What a fabulous start to the school year! The first 2 "first" days and our second day were filled with fun and getting to know each other. We have begun learning the expectations of 2nd grade and practicing routines. The next few weeks we will continue learning our routines. Once these are set, we can get into our material more in depth. This week, we will be observing the wetlands, beginning our Learning Links, looking at characters in our books, beginning our Daily 5 routines, taking our first STAR assessments, and practicing our math fact program. If you haven't had the opportunity to look at the "Parent Mastering Math Fact Explanation" sheet sent home at Meet the Teacher, please do so. Here is a digital copy of it for your convenience. It is very important that the students practice the program correctly.
0 Comments
Well, we have had more changes to our staff. It will be bittersweet this year, with so many great teachers moving on, but with wonderful new teachers joining us! Remember that class lists get posted August 8th on the school's windows. I can't wait to meet all my new kiddos!
It is sad to think that summer is half way over! I am glad for its break, but I am also glad for my catch-up time! I have finally uploaded the last half of the year's photos I took of the kids. (It's embarrassing how many I hadn't shared with you!) You can see them all on our PHOTOS page for 2013-2014. I hope you enjoy looking through the past year and seeing how much your little one has grown! I am sad to see them go, but I am excited to see where they will go! They are amazing little beings and I have you to thank for sharing them with me! I am better for knowing them. What a beautiful week we are having! The kids have gotten to go outside to play and the weather has been so pleasant. Hopefully the snow will stay away this time and it will stay feeling like springtime!
Here are just a few notes: 1. Remember that the extended days are next week with school continuing until 4:40. This is mandatory and not an option. Children are expected to make up a normal school day within the extra added hours. We will be working on core foundational skills like reading, writing, and math. We will also have some fusion planned those days. 2. We always have a lot of testing in the last quarter. We have Dibels Benchmarking, STAR Benchmarking, Terra Nova Testing, and Common Assessments all within the next 2 months. Make sure your child is resting and eating well so that he/she can be physically ready to take all these tests. 3. We are working on setting up a Forces and Motion Activity "Fair" for the second graders where we will need volunteers. We are hoping to be able to do it during the extra time on the 10th. Everything will be prepared and we would need you to help us by running a station. They are pretty simple with directions and explanations for you. We will be sending out a volunteer spot invitation. The more help, the better! 4. Here is the Brain Boost and Agenda for this week! Here is the official letter from school that was sent home today about the Calamity make-up hours. As much as we love snow and spending our calamity days with our families, we unfortunately are 1 day over our 5 day allotment. Due to the police incident on our campus this year, Summit High School and Summit Road Elementary owe time to make up.
The School Board Meeting was last night and the decision was made to split our owed day up into hours. This is allowed per the approved make-up plan made by the state. We will be adding 2 hours to the following days: Tuesday 4/8, Thursday 4/10, and Monday 4/14. Students will be dismissed at 4:35. There will be a snack provided each of the days around 2:30. Buses will run normally to home at 4:40. During these extended days, we will be using the extra 2 hours as normal work time; enhancing reading, math, writing, or fusion. If you have previously scheduled appointments, please send in a note for early dismissal. Otherwise, please plan on your child attending the long day. The additional 2 hours are not voluntary. We have a confirmed case of head lice in our class. I wanted to notify you so that you can be on the lookout just in case. We each have our own cubbies, but we have a very close and lovable class, so you never know. If you should see the bugs or nits (eggs), please get your child treated. There are over the counter shampoos and things you can use. You will also have to take precautions in your home as well. For a complete list of how to treat for lice, click here to get more information. I have heard that using coconut shampoo deters the parasites if you don’t already have them.
Hope you all have a comfortable evening! Since I have been so horrible about updating everything on the computer (I underestimated the energy it takes to move a household), I have decided to break my News and Notes up through the end of the year. I will be updating and adding information as needed. Also, in order for you to prepare for all the end of the year craziness, I have put all the dates on here that I have so far. I hope that is helpful to everyone! Important Dates3/14 - Pi Day. Just a fun fact!
3/14 - Spaghetti Dinner/Art Show 3/17 - St. Patrick's Day. We already discussed that there is NO PINCHING on Monday! 3/17 - Reading Common Assessment. Sleep well and have a good breakfast! The test will be administered in the morning. 3/18 - Math Common Assessment. Sleep well again and eat a fabulous breakfast! We will be administering it in the morning. 3/21 - End of the quarter 3/21 - Spring Pictures 3/21 - 2nd grade Core Value Assembly and Shakespeare performance by the Tempest students. I think this will begin around 1:30. You are more than welcome to come and see your children on the stage for either of the activities going on! We will be combining them into one assembly. 3/22-3/30 - SPRING BREAK!!!!!! 4/4 - Report Cards Go Home 4/4 - Tentatively Scheduled - We will be having many activities in the gym or cafeteria focused on Forces and Motion. We will need lots of volunteers. We plan on starting at 12:45 and ending at 1:45. This was so fabulous last year that the kids knew all of Newton's laws just from the short activities! 4/14 - This week will be the last Dibels Assessment for reading fluency. This is the week the district has us benchmarking the students and it will be their official score that also determines their growth for the year. 4/18 - No school. 4/21 - Terra Nova Testing for 2nd grade. This test is administered throughout the entire week. Please avoid any appointments or anything that would remove your child from school that week. 5/5 - Last week for Library Check-out 5/9 - All day field trip to Dawe's Arboretum. We will be asking for volunteers to drive and meet us there. 5/12 - Last week for library with no check-out 5/12 - Week of Common Assessments 5/26 - No school 5/29 - Field Day 5/30 or 6/2 - Make up day that our campus needs to make up. We are the only 2 buildings in the district that as of right now, owe a day. THEN... Happy Summer!!!!! Only 4 more school days until you get to spend a wonderful 5 day weekend with your children! Since next week is only 2 days, I have added it to this week's agenda and brain boost. November 26: Pizza party! Our class came in a very close 2nd for the Pie Sale, so we also won a pizza party! I will keep you posted if you should send in drinks or chips with your children. November 26: Interims will be available on PowerSchool for you to view. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask! We have been having difficulties with the program and need to know from your end what is working or is not working. So if something doesn't look or feel right, please let me know! Thanks! November 27-December 1: Thanksgiving break! Enjoy the long weekend if you are lucky enough to have it! December 7: Reynoldsburg Christmas on the town, 10:00-3:00 December 16-17: 2nd Grade administration of the 9-week Reading and Math Assessments December 20: Winter Wonderland Celebrations December 21-January 5: Winter Break! January 10: End of 2nd Quarter January 17: Report Cards go home (paper copies) Brain Boost and Agenda
Classroom Registry DriveFrom November 18- December 18, we are having a school wide registry drive. This means that you can get onto www.brightenhall.com, choose our school and the teacher, and shop for items to be used by your child. It is like a holiday for the teacher and the students! When you purchase the items, they will be shipped free directly to the school. No hassle, no fuss! Please consider getting on today and donating an item! Thank you in advance! Community Service DonationsOur school is being very compassionate right now! We have 3 different drives going on! Just send them in with your children and we will add them to the donation boxes.
1. New hats, coats, gloves, and scarves can be donated for the first graders' compassionate drive. 2. Some fourth graders wanted to raise canned goods, water, and rice for the Phillipines. 3. We also have a high school extension project that is to collect canned goods for the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. |
The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives. Me, Me, MeI enjoy problem solving, designing, creating, communicating, collaborating, etc.... all of which I expect my students to do. I hope that we have an enjoyable and successful year! Grab my button!Check out the rest of our teaching team!Past Messages
September 2015
Categories
All
Check these out! |