Preparing Our Hearts and Our Students for Advent
- thartman12
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
As we enter the Advent season, our students are reminded of how important this four week journey is in preparing our hearts for the birth of the Savior. Throughout Advent, each class will participate in traditions that will bring them closer to Jesus as we follow His family to the manger.
Mrs. Hammond’s Preschool 3 class will be using bingo dabbers to make Advent wreaths with flames for each week, and will be talking about what each candle represents. Her class will be focusing on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. Mrs. Edmiston’s Preschool 4 class will create a special advent wreath where the flame “tucks” in and can be “popped” up each week to “light” it. They have a box of "gifts" (items that can be used to create a manger) that go along with a scripture reading and they will open one each day. Other activities include watching the Brother Francis daily Advent video, talking about Jesus' birthday and how they can prepare their hearts and homes for Him.
Mrs. Gerhard’s Kindergarten Blue class sings a special Advent song each morning! Other activities include a daily Advent calendar, classroom Advent wreath and reading Advent stories from around the world. Miss Peters’ Kindergarten Gold class will be watching interactive Advent videos, where they become navigators throughout the journey leading up to the birth of Jesus. They will also be discussing how peace, love, hope, and joy are celebrated in their lives.
Mrs. Hoffmann’s First Grade Blue class enjoys the Star from Afar, where the students find the Star every morning and then move the Star next to the Wise Men. They also focus on “Jesus is the Reason for the Season,” listen to O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and “light” the Advent candle on their wreath every Monday morning. First Grade Gold, led by Mrs. Schulze, will be following "The Giving Manger," where students will prepare for the birth of Jesus by adding straw to the manger for each kind deed or act of service. They will also be creating a miniature Advent wreath to take home, and listening to daily Advent devotions.
Second Grade, led by Mrs. Eberly, will be making Advent wreaths and following the Star from Afar. Mrs. Touloumis’ Third Grade class will be making shoebox Nativity scenes along with individual Advent wreaths. Mrs. Dodson’s Fourth Grade class is preparing a Jesse tree to celebrate the people of the Old Testament that led them to the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Miss Rothenberger’s Fifth Grade class will be making an Advent calendar with different acts of kindness that they can do each day, and an Advent wreath (out of paper) where they will attach a paper flame they made in each candle every week.
The Sixth Grade class, under Mrs. Fertal’s direction, will soon begin a special Advent project: exploring Salvation History — from Creation all the way to the birth of Jesus — through the Jesse Tree. As they journey through key stories and figures in the Bible, each student will create a unique Jesse Tree ornament that represents an important moment or person from Scripture. Once complete, students will take turns placing their ornaments on their class Jesse Tree, helping them visually trace God’s plan of salvation leading to the Nativity. This hands-on activity helps deepen their understanding of Scripture while preparing their hearts for the coming of Christ.
Mrs. Neafach’s Seventh Grade class will be creating Victorian- style Advent calendars in conjunction with reading A Christmas Carol. The OMPH Eighth Grade class, along with teacher Mrs. Lentz, will be completing a daily reading and reflection about Advent. They will design and create an ornament wall relating to their interpretation of the readings and reflections. Thank you to our dedicated teachers for making Advent a meaningful season for our students!
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