1st Grade Completes Study of Baptism Sacrament with Visit to Baptismal Font in Church
First grade has been studying the sacraments, specifically baptism. They studied the different signs of baptism: oil, water, white clothes, and candle. They also learned what happens during our baptism and who is a part of this first sacrament (godparents). They also discussed baptisms they’ve watched at HT masses and noticed their classmate's baptism photo is displayed on our campus celebrating our faith and sacraments, too! Finally, this week, they went to the church to see our baptismal font and discuss all the baptismal symbols and pieces in the church itself.
Classroom Door Greeting Represents Catholic Epiphany Tradition
During NTI (non-traditional instruction and learning) last week, our 5th graders learned about the Epiphany and what 20+C+M+B+21 meant. They learned about the Catholic Epiphany tradition of writing this message above Catholic church and home doors. When they came back to in-person learning yesterday, the numbers were above their classroom doors! Welcome back, students!
From the OnePeterFive website: Epiphany, also known as Twelfth Night, Theophany, or Three Kings Day, marks the occasion of a time-honored Christian tradition of “chalking the doors.” The formula for the ritual — adapted for 2020 — is simple: take chalk of any color and write the following above the entrance of your home: 20 + C + M + B + 20.
The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi — Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar — who came to visit Jesus in His first home. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross, and the “20” at the beginning and the “20” at the end mark the year. Taken together, this inscription is performed as a request for Christ to bless those homes so marked and that He stay with those who dwell therein throughout the entire year.
The chalking of the doors is a centuries-old practice throughout the world, though it appears to be somewhat less well-known in the United States. It is, however, an easy tradition to adopt, and a great practice whereby we dedicate our year to God from its very outset, asking His blessing on our homes and on all who live, work, or visit them there.
The timing for the chalking of the doors varies somewhat in practice. In some places, it is done on New Year’s Day. More commonly, it is performed on the traditional Feast of the Epiphany — the Twelfth Day of Christmas. Most often the chalking takes place after Epiphany Mass and can be done at any church, home, or dwelling. Traditionally the blessing is done by either a priest or the father of the family. This blessing can be performed simply by just writing the inscription and offering a short prayer, or more elaborately, including songs, prayers, processions, the burning of incense, and the sprinkling of holy water.
After many Epiphany Masses, satchels of blessed chalk, incense, and containers of Epiphany water (holy water blessed with special blessings for Ephiphany) are distributed. These can then be brought home and used to perform the ritual. Another common practice is to save a few grains of the Epiphany incense until Easter so that it can be burned along with the Easter candle.
Practicing traditions like the chalking of the doors help us to live our Faith more concretely and serve as an outward sign of our dedication to Our Lord. Our homes are also the place where many of us will make the greatest strides in our spiritual growth, through the observance of daily prayer, spiritual reading, and work offered as an oblation to God.
The chalking of the doors of a home encourages Christians to dedicate their life at home to God and to others. Seeing the symbols over our doors can help to remind us while passing in and out on our daily routines, that our homes and all those who dwell there belong to Christ. It also serves as a reminder of welcoming the Magi gave to Jesus. We should strive to be as welcoming to all who come to our homes to visit us!
Many of our Girl Scout troops are now selling their traditional Girl Scout cookies! Should you be interested, all troops have an online purchasing form, or you can reach out directly to a scout you know in the program to place your order directly with them. Enjoy!
This year's Y-Club KYA (Kentucky Youth Assembly) Conference was different, as it was online and smaller. We appreciated the smaller conference that truly allowed our student leaders to excel. Congratulations to the following students:
Premiere Delegation Award/Delegation of Excellence: All Team Delegates
Bluegrass Bill #6 on Boat Safety (Bill Sponsors: 6th Graders Katherine R., Emelia H., & Annabelle B.) – Passed into Law, Highest Ranked Bluegrass Bill, and Outstanding Bluegrass Bill
Bluegrass Bill #7 on School Nurses (Bill Sponsors: 6th graders Hadley B., Kathryn B., Hank V., and Ruby L.) – Passed into Law
Commonwealth Bill #8 on School Choice Funding (Bill Sponsors: 7th grader Alex J., and 8th graders Kyndall W.W., Payton W.W., and Ava E.) – Passed into Law
Commonwealth Bill #8 and Bluegrass Bill #7 were ranked high in their Senate/House committees on the 1st day of the Conference, earning them the opportunity to present on the 2nd day (thus in-person, they would have presented their bills on the Capitol’s floor or in the Capitol Annex in Frankfort, instead of only at the hotel conference rooms!)
1st Time our school’s entire bill package has had all bills passed into law; as all 3 bills passed their House, their Senate, and then after review by the Lt. Governor and Governor were signed into KYA law. With this, they’ll be on the list of bills passed by KYA students of Kentucky that is sent to our actual elected leaders in Kentucky.
Outstanding Delegate – Ava E. (8th grader)
Outstanding Speakers – Gabby T. & Sophia R. (6th graders)
Served as Committee Chairs, overseeing and leading debate and voting on laws in House/Senate Committees on Day 1; then served as Legislative Clerks on Day 2 in House or Senate – Ben S. & Abby G. (8th graders)
Christmas Around the World Study Includes International Guest Speaker
Third grade is studying “Holidays Around the World” and studied Christmas in Russia last week. Ms. Mitchell’s friend, Anna Dare, who is from Russia and living in Moscow currently, joined classes to talk about how Christmas is celebrated in Russia.
Through this unit of study, they are studying England, Germany, Russia, Italy, Australia, France, and the USA. Each week, students learn about two countries’ traditions and cultures through PowerPoint lessons over Zoom, a holidays around the world packet, and assigned books on Epic for each country. Happy holidays!
Our Grades 3-5 Musical this fall was all created and performed virtually, and thus, appropriately named, "The Show Must Go Online!" This musical was created and written by Broadway professionals during COVID shutdowns for this situation specifically! Watch it at home on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpYxM6tRo6g&t=1s
READ Book Club Classes Continue During NTI and Learning
Our READ program is still going strong, even during NTI. Each week Mrs. Weible gives the “Book Club” students two opportunities to join her through zoom and receive additional reading support.
Even though those virtual sessions are for students enrolled in READ, each week Mrs. Weible is providing loom videos that can be used by and benefit ALL HT students.
In grades K-2, Mrs. Weible focuses on a specific phonemic awareness skill (one of the most important foundational reading components), and in Grades 2-5 she focuses on a comprehension strategy. These resources can be found by accessing Resource Day Padlets, under the “Enrichment” tab.
Congratulations to all of our 6th Grade Showcase academic team members who earned medals that led to Holy Trinity winning 1st overall in our section, Section 12 at this past week's KAAC tournament! (All events were held online this year.)
Medal winners include:
Written Composition: Emelia H. & Ruby L. Tied for 2nd, & Anna C. 5th
Math: Logan G. Tied for 1st (Tied for 3rd Overall in State with a score of 33), Hudson T. 4th, & Emelia H. 6th
Science: Logan G. 5th & Hadley B. 6th
Social Studies: Dagny M. 1st, Annabelle B. 2nd, & Anna C. 6th
Language Arts: Hadley B. 1st, Dagny M. 2nd, & Annabelle B. 6th
In case you missed it,please click here to view an informational video about our NTI offerings. Please note that we have some new opportunities that we are offering for this round of NTI, including Small Group Instruction,Social Events, and Optional Daily Challenges for all students. Each of these opportunities is meant to enrich your child’s educational experience during our four scheduled weeks of NTI. Our Small Group Instruction aims to provide a more individualized academic experience for our students, and provide a more personal time to interact with teachers. Our diverse offering of Social Events affords all students with opportunities to interact with and enjoy grade-level peers for some non-academic time together during our weeks of NTI. And finally, our Daily Optional Challenges are here to further cultivate our students’ skills in social/emotional well-being and study strategies during NTI. Our PreK-3rd Grade students will have access to daily mini-lessons and activities centered around social-emotional growth and well-being, while our 4th-8th Grade students will be provided with daily mini-lessons and activities to further grow their study skills and strategies. Although optional, we would encourage all students to participate in these challenges! For added incentive, every time your child participates in one of these challenges, his or her name will be entered into a drawing for a Target gift card, with winners drawn at the end of each week of NTI. Good luck, and enjoy!
Below are links to resources you may find helpful as we begin NTI:
All Grades Complete November Service Learning Project for Local Community Partners
Over the last two weeks of November and prior to our Thanksgiving Break, each of our homerooms completed their November Service Learning Class Projects. Each grade level is partnered with a local community partner that serves a specific group in our larger Louisville community. The students either shopped for much-needed items with their parents or created much-needed items for the organization within their classrooms.
For it is with a grateful heart, that we give this holiday season. Thank you to all of our families who participated. We'll resume our service learning activities in January during Catholic Schools Week with an all-school project, before hosting grade level drives again in February and April. Rice Bowl and WaterStep drives will take place during Lent, before we have our annual school supply and book drive in May.