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Sunday, October 6, 2013

Religion News for the Week of October 7, 2013

     We are coming to the close of our first quarter of school on Friday, October 11.  There are two assignments due by Friday, October 11.  One is the second memorized prayer and the second is the service hour log sheet with the student's two or more hours of service required for the first quarter of school.  Each student should read the requirement on the front of their service hour sheet for an explanation of their documentation of their activity.  (NOTE*  a picture is optional, not required)
A 4-5 word reflective paragraph of their activity answering the questions on the front of their log sheet is to be stapled to the back of their log sheet so I can enter their grades for this assignment.  If any student is volunteering at the Harvest Hoedown on Friday, October 11, they can log these hours for first quarter if they need it or second quarter.  If they need the service hours for first quarter then they can turn in their log sheet and reflection paragraph on Monday, October 14.

     We'll be starting Chapter 1 in all Religion classes this week, so please read the blog from last week for information about this.  All graded work has been handed back to the students, they do not have to keep these, but I have asked that they take their graded work home to show their parents.

      This past Friday all classes prayed at Eucharistic Adoration in the Holy Spirit Chapel.  All the classes had a rosary, or Bible, or special prayer book to use to help them pray.  We spent about fifteen minutes of class time for this spiritual opportunity.  There were also special prayers on the kneelers close to the Blessed Sacrament that could be said as each student would kneel up close to Jesus with their special needs.  I know it might be hard to believe that Middle Schoolers can actually endure fifteen minutes of silence, but they did.  Every single class was perfectly silent and seemed engaged in talking to Jesus.  Father Paul has said before that we need to provide special spiritual moments for our child.  This was a very moving moment for all and hopefully will be something they will continue to practice for years to come.
     
     May you all have a blessed week and Stay Calm and Keep the Faith,

Mrs. Gutzwiller

   

Monday, September 30, 2013

Middle School Religion Update for the week of 9/30/13

     All Middle Schoolers are preparing to recite their second memorized prayer due on Friday Oct. 11, 2013.  Several students have already said their second prayer ahead of time.  The students can choose from a selection of prayers from their prayer packet in their Religion folder or the one that was a take home packet.

     Eight green Religion students are meeting with Mrs. Amy Moran pertaining to Career Choices.  The other Religion classes are finishing up study skill hints and activities.  All classes will then move into reading and completing a worksheet packet on Ch. 1 in their grade level Religion books.

     This Friday is the first Friday of the month so the Middle School students will be praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament during Religion classes in the Church chapel.  At adoration the students will be praying silently, reading from the Bible, or silently reflecting on the prayer at the kneelers right up in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  This is a time for the students to experience a time of silent reflection allowing Jesus to speak to them without distractions of the outside world.

     Since October is the Month of the Rosary we will be saying the Rosary before Masses on Wednesdays at 8:10.  Please join us in praying this as a student body.

     Please continue to check your child's grades on My Students' Progress regularly.  Your child should really be checking this themselves, so give them the code.  If you ever see a mistake please let the teacher know immediately so they can correct it.

     Have a great week, hug your children, pray for and with your children, and thank Jesus for your abundant blessings.

God Bless You All,

Mrs. Gutzwiller

Monday, September 23, 2013

Middle School Religion Updates 9/23/13


All the Middle Schoolers are starting off the week with a Religion test over the introduction worksheets to their Religion book.  This gives an overview of what they will be studying this year.  Most of the students have also completed their first memorized prayer for the year which was due last Friday, 9/20 for grades 6 and 7, and today 9/23 for grade 8  The second memorized prayer is due by Friday, 10/11.

This week all the students will be starting Chapter 1 in their Religion books.  Grade 6 will be studying about Revelation and Response, This chapter introduces the story of our ancestors in faith with the Old testament figures Abraham and Sarah, who accepted God;s plan even though they were unsure of what God had in store for them.  Grade 7 will be studying The Birth of Our Savior.  In this chapter the students will read accounts of the birth of Jesus from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.  They will read how God lovingly revealed himself to all humanity in the Second Person of the Trinity...Jesus Christ.
Grade 8 will study the word Apostolic: Founded on the Apostles.  They will learn how the apostles devoted their lives to follow Jesus and pass on his teachings to others.  They will also learn that Peter was the leader of the apostles and the first leader of the Church.  In every age the Church shares in the mission of the apostles to proclaim to the world the good news of Jesus Christ.

Our first quarter ends on Friday, 10/11, and two service hours are required for our first quarter.  Each student has a service hour log sheet and information concerning these hours in their Religion folder.

I hope everyone is receiving the daily e-mail for the daily Religion assignments.  If you aren't please contact the school office.

God Bless you all and have a great week,
Mrs. Gutzwiller

Friday, September 13, 2013

Middle School Religion A Week At a Glance 9/13/13

Memorized Prayer
    All the Middle Schoolers are memorizing eight prayers this year.  (Two per quarter)
Friday, September 20, is the due date for the first prayer.  Many students have already memorized and said their first prayer for me already.  I'm glad they are not waiting until the last minute.  Each student has two identical packets of prayers. (One for school and one for home.)  The students also have a yellow log sheet for the prayers they are choosing to memorize.  These prayers are counted in their grades and each day they are late there will be 10 pts. off.

Service Hours
     All Middle Schoolers also have a Service Hours Log Sheet.  The instructions for their required two hours of service hours per quarter is in their Rel. folder.  They will also be graded on this.

Worksheet Packets
     Each class started their worksheet packet for the Introductory Chapter of their Religion book.  Their tests will only be over the material that is in the worksheet packet.

Prayer Table
     Each of our homerooms have a special place for our prayer table.  This year we have holy water in little bowls to make the Sign of the Cross as we enter and leave each classroom.  This is a wonderful tradition that has been revised here at Holy Spirit.  Back in the day every classroom had a holy water font right inside each door of each classroom.  On my trip to Ireland in 2010, every Bed and Breakfast had a holy water font right inside their front door.  It would be great if you would consider this at home.

     God Bless You All,
     Mrs. Gutzwiller
   

 

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Religion September 3, 2013

      This week in Middle School we will be filing several papers in our Religion folders and starting our introduction to the standards for this year.  Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders will receive their yellow prayer log sheets, a copy of the prayers to choose from to memorize, and a service hour log sheet.
These papers need to be kept in their Religion folder all year.
     The students will also receive several papers to take home.  The 8 graders will have a vocation's day flyer with a permission slip that needs to be returned ASAP.  All  students will have a prayer packet marked "Pleases Keep At Home," which are their choices for their memorized prayers this year and the due dates.
     Seven green students are planning this Wednesday's Mass.  It would be nice if you could join us for the liturgy.
     As we start studying our Religion topics this year the students will receive a packet for the standards we are studying.  Their will be a study guide included which will be the basis for their Religion tests.
     All Religion classes are continuing activities for our Anti Bullying Program beyond our Wednesday Class meetings.  The topics we cover have so many activities that we can easily expand on these during Religion classes.
      Don't forget the deadline for any Anti-Bullying posters is this Friday, 9/6/13.

God Bless You All and have a great week,
Mrs. Gutzwiller


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Back To School

  Welcome back Middle Schoolers to another year at Holy Spirit.  We have an exciting Religion curriculum planned for you.  Grade level packets were distributed at Back to School night a couple of weeks ago.  If you were not able to attend please ask your child to ask me for one to bring home.

  Each of the Middle School grade levels have different Religion standards.  Many overlap from year to year.  Then many of our extra requirements are basically the same for each grade level.  All the students have a Religion folder that they keep with their Social Studies binder, since our classes are back to back. So far we have completed a couple of daily Bible readings and reflections.  The students have also completed some activities that have gone along with Pope Francis' daily tweet.  The students have also planned for the weekly Masses.

   Some of the requirements for all the students are:  notes and vocabulary, monthly current events, daily Bible reading, tests and quizzes, Mass preparation, memorized prayer, Saint reports, and service projects.  We have had a sign up for babysitting for the PTO meetings and the PTO book club.  The students who signed up were asked to check these dates with their parents to confirm they will be there.
I believe they might get a reminder phone call also.

   I will be sending home Religion homework and updates by E-mail almost every night.  Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions or concerns.  jgutzwiller@holyspirit-indy.org

  This week we have been Benchmarking in Religion class.  99% of all the students should be completed by tomorrow.

  You are all invited to attend our 8:30 Mass tomorrow.  8 Gold has the readings so it would be nice for you to come and participate in the liturgy with us.

  God Bless you all,
  Keep Calm and Have Faith

Mrs. Gutzwiller