National Clean Your Room Day

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It might feel like a battle getting your child to clean his room, and you’re often viewed as the bad guy. With National Clean Your Room Day coming up on May 10th, we encourage you to use this opportunity to teach your child how to stay tidy! St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic School in the Diocese of Orlando, has compiled a list of tips to help get your child motivated to clean his room!

Communicate Expectations
Clearly define what a clean room looks like, and explain that everything has its own place. To stay organized, purchase bins and baskets, then label them to show him what goes where. Be reasonable with your expectations by considering his health and age. Show him images of how it should look, then include a checklist that goes over each step:

  1. Make your bed.
  2. Put your toys away.
  3. Place your dirty clothes in the hamper.
  4. Fold and hang up clean laundry.
  5. Vacuum or sweep your floors. 
  6. Organize your desk.

Set an Example
Children are often known for messy rooms, but adults should set a better standard. Your child looks up to you, and if you are preaching cleanliness, you need to practice what you preach. In doing so, he will be more responsive to cleaning up. You can even clean each other’s rooms together to enforce routine! Once he’s mastered how to do his chores, you no longer need to step in, and he will feel confident on his own.

Make a Routine Together
Cleaning is a great way to bond with your child. Incorporate chores into your everyday schedule, and make it something he will look forward to. At the end of the day, he needs to make sure his room is clean. Put on some music or chit chat the day away! And remember that research shows that when you make your bed every morning, you will have a positive day! By having a positive attitude about cleaning, your child will feel the same way.

Let Him Have Pride
A child’s room is their special space that they get to call their own. Think about the pride you have in your home. He should have control over his own room and feel that same pride. That way, he will more than likely keep it nice and clean. Give him that pride by letting him switch it up everyone so often. It’ll make cleaning his room a more exciting chore. He can rearrange furniture, use a different organizational system, add posters, change the theme, add decorative items, paint the walls, and so forth.

Reward System
To help motivate your child, include an incentive. Every time he is done cleaning his room, celebrate! We all get busy, and things get messy, so he should be acknowledged for his hard work and dedication. Treat him to his favorite toy, ice cream, or extra playtime as soon he’s done with all of his chores!

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, located in the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

Origins of the Crowning of Mary

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The May Crowning of Mary is a long-standing Catholic tradition that honors the Virgin Mary. Families typically hold a “May Crowning,” where Mary is presented with a floral crown and other handmade items. We hope that this information will help teach your child about the origins of this beautiful Catholic tradition.

The Traditions
Catholics have long honored the Blessed Virgin Mary in May. Most Catholic churches create a dedicated area that includes a picture or statue of Mary, surrounded by flowers and candles. This remains throughout the entire month of May to memorialize the importance of our Mother Mary in Church and in our personal lives. During “May Crowning,” we honor Mary as Mother of God and Queen of the Universe.

Why May
Throughout history, May has brought special observances, traditions, and devotions to Mary, which led her to be known as the “Queen of May.” In the medieval times, winter ended at the start of May because it was considered a time of new growth and beginnings. It was during this time that the “Tricesimum” (“30-Day Devotion to Mary” or “Lady Month”) period began. That’s when special devotions to the Mother of God started in May — spreading from Italy all around the world. Parishes traditionally have daily recitation of the Rosary in May. The final devotion on the last day of May is typically followed by a procession, where the structure or image of Mary is taken back into church. 

Mother, not Goddess
It’s important to note that we do not view Mary as a goddess, nor do we worship Mary; she is honored or venerated as the mother of Christ and Mother of God, the most important woman in our Catholic faith. She is the first to hold God within her and was conceived without the stain of original sin so as to be the perfect tabernacle of our Lord. She also holds a special place with her son and can intercede for us in a special way as shown in scripture. This is why we say “to Jesus through Mary.”

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, located in the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

Keep Your Child Busy at Home

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Adjusting your child to social distancing can be difficult because you’re scrambling trying to find ways to keep your child entertained. But there is still plenty to do! St. Charles Borromeo, one of the top private schools in Orlando, has ideas to keep your child engaged while being home all day.

Make a Routine
An important thing to remember is the importance of routine. Schools know all too well about this. Your child is used to having a schedule. Create a calendar of what the days will look like. Keep her busy and learning, while you focus on the work you need to do. Use the framework that the school uses, including snack time, recess, and breaking the days into blocks for each subject.


Play Time
It’s not all about schoolwork. Play time is just as important for your child’s routine and energy levels. Designate times for important things like school assignments, then fill up the rest of the day for play. Dedicated child-led play should be about 15 to 30 minutes, depending on your child’s age and development.


Inside Activities
It would be easy to just give your child a phone or tablet to play on, but she won’t get much stimulation out of it. You can cut down screen time and create a fulfilling experience! Some fun tech-free ways to keep your child engaged and entertained include:

 

  • Create a game box: Fill up a box with items your child can play alone, including puzzles, coloring books, and cards. Give your child a box when she wants something to do, and you’ll be on track to a good routine.
  • Design a treasure hunt: Hide items all around your home. Then, give your child clues that will push her to go on a hunt!
  • Let her help you: Give your child a job she can handle. Make it a big deal so she feels important, which builds her confidence and independence. For instance, she can help you cook or clean and even make a card to mail to grandma.
  • Grow a garden: Quarantine gives us the time to start (and complete) house projects we have been putting off, including growing a garden. You can start it outside in the yard, or simply give your child an indoor plant to look after.
  • Conduct a science experiment: Give your child a science experiment every week to keep her busy and engaged. A backyard biosphere experimenting gives your child a science lesson and outdoor play!

 
St. Charles Borromeo, one of the top private schools in Orlando, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

National Student Athlete Day

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National Student Athlete Day is on April 6th, which is a great reminder of the importance of being active. Playing sports is beneficial to a child’s upbringing, and we encourage you to support them. From soccer to basketball, St. Charles Borromeo, a top private school in Orlando, has a rigorous athletics program that builds a mature, confident, and well-rounded individual through sportsmanship and teamwork. To celebrate this day, here are some athletic-related activities you can do with your child!

Watch a Game
Whether it’s a school game, a local game, or even the big leagues, expose your child to sports games. If they’re unsure what sport they want to participate in, watching a game will help them make a decision. In the future, our online calendar will list all of the school events that St. Charles coordinates. 

Go Shopping
Showing support for your child can be done by going shopping! Browse the internet for sports shop to get some new gear. From new sneakers to the shiny baseball bat they have had their eye on, the options are endless. They will appreciate you for nurturing their talents and recognizing all of the hard work they put in.

Get Involved
St. Charles believes that sportsmanship and teamwork are valuable attributes for your child. Therefore, we participate in and support Catholic Youth Sports, or CYS. Since 1991, CYS has been “dedicated to the development of youth athletics for the Diocese of Orlando.” Their vision is to help develop student-athletes through the exploration of their interests and help them grow both spiritually and physically. In fact, we understand that there is a spiritual component to sports because God can be found through fitness. Exercise reminds us that our bodies belong to God and that by being healthy we can serve others. Students who are interested in participating must meet certain requirements, so we encourage your child to get involved!

St. Charles Borromeo, a top private school in Orlando, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

Benefits of Your Child Playing Chess

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Chess is not just a game for the elderly to play at the park. Chess can be a highly beneficial tool to your child’s intellectual development. St. Charles Borromeo, one of the Orlando Catholic schools, encourages your child to play chess in our after-school chess club at school!

Problem-Solving Skills

A match encourages problem solving and thinking fast right on the spot. The opponent in the game requires them to continuously change their parameters. Some studies have indicated that people who learned how to play chess scored much higher on standardized tests, which leads to better brain function. This sort of strategic thinking will prepare your child to be a master in planning ahead.

Brain Growth
Gaming challenges the brain and promotes its growth. It exercises both sides of the brain when your child has to identify the chess positions. She will improve the communication in her brain and it starts to work faster, as reactions occur on both sides of the hemisphere.

Helps Prevent Memory Loss
As your child gets older, it’s important that she works out her brain and keeps it healthy and fit — just like other muscles in the body. Brain games should be started at a young age to reduce the risk of memory loss now and later in life.

Improves Attention Span
If your child has ADHD, or just attention span problems, playing chess can help her focus better at school. She will be so focused on winning and making smart moves that she avoids the distractions around her. This type of attention that the game demands can result in better performance at school.

Raises IQ
They say smart people play chess and that chess makes you smarter. Studies show that playing chess can raise your IQ because of the brain workout it provides. When your child’s IQ raises significantly, then watch her test scores rise, too!

St. Charles Borromeo, one of the Orlando Catholic schools, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

Encourage Your Child to Do the Talent Show

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Our next talent show is March 13th, and we highly encourage our students at St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, to participate! We know your child aces their academics, but we also want to see them shine with their personal talents. Whether it’s singing or dancing, the talent show is the place to let your child be the bright star she is!

Finding a Passion
We believe that academics are not just about science and math. Maybe your child isn’t as adept at algebra, but more so in the arts. She wants to play an instrument or paint pictures. She needs to find a talent she is passionate about and can practice. By showcasing her talents, she will feel acknowledged and appreciated by her peers, her teachers, and even you. 

Boosting Confidence
Taking a break from schoolwork and allowing your child to pursue their talents is important to her development. She needs to believe in herself and build on that confidence as a child. When she grows up, she will smooth out her skills and become a confident adult. Allow her to discover what she’s good at and encourage her to hone in on it! When you support her, you build a bond and create an opportunity for her to value herself.

Reducing Anxiety and Loneliness
When your child discovers herself, recognizes her abilities, and builds on her confidence, she will blossom. By working with her peers on the talent show, she will have the opportunity to socialize and build relationships. This, in turn, will reduce anxieties and a feeling of loneliness. Working in groups is a crucial skill set she will need as an adult in the workplace.

Having Role Models
Your child needs role models she can look up to you. Yes, as her parent, you are the main role model in her life. But when she discovers her talent and wants to improve on it, she needs people she can look up to. If she is a singer, who are the singers she looks up to? If she plays an instrument, who is a musician she hopes to be like one day? By identifying her role models now, she can follow in their footsteps and be on the way to becoming a star herself!

St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

The Celebration of Ash Wednesday

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For parents, sometimes it can be difficult to explain things to children. St. Charles Borromeo, one of the top Orlando Catholic schools, knows how hard it might be educating your child about religious observations and celebrations without confusing her. Here are a few ideas to help parents like you explain the importance of Ash Wednesday.

Make It Fun
Some children understand better through kinesthetic learning, so we recommend you make a fun game out of teaching small yet important lessons. You can get your child to play tag and every time that she tags someone, she has to name one reason we celebrate Ash Wednesday or why it is important to our faith. At the end of the game, everyone should have said at least one reason and learned. Plus, a cool bonus is that your child will get a quick outdoor exercise from this experience.

Stay Traditional
If your child is an auditory learner, you can try to talk about why Ash Wednesday is important. Although it’s a serious topic, it doesn’t mean that the conversation has to be intense. Your child will be more likely to remember things when you use fun and innovative concepts that she will relate to. So don’t be scared to use her favorite TV shows as an analogy to explain the importance of it. By using specific scenes and characters in an episode, you will be able to effectively describe what Ash Wednesday is and what it represents. At the end of the day, the meaning is what matters, not how you phrase it.

Use Visuals
Another technique that can help your child understand Ash Wednesday is explaining this Bible verse from Genesis 3:19: ”Until you return to the ground, from which you were taken; For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Many children hear this and easily get confused or scared. Gather any type of ash-like substance, such as dirt or sand, to show them a visual. By doing this before Ash Wednesday, your child will be ready and fully aware of the true meaning of this day.

By exposing your child to these ideas, she’s more likely to become closer to God because she will understand the meaning behind her actions. St. Charles Borromeo, one of the Orlando Catholic schools, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

Science Fair Preparation and Ideas

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The science fair at St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, is on February 19th! This great event is hosted by schools worldwide and allows your child to compete in science and technical activities. To help her prepare, here’s a list of project ideas she can do!

Backyard Biosphere
Is it possible to create a biosphere? In this backyard biosphere experiment, your child will create an ecosystem that can survive with animals living in it to test the plausibility of developing a sustainable environment that is closed off from the rest of the planet. Grab a clear container, soil, grass, a flowering plant, a ceramic bowl, water, a microscope, and slides and follow the procedure!

Center of Balance
Suitable for grades fourth through sixth, this physiology project can help your child find out how to locate a person’s center of balance. Is it easier to balance on a narrow ledge or on a  rope if a person is holding their arms out? To find out, all your child needs is a rope, a meter stick, three meter sticks taped together, three meter sticks taped together with five-pound weights attached to the ends, a stopwatch, and a friend to help. In just a few steps, your child can understand the nature of gravity!

Anaerobic Energy
Humans use two types of energy systems: aerobic and anaerobic. This health science experiment will determine an average person’s ability to use their anaerobic power system and increase their capacity over a period of two weeks. The only materials your child will need is a timer and a few willing participants! 

Caving
With just a few materials, this Earth and space science project allows your child to observe the gradual formation of stalactites and the reverse buildup of stalagmites. Learn about evaporation, gravity, and minerals. You’ll need Epsom salt, black poster board, tape, scissors, four drinking glasses, black yarn, four washers, a ruler, a small pot, a spoon, and a logbook!

Solar System
To understand if the distances in the solar system are proportional to the distances in an atomic system, this physical science project can help. With just clay, a tennis ball meter stick, and a few willing participants, your child will have the opportunity to analyze and conceive the solar system and atomic structures a little better!

St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

National Puzzle Day to Help Child Development

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January 29th is National Puzzle Day! St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, encourages your family to celebrate because puzzles can help with your child’s development. Doing puzzles assists in keeping the brain sharp, improves memory, and helps prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Developing Skills
When your child is alone playing with a puzzle, he is building basic skills, such as physical, emotional, and cognitive. Jigsaw puzzles are an especially  great way to boost STEM skills like abstract thinking, spatial and math skills, logical reasoning, and problem-solving. Physical skills are developed just from holding the pieces and placing them where they fit. Puzzles promote emotional intelligence by simply teaching your child to learn patience and when they are awarded once they have completed it. Cognitive skills develop as he learns how to solve the problems associated with the puzzle. The three basic components are the building blocks to developing a well-rounded human being.

  • Physical skills:
      • Hand-eye coordination
      • Gross motor skills
      • Fine motor skills
  • Emotional skills:
      • Setting goals
      • Patience
  • Cognitive skills:
    • Shape recognition
    • Memory
    • Problem-solving

Best Puzzles
There are so many puzzles out there that will help your child build his logic, math, and reasoning skills. Here are some brain-twisting  favorites that your child will also love. 

 

  • Janod Body Magnetic Puzzle: With this puzzle, your child will learn and understand the human body. The body cards come in nine languages to promote language development.
  • Thinking Putty Puzzle: A great STEM toy for your child, this game encourages critical thinking. Connect the same colored dots by creating same colored paths of the putty without crossing different colors.
  • Ravensburger Beautiful Ocean: With more than one million puzzles sold, this is one of the bestselling puzzle brands worldwide. Encouraging creativity and concentration, this 100-piece jigsaw puzzle will teach your child to love ocean creatures. 
  • iPlay, iLearn Wooden Solar System: For the space-loving child, this wooden solar system jigsaw puzzle will inspire your child to be an astronaut! With 48 thick pieces and a helpful, optional diagram, it’s easier for younger children to put together. Plus, your child will get a basic lesson in geography, as this interactive world map educates about animals, continents, and oceans! 

 

St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

 

Catholic Schools Week Open House

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The 46th annual Catholic Schools Week is coming up! From January 26th to February 1st, Catholic schools all around the country all celebrate and connect through by attending Masses and participating in assemblies. This year’s theme is to learn, serve, lead, and succeed. Take a look at why St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, is honored and celebrated.

A Blue Ribbon School
In October 2007, St. Charles was named by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon school. Just one of only 287 in the nation to receive this honor, St. Charles was recognized for its academic excellence and closing subgroup achievement gaps. 

Parent Partnerships
Although we are fully staffed with high-quality, experienced instructors, parents are the primary educators for their children. We believe that it’s a true privilege to be a part of each student’s learning experience. We are proud to partner with you — the parents — to help your child grow into a confident, capable member of society.

Academic
With our challenging, rigorous curriculum, your child will embrace his true potential, giving him a solid academic foundation and help him develop his God-given talents. Our instructors create a safe, comfortable, and healthy learning environment where students have the opportunity to grow into enthusiastic, lifelong learners. Your child will receive individualized attention from our teachers and will receive differentiated instruction because we understand that students learn in a variety of ways.


Athletics
Because of our partnership with Catholic Youth Sports, your child has the opportunity to participate in a variety of athletic activities, such as basketball, track, volleyball, cheerleading, and soccer. Sports and team participation teach valuable lessons that are important to your child’s future success, such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and self-discipline. 

Faith
The spiritual health of your child is one of our top priorities. Faith is incorporated in our daily lives, so it must be implemented into our curriculum. Between religious classes, monthly and weekly Mass, retreats, daily prayer, and serving the world around us, students at St. Charles learn that faith is more than just words; it’s a social responsibility we have as Catholics.

Join us for our open house on Sunday, January 26th from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tour the school, meet our teachers and administration, learn why St. Charles is the right choice for your family, and how your child can become a Bulldog. We offer a Christ-centered learning environment, rigorous academic programs, a safe and secure campus, after school care programs, and financial assistance opportunities. 

St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.