on credit card or Venmo, but this is still an important skill that every child deserves to learn! It helps develop their sense of spending/cost and counting more than we can imagine!
 
 Please remember that on Wednesday 2/26, there will be an Early Dismissal at 11:15am with NO AFTERCARE OR BEYOND THE BELL activities. The teachers have a meeting, so please realize that the parking lot will be very crowded and you may need extra time in order to be prompt. Thanks!
 
On Friday, there will be Stations of the Cross at 1:00 in the Church for Lent instead of morning Mass. Therefore, students should wear Gym uniforms and sneakers.
 
Have a blessed week and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
Mrs. C.

Week of 2/19-2/23/24

Dear Parents,
 
     I hope that all of you have enjoyed Winter Break! It is always a perfect opportunity to relax and spend quality time with friends and family. We do have a short week of school ahead, but we will be busy learning as usual!
 
     I would like to thank Mrs. Thota and Mrs. Nardi for helping our class to create the beautiful Valentine's Day boxes last Thursday, especially since the craft needed to be rescheduled with little notice due to our Remote Learning Day. For those students who were absent, your boxes and cards have been saved for you along with the decorations. These will be sent home Wednesday for you to decorate at home.
 
     I would like to first thank all the families for sending in the tissue boxes that we requested. Also, I am sending out a huge "THANK YOU!" to Mrs. Thota who wrapped each and every tissue box to prepare them for the heart stickers, gems, and other decorations that your children used to make the boxes so beautiful! Thank you, Mrs. Thota for your gift of time and talent to our class!
 
     There will be NO TESTS this week since it is a short week. However, any student who missed the tests given last week due to illness or travel plans outside of school vacation time will be taking the Math Chapter 7 (Geometry) and Spelling Test tomorrow (Wed. 2/21).
 
     We will be starting Math Chapter 8 (Money and Time) tomorrow. Please have real coins available at home for your child to practice counting by ones, fives, tens, and counting on by ones for groups of coins. We have plastic coins in school which will be used for hands-on practice with our daily math lessons, but it always helps to use coins at home as well...especially if your child needs more practice with improving his/her skip counting skills (5's, 10's). As always, it is very important to continue practicing addition and subtraction facts to and from 20! This helps students to become more accurate and more automatic with these math facts! Please remember that students should be using their Clever badges to log in to the Reading Eggs and Mathseeds programs at home.
 
     I will be sending home parent letters and information about Lent tomorrow in your child's green communication folder. Please read and help your child to use the Lenten pathway as well as come up with meaningful ways that he/she can incorporate more prayer, fasting and giving during this holy season. Included is an idea sheet for these practices which is quite creative. (For example, fasting does not need to be from sweets!) Please discuss with your child how he/she can best prepare for Easter. We will also be talking and learning about Lent as part of our Religion curriculum in school. 
 
     Please refer to the posted Homework Cover Sheet as well as the Sunday Email Blast for more information about upcoming events.
 
     Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I am always here to work in partnership with you for your child's first grade experience to be productive and positive!
 
Have a blessed week,
Mrs. Carpanzano

Week of 2/5-2/9/24

Dear Parents,
 
I am very grateful to the parents who were able to bless our class with their time and talent for Career/Vocation Day as part of Catholic Schools Week! We discovered how the careers of these parents are vastly different from one another! We had a fun time exploring all the ropes and equipment needed to cut trees and do other landscaping work from Mr. Horn, Johnnie's dad.
Mrs. Cicchesi, Anthony's mom, in her hospital uniform, showed us the many supplies and ways NICU babies are taken care of...even how to swaddle a baby (Juliette's doll!) with a blanket. Mrs. West, Ava's mom, shared her experience as a lawyer in the courthouse as well as pictures of Ava's grandfather as a CT Supreme Court judge while including props such as a gavel and black robe to help us understand why these items are used in courtrooms...and how a judge's black robe is similar to student uniforms worn at CAS! Our final career was presented by Mrs. Murphy, Jack's mom, who works in Advertising and used a Smartboard presentation as well as hands-on activity with a small football to show students the steps in creating a commercial for the Superbowl! (Be sure to pay close attention to the Comcast commercial which Mrs. Murphy and her team created!)
 
All of these parents were terrific presenters and were able to creatively engage the students and explain their careers so well to the students! I believe that our class will have some very promising careers in landscaping, nursing, law, and advertising as a result of these parents who generously gave their time and expertise to enlighten both teacher and students! We hope that you had as much fun being in our classroom as we did having you there to share your career with us for Catholic Schools Week Career Day!
 
In other news....After an extremely busy Catholic Schools Week last week that included the Career Day talks I wrote about above, we enjoyed many fun activites such as the CAS "Anything But a Backpack" parade, bring your stuffed animal to school, pajama day, student appreciation day with movie and no homework, Kaia's birthday visit from her parents, dress down day, spirit wear day, no tests or quizzes, and a 5th grade buddy afternoon...plus many more exciting moments throughout the week!
 
Thank you very much for all the beautiful cards, handwritten notes of gratitude, flowers, chocolate, and other gifts that blessed my week in a special way. I am grateful for all the love and appreciation shown with your generous outward support for what I do each day...although I have to admit that the easiest and most joyful part of each work day for me is being with your children! Their kindness, curiosity, hard work ethic, sense of humor, and genuine love of learning truly make my days incredibly amazing beyond words!!!
 
The excitement will continue with our 100th Day of School Celebration that will begin on Monday 2/5 and last throughout the week as I incorporate many activities into the usual curriculum for each day. The students will enjoy drawing and writing about being 100 years old someday along with fun math activities to celebrate our 100 days together in first grade!
 
Please remember to send in your child's 100th Day Poster Project on Monday, 2/5!  A letter was emailed and sent home in folders a few weeks ago. Thank you for those posters already sent in on Friday (and not earlier as I had requested!) This is a graded project for third quarter report cards. Each student will present their poster and tell how they created it. In other words, what method did your child use to count to 100? (by 1's, 2's, 5's or 10's)
 
As always, please refer to my Homework Cover sheet and especially the CAS Sunday email blast for all the reminders of the upcoming week!
 
A Religion Chapter 18 review sheet on yellow paper will come home on Monday 2/5 for the Friday Religion test.
 
Please empty the "Keep at Home"--the right side of your child's folder-- each and every day. Thank you!
 
May your week be blessed with God's peace and love,
Mrs. Carpanzano

Weekly Information 1/29-2/2/24

Dear Parents,
 
Please refer to the posted Homework Cover sheet for most of the upcoming Catholic Schools Week activities. For the complete list, please see the Sunday CAS email blast. 
 
There are four parents coming to talk about their careers this week.  Mrs. Cicchesi (Anthony), Mrs. Horn (Johnnie), Mrs. West (Ava) and Mrs. Murphy (Jack) will visit our class beginning Monday. We are excited for these special visits! Thank you in advance for sharing your time and talent with us!
 
Wednesday is an EARLY DISMISSAL at 11:15. Please be prompt! Allow extra time because the parking lot gets very crowded on these days! There is NO AFTERCARE or Beyond the Bell!
 
Thursday is Student Appreciation Day! So....NO HOMEWORK that day and NO TESTS on Friday (not even a spelling test!)!!!!
 
I appreciate all the parents who kept their children home this past week when they were sick, and there were several daily who were out! Not only is it beneficial for your child to rest at home to feel better sooner, you keep the rest of us as healthy as possible by not "sharing" the germs! I know it isn't easy for the working parents to do this, but I want you to know how grateful I am for your struggles to do so! Although we missed your child, I was happy to provide the missed work daily so that the students could keep up and not feel behind on their work upon return. Hopefully we are on the mend and everyone will enjoy good health soon!
 
Once again, please refer to the Sunday CAS email blast for ALL the Catholic Schools Week activities and dress down details. This post is NOT a full description! It's going to be a very busy, fun week celebrating our Catholic School!
 
Have a Blessed Week,
Mrs. Carpanzano

Reminders for Week of 1/22-1/26/24

Dear Parents,
 
We made it through a crazy weather week! Your children were able to "go with the flow" as adjustments were made to our usual learning schedule, and I am very pleased with what we were able to accomplish. Thank you for your patience!
 
Please remember to return all hardcover Superkids Reader books on Monday, 1/22. I thank those who already returned them on Friday. 
 
Going forward, there is a Superkids Reader #2 that students will each have in their desks to use at school. Unfortunately, at this time we do not have enough of these in order for me to send home the extra ones for your children to use at home. I realize that many of the students used them faithfully at home and it was quite enriching for those who did to have that extra home practice with the stories that we read and discuss each week together in school. So, for now and possibly for the remainder of the school year,  I will copy the stories and include them with the Homework packets each week...unless I am able to locate additional readers!
 
The Short story (for fluency) is stapled within the Homework packet. The Main story (for fluency and comprehension) is stapled and will be sent home on Mondays. Please leave it at home and remember how important it is to practice reading these stories daily. They are written in a way that include the spelling pattern we are learning for the week, so they are very important to our first grade curriculum. Thank you for your support!
 
As always, please refer to the posted Homework Cover Sheet for additional information about the events of the upcoming week as well as the Sunday email blast that usually contains even more information than I can include on my Homework Cover Sheet.
 
Have a Blessed weekend and week ahead. We are approaching the half way mark of the school year ...Monday will be Day #90, can you believe it?!  Please let me know if you have any concerns or questions!
 

Reminders Week of 1/8-1/12/24

Dear Parents,
 
Happy Epiphany! This past Friday in class and at Mass with Fr. John we learned about and celebrated the Wisemen's visit to Jesus twelve days after his birth on Christmas. In class, we wrote our own special gift from our heart that we want to give Jesus this year, colored puppet figures of the Wisemen, and sang a "Three Wise Men" song as we processed in our classroom to honor this holy feast of the Church. 
 
Please look in your child's green folder daily and remove papers from the "Keep at Home" (right side).This week you will receive a detailed letter and a copy of the CAS Prayer Book explaining the prayers that your child will need to learn this year. Your child will be individually tested on the "Our Father" prayer by the end of this quarter (which ends on January 19th). Although we pray it everyday as a school community, please practice it with your child to be sure they will be able to recite it to me on their own. Thank you!
 
Thank you for sending in the beautiful Baptism pictures of your children for our Doves! I will be putting them together and hanging them on our hallway bulletin board soon with a writing piece about how we can be peacemakers.
 
Your children must be growing because several have told me that they ate everything at lunch and therefore had no Aftercare snack! They complained of being hungry even though I know that you pack them wonderful lunches. Please  send in an extra healthy snack that will hold them over until pickup from Aftercare. They need this because they are using a lot of energy concentrating on doing their homework and then running around outside and/or playing inside with friends. Thank you!
 
I want to remind you that your children should be using their Clever badges to log in to Reading Eggs/Mathseeds at home, at least one twenty minute session of each per week. In addition, please have your children practice math facts for adding numbers to 18. This week we will begin subtracting numbers from 18.
 
As always, please refer to my posted Homework Cover for more information about upcoming events and tests.
 
Thank you for all your support of what I do by helping your children be prepared for school each day. Have a Blessed Week! 
 
Mrs. Carpanzano

Week of 1/1/24 - 1/5/24

Dear Parents,
 
Happy New Year! May all of God's Christmas gifts of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love continue to bless each and every one of you and your families in 2024!
 
I pray that all of you have enjoyed this Christmas Break away from school and for the Holy Season of the Church that it is! The season of Christmas continues this upcoming week as we celebrate the Holy Family at Sunday Mass to end the year and look forward to the Epiphany and the gifts of the Wisemen for Baby Jesus next Sunday! The feast of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus is celebrated by the Church on Monday, January 8th. As you can see, this will be a busy week in school as we continue to learn about and honor the holy season of Christmas as well as complete work in our usual subject areas. 
 
Please remember to send in a photo of your child's Baptism by Friday, Jan. 5th for our bulletin board project. Consult the weekly Homework Cover sheet for details, or email me with any questions!
 
This Friday (1/5/24) is First Friday. Students need to wear regular uniforms (NOT gym uniforms!) and bring or wear sneakers for gym class. Thank you!
 
Below you will find the complete list of the Acts of Kindness that we made as our Advent Houses were opened each day this past month. It is important for the students to realize that being kind and helpful is a daily gift we give to Jesus with our actions and words. I am sure that you have reinforced this mindset within your family even prior to our class activity in this area! 
 
Acts of Kindness from our Advent Houses:
Help a classmate pack up, clean up, etc.
Make cards for Sister Sally and Father Mariusz to take to the Homebound.
Make cookies for your local firefighter, police officer, or teacher.
Be extra kind to your sibling or parent today.
Make a thank you card for someone that works at the school.
Mail a handmade Christmas card to someone.
Read a book to someone.
Set the dinner table.
Lead your family in prayer at dinner.
Allow someone to help you.
Put away your laundry or help with a chore at home.
Do something special for your mom.
Help clean your house.
Play with someone new during recess that you have never played with before.
Let someone else go first in line.
Do a secret act of kindness for someone.
 
May the New Year 2024 bring good health and every joy to you and your families! I am looking forward to a productive rest of the school year with your children! As always, please reach out to me with any questions or concerns!
 
Blessings,
Mrs. Carpanzano
 
 

Week of 12/18-12/22/23 Reminders

Dear Parents,
 
1. Please refer to my email from Friday, 12/15 or the Sunday, 12/17 CAS email newsletter blast for information about the "Christmas Festive Wear" days.
 
2. Please note that for this Friday 12/22 Mass, students are asked to DRESS UP in their "Christmas Best" outfits. (NO GYM UNIFORMS OR SNEAKERS!!!!) Mr. Gartner will adjust Gym class activities, which will be a very, very short class on this Mass day with Early Dismissal schedule! 11:15am Fri. 12/22 Dismissal!
 
3. A big thank you goes to several mothers who provided all the materials and came into our classroom to help the students decorate Christmas cookies to take home to their families: Mrs. Cicchesi, Mrs. Gustafson, Mrs. Horn, Mrs. Michalak, and Mrs. Nardi. The kids had a great time piping the colorful icing and adding all kinds of sweet treats on top of their cookies. Then we had time for Christmas read aloud stories by a few moms as well as a fun game of Charades! I greatly appreciate the Christmas joy you brought into our classroom and our hearts!
 
Acts of Kindness from our Advent Houses:
Help a classmate pack up, clean up, etc
Make cards for Sister Sally and Father Mariusz to take to the Homebound
Make cookies for your local firefighter, police officer, or teacher
Be extra kind to your sibling or parent today
Make a thank you card for someone that works at the school
Mail a handmade Christmas card to someone
Read a book to someone
Set the dinner table
Lead your family in prayer at dinner
Allow someone to help you
Put away your laundry or help with a chore at home
 
Happy 3rd Week of Advent! The Pink Candle of JOY is lit this week....we are almost at Christmas Day and we feel an abundance of JOY at the coming of our Savior Jesus' Birthday!
 
 
Please refer to the posted Homework Cover Sheet for the upcoming week as well as the Sunday CAS blast email for more details.

WITH A GRATEFUL HEART....

Dear Parents,
THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!!!! Your generous class Christmas gift was received along with a lovely candle, beautiful card, and an inspiring poem this week! I am grateful for your kindness and thoughtfulness! May all of you enjoy a very Merry Christmas and most Blessed New Year with family and friends! Thanks be to God for Jesus' BEST gifts to us: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love!!!!

Reminders for Week of 12/11-12/15/23

Dear Parents,
 
The first graders have done a great job rehearsing several times with the rest of the school in the church with Mrs. Schule to prepare for Tuesday's program! They have made God smile with their behavior, especially patience with lining up correctly and with listening to directions for placement on the "stage". As of Thursday's rehearsal, first grade 1C will be standing on the Mary statue side of the altar. So, if you are facing the altar, we are on the left side. It is still being determined whether Kindergarten Valenti or our class will be on the risers and which class will be in the front of the other class. We won't know this until Tuesday's dress rehearsal as the risers cannot be placed until Monday afternoon.
 
Please be sure to have your child arrive at the Church Hall by 6:00pm on Tuesday, 12/12 so that their bow ties or suspenders can be put on in time for the 6:30 show. Dress code for the show was explained by Mrs. Schule in an email to all parents. In case you missed it: Your child should dress in a white collared shirt and black pants/skirts and dark shoes. A red bow tie will be provided for the girls and suspenders for the boys. These MUST be returned after the show TO ME!
 
VERY IMPORTANT: I understand that you want to beat the parking lot traffic and get your child to bed early, but You MUST check your child in with me at 6pm and out with me after the show concludes!
 
You are NOT allowed to leave at the end of the show with your child! You MUST come down to the Church Hall to pick up your child AFTER you check your child out with me!
Safety is of utmost importance to me, so please do not rush out without letting me know that you are about to take your child! 
 
On Wednesday 12/13 afternoon, a few moms asked me, and Miss Brady approved, to come to our classroom and help your children decorate cookies for Christmas. Your child will bring them home. They will NOT be eaten at school. The group of parents organized and purchased the ingredients for this Christmas activity with their own funds, and I am grateful for their generosity and thoughtfulness! It should be lots of fun!
 
I asked the moms to share the ingredients in case there are allergies or dietary restrictions:
From Mrs. Gustafson: in red- below:
Please see the below ingredients for the Christmas cookies-
 
Beldotti's sugar cookies (each kid will decorate 2) 
 
Frosting- powdered sugar, milk, corn syrup, vanilla extract, food coloring  (Susan Michalak is making this)
 
Sprinkles
 
M&M/other decorative candy for the cookies 
 
Sunday, December 10th is the Second Sunday of Advent and the day that your child should color another purple candle and "light" it by drawing and coloring a flame on the Advent wreath attached to the letter that you already have at home. This is the Candle of Peace. In class, the students have added to the hallway Advent "Wreath" with a writing activity for this second candle. In the Bible, it says: "Jesus gives us the gift of peace in our hearts." (John 14:27)). The students will continue to learn a new scripture each week that relates to the Advent messages of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love that are among God's BEST gifts!
 
Acts of Kindness for this past week:
Help a classmate pack up, clean up, etc
Make cards for Sister Sally and Father Mariusz to take to the Homebound
Make cookies for your local firefighter, police officer, or teacher
Be extra kind to your sibling or parent today
Make a thank you card for someone that works at the school
Mail a handmade Christmas card to someone
 
I am sure you heard that St. Nicholas visited our school on his feast day, December 6th! It was very exciting to receive a few small special gifts from him in the shoes we placed in the hallway under our bulletin board!
 
For a number of reasons, please email me now to let me know if you will be leaving for Christmas break sooner than the 11:15am Early Dismissal day (Friday, 12/22).
 
Please refer to the posted Homework Cover Sheet for the upcoming week as well as the Sunday CAS blast email for more details.
 
May God bless your 2nd Week of Advent with the peace that only He can give!
 
Blessings,
Mrs. C.
 

Reminders for Week of 12/4-12/8/23

Please refer to the posted Homework Cover Sheet for more information about the upcoming week!
 
On Thursday 11/30, we made Advent Houses! We appreciate the time and help from Mrs. Horn, Mrs. Reid, Mrs. Thota, and Mrs. West!  A huge "Thank You!" goes to our Homeroom Moms for all the hard work recreating the materials needed for this annual tradition in 1C!  I truly appreciate all the time and creativity that you put into this project!
 
The children each decorated their own Advent houses which are now hanging in our room. Each school day, a child will open his/her house according to the number that has been randomly assigned to it in order to read aloud to the class a part of the Nativity story and an Act of Kindness for Advent. Then that child will take their house, ornament and Act of Kindness paper home. Each of us will keep that Act of Kindness in mind and in practice as much as possible during Advent and beyond (hopefully!) For example, Anthony's house happened to be #1. So, yesterday on December 1st, he opened his house to read the beginning of the Nativity story, the Annunciation, from the back of the ornament that he decorated. Then he announced the Act of Kindness ("Help a classmate pack up, clean up, etc"). We discussed ways to practice this work of mercy and he took it all home to share the Advent message with his family and friends! 
 
We will only open houses on school days in December until we leave for Christmas break, and they are numbered accordingly. Every day in Advent, our class will also color a circle on the Advent pathway to Bethlehem during Morning Prayer/Meeting and your child should do the same at home with their pathway. (Please see the letter sent home in folders Friday 12/1 for more explanation.) 
 
Sunday, December 3rd is the First Sunday of Advent and the day that your child should color the purple candle and "light" it by drawing and coloring a flame on the Advent wreath attached to the letter that was sent home in folders 12/1. This is the Candle of Hope. In class, the students have started to create a type of Advent wreath for our hallway bulletin board with a writing activity for each candle. In the Bible, it says: "Jesus gives us the gift of hope to trust in God." (Romans 15:13). The students will learn a new scripture each week that relates to the Advent messages of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love that are among God's BEST gifts!
 
Christmas Show: Please remember to dress your child in a white, collared shirt and nice black pants/skirts with black(dark) colored shoes for the Christmas Show on the evening of Tuesday, December 12th. They will each be given a red bow tie to wear for the show. Please refer to a previous email from Mrs. Schule that I forwarded to you. Your child must arrive by 6:00pm for the 6:30pm show.
 
As always, refer to the Email Blast that is sent each Sunday morning from the office for more details about the upcoming week! Thank you and have a Blessed First Week of Advent!