Third Grade

The third graders have been hard at work, especially in science class. They started the year learning about the function of skin. Students compared the sensitivity of skin on their fingers to the skin on their elbows. They found out that

their elbows couldn’t help them determine a pen from a stapler!

They quickly discovered that the skin on their fingers was much more sensitive.

Protection against germs and diseases was what the third graders studied next. They learned about their immune system and why it’s important to get vaccines. They explored what kinds of food the human body needs to stay healthy through a mini experiment using various foods and paper bags.

Foods that left a greasy mark on a paper bag are foods that contain fat and are unhealthy.

Students also learned how to read food labels. They even made their own food guide pyramid to hang on their refrigerators to make better choices at mealtimes. Finally, they studied the process of digestion and ways to keep the digestive system healthy. The third graders are now pros at taking care of their bodies!

Fourth Grade

The fourth grade class has begun the new year by learning about Jesus, which is connected to our theme - Our History. We are busy reading the new testament stories about Jesus, and using them to create a pictorial time line of His life. We are also discussing how these stories provide examples of ways we can live out our baptismal promise - to

help build God's Kingdom.

We continue this theme by researching and learning about famous Americans. Students are creating biographies and will share them with the class, so everyone has the opportunity to learn about these important people. We will conclude this theme by reading the novel George Washington's Socks together.

Our science studies are also connected to the past as we learn about how scientists use things from the physical earth to help us understand and learn about the past. We are studying fossils and rocks, and discussing the theories about the mass extinction. Students will debate which theory they most agree with and discuss the possibility of a re-occurrence of this phenomena.

"The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of hope. Love of the past implies faith in the future."

- Stephen Ambrose

Fifth Grade

The fifth graders will be graduating from the D.A.R.E. program this month. This program focuses on making good choices in regards to drugs, tobacco and alcohol. It also stresses self-esteem and how to deal with peer pressure. Officer Jaros of the Chicago Police Department comes to school every Tuesday to teach this interesting and informative program, which the fifth graders enjoy. The students did an excellent job presenting the pageant "Our Lady of Guadalupe" for the parish and the school on December 12th.

As part of a study on early Native American tribes and the environment that inspired the tribes’ customs, practices and traditions, St. Rene 5th grade students made totem poles that represented the customs and traditions of their own families. The students enjoyed this hands-on experience which brought to life and made more meaningful the work of the Native American tribes.