Saint James the Apostle School

Our 2^nd grade under the care of Mrs. Gracemary Bocchino and our 4^th grade under the care of Mrs. Donna Waldron will be participating in Migrating Monarchs this year, a symbolic monarch migration. Last fall over 70,000 paper butterflies were made by children in the United States and Canada which were sent to the children who live beside the monarch sanctuaries in Mexico. The butterflies fall flight is timed to correspond with the real monarch’s journey south. The paper butterflies arrive in Mexico around the time of the Dia de los Muertos(November 2), just as the real monarchs do. According to Mexican legend, these returning butterflies are thought to carry the ancestors’ souls and play a role in the Dia de los Muertos .

Mexican students from the sanctuary region greet the butterflies and watch over them during the winter months. At the same time in the mountains nearby, the entire eastern population of North American monarch butterflies is resting in Mexico for the winter. Sometime next March, when the real monarchs’ departure from Mexico is announced, the paper butterflies will return. The butterflies will carry a special message from the Mexican students to our students at Saint James School. We will be sure to let everyone know when our monarch butterflies return!

Mrs. Virgilio’s 5^th grade is participating in a Classrooms Care Program with Scholastic Books. The children will read 100 books to benefit the children of St. Landry’s Parish in Louisiana who will receive books for their library. Our children have already read 39 books, giving the gift of reading for children in need.

We are always very proud of our children and their efforts to make the world a little bit better!

Valerie Crocco, Principal