Janet Balletta, AWA

  Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten Season for Catholics. Lent is the forty days leading up to Easter when we practice almsgiving, fasting, and prayer. It begins with receiving ashes in the sign of a cross on our foreheads, symbolizing that we are dust and to dust we will return. The tradition of using ashes to show repentance for sins is biblical. Lent is a time to draw closer to God for transformation, restoration, and renewal. It’s more than abstaining from meat on Fridays; it’s an opportunity to practice self-denial on a deeper level. Ultimately, Lent is a time to reflect on repentance, increase our faith, and grow spiritually. The number forty represents a period of testing, trial, and preparation before a major change or renewal. It requires fasting and prayer, as we can see in the following six (6) bible stories. In Genesis, we have a fine example in the story of Noah’s Ark. In this narrative, we see God sending rain for forty days and forty nights. This exam...

Celebrate Black History Month  with three great reads for grades K-2. These books are perfect to teach history, fables, and arts and crafts. I am Harriet Tub man by Brad Meltzer is a must read . It is the story of the young Harriet who plays a key role in the abolition slavery. Her courage to lead slaves up north from the south through the underground railroad helped many slaves reach freedom. The pictures are beautiful and words easy to read for young children. L ittle Red and the Crocodile by Suzan Johnson is a gem. It is the story of Little Red who v isit s her aunt in the Louisiana Swamps. Little Red must contend with a hun gry crocodile instead of a big bad wolf. Luckily, Randy the Forest Ranger saves the day for Little Red and her aunt. A heart warming story with adorable pictures and for the little ones. Tar Beach by Faith Rin g gold is a classic. It is the story of young Cassie who dreams of freedom from the roof top of her Harlem apartment in New York City. O...