December 14, 2023

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Wilma Rudolph:  Against All Odds and Great Leaders.  Wilma Rudolph:  Against All Odds is a biography while Great Leaders is an opinion article.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with long /i/ (i, ie, igh, y, i_e) as in iron, pie, right, fly, and bike, capitalizing the first letter in the names of the days of the week, months of the year, and holidays, decoding words with the prefix "dis," identifying statements of fact and opinion, using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We took the chapter 7 test over fluently subtracting with in 100 and started chapter 7 over solving more problems involving addition and subtraction.  So far students have modeled problems using equations with unknowns in any position and used drawings and equations to make sense of the words in problems.

SECOND GRADE MASS:  The second grade class is in charge of the school Mass next Wednesday, December 20. Please look for a note in today's take home folder to see what special part your child will have in our Mass.  Mass begins at 9:15 in the school gym.  We hope to see you there if you are able to come!

BRING SACK LUNCH TO SCHOOL:  Next Friday, December 22, students will need to bring a sack lunch  to school.  (Milk will be provided.)  Students will be eating lunch with the Advent Angels that day.  After lunch, students will sing Christmas carols with their Advent Angels as well.

SPELLING:  We will be having a "Review Week" in spelling next week.  All 16 spelling words will be words students have had in previous weeks.

TAKE HOME FOLDERS/BLOG:  Take home folders will not be sent home next Thursday, December 21 due to the upcoming Christmas vacation, and there will not be a second grade newsletter posted on my blog.  Any important notes from the office will be sent home in your child's backpack.

CHRISTMAS FUN:  The teachers and staff are going to show their Christmas spirit by dressing in certain themes before Christmas vacation.  St. Malachy students are welcome to join in on the fun if they wish! Here are more details:

• Monday, December 18:  "Grinch Day!" Wear green
• Tuesday, December 19:  "Long Winter's Nap Day!" Winter pajama day
• Wednesday, December 20:  "Holiday Best/Dress to Impress Day!"  Dress up for Mass
• Thursday, December 21:  "Dress Up as Your Favorite Christmas Carol Day!" 
• Friday, December 22:  "Christmas Sweater Day!" Wear your best/ugliest Christmas sweater & accessories

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:  School will not be in session on Tuesday, January 2 for teacher professional development.  School will resume on Wednesday, January 3, which will be a Mass day.

December 7, 2023

 LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed What's Good to Read and Going Places.  What's Good to Read is an opinion article while Going Places is a fantasy.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with long /o/ as in so, boat, grow, toe, and note, using quotation marks correctly in sentences, decoding words with the suffixes "y," "ly," and "ful," putting words in alphabetical order,  using story vocabulary in context, using a glossary and dictionary to determine meanings of words and phrases, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We subtracted a one or two-digit number from a two-digit number using the standard algorithm, subtracted two-digit numbers using a variety of subtraction strategies, and used models and equations to solve word problems.  

SCIENCE:  We explored how plants depend on animals to spread pollen and learned about horticulturalists (scientists who specialize in growing plants.)  

RELIGION:  We have been discussing Advent.  Students learned that the word "Advent" means "coming."  Students discussed various ways they can prepare their hearts for the coming of Jesus during this Advent season.

SCHOOL MASS:  Just a reminder that we will be having school Mass on Friday, December 8 for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Please have your child dress up for Mass tomorrow, December 8.  

ADVENT ANGELS:  In last week's blog I mentioned that your child has been assigned an Advent Angel (an older student in the school).  Traditionally the Angels will eat a sack lunch together on the last day before the Christmas break (December 22).  Also, the Angels usually exchange a small gift with each other.  I wanted to bring this to your attention so that you might help your child purchase a small gift (usually candy).  Please keep the gift under $5.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

COLLECTING ITEMS FOR CARE FACILITIES:  St. Malachy School is collecting items for male and female residents in local care facilities.  Students will be decorating sacks to hold the gifts for the residents.  We are looking for a few small items to put in each sack that could bring some cheer to the residents this holiday season.  Items such as socks, trinkets, lotions, games, books, old movies, etc. make great gift ideas.  If you are interested in donating, please send the items to school by Friday, December 15.  

November 30, 2023

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed the fairy tale If the Shoe Fits:  Two Cinderella Stories.  We also discussed a video called Those Clever Crows from the New York Times.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with the long /e/ vowel sound as in meet, seat, key, receive, believe, these, and happy, using story vocabulary in context, identifying action verbs in sentences, recognizing and forming compound sentences, describing plot elements in a story, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We took the chapter 5 test over subtracting within 100 using strategies and started chapter 6 over fluently subtracting within 100.  So far students have used place value and models to subtract one and two-digit numbers, broke apart two-digit numbers to make it easier to subtract, subtracted using place value and partial differences, and subtracted using the standard algorithm.

ADVENT ANGELS:  Your child has been paired up with an older student during the Advent season.  This "buddy" is known as their "Advent Angel."  Advent Angels will get together once each week throughout December for 30 minutes to complete an activity that will help students prepare for the coming of Jesus.  

SCHOOL MASS NEXT FRIDAY:  School Mass will take place next Friday, December 8 instead of Wednesday, December 6 since December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Please have your child dress up for Mass next Friday, December 8.  There will not be a regular school Mass on Wednesday, December 6, so your child will not need to dress up on that day.

FIRST RECONCILIATION:  First Reconciliation will take place on Sunday, December 3.  It will begin at 1:00 P.M. at Holy Spirit Church with a potluck followed by Reconciliation.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT:  St. Malachy School will be having their Christmas concert on Wednesday, December 6 at 6:00 P.M. at the Creston High School auditorium.  Please look for a permission slip in your child's take home folder to be filled out and returned to school so that your child may attend the Christmas concert practice that day.  

SPIRIT DAY:  Tomorrow, December 1 is a Spirit Day.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweat pants to school if they wish.  The money raised will help those in need in our local community.

November 16, 2023

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed A Crow, a Lion, and a Mouse! Oh My! and Hollywood Chicken.  A Crow, a Lion, and a Mouse! Oh My! is a drama, while Hollywood Chicken is a fantasy.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with long /a/ as in rain, stay, make, and acorn, identifying and forming verbs in the present, past, and future tense, identifying adjectives in sentences, identifying a simile (compares two different things using the word "like" or "as," such as "she's as busy as a bee,") an idiom (a phrase that means something different from its everyday meaning, such as "it's raining cats and dogs,") and a hyperbole (a statement that is so crazy it can't be true, such as "her smile was a mile wide,") using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We made numbers that are easier to subtract and then used mental math to find the difference, solved one and two-step problems using addition or subtraction, and chose various strategies we've learned so far to subtract two-digit numbers.

RELIGION:  We discussed how the Holy Spirit helps us to do better and recognized that God loves us and rejoices when we are truly sorry for our sins.

SHORT WEEK NEXT WEEK:  Due to Thanksgiving and the short school week next week, we will not be taking a spelling pre and post test.  Also, take home folders will not be sent home and there will not be a second grade newsletter posted on my blog.

SCIENCE  We took the unit test over matter and started a new unit over environments for living things.  So far we have discussed what a plant needs to grow and stay healthy and what the effects are when a plant does not get the things it needs. 

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:  Please note the following:

• Friday, November 17:  End of the first trimester of school
• Wednesday, November 22-Monday, November 27:  Thanksgiving vacation
• Friday, December 1:  Spirit Day
• Sunday, December 3:  First Reconciliation at 1:00 at Holy Spirit Church
• Wednesday, December 6:  St. Malachy Christmas Concert, 6:00 P.M.

November 9, 2023

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Recipe for a Fairy Tale and How to Read a Story.  Both are procedural texts.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with consonants /k/ and /ck,/ adding -s  and -es to present-tense verbs, decoding words with silent letters /kn,/ /mb,/ /gn,/ and /wr,/ as in knot, comb, gnat, and write, decoding words with suffixes "ful" and "less" as in colorful and hopeless, decoding homographs (words with multiple meanings,) discussing chronological order to put steps in the correct order, using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We started a new chapter over subtracting within 100 using strategies.  So far students have used a hundred chart and an open number line to subtract tens and ones, added up to subtract using an open number line, and broke apart 1-digt numbers to make it easier to subtract mentally.

RELIGION:  Since November 1 was All Saints Day, we have been learning about the lives of various saints.  We discussed how saints showed their love for God and others.  They are an example of Christian service, which God calls all people to do.

BOOK FAIR:  A big THANK YOU to all who donated books to our second grade classroom from the book fair.  We will enjoy having these books in our classroom library! Your generosity is very much appreciated!

DRESS CODE:  The dress code states that beginning November 1, shorts should not be worn to school.

VETERAN'S DAY:  St. Malachy will be having a Veteran's Day celebration honoring all who have served on Friday, November 10.   It will begin at 1:00 P.M. in the school gym if you would like to join us.

FIRST RECONCILIATION:  We discussed chapter six in the First Reconciliation book.  Since this is the last chapter, the book is yours to keep at home.  If all work in the book has been completed, it does not need to be returned to school.  First Reconciliation will take place on Sunday, December 3 at Holy Spirit Church with a potluck at 1:00 P.M. followed by the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.

SPIRIT DAY:  Tomorrow, November 10 is a Spirit Day at St. Malachy.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweat pants, a hat, or sunglasses to school.  They money raised will help those in need in our local community.

October 26, 2023

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Be a Hero! Work it Out! and Pepita and the Bully.  Be a Hero! Work it Out! is an infographic.  Infographics give information quickly and in a visual way using pictures, symbols, and words or phrases that stand out.  Pepita and the Bully is a realistic fiction selection.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with consonant digraphs /ph,/ /ch,/ /tch,/ /th,/ /sh,/ and /wh,/ identifying compound subjects and predicates in sentences, identifying coordinating conjunctions (words such as "and" & "or,") to form compound subjects, decoding words with the prefixes "re" and "un" as in reread and unfold, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

RECONCILIATION:  Thank you for sending your child's First Reconciliation book to school on Monday.  We discussed chapter 4 in class.  Please complete chapter five and return the book to school on Monday, October 30.  We will be discussing chapter five in class next week.  

• Also, there is a parent/student session this Sunday, October 29 at 1:00 P.M. in the church basement for those who are making their First Reconciliation in December.

DRESS CODE:  The dress code states that beginning November 1, shorts should not be worn to school.

HALLOWEN ACTIVITIES:  Next Tuesday, October 31, the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders will be providing Halloween activities for students in the afternoon.  Students may bring a Halloween costume to change into before the Halloween parade.  The Halloween parade will take place in the school gym at 2:30.  We hope to see you there if you are able to come!

NO SCHOOL:  School will not be in session next Thursday, November 2 (parent/teacher conferences) and Friday, November 3.

SPELLING:  We will not be taking a spelling pre/post test next week due to the short school week.

TAKE HOME FOLDERS/BLOG:  I will not be sending take home folders home next week due to the short school week.  I will also not be posting a blog next Thursday, November 2 since I will be visiting with you at conferences.

CONFERENCES:  Parent/teacher conferences will take place on Monday, October 30, Tuesday, October 31, Wednesday, November 1, and Thursday, November 2.

October 19, 2023

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Working With Others and Gingerbread for Liberty.  Working With Others is an informational text while Gingerbread for Liberty is a biography about a baker who lived during the Revolutionary War.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with double final consonants, identifying action verbs in the present and past tense, decoding words with inflected endings "ed" and "ing," and learning ten new high-frequency words.

RECONCILIATION:  Thank you for sending your child's First Reconciliation book to school on Monday.  We discussed chapter 3 in class.  Please complete chapter four and return the book to school on Monday, October 23.  We will be discussing chapter four in class next week.  

• Also, there is a parent/student session at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday, October 29 in the church basement for those who are making their First Reconciliation in December.  

MATH:  This week students added using place value and partial sums.  They also used the standard algorithm to add two-digit numbers.

SCIENCE:  We discussed how matter can change.  Some of those changes are reversible, such as freezing and melting, while others are irreversible, such as cooking or burning.

SPIRIT DAY:  Tomorrow, October 20 will be a Spirit Day at St. Malachy.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweatpants or a hat to school if they wish.  They money raised helps those in need in our local community.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES:   Parent/teacher conferences are quickly approaching.  Conferences will take place on Monday, October 30, Tuesday, October 31, Wednesday, November 1, and Thursday, November 2.  An email was sent out from the school last week to schedule a conference time.  If you did not receive the email or have questions about signing up, please contact Mrs. Sanchez in the school office.  I look forward to visiting with you about your child's progress! 

October 12, 2023

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Meet Me Halfway and Big Red Lollipop.  Meet Me Halfway is an informational text while Big Red Lollipop is a realistic fiction selection.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with final consonant blends, decoding words with the prefixes "un" and "re" as in unable and rewrite, using context clues to determine meanings of unfamiliar words, capitalizing names for special people, animals, places, and things, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We took the chapter test over adding within 100 using strategies and started a new chapter over fluently adding within 100.  So far students have added two-digit numbers using tens and ones models.

FIRST RECONCILIATION:  Thank you for sending your child's First Reconciliation book to school on Monday.  We discussed chapter two in class.  Please complete chapter 3 at home with your child and return the book to school on Monday, October 16.  We will be discussing chapter 3 in class next week.

SECOND GRADE MASS:  The second grade class is in charge of the school Mass next Wednesday, October 18.  Please look for a note in today's take home folder to see what special part your child will have in our Mass.  Mass begins at 9:15 in the school gym.  We hope to see you there if you are able to come!

FIRE SAFETY:  Students have been learning about fire safety in social studies.  We would like to thank the Creston firefighters for coming to St. Malachy School today to visit with the students about the importance of fire safety.

NO SCHOOL:  Please note that school will not be in session on the following days:

• Friday, October 13 (teacher professional development)
• Thursday, November 2 (Parent/teacher conferences)
• Friday, November 3

October 5, 2023

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed a drama called The Puddle Puzzle.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with l, r, and s consonant blends as in play, drum, and swim, using story vocabulary in context, forming and using plural nouns with "es" as in "glasses," identifying and writing irregular plural nouns (as in "child" to "children,") identifying and using collective nouns (as in herd, flock, or team,) and learning ten new high-frequency words.

FIRST RECONCILIATION:  Thank you for sending your child's First Reconciliation book to school on Monday.  We discussed chapter one in class.  Please complete chapter two at home and have your child bring the book to school on Monday, October 9.  We will be discussing chapter two in class next week.

MATH:  This week students broke apart addends into tens and ones to find their sum, combined addends in different ways to make numbers that are easy to add mentally, and used drawings and equations to solve one-step and two-step problems.

 SCIENCE:  We started a new unit over matter.  We discussed properties of matter such as color, shape, hardness, texture, and flexibility.  We also explored the three states of matter--solids, liquids, and gases.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:  School will not be in session next Friday, October 13 due to teacher professional development.

SPIRIT DAY:  Tomorrow, October 6 will be a Spirit Day at St. Malachy.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweatpants, a hat, or sunglasses to school if they wish.  They money raised helps those in need in our local community.

Science Class

 

September 28, 2023

  LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed The Great Fuzz Frenzy and Water Rolls, Water Rises.  The Great Fuzz Frenzy is a fantasy, while Water Rolls, Water Rises is a poem.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with "e" at the end making the vowel long as in "pine," making singular nouns plural by adding "s" or "es" as in cat/cats or bench/benches, decoding words with the suffixes "er" and "est" as in "stronger" and "strongest," using story vocabulary in context, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We took the chapter 2 test and started a new chapter over adding within 100 using strategies.  So far students added within 100 using place value strategies and a hundred chart, and used an open number line to add tens and ones within 100.

RECONCILIATION:  For those students who are Catholic and making their First Reconciliation in December, please complete chapter one in the reconciliation book and have your child bring the book to school on Monday, October 2.  We will be discussing chapter one in class next week.  I will send the book home next Tuesday so you can begin to work on chapter two.  Just a reminder that all work is to be done at home.  I am just reinforcing the key concepts from each lesson at school.

ROSARY:  October is the month of the Rosary.  The Rosary is a summary of Christian faith in language and prayers inspired by the Bible.  The Rosary calls to mind the most important events in the lives of Jesus and Mary.  These events are called mysteries and are divided into four groups:  The Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, the Glorious Mysteries, and the Luminous Mysteries.  St. Malachy students will be praying the Rosary during the month of October in religion class.  Second graders will pray one decade of the Rosary each day.  If your child has a Rosary from home that he/she would like to bring to school for this, he/she may do so.

SCIENCE:  We are wrapping up our unit over engineering design process.  Last week students worked in groups of three to design a tower that would hold a large marshmallow on top.  They were only given spaghetti noodles and tape to complete their tower.  Next, students tested their design to see if it would hold the marshmallow.  If it didn't, students redesigned and tried again.  Last, students communicated their thoughts and ideas with others.  We compared our towers and discussed strengths in the designs.  Everyone did a great job in building their tower.  

September 21, 2023

 LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed What's the Matter and Many Kinds of Matter.  Both are informational texts.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with long o, u, and e, using story vocabulary in context, identifying nouns, decoding words with the suffixes -er and -est, identifying synonyms (words that mean about the same, such as "big" and "large,") and learning ten new high-frequency words.

RELIGION:  This week we focused on ways we can praise and thanks to God.  We explored celebrations in which we give thanks and recognized prayers of praise and thanks.

MATH:  Students used different ways to tell if a group of objects shows an even or odd number, found the total number of objects in a set of rows and columns, made arrays with equal rows or equal columns to solve addition problems, and modeled problems using equations, drawings, and arrays.

SCIENCE:  Students learned what a mechanical engineer does.  They also used books, paper, and pencils to build a "bridge" design.  They analyzed and compared multiple design solutions.  Students realized that engineers plan and build many possible solutions, test each one to see how well it works, and find way to improve it.  

FIRST RECONCILIATION:  There will be a parent/student meeting in the church basement on Sunday, September 24 after the 9:00 A.M. Mass for those who are Catholic and have children making their First Reconciliation in December.

HOMECOMING: Tomorrow, September 22 is Creston's homecoming.  It is also a Spirit Day.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweatpants or a hat to school if they wish.  They can also show their support for the Creston Panthers by wearing red and/or black.  St. Malachy students will be riding the bus to the Creston high school stadium to kick off the homecoming festivities.  We will leave the school around 8:45 and will return around 10:15.  School will dismiss at 12:10.  School lunch will not be provided.  The homecoming parade will begin at 1:30.

September 14, 2023

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed a realistic fiction selection called Picture Day Perfection.  We worked on skills such as identifying words with long vowels "a" and "i," using story vocabulary in context, identifying statements, questions, commands, and exclamations, identifying sounds for /c/  and /g/ as in "cent,"  "car," "goat," and "giant," decoding word with "ed" and "ing" endings, and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  We wrapped up our first chapter over fluently adding and subtracting within 20 and started a new chapter over working with equal groups.  So far students have determined if a group of objects is even or odd.

FIRST RECONCILIATION:  There will be a parent/student meeting in the church basement next Sunday, September 24 after the 9:00 A.M. Mass for those who are Catholic and have children making their First Reconciliation in December.

BOOK ORDERS:  Book orders are due tomorrow, September 15 if you are interested in ordering.  To order online,  our class code is LJWD4.

PTO MEETING:  There will be a PTO meeting next Thursday, September 21 at 6:00 P.M.  Parents who attend get a free sweatpants pass for their child!

HOMECOMING:  School will dismiss at 12:10 next Friday, September 22 for Creston's homecoming.  Due to the early out, school lunch will not be provided.  It is also a Spirit Day.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweatpants, hat, or sunglasses to school if they wish.  They can also show their support for the Creston Panthers by wearing red and/or black.  

September 7, 2023

 LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed Being a Good Citizen and Picture Day Perfection.  Being a Good Citizen is an informational text while Picture Day Perfection is a realistic fiction selection.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with short "o," "u," and "e," identifying adjectives in sentences, using story vocabulary in context, identifying complete sentences, putting words in sentences in the correct order (subject first--predicate last), identifying the consonant-vowel-consonant pattern in words, identifying run-on sentences, and learning ten new high-frequency words. 

RELIGION:  We have been discussing the sacrament of Baptism and the symbols used in Baptism (holy water, holy oil, Baptismal candle, and white clothing).

FIRST RECONCILIATION PARENT/STUDENT MEETING:  There will be a parent/student meeting in the church basement on Sunday, September 24 after the 9:00 A.M. Mass for those who are Catholic and have children making their First Reconciliation in December.  

BOOK ORDERS:  I am enclosing book orders in today's take home folder.  Book orders are due next Friday, September 15 if you are interested in ordering.  If you don't see a book you're looking for in the flyers, there are many books for students at all reading levels online at scholastic.com/bookclubs.   You are not limited to ordering only the books in the flyers being sent home.  To order online, our class code is LJWD4.  

CHROMEBOOKS:  The second graders will be using their Chromebooks with a math program called "SuccessMaker."  SuccessMaker will be used to help increase overall understanding of grade level math concepts.  Students will also be using their Chromebooks with Code.  Code is a program that provides opportunities for students to learn computer science.  Students will also have the opportunity to practice keyboarding skills with a program we are using called "Typetastic," and will practice various language arts, science, and social studies skills with "Seesaw."  Throughout the school year students will be using their Chromebooks for many other different learning opportunities as well.

SPIRIT DAY:  Tomorrow, September 8 is a Spirit Day.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear a hat,  sweatpants, or sunglasses to school if they wish.  The money raised helps those in  need in our local community.  Students can also wear their Cyclone or Hawkeye shirt to support their favorite Iowa team for the upcoming Cy-Hawk game!!

Super Second Graders

 

First day of school!

                                                                                               Lunch time!

 Recess fun!

August 31, 2023

LANGUAGE ARTS:  This week we read and discussed We Are Super Citizens and Clark the Shark.  We Are Super Citizens is a personal narrative while Clark the Shark is a fantasy.  We worked on skills such as decoding words with short "a" and "i," using story vocabulary in context, identifying the subject and predicate in a sentence, blending and decoding words with a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern, identifying action verbs in a sentence, identifying the setting of a story, recognizing antonyms (words that have opposite meanings,) and learning ten new high-frequency words.

MATH:  Our first chapter is over fluently adding and subtracting within 20.  This week students used the strategy "make a ten" to add numbers, used number patterns on an addition table to complete addition equations, counted on and back on a number line to subtract, and used addition to help with subtraction facts.

SPELLING:  Your child brought home a list of words for week 1 on Monday.  We have been working on our spelling words at school, but any help from home with studying the words would be greatly appreciated! We will take the spelling post test over our week 1 words tomorrow, September 1.  The post test will be sent home each Friday so you can see how your child scored.

SCIENCE:  Our first unit is called "engineering design process."  So far students discussed how things we use and see in our everyday lives, such as ramps, phones, and even a stapler can be used to solve a problem.  They explored how an engineer defines a problem and solves it by using steps in a design process.  The steps are:  Define a problem, plan and build, test and improve, redesign, and communicate.

SOCIAL CONTRACT:  In last week's newsletter I mentioned that the second grade would be creating a social contract, an agreement of behavior for the class to follow.  Below is the social contract the second graders created:

• help others
• be respectful/polite
• include others
• be kind
• share/take turns
• listen to others
• be responsible
• follow the Golden Rule (treat others the way you want to be treated)

The second graders signed the above social contract to state that they would honor it.  They understand that there are consequences for not following the social contract they helped to create.

EARLY DISMISSAL:  There will be a three hour early dismissal tomorrow, September 1 for teacher professional development.  Since school will be dismissing at 12:10, school lunch will not be provided.

SPIRIT DAY:  Tomorrow, September 1 is a "Spirit Day."  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweatpants or a hat to school if they wish.  The money raised will be used to help those in need in our local community.

August 24, 2023

 WELCOME TO SECOND GRADE:  Another great school year is beginning and I am thrilled to be a part of it.  We are going to have an excellent year, and I'll do my best to keep you informed about events, student progress, and school subjects throughout the year.

WEEKLY TAKE HOME FOLDERS:  I plan to follow the same procedure as Mrs. Levine did last year.  All work and other notes or letters will be sent home EACH THURSDAY in a folder so you can look at what your child has been working on.  PLEASE return the folder to school EACH FRIDAY.

STAR READER OF THE WEEK:  Each Friday students will take turns being the "Star Reader of the Week."  The "Star Reader" will read a favorite story from home to the class.  I will let you know in advance when your child will be the "Star Reader."

SHOW AND SHARE:  Each second grade student will have an assigned "Show and Share" day of the week.  When it is your child's show and share day, please have him/her bring ONE item from home that he/she would like to share with the class.  Please look in next week's take home folder for when his/her show and share day will be each week.

Please do not bring live pets/animals for sharing.  Some students have allergies, and pets can get excited in a different setting.  If your child would like to share about his/her pet, pictures may be brought in to share with the class.

SCHEDULING INFORMATION:  Mondays and Thursdays are P.E. days.  Tuesdays and Fridays are music days.  Wednesdays are school Mass/dress up days.  We will also have library on Thursdays.

BIRTHDAYS:  We will celebrate your child's birthday in our classroom.  Summer birthdays may be celebrated on your child's half birthday or at the end of the school year...whichever you prefer.

As stated in the family handbook, birthday treats are to be:

• STORE BOUGHT
• INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED
• ONE SERVING
• NO DRINKS, PLEASE
• NO CUPCAKES FROM A BAKERY/STORE ( These are not individually wrapped and are very difficult to hand out.)

Please note that refrigeration is not provided, so plan accordingly if you are wanting to bring a treat that needs to be kept cold/frozen.

Please do not send birthday invitations to school to be passed out.  It is difficult to know whether each child will get the invitation home.  Please mail or email birthday invitations to ensure their guaranteed arrival.

GETTING HOME AFTER SCHOOL:  As part of our morning routine, students will let me know how they are getting home after school.  If you have a change in transportation plans for your child that is different from the usual plans, please send a note with your child or call the school office so that I will know for sure how your child is planning on going home.  A note or phone call will better assure that your child will be where he/she needs to be after school.

LIBRARY TIME: The second graders will have library check out on Thursdays.

SOCIAL CONTRACT:  The second graders will soon be creating an agreement of behavior called a "social contract."  While building our social contract students will think about how they want to be treated by each other, the teacher, and how we treat each other when there is a conflict.  The goal in creating a social contract is to have a self-managing group where students think about how they should treat others.  More information about our second grade social contract will come in future newsletters.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  The second graders will have Mrs. Levine (1st grade teacher) as their social studies teacher this year.  While Mrs. Levine is teaching social studies to the second grade, I will be in the first grade classroom teaching religion.

KEEP IN TOUCH:  Please feel free to stop in and visit anytime.  I am looking forward to working with your child this year!