Mrs. Bernhardt's First Grade: November 30, 2012

Each year at Christmas, Zion students and families participate in a project to serve their neighbors near and far. In the past, my first graders have supported people who live across the world by raising money to buy milk for children in Indonesia. Other years, they have supported an organization closer to home- Youth in Need, and St. Louis Crisis Nursery.

This year, many classrooms have chosen to support one of our own Zion families- a former Parents Day Out family who have a newborn daughter and young son, Drew, who was diagnosed with cancer in August. We want to show them that "Zion is family" by providing them with baby items, cleaning supplies, food, gift cards, etc.

Each class has signed up for items to provide. Our class will be collecting Walmart and Target gift cards for Drew's family. (Zion's Together We're Better program has gift cards in a variety of denominations, but you could also send in cash and I will buy combine the money to buy gift cards)

We will collect items until Dec. 20th. Sara Kuhlmann, our Early Childhood Director will then deliver the items to Drew's family.
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This is from an email Drew's mom sent to Mrs. Kuhlmann:

Drew's mom said, "We talk about Zion nearly every day, from him asking to go to school to us dreaming of him being there."

She hasn't worked since his diagnosis, and Drew's dad has been working as he can. In addition to welcoming a new baby, their treatment schedule has been pretty intense:

Currently: Drew just started his fifth round of chemo.
December 31: Surgery to remove the tumor
February: Chemo
March: Bone marrow transplant
April: 30 days of radiation (Drew will be sedated each day.)
May: Begin immunotherapy (which requires a week-long stay in the hospital each month for 5 months).

"After that, we hold our breath for 5 years and pray it leaves us alone."

Drew is dealing with a lot of side effects, such as some hearing loss and knee braces. Please pray for healing for Drew and strength for his family.

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS SERVICE PROJECT.

IN CLASS WE WILL BE MAKING CARDS AND A VIDEO FOR DREW.

A Look Ahead
Memory: The memory will be the two verses of "Joy to the World" We have been working on them in class and most children should already have most of it memorized. Please continue practicing the Advent part, loud, clear, and slow!

Religion: Elisha and Jonah
Spelling: Lesson 14, long i with a silent e
Grammar: Possessive nouns
Math: Fact Test on Tuesday, we will learn the adding 2 facts next week
Reading: compare and contrast

Literacy Centers
computer:tinyurl.com/timehour
phonics: vowel o and u sort
alphabet: silent e
name: contractions
writing: writing a letter to Santa
math: place value
poetry: Candy Cane Poem
Christmas Around the World: England, Mexico, Germany,

Holland, and China

Art: Christmas Gifts

ADVENT SERVICE: We will lead worship WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19 at 7:00 we will also lead closing chapel on FRIDAY DECEMBER 21 at 8:00.

HEADS UP: On December 6, we will be learning about St. Nick. You child may want to put his/her shoes outside

to have St. Nick fill them with a treat. We will learn that the treats are small like, candy. gum, a pencil, fruit or nuts. Thought you may want to be prepared.

No Blue Bags in December: I will not be sending blue bags home in the month of December. Many bags are missing books and are out of order. I will be tidying the bags for the new year. If you find any books at home that you think came from a blue bag please send them back to school.

Send in boxes and cans: I would like to set up a class store to practice using money.
Please send in any small empty food boxes or cans. Thanks!!

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:
the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son
and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel Shall come to you O Israel!
Come Lord Jesus, Immanuel, God with us!

I hope you carve some time out of the hustle and bustle of this season to have special Advent devotions with your family. At Zion this weekend the Devotional Life Team will be handing out Advent Wreath kits and Advent devotions. Please take advantage of this and pick them up after church. Help prepare your hearts for Jesus this Advent. Zion's Lessons and Carols is this Sunday it is another way to take sometime to focus on Jesus. This service last about one hour and 15 minutes and focuses on Jesus coming into our dark world to bring light. The services begins at 7:00 preservice music starts at 6:45.

In HIM,

Amy

Enjoy the pictures of us working and playing.