Queridos Padres, (Dear Parents,)

September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. With more than 44 million people of Hispanic origin in the United States (according to the US Census bureau), teaching about the contributions, and learning about the cultures of these Hispanic Americans will be our focus during this month. Developing ethnic literacy fosters pride in one's own culture and a respect and appreciation for the uniqueness of others. (Banks and banks, 1992)

Help us celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by contributing to the biblioteca Española. Please consider purchasing a book from the Scholastic flyer to add to our Spanish classroom library. I will send it home with your child on Wednesday, October 1, 2008. Don’t worry about the library ending up with duplicate copies. Having multiple copies of each book will allow us to read and enjoy the books together.  I will place a bookplate with the donating Family’s name on the inside of each book. The children will really enjoy seeing their names or classmates names in each of the books. This will give everyone a sense of ownership in the language program. Gracias (thank you) for supporting the Spanish Program at St. Benedict Academy.

Bendiciones,

Señora Irizarry

Click here to listen to the sign of the cross in Spanish

AVE MARIA
Hear it here

Dios te salve, María. Llena eres de gracia: El Señor es contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres, y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre: Jesús.

Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amen