Second Grade News and Homework

Tuesday September 4, 2007

Dear Parents,

 

I would like to extend a warm welcome to my new second grade students and their families.  I hope that all of you had a great summer.  The first day of school went very well.  It will be an exciting new year with many new learning experiences!  This is my twentieth year of teaching.  I love working with children!  I have always taught first, second or third grade, but I have also worked with students from kindergarten through high school and have taught art and coached sports.  My favorite grade to teach is second grade because it is such a joy to prepare students for the important Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation.

 

Speaking of the Sacraments, be sure to sign up with the parish office if your child will be receiving First Reconciliation (Confession) and First Eucharist this year.  The first class with the parish will be September 23rd from 4:00 to 5:30.  You will receive a packet and the dates for the three other sessions which you and your child must attend.

 

During the first few weeks of school I will be teaching classroom routine and rules, assessing your child’s strengths and needs, reviewing familiar concepts, and introducing some new information.  Getting used to a new routine takes lots of energy.  Therefore I recommend that students get lots of extra rest during the first few weeks of school which will keep your child well, strong and healthy.

 

In order to most effectively meet your child’s needs, it is important that we establish good communication between home and school throughout the year.  I encourage you to keep me informed of any questions or concerns that you may have as well as things that are going well.  This is a critical piece so that we can work as a team to help your child gain the most from his or her school experience.

 

Summer Work

If your child completed a summer packet or any other summer work, be sure to have him or her bring it to me any day this week.  It must be in by this Friday in order to pick out a prize from the treasure chest.

 

Homework, Supplies and Information

Thank you for sending the supplies to school so quickly.  If you have not sent some items yet, please do so as soon as possible so that your child can use them right away.

I will send home some short, enjoyable and easy assignments this week and then I will send home some easy assignments each day next week.  Regular “homework packets” will start after I discuss homework at Curriculum Night.  Attached is a questionnaire for Mom and/or Dad to fill out with information about your child.  This information will help me get to know your child better and will assist me in meeting individual learning needs more effectively.

 

Up Coming Events

Individual pictures will be on September 12th, Curriculum Night will be on September 14th and the first all school Mass assisted by the 8th grade will be on September 21st.   Check the school news which comes out on Wednesdays for more details.

 

Pets

Our veteran second grader, a box turtle named Hercules, has been here in this classroom at Saint Brendan’s for 28 years!  We may have frog tadpoles during the year and we’ll have caterpillars/butterflies in the spring for our science life-cycle study.

 

This is a great group of students and I can hardly wait to introduce them to the joys of learning!  I am looking forward to working with you and your child.  We will have a wonderful year together!

 

Sincerely,