Spirit Saturday #12

The OLS family observes Lent, remembering Jesus' sacrifice and performing works of kindness to prepare our hearts for Easter joy.  The students pray the Stations of the Cross every Friday in Lent at 2:00pm.  Join us!

Hallway Art: Kindergarten Edition

A sampling of some work displayed by the OLS kindergarten students:

Maple Sugaring

The 4th grade recently went on a field trip to learn about the making of maple syrup.  They learned how it went from sap from the tree to they syrup we get at the store.  They were able taste sap and had a snack called syrup on snow. The students had a great time at Rockwoods Reservation!

Student Reporter News: Pig Hearts

Earlier this month, we reported on the 7th and 8th grade field trip and lesson on the heart.  To give a more in-depth review of the experience, we turn to a few of the students themselves.  Matt, a 7th grader, reports on Mrs. Sitner's lesson:

"On Tuesday of Catholic Schools Week, Mrs. Sitner came into our science class and taught the 8th grade and the 7th grade all about the human heart and how the human heart works and corresponds with all the other body parts within you.  When we got working and started learning about all the things the heart can do for you, it was a fun and great time.  The hour went by quickly, and we learned so many interesting things.  First, we learned all about the heart's specific parts, such as how many chambers the heart has and all the roles the other parts of the heart can do.  We also learned what the left and right ventricles are and the right and left atrium; those are the four chambers.  Then, we got to learn how to read and take our pulse and heartbeat.  We learned to use a stethoscope to read our heartbeat, which was really interesting.  We also learned other places to take your pulse, such as in your neck, groin, and on the left side of your wrist.  Finally, we all got to learn a song about the heart.  It taught us how the veins and heart work together to pump blood through our body.  Also at the end, we asked a bunch of questions for about 25 minutes, and all the kids had wonderful questions.  Mrs. Sitner taught us a lot in one hour!  Now that I know so much about the heart and how to keep it healthy, I will protect my heart.  I think everyone learned a lot about the heart that day and thought everything we heard and did was interesting and fun.  If I could learn more about the heart, I definitely would.  Mrs. Sitner's visit was like a mini-field trip in the classroom!"

Another 7th grader, Ben, explains more about the field trip:

"On February 4, 2015, the 7th and 8th grades went to Saint Louis University to dissect a pig's heart.  Both classes had been learning about the heart in science class, so Mrs. Garbo, the science teacher, planned a hands-on experiment so we could learn and have fun.  Each student had a partner that shared a heart, and they helped each other make cuts.  Our instructor was very nice, helpful, and knowledgeable.  Despite the fact that a lot of people were nervous, everybody liked it a lot, and best of all, no one got sick.  The heart looked a lot different than I expected, for instance it was twice the size of the human heart, and instead of it being red, it was more of an off-white color.  Overall, the field trip was very fun, and we learned a lot, too."

A Special Musical Guest

The first grade had a special musical visitor!  Robert is the younger brother of Mrs. Mongan.  He is a cancer survivor whose love for the guitar helped him cope through months of therapy.  He loves to play for children and hopefully "peak the interest" of a future guitarist.  The students were so excited when he played "Let It Go", their favorite song from Disney's Frozen.  He promises to come back after he learns more of their favorites!

Pinewood Derby

Over the weekend, OLS Cub Scout Pack 51 hosted its annual Pinewood Derby.  Each scout designed a car and had the opportunity to tell the crowd of spectators about his design.  The boys invented some very creative cars, but these vehicles weren't just for looks!  They packed some good speed, too.  As the cars whizzed down the track, the scouts and their fans enjoyed the show.

Cub Scouts is open to all boys in grades 1-5.  Do you know a boy who might want to join the fun of Pack 51?  Comment on this post or contact Dan Harden (314-882-6634).

Join us for Trivia Night!

Time for a pop quiz:

Q:  How can you support OLS while sharing food, drinks, and laughs with your friends?
A:  Attend Trivia Night on March 21st!

The Home & School Association Trivia Night includes 10 rounds of trivia plus all the extras: raffles, a silent auction, gift card grab bag, a chance to win Cardinals tickets, and more.  Beer, soda, and popcorn provided, and you're welcome to bring any other brain food you need.  Grab your friends, brush up on some minutiae, and come out to support our school! 

Tables of 8 are available for $160.  All proceeds from this event help us provide educational enhancements for our students.

Can't make it on the 21st but still want to help?  You can sponsor a round of trivia, donate a gift card, or contribute a raffle basket.  Comment on this post or contact Anne Kromer (314-306-1236) to find out more.

Building Buoyant Boats

In science, the 7th graders recently studied volume, density, and mass with regards to buoyancy.  They were asked to design a boat that is capable of carrying cargo, in this case marbles.  As they debated their design options, they considered the surface area of the boat and how it would displace the water.

As part of the lesson, each student wrote a lab report, which included a question, research, hypothesis, procedure, collection of data, and a conclusion.  The class then explored further questions that surfaced over the course of the project.  In all, the students designed some very successful boats, wrote clear lab reports, and had fun in the process!

A Valentine's Baby Shower

The 6th graders celebrated Valentine's Day in an unusual way, as they combined their holiday party with a baby shower for their teacher, Mrs. Skillman.  Along with eating ladybug cookies, ice cream sundaes, and candy, the students played a baby shower game called The Dirty Diaper Dilemma.  In this uproarious game, they tried to guess the baby food or chocolate candy in the diapers.  Some of them wouldn't even go near the diapers, and others looked a little green around the gills.  Afterwards, everyone "oohed" and "ahhhhed" over the darling gifts Mrs. Skillman received for her baby girl.

Best wishes, Mrs. Skillman, on the upcoming birth of your little Love Bug!  We can't wait to welcome her into the OLS family!

Inspiring our Student Leaders

The Ambassadors and ProLife Club with Coach John Parker.

Earlier this month, the OLS Ambassadors & ProLife Club had the opportunity to meet "Coach" John Parker, a life coach and motivational speaker from St. Louis.  Coach Parker came to their meeting and talked to the students about leadership, overcoming adversity, and responsibility.  An ex-football player and coach, he used his experiences on and off the field to motivate our young leaders.

The US Presidents

The third graders recently completed a unit on the presidents of the United States.  The students researched the leaders of our county and shared key facts with each other.  In addition to a written summary about their lives and achievements, the third graders brought the presidents to life with pictures.

Spirit Saturday #11

Scenes from the preschool Valentine's Day party.  Crafts, snacks, dancing: what more could a kid want?!

Happy Valentine's Day from all of us at OLS!  We hope you spend the day with those you love.

Bellarmine Speech Team

Last weekend, the OLS Speech Team participated in a meet at St. Joan of Arc, their second meet of the year.  The OLS team, which included two 5th graders, two 6th graders, and three 7th graders, performed outstandingly!  They brought home 3 gold ribbons and 3 blue ribbons.  Congratulations!  We are so proud of you.  Their next meet is March 28th!

Our team with their dedicated faculty coaches: Mrs. Ryan and Ms. Schweiss.

Reading Aloud

The third grade students dropped by to share some stories with their first grade friends.  The students paired up, and the older children read their favorite Arthur stories to the younger ones.  Both readers and listeners enjoyed the treat!

Putting Contractions to Work

In English, the 4th graders have been working on contractions, combining verbs and the word not.  They created posters about proper behavior in the lunchroom using these contractions.  Check them out the next time you visit the OLS cafeteria!

Luke 18 Retreat

The OLS 8th graders are invited to join their peers from neighboring schools for a weekend retreat.  Housed at Bishop DuBourg, the Luke 18 retreat serves as an opportunity for students to grow in their relationship with God, each other, and the Church.  The retreat is led by area high school students and includes small group discussions, quiet prayer, dynamic talks, and socializing.

The retreat takes place this weekend (February 13-15), but there's still time to sign up!  To register or to learn more, visit the Saint Louis Life Teen website or call 314-288-8873.

Hands-On Science: Pig Hearts

Mrs. Sitner's visit to OLS.

Last week, the 7th and 8th graders took a field trip to St. Louis University for a hands-on lesson on the heart.  To prepare for their trip, Mrs. Sitner, an OLS parent and heart transplant coordinator RN, presented a detailed lesson on the structures of the human heart.  The students learned a great deal from Mrs. Sitner and then applied her lesson to the pig hearts they dissected at SLU.

Working in the lab at St. Louis University.

The SLU trip was hosted by their AIMS program: Adventures in Medicine and Science.  Through this program, OLS students saw the structures of a pig heart firsthand.  The SLU instructors guided them through the dissection process and informed them of the similarities between the pig heart and the human heart.

It was a tremendous day and an experience that the students will not soon forget.  Thank you to Mrs. Sitner, the OLS junior high faculty, and St. Louis University for making this lesson and trip possible!

One Little Seed: States of Matter

The One Little Seed Blue and Yellow Rooms (ages 4-5) have been exploring states of matter this month.  At the Art Center, the students learned that they can make beautiful projects with solids, liquids, and gasses!

Some OLS preschoolers display their states of matter art projects.

Fashion Design

In art class, when the 3rd graders are given an opportunity for "free create", they often ask to make costumes.  They gather pieces of fabric and fashion them into some creative clothing designs.  Here they model just a few of their silly and dramatic creations. 

Move over Project Runway!  The fashion designers of OLS are on the prowl.

Geometry Town

In math, the sixth graders have been studying geometry.  As part of this unit, the students created Geometry Towns, which featured geometry vocabulary, constructions, and creative math names for the streets and buildings in their town.  It was a fun way to synthesize the geometry concepts they learned!

Jan Brett Month

During the months of December and January, Mrs. Hodgson's class studied beloved children's author and illustrator, Jan Brett. In addition to the stories in their reader, they also read many Jan Brett books including her most famous book, The Mitten, The Wild Christmas Reindeer, Hedgie's Surprise, and many more.

As part of their studies, the students watched a program on their Smartboard where they got to see Jan Brett.  She told about her life, how she came to be an artist and author, and she even showed them how to draw a hedgehog, her favorite animal. (There is almost always a hedgehog in Jan Brett's stories!) The first graders tried their hand at writing a story and making a hedgehog.  Soon the students will read their original stories to another class!

Catholic Schools Week 2015

Last week, OLS celebrated Catholic Schools Week to the fullest.  From guest presentations to charitable giving, the week encompassed everything that makes Catholic education unique.  Activities engaged the whole student body and their families, bringing the entire community together to celebrate the beauty of an OLS education.

A few of the highlights from the week:

The OLS Ambassadors and ProLife Club, along with their dedicated faculty sponsors, created banners for every family to display on their front door.  The neighborhood was brimming with OLS pride!

Several staff scientists from Monsanto gave a STEM presentation (science, technology, engineering, and math) to the students in the upper-grades.

The Bishop DuBourg swing dancers and jazz band performed for the entire school.  The OLS students loved hearing the band and watching the dancers.  And we were pleased to welcome back a few OLS alumni who were members of the DuBourg band and swing dance team.

The primary grades played PeeWee football to kick off our Soup-er Bowl canned food drive to benefit our parish's St. Vincent de Paul food pantry.  All the students, both those on the court and those watching from the stands, had a wildly good time.

To end the week, all families enjoyed a picnic lunch in the cafeteria and gym.  After lunch, the students led the community in a prayer service during which they thanked God for the learning, the activities, and the fun of Catholic Schools Week.

Special thanks to Mrs. Ryan, Mrs. Granadillo, and Mrs. Williams for sharing their pictures for this post. Thanks to all who helped make Catholic Schools Week a success at OLS!