Second Grade - 2B

Welcome to Second Grade 2020-2021

Praise the Lord!

Dear Parents,

As we begin the school year, we are looking forward to the exciting journey we share with your child. This information should answer some of the questions you may have at this time. Keep this information handy to refer to throughout the year.

First are some important dates you may want to know ahead of time:

First Reconciliation for 2B January 16

First Communion Prayer Day (all 2nd grade) April 17th 

First Communion for 2B May 1, 10:00

Lunch/recess daily 11:25-12:15

Snack: Students may bring a healthy snack each day to be eaten at morning recess or break.

Homework/Planner

It is important to check and sign your child's planner each evening. Homework is usually given Monday -Thursday. Please remember to read with your child each night.  It is important that parents are actively involved with homework assignments.  All work should be written by students, but parents are to look over and assist in correcting mistakes or explaining the directions. It is important that the Read and Spell (on the phonics homework page) be completed with a parent.

Friday Folders

Each Friday students will bring home a folder which will contain your child’s papers for the week. One side of the folder is for papers that need to be signed and returned, the other side has papers that can stay home. There will be a work/study and social growth sheet in the back of the folder. These behaviors correspond directly to what will be on the report card at the end of the quarter. Please initial this weekly.

Class Newsletter

The weekly newsletter will be emailed by Friday afternoon.

Grading Scale

The grading scale that is used in second grade can be found in the parent handbook. Letter grades are used for core subjects. Special classes, handwriting, work habits, and social growth will use O-outstanding, NI- needs improvement, and U-unsatisfactory

Late Work Policy

In second grade, students are given homework to reinforce, practice, and extend their learning from the classroom  Homework teaches students to be responsible & independent learners.  We encourage students to do their own work and ask for assistance only when the student feels they need help. Please review work with your child when it comes home.

*It is expected that homework/classwork will be ready to be turned in when it is due.

*Teachers will update grades in TeacherEase on a weekly basis.

*If a student does not have a homework assignment when it is due, it will be marked as ”missing”. The student will receive a “late notice form” on that date. They can then turn in the work on the following day.

*If a student does not have a project on the date that it is due, they will receive a late notice form. If the project is not turned in the following school day, one percentage point will be deducted off of the earned grade for each day the project is late. For assignments more than 5 days late, the highest possible grade is 80%.

If a student is struggling to get his/her work in on time, the parent will be notified and the student will have the opportunity to make up missing work during a recess time.

Completing assignments on time is an important skill to learn in second grade. This allows teachers to see if a student may need extra support or when a skill is mastered.  If there is a reason the assignment could not be completed, please contact the teacher.

Birthdays

We celebrate birthdays with a dress down pass for the day. If your child’s birthday is in the summer, please choose a day that works best for you. Please let the teacher know what date you are choosing.

Half Days

Please email the teacher and let the office know if your child has a different arrangement for getting home that day. Please inform the office and the teacher when there are Aftercare changes.

Virtue Based Restorative Discipline (VBRD)

It is our school’s belief that life-long success is rooted in SELF-DISCIPLINE. Our class has discussed what rules we will follow this year so that will have a fun, safe environment to learn. The agreement is posted in our room. 

Absence

It is very helpful if we know ahead of time if your child will be absent. Check the handbook for homework and make up work policies. Most of the time work will be after the day/assignment was given/taught instead of before. 

Religion

We Believe Catholic Identity Program/Textbook

Parents can go to the ICD website and click on Sadlier Religion. This site offers activities and chapter reviews. Tests will be given after each chapter studied. Texts and study guides are sent home before tests. 

There will be parent meetings before students begin studying and preparing for each of the sacraments in class. Parents will have two dates to choose from to attend.

We will attend Mass weekly, either as a grade, with K-4th grade, or with the whole school.

Second grade class Mass is on Wednesdays in the chapel

K-4 and all school Mass is on Thursdays in the church

See our weekly newsletter to find out when we will attend Mass the following week, and feel free to join us whenever your schedule allows.

Math

Envision Series

This is a new series, and I am still familiarizing myself with the website. We will use the website at school so the children can learn it as well. Math homework will be given most evenings to reinforce concepts taught in class. Test dates are on the weekly newsletter.

Simple Solutions (supplemental math)

Students will work on a variety of math concepts. This will be done in class.

Reading

Units of Study

Reading is a skill—like playing the trumpet or swimming—that can only be developed through use.  To become skilled at playing the trumpet or swimming, people need to do those things—daily, for long stretches of time—and the same is true for reading.  Every day in school, students will have time for reading workshop. We will work hard to learn how to set your child up with books that he or she will read easily, smoothly, quickly, and with interest.  Research is clear that kids benefit from a ton of high-interest accessible reading.  It is actually detrimental to a reader to stumble through books where more than one in twenty words pose difficulties and reading feels robot-like.

 

What we’re doing to build reading lives at school:

•       learn routines and expectations for reading workshop
•       begin to understand how to find “just right” books
•         learn about good reading habits and how to converse with other readers

 

What you can do to build reading lives at home:

•         visit a local library
•         share a book together
•         talk about books in your reading life

Library books

Students will check out 2 books each week in the library. These books will go home and come back to school each day.

Star of the Week  

Every student will have the opportunity to be the star of the week. The star student will take a plush Jesus home (much like a Flat Stanley) with him/her over the weekend and capture moments together to add to the conversation during their time. A poster will also be distributed to the star that Friday to be completed over the weekend and ready to present the following week (Monday). Look for your child’s name in the newsletter. Star of the Week will begin August 31.

Partnership between home and school is vital for your child’s success in 2nd grade.  As a parent you play an important role with  reinforcement of math and reading skills, giving assistance to homework, consistent weeknd Mass attendance and praise and encouragement. 

Please contact me through email, a phone call, or a note in the planner with any questions or concerns you may have as the year goes on. I will do my best to respond within 24 hours. 

May God keep your family safe, happy, and healthy this year!

Blessings,

Mrs. Alvarez