No Matter How You Say It, "Merry Christmas!"

Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel, and Buon Natale! It was Christmas Around the World today in 3rd and 4th grades. Each student selected a country to research and learned its Christmas customs.

Tis the Season

Christmastime at Star of the Sea School means the sounds of joyful music and remembering the reason for the season. View the video to hear our students' wish.

Visiting the Secret Santa shop is so much fun! It's even better when "big sister" and "big brother" prayer partners are there to help the little ones shop and wrap their gifts!

Future Leaders

Officers from our Student Council joined with leaders from 7 area Catholic schools in Mays Landing for a day-long Leadership Retreat. Our students can't wait to use the new skills they learned today!

Service to Seniors

Organized by Mr. Beck, more than 20 students gathered on Saturday to help elderly and homebound seniors clean their yards. Students arrived with rakes and tarps and raked until their arms ached. The wonderful feeling of knowing you helped someone less fortunate made it all worth it.

Thanksgiving Service

Our Thanksgiving play and prayer service was heartwarming! View the video posted below to hear our third and fourth grade students singing Give Thanks.

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

The primary grades had so much fun with hands-on lessons today. They have been learning about pilgrims, American Indians, and the first Thanksgiving. Children learned to make their own bread just like they did in the 1600's. What do you need to go with bread? Butter, of course. Just shake, shake, shake to get a jar of the creamy spread!

Veterans Day

Our youngest children spent the morning singing songs such as God Bless America, America the Beautiful and Yankee Doodle Dandy. Click on the video to hear their special wish.

Third Grade's Turn to Decorate Pumpkins

Each year, the Kiwanis Club sponsors a pumpkin decorating contest for grades K-3. The club members bring the pumpkins and the children bring their own decorations. We are grateful for the Kiwanis Club's involvement in our school.

The Books Come to Us

Kindergarten and 1st grade students visited the bookmobile today. It's so much fun to have your very own library card! They are so responsible - turning in their books and picking out new ones.

Pumpkin Painting Time

What's round and orange painted many different colors? A first grade student's pumpkin, of course!

Pigs, PJ's and Pancakes

How can you teach the letter "P" to three and four year olds? By reading "If You Give A Pig a Pancake"! To reinforce the lesson, wouldn't it be fun to wear pj's to school and have pig face pancakes for snack? It sure was fun, just ask our pre-school students!

Meet the New First Grade Student

Say hello to "Star SOS", not an actual student, but a scarecrow version of a student that was created by the first grade class. An entry in a local chamber contest, Star greets students when they arrive at school in the morning.

Students present Pancreatic Cancer Donations

Given the opportunity to dress down, these eighth grade students decided to dress up instead. This special treat was available in exchange for a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in honor of longtime volunteer Charles Saunders, who lost his wife to this disease. The students were proud to present $801 on behalf of the school.

It's Apple Painting Time

PreK students and the 7th grade helper had fun getting a little messy in art class. They took apples sliced in half and used the fruit to create a colorful stamp painting.

Fire Prevention Visit

The students love Fire Prevention Week. The Cape May City firefighters come for a visit and teach the children about fire safety. The children get to see the firetrucks up close and learn about the different equipment. A visit from Sparky, the fire department's mascot was the source of additional excitement.

It's a Girl!

Mrs. Quinn's class is proud to announce the birth of a new monarch butterfly. Buttercup was born on Monday, September 29, 2009 at 8:53 a.m. How do we know it's a girl? By the lack of spots, of course!

September is Caterpillar Season

Every September, the third grade class studies the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. This caterpillar is quite plump and looks like he'll be ready for the chrysallis soon!

Back to School Means Back to Science

The second grade students think science is fun! They learned about volume and mass by completing an experiment that measured how many drops of water take up the same amount of space as a penny.

Graduation Liturgy and Awards Ceremony

The Class of 2009 was reminded that "commencement" doesn't mean "the end", but it signifies "a new beginning". The students are about to begin a new phase of their education and we pray that they use the tools they learned and the treasures that were unlocked during their time here to continue shining like the stars that they are. We will miss you!

Making New Friends

For the fifth year in a row, our older students took on the task of raising enough funds to enable first and second grade students from Holy Name School in Camden to come to Cape May for the day. Our students provided lunch for their new friends, built sandcastles with them, went shell hunting, and more! It was a great day on the beach for all.

Prayer Partner Luau

"This was the best day of my whole life!" exclaimed one first grade student as he returned to class at the end of the day. The first grade class was the guest at an end of the year luau hosted by their prayer partners, the seventh grade students. Grass skirts, leis, a hoola hoop contest, snacks and a pineapple pinata rounded out the fun for the little ones and their older friends.

Career Days

Our children were given the opportunity to learn about various careers through visits from community members. Speaking to the children were policemen, a fireman, a trophy maker, a nurse, an emergency room doctor, a magician, a dog groomer and more! Some of the favorites were the fudge maker (who provided samples) and the Coast Guard chief (play the video clip) who brought recruits who were in their fourth week of training. Just so it's clear, the chief clearly explained the recruits' guns were demilitarized, meaning filled with lead and used for exercise purposes only.

Piano Recital

The talent of our students was shining again this morning during our annual Piano Recital. Play the clip posted here and you'll see why we are so proud of our children!

Vocations

Our children were honored by a visit from Sister Carmen, IHM and three novices, or "sisters in training". The students learned about the difference between "sister" and "nun" and asked many questions about the vocation. Our kindergarten students were happy to pose with our guests.

Fun at the Beach

It wasn't a sunny day, but the clouds kept it cool and didn't dampen anyone's spirits. These two students had fun creating a volcano while waiting to move to their next activity station.

Art Show 2009

The talent of our students is evident in the beautiful works of art that were on display at the annual Art Show. Art created by every student age PreK through 8th was represented at the show.

The King and I is performed

There was excitement in the air as our students got ready to perform this year's spring musical, The King and I. Based on the crowd's standing ovation, we say they did a superb job!

Seder

Just before we went on break, the students participated in a prayer service that was in remembrance of the Passover meal that Jesus shared with his apostles on Holy Thursday. The children learned the significance of different foods such as matzoh, horseradish, celery, egg and apple haroset. In place of lamb meat, the children enjoyed lamb cakes!

Living Stations of the Cross

A beautiful and touching presentation of the Living Stations was performed by the 8th grade class. The performance began with the song and liturgical dance Via Dolorosa (The Way of Suffering) and was followed by a reenactment of the 15 Stations of the Cross.

Spring Picture Day

It might not look like Spring outside, but it sure does inside. The girls are wearing colorful spring dresses and pretty shoes and the boys really look handsome! As you can see, one of the more popular styles for the boys today is khaki pants with a blue shirt and tie!

Basketball and Pasta

It was a wonderful way to end the winter sports season. Basketball players, cheerleaders and their families joined together for a pasta dinner to celebrate the children's efforts. All participants were honored and presented with a medal. Graduating 8th grade students were also given a trophy and sweatshirt. We will miss you next year!

Confirmation

The cool drizzle didn't dampen our spirits. Almost sixty 7th and 8th grade students accepted the gift of the Holy Spirit when they made the Sacrament of Confirmation. This newly confirmed student shown here with Sister, was eager to share his joy with all.

St. Patrick's Day

First grade couldn't celebrate St. Patrick's day without making Irish potatoes! Everyone had the opportunity to roll them and dip them in cinnamon. They packaged the potatoes to go home. They can't wait to share the treats with mom and dad!

Yoga fun for PreK

What a great way to enhance learning the letter of the week! How about bringing in a yoga teacher for "Y" week? The little ones had lots of fun stretching and reaching and learning about yoga.

Music from MAC

Today, our K-2 students were treated to a special program courtesy of the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts. As part of MAC's Music Education Program, they brought the John Philip Sousa Living History Program to our students. The program places a strong emphasis on the value of music and encouraging young musicians. A costumed living history character portraying America’s March King entertained and educated the children.

Donuts and Dad

What a great combination for the Little Star's "D" week. The pre-schoolers were so proud to have their dads visit their classroom. After singing "You're the Best Dad", the little ones shared sweet treats with their special visitor.

Fat Tuesday

What does Fat Tuesday mean at Star of the Sea? It means masks, beads and sweet treats are sold in the lunchroom by the third grade students. All proceeds are donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

Purple is for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness

Our school families donated an amazing total of $1072.00 today! This money will go to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in memory of Myrtle Saunders.

Longtime cherished volunteer Mr. Saunders' wife passed away from this disease last year. Children were allowed to wear purple, red or pink today in exchange for a donation. Kindergarten students had fun making penguins today, too.

R is for Robot

The preschool students took on a big project for R week. They gathered recycled materials and together, they created a new robot friend whom they named "Rusty".

Surprise for Parents

Yesterday, parents who brought their children to school were greeted with a warm surprise! The front door drop-off was transported into a Coffee & Donut drive through. Each parent was greeted by the principal and given a warm cup of coffee and a donut in a bag decorated by one of our students. Parents, we appreciate you!

Remembering our Servicepeople

It was a sea of red, white and blue this afternoon. The students gathered for a photo which will be printed poster-size and mailed to our "adopted" troop overseas.

Appreciate the Students

Catholic Schools Week continues! Our students wrote letters to our pastors thanking them for their support of our school. The children were given the opportunity to wear alternate dress and spent the afternoon dancing to music played by DJ Officer Tony. The Prayer-partner Chicken Dance had to be one of the best ever!

B-I-N-G-O

What could be more fun than an afternoon playing BINGO with our favorite grandparents and seniors? Judging by the smiles on our childrens' faces, it was an afternoon that can't be beat!

Catholic Schools Week begins

The annual week-long celebration of Catholic Schools and the unique opportunities that are available to our students began yesterday with the Catholic Schools Week Mass. After mass, families enjoyed coffee and donuts together. Parents, teachers and alumni came together for an afternoon of playing basketball games against the school teams. There is quite a bit of talent among both generations!