Elevation, not Elevator!

Blessed Feast! We had such a wonderful day celebrating the Elevation of the Cross at school today!  Here are a few things to keep you busy over the weekend:

• Engage the senses: Supposedly, St. Helen found the True Cross underneath a field of basil (or in Greek, βασιλεύς, also meaning "king").  Ask your grown-up if they have basil at home.  Smell the basil.  Taste it.  Basil is especially tasty with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.  Try it--you may like it!  

• Enlighten the mind: The word "elevation" sounds like another word you know (elevator!).  What are some other words that sound similar?  Can you guess what those words mean?  

• Nurture the Spirit: Look at an icon of the Elevation of the Cross (you can find one with lots of additional information here.  Can you tell who the figures are in the icon?  How does it help you to tell the story?  

Have a wonderful weekend, if we don't see you at Sonia's Run!  

An apple a day...

What a beautiful Friday!  We were so blessed for our families to meet this morning during orientation--it's going to be another wonderful year!  Here's something to keep you busy over the weekend.

• Engage the senses: It's apple season! Try some different apples at home.  How does a red apple taste compared to a green or yellow one?  What about different varieties of one color?  Which one is your favorite? 

• Enlighten the mind: Apples are a perfect tool for teaching fractions!  When you cut an apple into two equal pieces, you've created two halves.  When you cut those two into two equal pieces, you've created four quarters.  How many equal pieces can you cut? Do you notice a pattern with the numbers?
• For bonus points: Can you write out the fractions?  Use the apple pieces to make math problems.  For example, what fraction do you make when you add two quarters together? 

• Nurture the Spirit: Read the story of Adam and Eve in your Bible.  What does the apple mean?  Can you think of any other similar stories (hint: a kind of precipitation + a color!)?  You might also like to read the story of St. Euphrosynos, the patron saint of cooks, here. His feast day is September 11. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and we'll see you for the start of school on Monday!