May
10
Thank You to the 6th Grade Moms who Hosted this Month’s “Coffee Hour” on Summer Resources
May 10, 2012 | Leave a Comment
Thank you to the many parents who participated in the summer resource discussion this week. It is always so nice for any principal to see parents so actively engaged in the academic process of their children. The questions and dialogue was truly enjoyable and refreshing.
I want to also thank all the 6th grade parents who gave of their time and talent and donated food and coffee. It was very kind and appreciated by all…the berry medley was great!
The summer resources that the faculty has put together will be posted on the website for all within the next few days.
Thank you for all the support, the positive energy and please continue to share the St. Regis good!
We are having a strong enrollment response for next year, with approximately 430 students already registered for the 2012-2013 school year. When we all come together for the good of our children, amazing things happen!
May we continue to seek knowledge in all things~
Yours in Christ,
Denise Ball
May
3
National Prayer Day Reflection
May 3, 2012 | Leave a Comment
Today was a wonderful reminder of the role Catholic education plays in the life of a child.
Our entire student body wrote down a prayer request on a slip of paper. Students young and old were placed in groups, and led by parent volunteers to our field. Student upon arrival, in their selected groups, read their prayer request(s) one-by-one. It was a beautiful thing, to see so many prayer circles across our St. Regis’ field.
Once all the prayer circles were finished, the small circles became one giant student, faculty and parish staff circle and all the 8th graders, wearing their Regis red shirts, went to the middle of the circle and released 60+ red balloons. It was truly a sight to see. While the students watched the balloons, one of our talented students sang, “O Beautiful”…and beautiful it was.
We forget sometimes why we are the DIFFERENCE. We have a highly-qualified faculty, we teach a sound curriculum to a talented group of children and we are blessed with a devoted parent support group…but the MOST important thing we can offer our children is Christ! It is through activities like today, do we set the tone not only of expectation, but that it is OK to pick-up versus put-down, it is OK to be the beacon of light for those around us and that it is not only OK but a treasure to be a child of God
May we all continue to seek knowledge in all things and look for opportunities to be the difference in the lives of those around us.
Denise Ball
Apr
30
A Review of April’s Parent Coffee Q & A on St. Regis Catholic Academy Grades 6-8 Part I~Faith & Academics
April 30, 2012 | Leave a Comment
Apr
2
Holy Week…
April 2, 2012 | Leave a Comment
This week comes around every year, and every year we might tell ourselves that we are going to really reflect and pay attention to the amazing message that this week holds. However, it is very easy to get caught up in daily living, play dates, vacations, spring cleaning, you name it, this week gets packed with too much sometimes and the message of Jesus Christ, His ultimate display of love through His death and resurrection gets lost.
I would encourage you to take a moment or two each day this week and calm your spirit. Reflect on Jesus’ love for you, as a child of God. How awe inspiring it is to think/know that at such an amazing time in history, through His earthly journey, His actions were executed out of His love for you and me. How often do we thank Him for this gift?
We are very blessed at St Regis to have such a faith-filled community ready to lend a hand to those in need. As we pray this week for our students, families, faculty, school and parish, let us remember all those who truly are in need spiritually, mentally and physically.
May the Lord utilize us as a beacon of light for those in need and remind us daily to be slow to anger and quick to forgive…so that we are truly utilizing His gift of love as He has intended. Listen for His voice…
I hope everyone has a blessed and joy-filled Holy week.
May we continue to seek knowledge in all things~
Denise
Feb
29
Wonderful Online Resources to Enhance the Educational Process
February 29, 2012 | Leave a Comment
At a recent principal’s meeting, the Web 2.0 presenter showcased some fabulous online resources that both parents and teachers might find useful when enhancing a child’s educational experience.
This site includes multimedia components and visual displays for presentations. *Very user-friendly.
Present information to students integrating a multimedia format.
Identify real-life connections between words and their use. *This is a great tool…words with videos!
This is a site where students can retell stories to demonstrate an understanding of concepts.
This is an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G site for teachers to utilize really grades 2 on up. Students can create animated cartoon strips by utilizing a combination of drawing, dictating and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events. This site also has a homework component…great vocabulary builder and speaks to the visual learner.
Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings or events in a story or drama. *neat site
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Great virtual dissects to utilize in class with students.
Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.
Add drawings to displays and stories.
If even one of these websites are found to be helpful, then I have done my part in sharing the good. Have some fun this family Friday night and write a great story at storybird.com!
May we continue to seek knowledge in all things,
Denise Ball
Feb
24
March is National Reading Month…A Collection of Recommended Books for Grades 1-5
February 24, 2012 | Leave a Comment
A Collection of Recommended Books for Children Grades 1-5
GRADE 1
Agee, Jon – Milo’s Hat Trick
Ball, Denise- Katie’s Farm Adventures and All Aorund our Town
Bruchac, Joseph – How Chipmunk got his Stripes : A Tale of Bragging and Teasing
Choi, Yangsook – The Name Jar
Eastman, P. D. (Philip D.) – Are you my Mother?
Jenkins, Emily – Five Creatures
Johnson, Crockett – Harold and the Purple Crayon
Kellogg, Steven – A Penguin Pup for Pinkerton
Kimmel, Eric A – Anansi and the Magic Stick
LeSieg, Theo. – Ten Apples up on Top!
Long, Melinda – When Papa Snores
Look, Lenore – Henry’s First-Moon Birthday
Mayer, Mercer – There’s an Alligator Under my Bed (both my son and daughter loved this one 
McCloskey, Robert – Make way for Ducklings
Middleton, Charlotte – Tabitha’s Terrifically Tough Tooth
Pattou, Edith – Mrs. Spitzer’s Garden
Piper, Watty – The Little Engine that Could
Rey, Margret – The Complete Adventures of Curious George
Rylant, Cynthia – The Great Gracie Chase : Stop that Dog!
Shaw, Nancy (Nancy E.) – Sheep in a Jeep
Showers, Paul – The Listening Walk
Smith, Charles R., Jr – Loki & Alex : The Adventures of a Dog and his Best Friend
Stevens, Janet – And the dish Ran Away with the Spoon
Stewart, Sarah – The Journey
Suen, Anastasia – Hamster Chase
Watt, Melanie – Leon the Chameleon
Wick, Walter – Walter Wick’s Optical Tricks
Winthrop, Elizabeth – Dumpy La Rue
Wood, Audrey – The Napping House
Wood, Audrey – Quick as a Cricket
Recommended authors for Grade 1
Eric Carl ; P. D. Eastman; Dr. Seuss; Kevin Henkes; Laura Joffe Numeroff; Rosemary Wells
Recommended Series for Grade 1
Capucilli, Alyssa Satin – Biscuit
Gantos, Jack – Rotten Ralph
Lobel, Arnold – Frog and Toad All Year
Minarik, Else Holmelund – Little Bear. Pictures by Maurice Sendak (A family favorite!)
Rey, H. A. (Hans Augusto) – Curious George
Rylant, Cynthia – Henry and Mudge
GRADE 2
Allard, Harry – Miss Nelson is Back
Allard, Harry – Miss Nelson is Missing!
Arnold, Tedd – No More Water in the Tub!
Arnold, Tedd – The Signmaker’s Assistant
Ball, Denise – Katie’s Farm Adventures
Bercaw, Edna Coe – Halmoni’s Day
Brown, Jeff – Flat Stanley
Cannon, Janell – Stellaluna
Creech, Sharon – Fishing in the Air
Ehlert, Lois – Waiting for Wings
Finchler, Judy – Miss Malarkey Doesn’t Live in Room 10
Guarino, Deborah – Is Your Mama a llama?
Hale, Bruce – The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse
Kvasnosky, Laura McGee – Zelda and Ivy
Leedy, Loreen – Mapping Penny’s World
Lester, Helen – Tacky the Penguin
Markle, Sandra – Outside and Inside Dinosaurs
Palatini, Margie – The Web Files
Prelutsky, Jack – It’s Raining Pigs & Noodles : Poems
Seeger, Pete – Abiyoyo
Silverstein, Shel – The Giving Tree
Simont, Marc – The Stray Dog : From a True Story by Reiko Sassa
Wood, Audrey – King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub
Recommended series for Grade 2
Ball, Denise- Katie’s Farm Adventures
Barrows, Annie – Ivy + Bean
Danziger, Paula – Amber Brown is not a Crayon
Gantos, Jack – Rotten Ralph
Hoban, Russell – Bedtime for Frances
Lobel, Arnold – Frog and Toad are Friends
McDonald, Megan – Judy Moody ( A funny series! )
Meadows, Daisy – The Rainbow Magic Collection. Volume 1 , Books 1-4
Meddaugh, Susan – Martha Speaks
Minarik, Else Holmelund – Little Bear. Pictures by Maurice Sendak
Osborne, Mary Pope – Dinosaurs Before Dark
Parish, Peggy – Amelia Bedelia
Park, Barbara – Junie B. Jones and the stupid Smelly Bus
Preller, James – The Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster
Rylant, Cynthia – Henry and Mudge
Sharmat, Marjorie Weinman – Nate the Great
Zion, Gene – Harry, the Dirty Dog
Grade 3
Allard, Harry – Miss Nelson is Missing!
Artell, Mike – Petite Rouge : a Cajun Red Riding Hood
Barrett, Judi – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Ball, Denise- Mysteries of the Beach
Blume, Judy – Freckle Juice
Cameron, Ann – The Stories Julian Tells
Cherry, Lynne – The Great Kapok Tree : A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest
Cole, Joanna – Bony-legs
Dahl, Roald – Fantastic Mr. Fox
Ernst, Lisa Campbell – Little Red Riding Hood : A Newfangled Prairie Tale
Etra, Jonathan – Aliens for Breakfast
Ferris, Jeri – Go Free or Die : A Story about Harriet Tubman
Ferris, Jeri – What are you Figuring Now?
Ferris, Jeri – Walking the Road to Freedom : A Story about Sojourner Truth
Fleming, Denise – Where Once there was a Wood
Frasier, Debra – Miss Alaineus : A Vocabulary Disaster
George, Jean Craighead – Look to the North : A Wolf Pup Diary
Giff, Patricia Reilly – Oh Boy, Boston!
Hopkins, Lee Bennett – Sports! Sports! Sports! : A Poetry Collection
Kline, Suzy – Horrible Harry and the Dungeon
Krull, Kathleen – Wilma Unlimited : How Wilma Rudolph became the World’s Fastest Woman
MacLachlan, Patricia – Sarah, Plain and Tall
McGill, Alice – Molly Bannaky
Polacco, Patricia – The Keeping Quilt
Polacco, Patricia – The Bee Tree
Robinson, Barbara – The Best School Year Ever
Rockwell, Thomas – How to Eat Fried Worms
Rodowsky, Colby F – Not my Dog
Seattle, Chief – Brother Eagle, Sister Sky : A Message from Chief Seattle
White, E. B. (Elwyn Brooks) – Charlotte’s wWb
Yolen, Jane – Letting Swift River Go
Recommended series for Grade 3
Adler, David A – Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds
Dadey, Debbie – Monsters don’t Scuba Dive
Danziger, Paula – Amber Brown is not a Crayon
Landon, Lucinda – Meg Mackintosh and the Case of the Missing Babe Ruth Baseball : A Solve-it-Yourself Mystery
Osborne, Mary Pope – Dinosaurs before Dark
Peterson, John Lawrence – The Littles
Preller, James – The Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster
Roy, Ron – The Absent Author
Sachar, Louis – Marvin Redpost : Kidnapped at Birth?
Sharmat, Marjorie Weinman – Nate the Great
Sobol, Donald J. – Encyclopedia Brown- Boy Detective
Warner, Gertrude Chandler – The Boxcar Children
Recommended authors for Grade 3
Matt Christopher, Beverly Cleary, Barbara Cooney, Robert McCloskey, Patricia McKissack, Allen Say, Jon Scieszka, William Steig, and Chris Van Allsburg
GRADE 4
Barasch, Lynne – Radio Rescue
Blume, Judy – Fudge-a-Mania
Coville, Bruce – My Teacher is an Alien
Dahl, Roald – James and the Giant Peach
Erickson, John R. – The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog
Howe, Deborah – Bunnicula : A Rabbit Tale of Mystery
Lowry, Lois – Anastasia Krupnik
MacLachlan, Patricia – Caleb’s Story
O’Brien, Patrick – The Hindenburg
O’Brien, Robert C – Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Richler, Mordecai – Jacob Two-Two meets the Hooded Fang
Sachar, Louis – Sideways Stories from Wayside School
St. George, Judith – So you want to be President?
Tang, Greg – The Grapes of Math : Mind Stretching Math Riddles
Thayer, Ernest Lawrence – Casey at the Bat
Recommended Series for Grade 4
Abbott, Tony – The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet
Gutman, Dan – Jim & Me : A Baseball Card Adventure
Gutman, Dan – My Weird School Daze!
Osborne, Mary Pope – Dinosaurs before Dark
Scieszka, Jon – Knights of the Kitchen Table
Snicket, Lemony – The Bad Beginning
Wilder, Laura Ingalls – Little House on the Prairie
Grade 5
Avi – Never Mind! : A Twin Novel
Berlin, Eric – The Puzzling World of Winston Breen
Birdsall, Jeanne – The Penderwicks : A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
Bosch, Pseudonymous – The Name of this Book is Secret
Broach, Elise – Masterpiece
Clements, Andrew – No Talking
Codell, Esme Raji – Vive la Paris
Davies, Nicola – Extreme Animals : The Toughest Creatures on Earth
Erdrich, Louise – The Birchbark House
Fleischman, Sid – Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini
Going, K. L. (Kelly L.) – The Liberation of Gabriel King
Gutman, Dan – The Kid who ran for President
Haven, Paul – Two Hot Dogs with Everything
Ibbotson, Eva – The Haunting of Granite Falls
Janeczko, Paul B – A Kick in the Head: an Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms
Juster, Norton – The Phantom Tollbooth
Lange, Karen E – 1607 : A New Look at Jamestown
Lowry, Lois – The Willoughbys
Mercado, Nancy E. – Tripping over the Lunch Lady : and other school stories
Park, Linda Sue – Project Mulberry : A Novel
Yue, Guo – Little Leap Forward : A Boy in Beijing
Feb
21
Educational Online Resources
February 21, 2012 | Leave a Comment
Below are some great resources recommended by our school counselor, Mary Grobbel. We are so blessed to have such a wealth of resources in our St. Regis community. If you or your child have a favorite education resource, please let me know and I will share it here. When we all come together to share the good in education, amazing things can happen!
Math
http: http://www.aplusmath.com/
http://www.aaamath.com/fra.html
http://www.aaamath.com/fra.html
Science
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities.html
http://www.sciencebob.com/sciencefair/ideas.php
Graphic Organizers
http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/
http://www.realclassroomideas.com/65.html
Feb
20
A Reflection for Lent
February 20, 2012 | Leave a Comment
“You too are living stones, built as an edifice of the spirit.” 1 Peter 2:5
As we prepare our mind, body and spirit for Lent, this verse is a good reminder that we are all called to be open to His plan. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in our own thoughts, our own dreams and desires. However, we are called to be open to His will for us in our lives…we are His stone to be chiseled for HIs purpose. Are we open to this?
Lent is a great time to reflect on who you want to be and acting on it.
May your Lenten season be filled with inner-strength and peace~
Denise Ball
Feb
20
Sharing Online Resources…Good for Teachers and Parents
February 20, 2012 | Leave a Comment
Given all the many online resources available to both educators and parents alike, one can spend a whole week educating our youth on days like today…President’s Day and answering the who, what, where and why questions that arise.
The Teacher’s Guide is a fabulous resource site, that provides lesson plans, tips on integrating technology, White Board lessons and so much more.
Hot Chalk is another amazing online resource. This site is broken down by Classroom, Community and Lesson Plans. One can even sign up for a free eNewsletter too.
A to Z Teacher Stuff is a neat site that has theme-based puzzles, lesson plans and great educational resources to utilize at home or in the classroom.
Education World is one of our favorite online resources. This site offers lessons broken down by discipline and has a wealth of lessons to choose from.
May we continue to seek knowledge in all things,
Denise
Feb
19
Math Games and Resources to Utilize at Home to Enhance the Learning Process
February 19, 2012 | Leave a Comment
Math is a discipline that needs a lot of review. Below is a list of online resources for children to have fun while using math.
Math Chimp
A wonderful resource for parents and teachers…and fun for children of all ages. This interactive site engages the brain through math games aligned to the Common Core State Standards.
Sheppards Software
This is a great site for ages 5-16. It offers everything from basic addition to algebraic problems to solve.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm
The Math Games
This is a great fraction enhancing website. It offers simple games like matching to help young minds grasp fraction strategies.
This is a F-U-N site! It offers games like “Escape from Fraction Manor” and “Project T.R.I.G” A great mental workout for even my old mind 
http://www.mathplayground.com/games.html
Math-Play
This site offers games for elementary and middle school students.
Play Kids Games
This is a great home or classroom resource! This site allows one tto create and upload math games. Sounds like a Best Practice to me…math and fun!