CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ST. AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY SCHOOL CLASS OF 2015!

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2015 GRADUATION AWARDS

Medals are awarded to the following students who have displayed exemplary work in a certain subject area.
	Gold Medal	Silver Medal
Religious Studies	Megan L.	Alexander D.
Language Arts	Karissa C.	Rachel C.
Mathematics	Joseph O.	Megan L.
Algebra	Arnav B.	Karissa C.
Social Studies	Karissa C.	Alexander D.
Science	Sara B.	Sophia W.
Technology	Molly B.	Christopher H.
World Language - Spanish	Karissa C.	Arnav B
Physical Education	Isabella A.	Michael D.
Fine Arts	Sara B.	Karissa C.

Presidential Academic Excellence Award:	Molly B.	Alexander D.
	Sara B.	Ian F.
	Kashish B.	Megan L.
	Arnav B.	Morgan M.
	Rage B.	Aarushi R.
	Gillian C.	Ryan S.
	Karissa C.	Sophia W.

President's Achievement Award:	Isabella A.	Brian G.
	Christopher B.	Christopher H.
	Kelly B.	Joseph L.
	Ryan C.	Joseph O.
	Rachel C.	Fynn P.
	Gabrielle D.	Vishnu R.
	Juliana D.	Lawrence R.
	Sophia G.	Allison S.
	Caitlyn G.	Bria V.

Scholastic Challenge First Place Winner:

Arnav B.

Notre Dame High School Academic Scholarship Award:

Karissa C.

Saint Lucy Filippini and Cardinal Barbarigo Award:	Alexander D.
	Megan L.

Father Reilly Memorial Award:	Gabrielle D.
	Christopher H.

Monsignor Capano Scholarship:

Arnav B.

Brother Robert Sheeley Scholarship:	Christopher B.
	Ian F.

 

FOURTH GRADE CLASS SENDS “GET WELL” CARDS TO INJURED HERO DOG

Kayla S., a fourth grader in Ms. Fama’s class, was touched by a news story of a Seeing Eye Dog who jumped in front of a bus to save her owner, so she asked if the class could design cards to send best wishes to this amazing dog. The students created beautiful "Get Well" cards for Figo, the hero dog. Cards were overnighted to the Veterinary Hospital where Figo is recuperating through the generosity of Kayla’s mom. All the children did their best work creating these cards. Figo, the doctors and nurses of Middlebranch Veterinary Hospital in Carmel, NY posted on Facebook their appreciation of the kind gesture of the class.

Pictured is Figo with the cards created by Fourth Grade Blue.

   

MS. FAMA'S CLASS WRITES SONGS ABOUT NEW JERSEY

The students in Ms. Fama's fourth grade class were tasked with creating a song using facts about New Jersey. They worked together to brainstorm, write and perform their masterpieces. Below are a couple of examples of their fantastic compositions.

TECH TEAM TAKES FLIGHT WITH 3D PRINTED QUADCOPTER

The St. A's Tech Team has been working all year on a project to build a radio controlled quadcopter with parts made on the school's 3D printer. On Thursday, May 14 - The Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord - that project came to an historic conclusion in the field behind the school building when the quadcopter lifted off and flew for the first time. The students have christened their creation the Ascension in honor of Ascension Thursday. This year's Tech Team has truly been at the forefront of St. A's STEM initiative, and the Ascension will stand as an example of what can be achieved with dedication, hard work, and God-given ability.

 
 
 
 
 

BONUS VIDEO: Check out the Multimedia Gallery for a video of the Ascension's first flght!

SECOND GRADERS COMPLETE CODE.ORG PROGRAMMING COURSE!

Congratulations to Danita C. and Dean B. for being our first Second Grade students to complete Course 1 in the http://code.org/educate/k5 Programming Curriculum. In this first course, the students learn the basic concepts of sequences, loops and events, collaboration, problem-solving, and Internet Safety. At the end of the course, students are encouraged to create their own interactive game or story using the skills they learned. We are very proud of all our Second Grade students for working very hard to learn to code and complete all the stages in Course 1. They are all very anxious to see what Course 2 will be teaching them next, as they continue on their programming journey!

CONGRATULATIONS TO FATHER BOB ON HIS 31ST ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION!

STUDENTS CELEBRATE SPACE DAY WITH VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP TO THE GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER

To commemorate National Space Day, our students from grades 3 to 8 attended a virtual field trip where they learned about the cutting edge technology of NASA's newest telescope: the James Webb Space Telescope, named after one of the most influential men to run the Space Program from 1961-1968. Our fourth grade students were most attentive to the program, as they are completing a project about Space, the International Space Station and what it is like to live and work in space. The program also included a tour of the Space Flight Center, and the types of jobs and skills needed to work there, as well as information about other missions to Mars and Jupiter. As part of our commitment to our STEM  program, we hope to motivate our students to become excited about these types of careers in their future.

 
 

FOURTH GRADERS LEARN ABOUT THE ROCK CYCLE WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM QUEEN

Miss Fama's 4th Grade class.watched a video in class to help them learn about the different types of rocks and the rock cycle. The video featured a song to help students remember important facts about the rock cycle and how different rocks are formed. The students liked the song so much that they decided to learn it and perform it themselves.

"The Rock Cycle" (Sung to the tune of "We Will Rock You" by Queen)

Study! In the mantle, home of magma
Lava molten rock; 'neath the surface of the Earth you stay
Earth's crust in your face
When cooling takes place
Igneous rocks form at a really slow pace

We will, we will rock you. We will, we will rock you.

Study! Organic, chemical, clastic
Sedimentary rock form in three unique ways
Plant fragments in your face, chemical carbonates,
Sediment particles settle in place

We will, we will rock you. We will, we will rock you.

Study! Changes in heat and pressure rising from the Earth create
Metamorphic rocks
Gravity pulling on your face, squeezing mineral space
Energy fuels chemical reactions taking place

We will, we will rock you. We will, we will rock you

EIGHTH GRADE ODYSSEY OF THE MIND TEAM HEADED TO WORLD FINALS!

Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from Kindergarten through college.  Team members apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics.  They then bring their solutions to competition on the local, state and world level.  Thousand of teams throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program.  St. Augustine’s is lucky to have many teams throughout all the grades.  Every team worked very hard, and even if the odds weren’t in their favor at competition, we are all extremely proud of their dedication.

Two eighth grade teams are in their very last year of Odyssey of the Mind, and they both have been working constantly on their solutions since the beginning of this year.  One of those teams has made it to the World Finals at Michigan State University, and they are all excited!  This team, coached by Joann Carmien, worked out a creative solution to their problem, "Silent Movie", all on their own and they are being rewarded for their efforts.  They are returning to Worlds for the second year in a row, and hope to meet some of the friends they made last year from all over the world!

  

The team members (pictured above) would like to thank Sister Mary Louise and St. Augustine of Canterbury School for supporting them wholeheartedly and providing them with an Odyssey Room backstage, their parents for always driving them to meetings and picking up food, and their awesome coach, who stuck with them for two years and gave them just the right amount of guidance.

The team is very grateful for the opportunity to attend World Finals in Michigan on May 21st.  Their trip is supported through fundraisers organized by our parent volunteers.

2015 MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE FAIR AWARDS

KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS ACHIEVE READING SUCCESS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

Our Kindergarten students have been using a new online program to develop and improve their reading skills through the use of technology. The program is Teach Your Monster to Read and through the proceeds of a charity, the Usborne Foundation, it is totally free and the students love playing it while gaining valuable reading skills at the same time.

According to the website (http://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/how-it-works/how-is-it-educational) the children learn as they "crack the alphabetic code which means understanding that the symbols on the page (letters) relate to sounds.  In order to decode they need the skill of blending the sounds together when reading. When spelling, they need the skill of splitting the word into its sounds (segmenting) and representing these with letters. These challenges offer many opportunities for the children to develop their listening skills as they match letters to sounds. The game also models the process of blending and provides opportunities for children to listen to words and practise segmenting. Of course, reading is about far more than decoding. It is about pleasure and opening up whole new worlds for children as they immerse themselves in stories. Whilst the focus of this game is on phonics, its imaginative and engaging context offers an enjoyable and exciting adventure in which to practise new found skills learnt in school." Since this is an online log-in program, the students are also able to use this at home and practice their skills both in class and receive at-home reinforcement as well.

Our congratulations to the four students pictured who have already completed their First Steps Level and have progressed to Level 2: Fun With Words: Cristian, Ark, Kayla and Simeon. Way to go; Super Kids of Kindergarten!

   

FUTURE ENGINEERS COMPLETE BRIDGE BUILDING TASK

Congratulations to the following 8th graders for completing all 60 levels of their Third Quarter Engineering Skills & Financial Literacy Project called Cargo Bridge 2 (http://www.engineering.com/GamesPuzzles/CargoBridge2.aspx): Joe O., Allan S., Ryan S., Molly B., Sara B., and Keegan S. The project was to build bridges that were structurally sound and still stay within the dollar budget given for the task.  These six students were the only 8th graders to complete all 60 levels and we are very proud of their achievement and look forward to seeing these students choosing Engineering as their major and career path in life!

  

NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTS CLASS OF 2015

The St. Augustine of Canterbury School chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) welcomed 13 new members during an Induction Ceremony on February 24. Membership in the NJHS is based on five criteria: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, Character, and Citizenship. Potential candidates must first meet the scholarship requirement, an overall "A" average. Those that do are asked to submit a student activity form demonstrating their service and leadership qualities, and are evaluated by the entire faculty on their citizenship and character. The list of finalists is then voted upon by the Faculty Council, with candidates who receive a majority vote being invited to become NJHS members.

The Induction Ceremony was held on February 24 at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church. The keynote address was given by current NJHS President Gillian C., who graciously accepted the invitation to speak to her classmates on this momentous occasion. Gillian was inducted into the NJHS last year and works closely with Student Council President Caitlin G. in planning school-wide activities and events. With poise and confidence, she challenged her classmates to bring the NJHS Pledge to life and to make a difference by bring visible role models.

Congratulations to all the 2015 National Junior Honor Society Inductees: Grade 8 - Isabella A., Rage B., Sophia G., Caitlin G., Aarushi R., Ryan S.  Grade 7 - Alyanna A., Avni B., Sarah G., Mary G., Samantha M., Gregory M., Zara N.

FATHER & SON NIGHT: CELEBRATING THE FEAST DAY OF ST. JOSEPH

St. Augustine School celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Joseph by hosting a Father & Son Night on March 19. Fathers and sons worked together to build wooden bird houses and model helicopters, commemorating how the young Jesus learned from his father, Saint Joseph. Commented one Dad, "Thank you for making it possible for us to spend more time with our children."

FIRST EUCHARIST CANDIDATES ATTEND LITURGY PRACTICUM

Second Grade parents and students of St. Augustine’s First Eucharist class participated in a practicum with Father Bob Lynam, Pastor. The session was a “hands on learning workshop” for the parents and students. Everyone learned something new.

Father Bob with the students gathered around the altar for the opening prayer and
introduction to the Sacrament of the Eucharist, beginning with Jesus as child
celebrating Passover with his family.

Father Bob with his chalice explaining the significance of the symbols on it and how
much it means to him as a Priest as he celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

VOLUNTEERS CREATE EASTER BASKETS FOR ST. A'S OUTREACH PROGRAM

Groups of volunteers gathered in the Lenten spirit of service and sacrifice to assemble baskets full of donated Easter items. In all, the volunteers created over 60 baskets which will be distributed to Catholic Charities and other families ministered to through St. Augustine's Outreach Program. Pictured below are two families who assisted with the project.

 

ST. AUGUSTINE STUDENTS CELEBRATE NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK

As part of our STEM initiative in Computer Class this month, students from Pre-K4 to Grade 8 have been learning the answer to the Essential Question of the day: What is Engineering and why is it an important 21st Century Career and so important to the future of our country and the world? Our Pre-K4and Kindergarten students learned about Robotic Engineers from Sid the Science Kid and designed and printed out their own robots. Grades 1-4 learned about Engineering by watching a Power Point of the book “If I Were An Engineer.”, while Grades 5-8 watched the movie “What is Engineering”. Each grade viewed examples about Real-Life Engineers who are making a difference in the world on the PBSKIDS Design Squad website. Even the astronauts on the International Space Station recorded a message to all the future Engineers congratulating them on recognizing the importance of National Engineers Week and how engineers can make a difference in the world.

 
 

1ST GRADE PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND TEACHERS COME TOGETHER ON PARENT DAY

Grade 1 Parent Day was held on Friday, February 20.

 
 

ST. A'S SHARES PRAYER SERVICE VIA SKYPE WITH "SISTER" SCHOOL IN TEXAS

The St. Augustine School family renewed our friendship with our "big sister" school, St. Augustine High School in Laredo, Texas, with a joint prayer service on Wednesday, February 11. The prayer service, delivered via Skype video call, included songs, readings, and presentations of the symbols of Catholic Education by students at both schools, and closed with Principals Sr. Mary Louise Shulas and Olga Gentry delivering a joint blessing. Both schools are looking forward to the next time we connect, possibly later in the Spring.