Mrs. Mary Anne Manos has been teaching at SSJ since 1992.  This is her 16th year!!  She says simply that “SSJ is an amazing school.”

Welcome to first grade! My name is Mrs. Manos and I have been teaching for 22 years, 18 of which have been at Sts. Simon and Jude. All four of my children graduated from SSJ. I believe it is a wonderful community and has helped mold them into the young adults they are today. I am proud to be a teacher here helping create the young adults of tomorrow.

Although first graders spend a lot of time reading and writing, my students and I make religion a part of everything we do every day. I teach the children about their faith and how it will effect them in every decision they will make. I believe faith is an important aspect of their lives and should be integrated into all subject areas.

Discipline With Purpose is used and taught throughout the whole school including first grade. DWP helps children accept responsibility for the choices they make. There are a total of 15 skills and first graders are responsible for learning the first five. Our class also sponsers two skits a year for the school at the Wednesday morning assembly. These skits reflect what DWP skills the class has been working on. The students love getting up in front of the school and showing off what they have learned!  

We are also lucky to have several specials that we are able to participate in weekly. The students attend PE and Music twice a week and look forward to library time and Spanish class once a week.

Although we spend a lot of time on academics here in first grade, we also take a break every once in a while and have some fun! One way we do this is with our eigth grade buddies. Each first grader is paired up with an eigth grader. We get together with our eighth graders several times a month for different activities. Some of the activities include the Christmas pageant, Halloween party, graduation breakfast and art projects. The children, both old and young alike, make friendships that last forever.

The Sts. Simon and Jude community is strong and supportive. We all work together to raise responsible, self disciplined and loving children. I am extremely proud to be a member and a teacher here at Sts. Simon and Jude.