Learning with iPads

Enriched learning and discovery is taking place in first grade, as students are researching information for science projects, exploring maps for social studies, and practicing math problems on the iPads. The highlight of the students’ week is getting time on Friday with the iPads to practice their addition and subtraction facts! Each child has a goal for him/herself in how many facts to get correct in a limited time. Students document their score and time every Friday, and try to beat it the following week, thus improving their calculations and enhancing their love of math! The iPads are also incorporated in a small group setting as a tool for engagement while teaching and reviewing topics using the Nearpod app. Teachers create multimedia presentations with Nearpod that is interactive and allows teachers to instantly assess every student while monitoring their understanding. The future is looking BRIGHT for our first graders!

Danielle Bright

1st grade teacher

Catholic-Muslim Dialogue in Social Studies

“We fear things we do not understand, and we often fight what we fear.”- Monsignor Dennis Mikulanis

The California State Standards for Social Studies require all 7^th graders to study the origins, beliefs, and spread of Islam. Last Tuesday, as a part of this study, students from St. Michael’s 7^th Grade had the opportunity to meet two of San Diego’s most important religious leaders: Monsignor Dennis Mikulanis and Imam Taha Hassane.  Monsignor Mikulanis, the pastor of San Raphael parish, is also the head of interfaith relations for the Diocese of San Diego. Imam Hassane leads the county’s largest mosque: the Islamic Center of San Diego.  Both gentlemen belong to an organization known as the West Coast Catholic-Muslim Dialogue.  As such, they travel up and down the west coast discussing the importance of positive interfaith relationships between Catholics and Muslims. They were kind enough to take time out of their busy schedules to come speak to our 7^th graders and answer students’ questions.

A central theme of the day was the many similarities between Catholics and Muslims. Both faiths trace their roots back to Abraham, the first person to worship the one true God. Because of this, they share similar beliefs about love, peace, and justice. They also share similar practices, such as daily prayer and periodic fasting.  Students asked Imam Hassane questions about what it’s like to be a Muslim, including what it’s like to travel to Mecca or how hard it is to fast for a whole month during Ramadan. 

Besides asking questions about practicing Islam, students asked about Islamic extremism. Imam Hassane emphasized the fact that Islam is a religion of peace and that extremists such as the members of ISIS do not reflect an accurate version of Islam.  Adding to the Imam’s comments, Monsignor Mikulanis discussed why it’s so important to study and understand other faiths by stating, “We fear things we do not understand, and we often fight what we fear.”

As a culminating activity, students wrote thank you letters to both men. Their letters discussed the lessons learned, including an appreciation for building a more peaceful world through interfaith relationships. The recent attack by Islamic extremists on a magazine in Paris bears witness to the importance of building such relationships.

-Tyler Schumacher 

Self-Reflection During The Advent Season; Preparation For The New Year

“He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.”

It was with a focus on these words from the Nicene Creed that SMS 6th grade students began their Advent journey and Poetry Anthology Unit in ELA classes this December.    Throughout Advent, classroom discussions centered on the readings of the Gospel, which reminded us that this beautiful time, in addition to being the beginning of the liturgical year,  is a period for us all to prepare for His coming - to ask ourselves, “Am I ready?”

After spending time in prayerful reflection on their own personal faith-filled journey, students were asked to express their thoughts and feelings in poetic form.  As a result, each student created a personal anthology of poems documenting his/her journey through Advent.  

The outcome was extraordinary; they demonstrated unique perspectives as they collectively expressed feelings of anticipation, determination, hope, and joy.  The following is a selection of their fine work. It reminds us of the true meaning of Advent and gives us insights for our own personal, faith-filled journeys as we begin this New Year.

Pam Provenzano
ELA Curriculum Chair Grades 6-8

Encountering Christ

When asked in casual conversation what I do for a living, my answer--“I teach middle school”--is commonly met with the reply--”Oh.” Then, I change the subject, because I couldn’t begin to explain how much I love and appreciate middle schoolers’ unique blend of frenetic energy, refreshing candor, and deep faith. They keep me on my toes, they prevent me from taking myself too seriously, and they motivate me to pray more and more. In the Church’s prayer of the final phase of Advent, we encounter a different kind of “O”  in the “O Antiphons” from December 17 to 24. We cry out in fervent prayer and joyful expectancy:

O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love;

come to teach us the path of knowledge!

Christ, the wisdom and the Word of God, has, in one sense, already come.  God the Son-- the Christ at the center of Christmas-- was present at the dawn of creation, and spoke us into being. The three persons of the Trinity willed that humans be a reflection of the divine: “Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness” (Gen 1:26). Whenever we take time to prepare our hearts before Mass, we participate in an abbreviated Advent and Christmas, and Christ truly makes his home in us.

Christ, in another sense, has not yet come: we await the joyful celebration of Christmas and the final advent on the Last Day. Mindfulness of life’s shortness, rather than causing one to be fearful of death, can motivate active participation in the Church community and lifelong study of Scripture. At the end of my life, I like to imagine God asking me, “So how did you like my Book?”  ...and I want to be able to respond to Him, sharing my favorite parts of salvation history, and asking questions about the chapters that I puzzled over for years. Hebrews 4:12 proclaims:

“Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.”

This Christmas vacation, take a moment or two to encounter Christ in Scripture.  Let it touch your heart, heal your soul, and refresh your spirit in this time of busy-ness. 

-Sarah Wright, Middle School Religion Teacher

Storyboard for a stop-motion film based on Genesis 33, when Jacob and Esau meet and reconcile

PERFECT!

It could be that your child came home to you last Wednesday after our School Mass and happily told you that he or she was perfect. With that statement, school parents were ready to call Father John and ask him to visit whenever it’s time to clean up or go to bed! Whatever happened to “repent, the time is near”?

When Father first posed the question, “Who here is perfect?” few hands tentatively waved.  Even during class discussions, students questioned the notion of their own perfection. “Most people don’t think they are perfect, but it’s nice that Father reminded us that God loves us anyway.” How can we be perfect when we slip up in so many ways? 

The answer: it is Christ in us who brings us to perfection. Reflections of the students show that they did get the message.“God sees us as good people. We are perfect when we areourselves.” “We have perfect in each of us, as long as we have Jesus in us.” “Through…salvation we are made perfect.” “God made us perfect. If anyone tells us otherwise, keep thinking ‘I’m perfect, so is everyone else.’”

As we continue our Advent journey, we are called to recognize and make ready the way for God to come to us. We have been challenged by scripture “to be found without spot or blemish before Him…then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.”

We wait in joyful hope. What a wonderful reminder we have each year that Christ has come to dwell with us, is with us! We just have to acknowledge and accept this presence, to kindle it and let it grow so that others may see the perfection of God shining through us.

Terry Gase

Vice Principal

Joyful Anticipation

The Season of Advent is upon us, and during these next four weeks, we anticipate and reflect not only on the birth of the Messiah, but we also prepare for His Second Coming. In this First Sunday of Advent, Mark’s Gospel reminds us to “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.”

At first glance, these words seem a bit ominous, but, in fact, this is a message of hope. Our lives are filled with moments of joyful anticipation, and oftentimes this can be elating: watching as the sun dips below the horizon, looking forward to the cherry trees blossoming each spring, waiting for a toddler to take his first steps. American novelist Nicholas Sparks remarks, “Never forget that anticipation is an important part of life…without excitement, you have nothing. You’re cheating yourself if you refuse to enjoy what’s coming.” A. A. Milne’s character Winnie the Pooh explains anticipation this way: “ ‘Well,’ said Pooh, ‘what I like best,’ and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.”

As faithful Christians, we spend the next four weeks getting ready. We light our Advent candles, listen to familiar Christmas carols, and adorn our homes to reflect the festivities; even baking and purchasing gifts reminds us of what is to come.  We do this with a watchful eye, vigilant, alert, and prepared.  So let us fly on the wings of anticipation this Advent, and be ready for all the glory that this Season holds.

Kathleen Mock

Principal

St. Michael’s School