December 12, 2024

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 6 test today over fluently subtracting with in 100.  Tomorrow we will begin chapter 7 over solving more problems involving addition and subtraction.  Students will model problems using equations with unknowns in any position.

BRING SACK LUNCH TO SCHOOL:  Next Friday, December 20, 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 19 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:    St. Malachy students are welcome to join in on some Christmas-themed fun next week if they wish:

• Monday, December 16:  "Snowman Day!" Wear white
• Tuesday, December 17:  "Smooth as Velvet, Mad for Plaid Day!" Wear velvet or plaid
• Wednesday, December 18:  "Holiday Glow Day!"  Dress to Impress-shiny and bright for Mass
• Thursday, December 19:  "Mele Kalikimaka Day!"  Wear a Hawaiian shirt
• Friday, December 20:  "Holiday Sweater Day!" Wear your festive Christmas sweater & accessories

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:  School will not be in session on Thursday, January 2 & Friday, January 3 for teacher professional development.  School will resume on Monday, January 6.

December 5, 2024

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.

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.

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.  

 Traditionally the Angels will eat a sack lunch together on the last day before the Christmas break (December 20).  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 13.  

SPIRIT DAY:  Tomorrow, December 6 is a Spirit Day at St. Malachy.  Students can pay $1.00 to wear sweat pants or a hat to school.  The money raised will help those in need in our local community.