5th Grade Mr. Bacidore
Our class patron is St. John Bosco, the patron saint of schoolchildren. He stressed a system of education based on reason, religion, and kindness. Through his inspiration, many people became saints, including St. Dominic Savio and St. Maria Mazzarello. His life was filled with works of love and miracles from God.
Poem of the Week: "The Hound of Heaven" by Francis Thompson.
Thought of the week: "We become brave by doing brave acts." Aristotle
Saints of the Week:
May 23: St. Gregory VII, Pope
May 24: St. Mary Magdalene De Pazzi
May 25: St. Bede the Venerable
May 26: St. Philip Neri
May 27: St. Augustine of Canterbury
May 28: Venerable Pierre Toussaint
May 29: St. Madeleine Sophie Barat
Each day, go to Franciscan Meditation of the Day to read about and view a video about the main saint of that day. The link is:
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/source/saint-of-the-day/
The month of May is the "month which the piety of the faithful has especially dedicated to Our Blessed Lady," and it is the occasion for a "moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world [pay] to the Queen of Heaven. During this month Christians, both in church and in the privacy of the home, offer up to Mary from their hearts an especially fervent and loving homage of prayer and veneration. In this month, too, the benefits of God's mercy come down to us from her throne in greater abundance" (Paul VI: Encyclical on the Month of May, no. 1).
This Christian custom of dedicating the month of May to the Blessed Virgin arose at the end of the 13th century. In this way, the Church was able to Christianize the secular feasts which were wont to take place at that time. In the 16th century, books appeared and fostered this devotion.
The practice became especially popular among the members of the Jesuit Order — by 1700 it took hold among their students at the Roman College and a bit later it was publicly practiced in the Gesu Church in Rome. From there it spread to the whole Church.
The practice was granted a partial indulgence by Pius VII in 1815 and a plenary indulgence by Pius IX in 1859. With the complete revision of indulgences in 1966 and the decreased emphasis on specific indulgences, it no longer carries an indulgence; however it certainly falls within the category of the First General Grant of Indulgences. (A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, in the performance of their duties and in bearing the trials of life, raise their mind with humble confidence to God, adding — even if only mentally — some pious invocation.
Excerpted from Enchiridion of Indulgences.
At TCA, we believe that no person can be considered educated if they are ignorant or neglectful of their duties toward God. "For what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his soul?" Mark 8:36 We attend Holy Mass weekly and learn about basic Catholic Doctrine, the Sacraments, the 10 Commandments, Bible History, the Holy Rosary, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet along with other Catholic beliefs and practices. We ask that parents model and encourage regular prayer, Mass attendance, and the reception of the sacraments by their children.
Our school provides solid, orthodox teaching and practice of the Catholic faith as well as rigorous coverage of all the other academic disciplines. New students that are up to the challenge are always welcome to apply at TCA.
Coursework Information:
Spelling: Each week we study 25 new spelling words as well as phonics and word attack skills in the Journeys Notebook Workbook. Please make sure your child is studying their words and properly completing the workbook pages. There is a test over the words every Friday.
Reading: A new story and vocabulary words are introduced each week along with relevant skills. We utilize comprehension drills along with ample silent reading at each student's proper level each day.Please encourage your child to read books at their reading level as often as possible at home. We have a reading test every Friday.
Religion: Each week new concepts are introduced from our series and from supplementary doctrinal sources that should be reviewed at home. In addition, we practice and test the ability to recite a growing list of prayers and relevant Catholic information. Please encourage your child to study, master, and use these prayers daily. We also practice locating and interpreting scripture passages daily. Bible reading at home is to be encouraged. Please be sure to have an official Catholic Bible in your home. There is a religion test each Friday.
Handwriting: Cursive handwriting is continued in 5th grade. We use the Zaner-Blosser Handwriting series and have quarterly contests based on the standards of the National Handwriting Contest, which we enter each year. In 2021, one of our 5th grade students, Hanna W, was chosen as the Illinois state handwriting champion in the Zaner Bloser National contest. Students are required to use cursive in all work that is a sentence or longer. Please encourage your child to practice their handwriting and to truly take pride in it.
Math: Saxon Math instruction is progressive and incorporates review of all prior skills in daily lessons. We have regular quizzes, so please encourage your child to regularly review their skills. Tests are given at the completion of every five (5) lessons. Mastery of the times tables through 12s should be accomplished as soon as possible if students don't already possess this ability.
English: We study grammar regularly as we work on compositions, poetry, and fluid writing. Please encourage free writing at home when time allows.
Science & History: Our class studies various topics in these subjects as well as taking notes over relevant information. Quizzes are given regularly to encourage and assess learning mastery. Encourage your student to regularly review their lessons and take additional notes from the text.
Study: Children often do not take textbooks home unless they have written work to complete. Please encourage your child to bring their books home to study the current content. Studying should be considered part of students' usual homework and not something to be done only the night before exams.
We encourage love of God and Country through teaching respect for our Holy Father and all the teachings of Christ's One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church as well as teaching and supporting the high ideals of morality, freedom, patriotism, and civic responsibility that our country was founded upon.
“The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained in sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upwards in the night.”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,
"Behold this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth." Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1673).
Poem of the Week: "The Hound of Heaven" by Francis Thompson.
Thought of the week: "We become brave by doing brave acts." Aristotle
Saints of the Week:
May 23: St. Gregory VII, Pope
May 24: St. Mary Magdalene De Pazzi
May 25: St. Bede the Venerable
May 26: St. Philip Neri
May 27: St. Augustine of Canterbury
May 28: Venerable Pierre Toussaint
May 29: St. Madeleine Sophie Barat
Each day, go to Franciscan Meditation of the Day to read about and view a video about the main saint of that day. The link is:
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/source/saint-of-the-day/
The month of May is the "month which the piety of the faithful has especially dedicated to Our Blessed Lady," and it is the occasion for a "moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world [pay] to the Queen of Heaven. During this month Christians, both in church and in the privacy of the home, offer up to Mary from their hearts an especially fervent and loving homage of prayer and veneration. In this month, too, the benefits of God's mercy come down to us from her throne in greater abundance" (Paul VI: Encyclical on the Month of May, no. 1).
This Christian custom of dedicating the month of May to the Blessed Virgin arose at the end of the 13th century. In this way, the Church was able to Christianize the secular feasts which were wont to take place at that time. In the 16th century, books appeared and fostered this devotion.
The practice became especially popular among the members of the Jesuit Order — by 1700 it took hold among their students at the Roman College and a bit later it was publicly practiced in the Gesu Church in Rome. From there it spread to the whole Church.
The practice was granted a partial indulgence by Pius VII in 1815 and a plenary indulgence by Pius IX in 1859. With the complete revision of indulgences in 1966 and the decreased emphasis on specific indulgences, it no longer carries an indulgence; however it certainly falls within the category of the First General Grant of Indulgences. (A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, in the performance of their duties and in bearing the trials of life, raise their mind with humble confidence to God, adding — even if only mentally — some pious invocation.
Excerpted from Enchiridion of Indulgences.
At TCA, we believe that no person can be considered educated if they are ignorant or neglectful of their duties toward God. "For what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his soul?" Mark 8:36 We attend Holy Mass weekly and learn about basic Catholic Doctrine, the Sacraments, the 10 Commandments, Bible History, the Holy Rosary, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet along with other Catholic beliefs and practices. We ask that parents model and encourage regular prayer, Mass attendance, and the reception of the sacraments by their children.
Our school provides solid, orthodox teaching and practice of the Catholic faith as well as rigorous coverage of all the other academic disciplines. New students that are up to the challenge are always welcome to apply at TCA.
Coursework Information:
Spelling: Each week we study 25 new spelling words as well as phonics and word attack skills in the Journeys Notebook Workbook. Please make sure your child is studying their words and properly completing the workbook pages. There is a test over the words every Friday.
Reading: A new story and vocabulary words are introduced each week along with relevant skills. We utilize comprehension drills along with ample silent reading at each student's proper level each day.Please encourage your child to read books at their reading level as often as possible at home. We have a reading test every Friday.
Religion: Each week new concepts are introduced from our series and from supplementary doctrinal sources that should be reviewed at home. In addition, we practice and test the ability to recite a growing list of prayers and relevant Catholic information. Please encourage your child to study, master, and use these prayers daily. We also practice locating and interpreting scripture passages daily. Bible reading at home is to be encouraged. Please be sure to have an official Catholic Bible in your home. There is a religion test each Friday.
Handwriting: Cursive handwriting is continued in 5th grade. We use the Zaner-Blosser Handwriting series and have quarterly contests based on the standards of the National Handwriting Contest, which we enter each year. In 2021, one of our 5th grade students, Hanna W, was chosen as the Illinois state handwriting champion in the Zaner Bloser National contest. Students are required to use cursive in all work that is a sentence or longer. Please encourage your child to practice their handwriting and to truly take pride in it.
Math: Saxon Math instruction is progressive and incorporates review of all prior skills in daily lessons. We have regular quizzes, so please encourage your child to regularly review their skills. Tests are given at the completion of every five (5) lessons. Mastery of the times tables through 12s should be accomplished as soon as possible if students don't already possess this ability.
English: We study grammar regularly as we work on compositions, poetry, and fluid writing. Please encourage free writing at home when time allows.
Science & History: Our class studies various topics in these subjects as well as taking notes over relevant information. Quizzes are given regularly to encourage and assess learning mastery. Encourage your student to regularly review their lessons and take additional notes from the text.
Study: Children often do not take textbooks home unless they have written work to complete. Please encourage your child to bring their books home to study the current content. Studying should be considered part of students' usual homework and not something to be done only the night before exams.
We encourage love of God and Country through teaching respect for our Holy Father and all the teachings of Christ's One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church as well as teaching and supporting the high ideals of morality, freedom, patriotism, and civic responsibility that our country was founded upon.
“The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained in sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upwards in the night.”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,
"Behold this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth." Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1673).