Ruhnke Review 5/9/2025
651-771-8494 aruhnke@stjeromeschool.org
We are Learning About:
Groves/Phonics: We are learning about the vowel digraph ee, which has the long /e/ sound and the vowel digraph oa, which makes the long o sound, and suffixes -ing & -ed. We learned about the nasal sound /nk/. The vowels sound a little funny when it’s followed by the nk, just like the nasal sound for /ng/. For example, it sounds like /ank/ as in sank. We worked on compound 2-syllable words with beginning VCe syllables. Along with the VCV(e), Vowel/Consonant/Vowel that we learned, we continue to practice the vowel digraph ‘ai.’ Vowel digraphs are two vowel letters that go together to make one new sound & one tap. An example would be the word, ‘sail,’ ‘pail,’ ‘wait,' & ‘vain.’
Math: We have finished all of our Chapters 1-16!! Now we will be taking an Addition Timed Quiz every day, or, if your child has passed all the addition quizzes, then he/she will begin the Subtraction Timed Quizzes. We need to get ready to earn prizes! For each Addition Timed Test your child passes, they will earn a prize of some sort. So, PLEASE, if you haven’t already, take out your Addition flash-cards that were on the 1st Grade supply list. (You can purchase addition & subtraction flash cards at the Dollar Store)! Please, help your child practice 10 minutes every evening!! We are now working on our Addition-Timed-Quizzes & Subtraction-Timed Quizzes!
Religion: Chapter 24: “God Gives You His Life” Lessons: Jesus Restores the Life of Grace, Signs and Symbols of Baptism, Effects of Baptism, The Rite of Baptism. Chapter 25: “Many Gifts From God.” Lessons: God’s Gifts, Thank You God, The Liturgy, Jesus Made Present. Chapter 26: “Our Mother, Mary.” Lessons: Mary, Mother of God, Pray for Us Sinners, Hail Holy Queen, Mary Appears!! Chapter 27: “Following Jesus.” Lessons: Follow the Leader, Following Jesus’ Example, Let Us Pray, Love is Self-Gift. Chapter 28: “Jesus Will Come Again.” Lessons: Why Did God Make Me?, Heaven-Our Eternal Home, Jesus Will Come Again, Live Forever!
Sight Words:
Again, this year your child will be working on Memory/Sight words. I will list them here as we do them so that you can work with your child at home, also. We have begun with some review words from last year. We will continue learning more each week. Memory/Sight words are words we find in every sentence we read. Students must know these words to be able to read a sentence. Students should memorize these words, NOT sound them out. Please practice these words every day, both reading them and spelling them.
a, I, and, the, is, was, as, has, to, do, go, no, me, be, we, see, you, are, her, his, or, for, said, of, my, by, like, one, he, she, have, they, were, there, where, from, what, who, why, when, come, some, new, any, many, out, our, saw, how, now, look, old, cold, hold, sold, child, wild, mild, find, kind, mind, bolt, colt, jolt, post, most, two, should, would, could, block, so, both, put, over, under, after, here, your, once, give, live, shove, again, against, been, does, goes, know, very, every, too, talk, walk, down, into, want, only
SEND A WATER BOTTLE, PLEASE!
PLEASE, send a water bottle to school every day with your child. It has been getting warmer outside & the children come in from recess very thirsty. When they bring their own water bottle to school, it is much easier, and faster, for them to get a cold drink! The drinking fountain usually has a long line & we are not able to stand out in the hall getting drinks all day. Water Bottles make it so much easier and quicker to get hydrated again!!
End of Year Assessments-Monday, May 19th
Please make sure your child is in school on Monday, May 19th for the Year-End-Assessments. I will be assessing each student individually, so please make sure he/she has had a good night’s sleep (at least 10 hours) and has had a good, healthy breakfast. I want them to be ready and “sharp” on this day! Thank you!
May Memorization Poem: “The Swing”
Please help your child memorize the poem, “The Swing” for our memorization poem of the month. I will assess them at the end of May. THANK YOU!
Grandparent & Special Person Day-May 14th
The day begins at the church with Mass at 9:45, followed by coffee & treats, then a program. Also, the evening Spring Concert will be at 6:15pm which will be held outside (weather permitting). All students are REQUIRED to be at BOTH performances. All students should arrive at 6:00pm (No earlier, please!). ALL are welcome!
Field Day is on Tuesday, June 3rd!!
On this day, your child has been assigned a Team by color for the day & your child should wear that color shirt (T-Shirt) on this day. Here is a list of what your child should wear: * A T-Shirt the color of their team, (List of your child’s team color is at the end of this newsletter). * Tennis shoes/Gym Shoes, (NO crocs, NO sandals, NO flip-flops). * Put sunscreen on your child before they come to school. * BRING a WATER BOTTLE!!! * Your child WILL get wet, so have them bring a full change of clothes!! Their Gym Uniforms work well, Or, A shirt & shorts or pants Underwear Socks & Shoes SOCKS (your child MUST have clean, dry socks on to be able to go into the Bouncy Houses in the afternoon!!). Please send me a note, or email me if your child doesn’t have a team color shirt & needs one. Let me know BY Monday, May 19th and I will do my best to acquire one for them.
Homework:
In 1st Grade, the students will have homework most nights. This is what to expect:
1. Math. Almost every night your child will have 1-2 math worksheets to do. Please help your child so that they understand what they are doing (if you have trouble with it, look at the sheets we did together in class. This will show you what/how to do the problems on the homework sheets).
2. Daily Reading. Your child should be reading 20-30 minutes every day! As I stated above, fill out the Reading Log every day with how many minutes your child read, then sign it (or initial it), and send it back to school at the end of each month. Sr. Audrey, our Reading/Literacy Specialist will be giving your child a book in a bag every day. Your child should read the book at home, then return it to school the next day, and Sr. Audrey will give your child a new book to read. This reading will count towards minutes read on the “Reading Log” also!!
3. Monthly Memorization. This is usually a poem of some sort. Each month (although September & October are together), I will send a memorization piece home with your child. Please work on it each day for 10 or so minutes until your child memorizes it. I will be listening to each student recite the poem at the end of every month. The St. Jerome Pledge came home for the September & October Memorization poem. All students that were at St. Jerome School last year in Kindergarten said it every day , so they should know much of it already! In November, I will send home another poem or memorization piece for them to know by the end of November. Thank you for helping your child learn these!
September & October: Saint Jerome School Pledge. November: “Dr. Welbody’s Heroes,“ December: “Star Light, Star Bright” January: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” February: “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” March: “The Pasture” April: “Rope Rhyme” May: “The Swing”
4. Prayers. We will continue to work on the prayers that your child began learning in Kindergarten. I sent home a sheet with the prayers your child needs to work on. PLEASE don’t throw it away, or lose it! This could be kept on the refrigerator for all to see, and so that your 1st grader and your family can say these payers together daily. This way, not only are they learning the prayers, but they will also be praying to God and with the entire family!! What more could you ask for??!! Here are the prayers your child should practice/say: 1) Sign of the Cross 2) Glory Be 3) Hail Mary. 4) Our Father. 5) Grace (Prayer) before Meals. 6) Angel of God.
Specialist Schedule
Monday=Phy. Ed/Gym
Tuesday=Phy. Ed/Gym & Music
Wednesday=”The Forge”(Science & Art)
Thursday=Music
Friday=”The Forge” (Science & Art)
Upcoming Events:
5/11 Happy Mother’s Day to all you LOVELY MOTHERS! GOD BLESS YOU on your special day!
5/14 Grandparent/Special Friend Day: 9:45 Mass followed by coffee & treats & a concert. Then at 6:15pm is the Spring Concert (All students are required to be there)!! Please have your child at SJS at 6:00pm (no earlier).
5/19-Monday. I will be assessing each student individually for the End of Year testing for our Groves/Phonics program. Please make sure your child has had plenty of sleep (at least 10 hours), & has had a good breakfast-if they eat at home. This way your child will be ready for the assessments. Thank you!
5/26 NO SCHOOL-Memorial Day
6/2 8th Grade Graduation @6:30pm. CONGRATULATIONS!!
6/3 Field Day! Mrs. Gattman sent out an email detailing the day & what COLOR team your child is on. I have also listed your child’s color below this newsletter. Please help your child have that color shirt on this day. Thank you!
6/4 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL! 11:45am DISMISSAL. Have a FANTASTIC Summer!! Don’t forget to READ, READ, READ!!!
Field Day Teams/Colors
RED TEAM: Brocc
ORANGE TEAM: Leo, Felicitas
YELLOW TEAM: Patrick, Karina
GREEN TEAM: Makayla, Ambrose
BLUE TEAM: Jolly
PURPLE TEAM: Quinten, Vinnie
BROWN TEAM: Madeleina
BLACK TEAM: Evelynn
GRAY TEAM: Harmony, Verena