Coursework is based on the curriculum guidelines of the Education Office of the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese. We strive to provide a curriculum that helps our students grow academically and in faith and that prepares them for the next level of education.
Saint Benedict believes their math and science instruction sets them apart from other area schools. In math, students in the lower grades master basic skills through the use of hands-on activities and manipulatives. Students in the upper grades expand on the strong foundation of basic skills while pre-algebra, algebra, geometry and problem solving skills are introduced. Manipulatives are also used to transfer thinking skills from the concrete to the abstract and to high order reasoning. Application of mathematics to everyday life is stressed at every level, culminating with a consumer math unit in Grade Eight.
In our science curriculum, students in 4th through 8th grades have daily classes in the Science Lab with an eighty minute lab period scheduled each week. Science process skills are continuously broadened through inquiry, analysis, and the understanding of the scientific method.
Students in Kindergarten through 8th grade are required to complete the Accelerated Reading Program, a program that partners library books and technology to motivate students to read and to monitor their reading practices. The Accelerated Reading Program has been proven to help all students (average, gifted, and remedial) become successful readers.
Students must complete one fourth of their points by the end of the 1st marking period, one half by the end of the 2nd marking period, three fourths by the 3rd marking period, and all points by the final marking period.
Students who do not meet these milestones will be on “academic probation” and will NOT be permitted to participate in extracurricular activities and events or recess until the requirements are met. All points may be earned before school begins, if desired. However, students should be encouraged to read throughout the school year.
When I was a little girl, my family would celebrate Thanksgiving Day twice on the same day. We would go and have lunch at my aunt's house, on my mom's side of the family, and later we would go and have dinner to one of my aunts' house on my dad's side of the family. Years later, when I lived by myself in NYC while I was in grad school, I had various experiences on a day like this; from going to the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on 5th Avenue in Manhattan and later celebrating with a potluck at some friends' house, to hosting my own Thanksgiving dinner in my dorm room apartment.
Throughout my life I've experienced different ways of celebrating Thanksgiving and they've all had their charm. In my beloved Puerto Rico, even though we follow the American tradition, the menu has its variations. So instead of having turkey with gravy, cornbread stuffing, yams, cranberry sauce, green beans and pumpkin pie as the tradition stipulates, we would have turkey with gravy, but the stuffing would be made out of ground beef with raisins, we would have rice with pigeon peas, potato salad, and pumpkin flan. Although I should add a year where I celebrated at a friend's house who's family was of Cuban descent, in which we had congrI rice or rice with black beans, Cuban picadillo or ground beef with many yummy things, yucca in a garlic sauce, green salad, the turkey (of course) and even pernil or roast pork.
Last year was the first time that I celebrated it after getting married and while living in my own apartment in Laredo, Texas, with my husband and with my dog, which made it a very special occasion. Back then I spent a couple of weeks thinking about what I was going to cook, in how to decorate the table and even in which were the traditions on my husband's family (who's American), to try and come to a happy medium, in which both of us would feel comfortable and with which maybe we could start our own family traditions.
In terms of the menu, there was a plethora of elements present; some traditionally Puerto Rican and others traditionally American, like mashed potatoes, a fruit compote and the all-american apple pie. To decorate the table I chose neutral colored placemats with some bling, along with white linen napkins, which made the table look simple but elegant at the same time, while integrating some candles and even a magenta Cymbidium orchid in the center, breaking with any traditional colors like ocres and oranges.
This year, I feel a little more at ease in terms of the planning and I'm concentrating on simply enjoying the day with family and friends, without going crazy and worrying too much about taking care of everything while making everything perfect, but in being thankful for all the blessings we have received once more, since we're expecting our first baby in the spring of next year.
I agree in the fact that we all want our homes to look attractive and to be ready for when company arrives on such a special holiday, but we should not stress out in order to make it a success. Focus on the house being organized and clean. Include some traditional home fragrance, like apples or cinnamon, distribute some candles and decorate the table with a pretty centerpiece.
Ultimately, what this Thanksgiving day should be is a day of reflexion, joy and one of sincere gratefulness for all the blessings received till this moment and for those that are yet to come. Life is not always perfect, but we have definitely been blessed. This day should not be one in which we focus on the blowout sales we'll find on Black Friday, but on really sharing with family and enjoying those moments together.
Whichever tradition you follow, and wherever it is that you'll spend the day, make sure you are grateful and that you enjoy it with your loved ones, and that this day stands as the start of an extraordinary Holiday season!
Postal Uniforms and Scrubs/Culinary are special order items only, no items are maintained in stock at our store
We carry the latest styles, waterproof and designer brands including the following: Spring Step, Sesto Meuucci, Franco Sarto, Vaneli, Sacha London, Rose Petals, Clarks, Jambu, Naturalizer, Via Spiga, Aerosols, Extreme by Eddie Marco, French Blu, Henry Ferrera, Italina, Blondo, Kamik, Toe Warmers, Maldini, Wanderlust, Andrew Stevens and many more!
Take a look at the Bug from Arkel. For smaller loads, it’s hard to beat their expandable Tail Rider, and for larger loads, they have panniers that can swallow a small car. Well, maybe not quite, but their RT-60’s can hold quite a bit. But what you want is something in the middle, something that’s not really a pannier system, that’s more a backpack that can be carried on your bike with the same ease and secure attachment as a pannier. That’s the Bug.
Some of you are familiar with the Tail Rider from my review and perhaps your subsequent purchase. It can hold quite a bit, rated at 8 liters / 500 cubic inches. Now think about the Bug at 23 liters / 1400 cubic inches. Its dimensions of 11×18 inches makes for a great backpack – not so large that you won’t be able to manage it on the elevator or stairway, but not so small that you would need more than one. What’s more, it has the same hardware to hold it onto your rack as does the rest of the Arkel pannier lineup.
You might be saying here, hold on, I’ve seen those hooks and that swiveling “lock” – I don’t want them gouging into my back. And how about the shoulder straps – do they take up space in the bag itself until I’m ready to use them?
I will admit the first worry was one of mine – but it was unnecessary. Arkel thinks these things out, and the result is that the hardware sits high enough and is angled out just right so that those hooks do not touch your back at all. And as for the straps, they nestle neatly beneath Velcro-snugged panels, not intruding on the inside of the bag at all.
The back of the bag isn’t the only interesting place. On the front you’ll see a small, waterproof zippered compartment for those little items you might want in a hurry, like a cell phone, car keys, change, and so on. The main compartment has what they call a “mushroom shaped” opening, allowing you a wide, easy access to the inside from the top – or zip it all the way open along the front for a a “suitcase”-style packing approach. Inside is also a zippered pocket, located near the top, that is perfect for your wallet. On the outside on each end, lie mesh pockets that can hold your water bottles.
You may be saying to yourself, yes, this sounds good, but I’m forgetting one thing. What about the helmet? Am I supposed to walk into the classroom, the office, the restaurant, with my helmet on? If I’m not wanting to leave my bag on my bike, I don’t want to leave my helmet, either!
No problem! This bag has another great feature: a front panel that’s attached at the bottom and secured via straps and buckles, that is designed to carry a bulky object like a helmet. It won’t interfere with the inside of the bag at all.
頚椎部で脊髄が圧迫されて起こる疾患です。肩・上腕・前腕・手指など上肢にしびれが生じ、手を使った細かな仕事に支障がでます。脊髄が圧迫されているので、そのうち下肢への影響も。進行具合によっては手術をしても元の生活に戻るのが難しくなってしまいます。早めに専門医に相談することが大切です。