Month: September 2025

Holy Cross 4th and 5th grade has two new furry friends! We are so excited to introduce our Mini Rex bunnies, both girls, named Oreo and Reeses. They are outside by the chickens and are already bringing lots of smiles to our school.

Right now, Oreo and Reeses are still settling into their new home. Ms. Falkenberg and I are focusing on socializing them, preparing a proper hutch, and creating routines for their daily care.

This will also be a hands-on learning experience for our students. They will practice how to properly handle and care for a pet, with age-appropriate chores and responsibilities that help keep Oreo and Reeses healthy, safe, and happy. We hope this experience teaches responsibility, empathy, and respect for animals while giving our students the joy of caring for these two sweet girls.

Helping Out 🎯

We’ve put together a Bunny Wish List for anyone who would like to help provide items for Oreo and Reeses. Some of our top priority items right now include:

• Indoor play pens so they can safely spend time in the classroom
• Outdoor play pens to give them space to roam and explore
• Outdoor kennel or shed to house their hutch
• Toys for enrichment, like chew toys and tunnels, to keep them active and engaged

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2GMZT2QJ5I5BD?ref_=wl_share

If you have any of these items at home that you’re no longer using, or if you come across someone looking to part with them, please think of us! We are also hoping to collect toilet paper and paper towel rolls, which make simple but fun toys for the bunnies. Cardboard boxes would be great, too!

The hutch itself will have two levels and wheels, making it easy to move and transition indoors if the bunnies need to be brought inside during extreme weather. Ideally, we’d like to offer two safe options (an indoor space and an outdoor space) so the bunnies always have a secure place to be. We are also open to ideas or suggestions for how to make this setup work best, whether mobile or more permanent, similar to our chicken area but on a smaller scale.

What’s Next 🌟

We hope to create a rotation where families can sign up to take Oreo and Reeses home on weekends. A permission form and sign-up list will be shared once we are ready.

Follow along on Oreo and Reeses’ adventures! We’ll be posting pictures to our Google Photo Drive, so you can see what our bunnies are up to each week.

Take a look at our Bunny Photo Drive here! https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fh20WGEMxPvHZzC3RxUPW_0ni50Xg_zH?usp=sharing

Thank you for supporting us in caring for Oreo and Reeses. With your help, our students will learn responsibility, kindness, and respect for animals all while enjoying the joy that these two will bring to our school.

Another week has flown by! Here are a few updates and reminders:

Volunteers Needed: I am looking for one or two volunteers to help cut lamination. I have 10–20 pages that I hope to get cut over the weekend. If you are interested in lending a hand, I would greatly appreciate your help! If you would like to help, please send me an email and I will send home the pages with your child.

Math: We had our first math test today and students will get their results tomorrow. Our new math curriculum challenges students to grow their skills in new ways, but also assumes they already have foundational knowledge of this new learning style from previous years. Adjusting to this new approach can be challenging, but we are taking it one step at a time. Our recent STAR Math testing shows we have an incredibly strong group of math learners, so I encourage students to stay positive and persistent! I truly appreciate your support at home as students continue to grow and adapt. Some homework questions may assume prior knowledge or familiarity with specific terminology, so please encourage your child to give their homework a try. If a problem is especially tricky, have them circle it and bring it to me the next day… I’m happy to provide additional support as needed.

Social Studies: We are continuing to power through our states and capitals quizzes (and we are doing an incredible job!) On Tuesday, we will have our final covering all 50 states and capitals. Tomorrow, Friday, we will creatively map each region and color our maps to aid memorization. Please encourage your child to review and study at home!

Reading: Reading requirement information was sent home on Wednesday. Please take some time to discuss your child’s reading goals and encourage them to read at home. If any questions or concerns arise during the semester, please encourage your child to speak with me right away…I am happy to support them and adjust their goal as long as we don’t wait until the end of the trimester!

Mass: Our class will be leading Mass next Friday. Parts will be assigned on Monday, so please help your child practice at home. We would love for you to celebrate Mass with us next week!

Winter Coat Drive: Our winter coat drive begins on Monday. Our goal is to collect 100 new or gently used toddler coats for the Alexandrina Pregnancy Resource Center. Thank you for helping us make a difference in our community!

Specials: Please help your child remember to bring their instrument and gym clothing every Tuesday and Thursday!

Thank you so much for your continued support. I feel truly blessed to be your child’s teacher every day.

Check out our Google Photo Drive for evidence of all the learning and fun we are having in 5th grade!
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MHj-BufEH9zadUZNoKbg3fonE76iA6Y3?usp=sharing

~Mrs. A

Earn a granny candy! Ask your child what their favorite “brain game” is and share below! (Answers must be submitted by 9/22.)

Hello families,

It’s been a busy and exciting start to the school year! I want to share some upcoming events, important information, and a glimpse into all the great things happening in our classroom.

Grandparents Day Celebration & Packer Dress Down Tomorrow
Tomorrow we are celebrating our HC Grandparents! We warmly invite all grandparents to join us for Mass tomorrow, September 5th, followed by a sweet treat. It’s a special time to honor the wisdom and love our grandparents bring to our lives. As Pope Leo said, “Grandparents are witnesses of hope.” Also- Its our first Packer Dress Down Day! GO PACK GO!

STAR Testing Next Week
Next week, we’ll be participating in STAR Testing, which is an important tool that GRACE uses to measure student achievement in Reading and Math. Our first testing day is Wednesday, September 9th. Please help your child prepare by making sure they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and remember to bring a snack. Your encouragement is key! Please remind your child to try their best and take the test seriously. These assessments are not a grade, but they provide me with valuable information to better understand your child’s strengths and areas where they may need more support. This helps me tailor my instruction to best meet their individual needs.

Fifth Grade Winter Coat Drive
Starting at the end of this month, our fifth-grade class (along with Mr. James Cullen, our Student Services Director at GRACE) will be hosting a school-wide Winter Coat Drive to benefit the Alexandrina Pregnancy Resource Center. We will be collecting new and gently used toddler winter coats in sizes 2T to 5T. Our goal is to collect 100 coats! I will be sending home a flyer with more details soon. Please help us reach our goal by spreading the word to your friends and family. This is a wonderful opportunity to help those in our community.

What We’re Learning
Great things are happening in our classroom! We’ve begun our new math curriculum, and while it’s an adjustment from Saxon Math, the students are adapting well and finding success. We’re currently working on a unit on Whole Numbers, Expressions, and Volume.

In Science, we’ve started our “Infection Detection” unit. Students are learning about germs and pathogens, the immune system, and healthy habits. They will even get to design experiments to limit the spread of germs and investigate a fictional disease outbreak! It’s a fun and engaging way to learn about the importance of health.

We are also diving deep into nouns in Grammar and working on our note taking skills. Our first Social Studies unit is on North America, with a special focus on the United States. We will be exploring the country’s regions, geography, and a brief history, including learning all of the states and capitals.

Important Reminders
A quick reminder to please continue checking and signing your child’s planner and homework. For our band students, please ensure they are practicing and that you are signing their practice log. Consistent practice is vital for their progress.

Looking Ahead to October
October is already shaping up to be a busy and exciting month! Please mark your calendars for Saint Presentations after Mass on October 30th. We are also looking forward to our fifth graders joining the Middle School CHOIR!

Please take a look at our photo drive to see what we have been up to!
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MHj-BufEH9zadUZNoKbg3fonE76iA6Y3?usp=drive_link

Many Blessings!
Mrs. A

Bonus: What is one thing your child shared with you about 5th grade so far? All comments will earn their child a granny candy treat!