We finished our around the world tour this week with England and Italy.  We learned that the first Christmas cards were sent in England and they celebrate boxing day the day after Christmas.  Traditionally, boxing day was when the churches opened up their alms boxes and distributed the money to the poor.  We had fun making the Christmas crackers that are given as gifts in England.

Today we visited Italy and learned about La Befana.  In Italy La Befana travels on a broom on Epiphany Eve to leave gifts for children. We also learned that Italians eat pasta and seafood for Christmas dinner and pizzelles for dessert.  We enjoyed our own pizzelles as a little treat to finish up our Christmas Around the World unit.

 Tomorrow is Game Day!  We will be playing games from 12PM -1:15.  Parents are welcome to come spend a relaxing hour playing board games with us.  Children are welcome to bring their own games in to share. 
   Christmas parties had to be scheduled after 2:15 according to school policy so we will have our treat when we come back from our special.  Christmas Mass begins at 9AM on Friday- everyone is welcome!
     Though we didn't use our reading series this week, we were very busy.  We had a great time making our Christmas gifts- I hope you loved them.  We also wrote the Christmas Story in our own words- I think the students did a wonderful job.  They will be sent home on Friday for you to enjoy.  We've started comparing and working with 3 digit numbers and the students are doing a great job with that.  Tomorrow we will delve into fractions by frosting graham crackers one quarter at a time.
     I wish you all a very blessed Christmas.