December 6, 2023

Dear Lumen Christi Academies Students, Staff, Parent/Guardians and Partners,

During Advent we are invited to embrace and celebrate the many ways the word is made flesh and Christ is born again each day in our hearts, our classrooms, our homes, our parish community, and in the whole world. We pray that Lumen Christi, the Light of Christ, will shine in us, and through us, as we bring His Hope, Peace, Joy and Love into every encounter we have, this Advent season and always.

This month's Lighting the Way includes Academic Excellence Brightspots collected by Jessica Griswold and her Instructional Team. Here's to more growth and brightspots in the months to come!

"But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

To him be glory now and to the day of eternity."

2 Peter 3:18

Brightspots: Celebrating Growth!!!

It is wonderful to witness the positive impact our network's prioritization of literacy, coupled with focused professional development, classroom walk-throughs and dedicated time with faculties, coaches, and principals have had on student learning. Our schools are embracing reading support from Reading Teachers and other focus programs designed to enhance the fundamentals of reading. Through Collaboration Wednesdays, teachers have been provided:

• intervention support in the areas of literacy;
• focused on phonemic awareness and early fluency,
• support in SuperKids and Wit & Wisdom; and
• intervention support using STAR reports and giving students feedback.

Our principals' collective vision to build on small groups and focus on blended learning is coming to fruition in classrooms across our network. Teachers and principals receive targeted, needs-based support from our network's instructional team in the areas of classroom management, blended learning, math implementation, pacing, and lesson planning. We are excited to see Math and Reading growth across our network through the end of Trimester 1 STAR reports. We also want to give shout outs to the students and teachers in several classes who collectively showed high proficiency and high growth following their End of Trimester 1 STAR Assessments. The classes are listed below along with some examples of the student centered-learning experiences taking place in their classrooms each day.

Reading: 

• St. Catherine of Siena - 2nd grade & 3rd Grade
• St. Elizabeth - 4th Grade
• St. Paul- 5th Grade
• St. Peter Martyr - 3rd Grade

Math:

• Queen of All Saints - 5th Grade
• St. Catherine of Siena - 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade
• St. Peter Martyr - 3rd Grade & 5th Grade

Mr. Capilo from St. Catherine of Siena leads a small group of 3rd Grade students reading Ocean Sunlight from the Wit and Wisdom curriculum. Students completed a notice and wonder chart as they read the story.

Ms. Escobar's 4th Graders at St. Elizabeth work on Words Their Ways during small group station rotations while other classmates are engaged in a writing activity.

Mrs. Gomez from Queen of All Saints provides a lesson introduction to her 5th Grade students focused on Adding and Subtracting Mixed Fractions.

4th Graders at St. Elizabeth take advantage of the independent station to work on Lexia. Built on the science of reading, Lexia Reading is a research-proven program that accelerates the development of literacy skills for students of all grade levels.

St. Catherine of Siena's 2nd grade class are enjoying leveled book clubs with Ms. H. Each club reads a book and then answers questions about. Students are also provided differentiated work and individualized instruction at their unique levels.

We are excited to partner with i-Ready Math in some of our schools. This custom math curriculum provides students differentiated instruction and supports them on their individual paths to success. A St. Paul 5th Grader is completing her I-Ready Diagnostic assessments.

Ms. Bruno-Thayer leverages Blended Learning Instructional Strategies with her 3rd Graders at St. Peter Martyr in Reading and Math focusing on small groups, differentiated instruction, and technology practice on the skills learned in class.

4th Graders at St. Elizabeth working during small group reading rotations to document important events in the text.

Students in the 2nd grade class at St. Catherine of Siena work independently writing sentences using vocabulary words and practice reading comprehension using Freckle.

St. Peter Martyr students use Uno cards to practice their math skills. Mr. Lozano creates a variety of standards aligned challenges for them to compete against one another in math stations.

We are grateful for all the systems of support in place to ensure all students receive an education that is equitable and comprehensive. Momentum is building following the first trimester and can't wait to see the amazing things our students will achieve in the New Year and beyond. To realize these gains:

Parents: During the Christmas vacation, we encourage students to read their new Christmas books together as a family and have discussions on what was read. Your children should also find time to practice their math and reading skills using flashcards, reading, and the adaptive software/technology programs your school uses during their school day. Learning can and should continue even while on break.

Teachers: While many of our classrooms have shown growth, our goal increase student achievement and proficiency by meeting the needs of all students in each STAR quartile increase student. Please encourage all our students to read grade level books.

During the evening, students will proclaim the Gospel, share powerful reflections, and sing a medley of hymns accompanying the Living Nativity. Click Here for your Light of Hope Christmas Concert Tickets. Tickets for our annual benefit concert are free, but we also welcome 100% Tax-deductible donations of any amount in support of our Lumen Christi Academies Tuition Assistance Program. Your support, no matter the amount, $100, $250, $500, $1000 or more, will be a shining light in the lives of our students.

December Events

Our schools are bustling with so many Joy-filled activities during these Advent Days as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Queen Of All Saints

• December 1st - Christmas Tree Lighting for the City of Concord
• December 2nd - Breakfast with Santa
• December 8th - Immaculate Conception School Mass
• December 9th - 2nd Grade Reconciliation
• December 16th - LCA Christmas Concert
• December 18th - Los Posadas
• December 20th - Christmas Program

St. Anthony

• December 12th - Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass celebration, Hot chocolate and Pan Dulce
• December 15th - Christmas Concert and Dinner
• December 16th - LCA Christmas Concert

St. Catherine

• December 1st - Martinez Holiday Frolic & Light Parade
• December 2nd - 1st Reconciliation Retreat
• December 4th - 1st Reconciliation Mass
• December 4th-15th - Community Service Project - Homeless Care Packages
• December 6th - St. Nicholas Day
• December 7th - Adoration
• December 8th - Immaculate Conception Feast Day Mass
• December 11th - 8th Grade Graduation Pictures
• December 12th - Our Lady of Guadalupe Prayer Service
• December 13th - Panda Express Dine & Donate
• December 13th - Faith Families - Christmas Around The World
• December 14th - School Advent Reconciliation
• December 16th - LCA Christmas Concert
• December 19th - School Christmas Concert

St. Elizabeth

• December 4th - Dominican Staff Day
• December 12th - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebrations
• December 14th - School Christmas Concert
• December 16th - Toy Drive
• December 16th - LCA Christmas Concert
• December 18th - School & Parish Posada

St. Paul

• December 3rd - Breakfast with Santa
• December 8th - Immaculate Conception School Mass
• December 12th - Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe
• December 14th - Financial Aid Informational Meeting
• December 16th - LCA Christmas Concert

St. Peter Martyr

• December 6th - St. Nicholas Feast Day
• December 8th - Immaculate Conception Mass 10am
• December 9th - City of Pittsburg Holiday Parade
• December 10th - Middle School Advent Retreat
• December 16th - Parish Posada
• December 16th - LCA Christmas Concert
• December 20th - SPM Christmas Concert & Cookie

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. Take care, stay healthy and Advent Blessings to you and yours!

In Solidarity,

Rodney Pierre-Antoine

Executive Director, Lumen Christi Academies

www.lumenchristiacademies.org