Good Afternoon,

November has been an action filled month at John XXIII. Our Brook Trout have hatched! They are not swimming yet and are still feeding off the yolk sac but it is so exciting to see the fry emerge from the eggs. Besides fish sitting, the Fifth Graders are busy organizing their Christmas Boutique. Gifts for Moms and Dads will be available very soon.

Our Second Graders made wonderful newspapers about different countries from each of the continents (except Antarctica). Their research and their artwork is just top notch! If you have a chance to drop by our schol--take a look! They are posted right outside the classroom

The Kindergarteners and the Pre-schoolers are preparing for their Thaksgiving feasts this week. I think we are going to have lots of little Pilgims visiting our school on Wednesday!

I had a good time looking at the crosscurricular math/art project the Sixth graders did this month. They made molecules out of marshmellows and toothpicks. Some were bigger than others and I am wondering if that is because we had some hungry middle schoolers during the making of that project?

Lynda Wright
Principal

Good Afternoon,

I read a very interesting book today.  It was entitled Fifteen On Top and was written by our Kindergarteners!  Each child contributed a page of original artwork made up of happy faces with apples on top of their heads.  I love seeing such creative work displayed by the youngest children in our K to 8 program.

The Third Grade students completed their first lab reports and posted their results on the wall outside their classroom.  The reports consist of a comparison of wet and dry seeds.  Their conclusions were quite interesting.  Using the scientific method to make comparisons and draw conclusions taught the students not only about food storage in seeds, the seed coverings, and embryos, but also to organize their thoughts and apply scientific principles to a particular question.

John 23 is the place to be--a Catholic Christian educational community where children learn to love and love to learn.

Lynda Wright
Principal 

Good Afternoon,

The students were so excited today when they walked into the Media Center and saw that it had been transformed into a very special bookstore complete with a wide selection of readers from picture books to teen literature.  There are computer games, dvds, make your own book kits, and other items related to books and reading.  But what really caused little eyes to grow big was a very special visitor.  He is big and red and is the star of a series of books---yes, Clifford, the big red dog spent the day at our very own Scholastic Book Fair!  Students and teachers, alike, were busy compiling reading wish lists and are anxious to purchase a book or two in the coming days.  John 23rd is a  Catholic Christian educational  community where children learn to love and love to learn.

Lynda Wright
Principal

Good Afternoon,
I so enjoy visiting the Fifth Grade when they are learning through exploration. This week the students compared a cactus, elodea (from Shelly's tank), and a geranium. They observed root systems and leaf structure which allowed the students to make inferences regarding species survival and predictions for changing conditions to ensure plant survival and growth. Hands on activities make learning an interesting and enjoyable experience. John 23 is a faith filled learning community where children are educated in a spirit of love.

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Lynda Wright, Principal

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Current Location: US, New Jersey, Essex, West Orange, Spring Hill Dr, 4

 Good Afternoon,

Today I visited the Seventh Grade Media Class.  Excitement is running rampant in that class this year!  The students are learning Microsoft Publisher and are organizing a school newspaper, The Cardinal News.  I hope the Star Ledger is ready for some competition!
The Seventh Graders also gained an appreciation for Michaelangelo's labors on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in a cross curricular activity in Social Studies, Religion, and Art.  I passed by to see them working diligently as they lay beneath their desks on their backs.  What were they doing?  They were creating beautiful and colorful drawings on paper that had been taped to the bottom of their desks!   What a creative day at John 23 - a faith filled learning community of happy children growing in the spirit of love.

Lynda Wright
Principal  

Good Afternoon,

I have just returned from visiting the Fourth Grade.  Outside the classroom there is a most interesting display of Food Chains.  The students created pendants of pictures which show how energy from the sun travels through plants, primary consumers, and secondary consumers all the way to the tiny little decomposers that enrich the soil making it ready for the sun's energy to begin the cycle once again.  What  wonderful way to study science! 
Our Second Graders used sandpaper and sea shells to make beach pictures.  They wrote about what they liked to do at the beach and just reading about their fun activities, made me want to go to the beach!  Our Second Graders also picked their class Guardian Angels---someone in their class who they will pray for and take care of during the school year.  This is one of the best ways our students live their faith. 

Lynda Wright
Principal

Good Afternoon,

What a wonderful first day of school we had at Blessed Pope John XXIII.  Fr. Richard was present at Morning Assembly to greet the children and parents and join us in our morning prayer circle.  Later in the morning, Fr. Jim visited the classrooms to pray with the students and bless us for the coming school year.  We had the best first day fire drill ever-- evacuating the main school building in 30 seconds!  It was a great day at BPJ opening hearts and minds in a Catholic Christian learning community.

Lynda Wright
Principal

Good Afternoon.

Holy Week and the Easter Triduum are the most important days of our Church year.  Easter brings a powerful message of joy and hope through the Resurrection.  Jesus suffered, died, and rose again to new life to save us all.  May the Risen Jesus come into your hearts and homes this Holy Week and Easter.  On behalf of the faculty and staff of Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy, we wish the peace of our Risen Lord be with you always.

Lynda Wright
Principal

Good Morning.

I visited the Kndergarten class today as they were coloring umbrellas and reviewing letters L, R, S, & T.  I think Miss Passerini saved this Drip Drop worksheet for a rainy day like today!  I stopped by the Pre-K classes where the children were were making bunnies and coloring eggs.  Cut and paste activities are excellent small motor skill builders for our youngest students.  I am happy to see how well they are doing.   Using eggs as a canvas to create colors by mixing primary colors is an exciting springtime art activity for four year olds!  What great day at BPJ where hearts and minds are opened every day in a Catholic Christian learning community.

Lynda Wright
Principal

Good Afternoon.

I have had such an informative day.  This morning I visited Kindergarten where I learned words that make up the "ack" family  tack, pack, lack, rack, back, stack, and quack.  The Kindergarteners read, defined, and used each word in a sentence.  I was very impressed!   Next I stepped across the way to Grade Six to join their science class.  The Sixth Graders were reviewng the basic structure of the earth and learning about earthquakes.  We saw a very interesting two minute video about the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco.  After lunch, I dropped in on the Fourth Graders just in time for math.  The students reviewed angles and then by putting those angles together, formed triangles.  They identified the triangles by their angles:  acute, right, and obtuse and then by their sides: scalene, equilateral, and isosceles.  As I left, the Fourth Graders were making posters of "Triangle Town" that will soon be displayed in the hall.  What a wonderful day at BPJ where hearts and minds are opened every day in a Catholic Christian learning community.

Lynda Wright
Principal