Mrs. Porter’s Newsletter

April 22-26, 2013

 

Calendar of Events

 

Saturday, April 20^th-First Communion 11:00AM

Wednesday, April 24^th- Mass 8:30AM

Thursday, April 25^th-Make sure your speech is memorized!

         

NEWS AND NOTES

 

I’m looking forward to watching our first group of First Communicants receive the sacrament this Saturday morning.  I know that the students are excited and ready to go.  You may want to do a quick review of the proper technique before tomorrow morning.  We have asked the kids to make sure that hands are clean and clothes are tidy.  The procedures that we mentioned were:

 

*Lift kneeler quietly with your hands.

*Keep hands in a prayerful position until the person in front of you is receiving.

*Get hands ready by putting the hand that you write with underneath the other hand to make a special cup for the host.

*Give a small bow.

*Reach up so the Eucharistic minister does not have to bend down.

*Say “Amen!”

*When the host is in your mouth, please do not chew it like bubble gum.

*The sign of the cross is optional.

*Put hands back in a prayerful position all the way to your seat.

*Kneel and thank Jesus for coming to you.

 

If your child will be receiving from the cup, we told the students that they just need to let it touch their lips and that is good enough.  Enjoy this special day with your family and friends!  Remember that our school celebration of First Communion with take place on May 8^th at the 8:30AM mass.

 

I am very proud of the hard work that most of my students have done on their wax museum packets!  Now, it’s time to get ready for the speech.  If your child’s speech is really long and hard to memorize, he/she may take out some less significant parts.  Please make sure that the most important parts of the person’s life are covered:  Birth, why he/she is famous, and death.  Your child needs to be practicing the speech every night so it’s memorized by Thursday. Thank you for helping with this large project. 

 

This week, our class lost the First in Math trophy to Ms. Hill’s class.  But, we can get it back!  Every student should be working on his/her challenges for 10 minutes each night.  Good job Brayden Moyars for being Holy Spirit’s Player of the Month in First in Math!!

 

Don’t forget to send in those box tops!

 

Remember to celebrate the earth this month.  Ask your child how he/she can take care of our earth.

 

Benchmark/WRAP/ and IREAD2 testing will start taking place the week of April 28^th.

 

WEEK AT A GLANCE

 

Reading-Small group/QAR strategies/inferencing

Spelling-Unit 24-review long vowel spellings

Religion-We carry on the word of Jesus

Math- Measuring with rulers-Standard and Metric

Science-Invesigation 2-Motion

Mrs. Porter’s Newsletter

April 15-19, 2013

Calendar of Events

Tuesday, April 16-Friday, April 19^th-Spring Book Fair

Tuesday, April 16^th-Field Trip to Benjamin Harrison-Bring sack lunch.

Wednesday, April 17th-Mass 8:30AM/

First Communion practice for April 20^th 6:00PM

Thursday, April 18^th-Wax Museum packets are due.

                             Special person’s day from 9:00-10:30.

Saturday, April 20^th- First Communion

NEWS AND NOTES

The book fair will take place next week from Tuesday-Friday.  These students will be visiting the book fair during library time on Tuesday(12:55-1:35).  They can bring money that day to shop, or they can just look and make a wish list for another day.  Family night will take place on Wednesday, April 17^th from 6:00-8:00.  Please contact Angie Burck at angieburck@sbcglobal.net if you are able to help with the book fair.

An invitation letter for Special person’s day is coming home with your child today.  Each student should be inviting one special person to join them the morning of April 18^th.  Special visitors will go to the church between 8:45-9:00 and the students will meet them there.

First Communion is coming very soon!  On Wednesday, we practiced receiving the unconsecrated host once more in the church.  We did not practice with the wine, but we do encourage the students to just take a sip for their First Communion.  Obviously, it’s optional and ultimately up to you.  The kids seem to be pretty prepared and of course very excited.  Again, we will be celebrating this special sacrament with the school on Wednesday, May 8^th and would like to see an adult representative for every child attend that special mass.  After mass we will have an informal reception and then the students can change into school clothes.  It would be nice if each student has somebody there to help him/her change and then take the Communion outfit home.  We will be asking for help with the reception-room moms.:)

Each student has given me the name of their person for the wax museum.  I did talk to the other teachers and we decided that it would be best to stick to the directions which were to pick a person that is no longer living and an American.  Thank you for helping your child with this project!  The packets are due on Thursday, April 18^th so I encourage each child to do a page every night.

Do not forget to attend the First Communion practice on Wednesday night at 6:00 if your child is receiving Communion on April 20^th!

WEEK AT A GLANCE

Reading-Inferencing/learning QAR(Question Answer relationships) skills

              **There will be no spelling this week.  We are ahead and I would

      like to take some extra time to talk about inferencing and QAR

      strategies.

Religion- Chapter 8-We Go Forth

Math- Measurement-Doubles plus 1 fact practice

Science-Balance and Motion

Mrs. Porter’s Second Grade Newsletter

April 8-12, 2013

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Tuesday, April 9^th-April book order due

Wednesday, April 10^th-8:30AM All School Mass

Thursday, April 11^th-Famous person due for Wax Museum

                             Happy Birthday Wilson!

Friday, April 12^th-Field trip permission slip due

NEWS AND NOTES

The April book order is due on Tuesday, April 9^th.  Our online code is GV3KZ if you would like to order books that way.  If you do send a book order to school, please send a check instead of cash.  It makes the ordering process much easier.  Thanks!

I sent home your child’s book report biographies with the information about our wax museum.  Your child doesn’t have to do the same person for the wax museum, but he/she can.  If you have another idea, especially of somebody famous from Indiana, that would be fine too.  The person needs to be decided by Thursday, April 11^th and then your child will have a week to prepare the packet.  Thank you for your help with this project.  The wax museum will take place on Thursday, May 2^nd from 12:15-1:30.  The students will need to bring a costume depicting their person.  Props are encouraged as well!

Holy’s Spirit’s special person day is going to take place on Thursday, April 18^th.  Students in grades K-3 are asked to invite just one special person to visit our school from 9:00-10:30 that morning.

First Communion is coming soon!  We have been hard at work preparing for this special time.  Take time after mass one day to talk about all of the things that you see in our church.  Our special school mass will take place on Wednesday, May 8^th.  The students will come to school dressed in their Communion outfits and we will take a group picture after mass. 

Reading-Conclude sequencing, paragraph writing/set-up-Daily 5 and guided reading groups

Spelling-Unit 23-Word Preview Monday, Test due Friday

Religion- We Share a Meal-Practice receiving the Eucharist

Math-Measurement-measuring accurately, inch bricks

Science-Balance using arches, triangles, and mobiles

Mrs. Porter's Newsletter
Week of March 25-29, 2013

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Monday, March 25-Return to school

Wednesday, March 27th- All School Mass 8:30AM

Thursday, March 28th- Holy Thursday –Second Grade re-enactment at 2:00

Friday, March 29^th-Living Stations at 11:00AM-Dismissal at 12:00

Monday, April 1st- Easter Monday/No School

 

NEWS AND NOTES

What an exciting week in the Catholic Church.  I was impressed that many of the students knew that our new pope is named Pope Francis and he’s from Argentina. 

 

Everybody should have received a letter today explaining our Holy Thursday service.  Your child needs to practice his/her reading over break.  If a reading was not assigned, it means your child has an acting part during the play.  We may need some help with costumes, props, etc. so I will be letting you know about that after break.  This program will take place on Holy Thursday at 2:00PM.

 

Thank you so much for the donations of paper towels, pencils, and erasers!  I really do appreciate the help.  We are still in need of more glue sticks if you’re out and about and have a few extra dollars to donate some. 

 

For a Holy Week activity, the second graders will be doing a bible study scavenger hunt.  They will need to bring in a bible to school on or before Tuesday, March 26^th for the activity.

 

It was great getting to conference with you yesterday.  I think that the students did a pretty good job for their first Student-Led conference.  Thanks for coming and hopefully we can reach all of our goals during this last quarter of second grade. 

 

I am asking the students to remember to read and do some First in Math each day.  Also, don’t forget to take the mass journal to mass with you!

 

I hope you all have a safe and relaxing Spring break.   I am looking forward to spending some quality time with my own two kids. 

 

 

HERE’S THE SCOOP!

Reading- We will be continuing our small reading groups and focus on sequencing.

Spelling-No list this week.  We will not have a new list until April 7^th.

Religion- Complete chapter 6-Begin Chapter 7---Holy Week activities

Math- We will complete our Unit on Fractions and Begin Chapter 9 “Measurement”. 

Science-Life Cycle catch up

Mrs. Porter’s Second Grade

Weekly Newsletter

Week of March 11-15

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Sunday, March 10^th-First Communion Retreat 1-3

Wednesday, March 13^th-Dismissal at noon-Conferences from 1-8. Yearbook orders due.

Thursday, March 14^th-All School Mass 8:30AM, Awards ceremony at 9:30AM-Dismissal at noon

Friday, March 15^th-No School-Happy Spring Break!

NEWS AND NOTES

This Sunday is our First Communion retreat from 1-3.  We will begin in the cafeteria.  At least one parent is required to come with the Communicant.  We also will be handing out parts for the Last Supper service that the second grade is in charge of.  We will let you know what time this will take place on Holy Thursday.  Also, we will celebrate this special sacrament as a school family at the school mass on May 8^th.  Look for more information to come later, but the students will wear their Communion outfits to that mass as well.  This way they can enjoy this special sacrament with the school.

Please make sure that you sign up for conferences that take place on Wednesday, March 13^th.  You can sign up at www.signupgenius.com and type in rparsons@holyspirit-indy.org to get on the group site.  We have been setting some end of the year goals for second grade and the kids are practicing the conference.  Come to conferences ready with some questions to ask!

Your child’s homework for the weekend is to complete page 51 with you in the Communion book.  Don’t forget to take the Mass journal to mass!

Our class continues to be the top team in First in Math!!  I’m so proud of all these students.  Hopefully you have had a chance to see the new challenge sheet that I handed out to each child.  This paper should stay in your child’s take home folder so that it won’t get lost.  If the student completes the assigned tasks for March, he/she may have free choice until next month.

NEEDS AND WANTS

Our cupboards are going bare…we need… 

Pencils

Glue Sticks

Paper Towels

Erasers

Please help if you can!  Thank you for all that you do!

HERE’S THE SCOOP

Reading- Continue preparing for conferences/Daily 5/Reading groups on Tuesday and Wednesday

Spelling-No spelling words this week.

Religion- Chapter 6-We remember and give thanks/The Last Supper

Math- Finish up the fraction unit-test on Thursday morning

Science/Social Studies- Government Quiz on Tuesday

Mrs. Porter’s Newsletter

March 4-8, 2013

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 

Friday, March 1^st-Holy Spirit Fish Fry from 5-7

Tuesday, March 5^th-Happy Birthday Brendan!

Wednesday, March 6^th-All School Mass 8:30AM

Friday, March 8^th-End of 3^rd Quarter; Yearbook orders are due.

Sunday, March 10^th-First Communion Retreat from 1-3 in the cafeteria

 

NEWS AND NOTES

 

Yesterday, we had a great time at the Ruth Lilly education center.  The students learned about the five senses and the parts of the body that control them.  They also reviewed healthy foods and the food groups.  We are in the process of planning another field trip for after Easter break.

 

The second graders will soon be preparing for the Last Supper service that Holy Spirit has done for many years.  Look for parts to come home soon!  This is an excellent way to prepare for the Eucharist.

 

Great News!  Our class once again will hold on to the First in Math trophy.  We are the Team of the Month and Kyle Deleon was the player of the week!  I am so proud of the students for working so hard in First in Math.  I really appreciate those of you who held on to your First in Math game page.  This shows what each child should be working on in the program.  I will be sending home a new one next week with the challenges highlighted that I would like to see completed.  Each student has different goals.

 

I have been enjoying my individual conferences with each student.  We are setting our personal goals for the end of second grade and will soon be preparing for Student-Led conferences.  These conferences will be held on Wednesday, March 13^th so make sure you sign up.  School dismisses at 12:00 that day and conferences will last from 1-8.  We will have a half day on Thursday, March 14^th, and then it’s Spring Break!

 

Please review the two main parts of mass with your child:  Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist.  Your child is bringing home a booklet today that shows what happens during each part.  I will have a short quiz on the Parts of Mass next week.  Then, we will start talking about the things that we see in a Catholic Church.  This weekend, I ask that you go over page 41 in the Communion book with your child and remind him/her to take the Mass Journal to church.

 

 

HERE’S THE SCOOP FOR NEXT WEEK

Reading-Prepare for conference/Daily 5/Comprehension strategies

Spelling-Unit 22 Word Preview Monday, Review Long/short vowels, Contractions

Religion- What’s in a church/Chapter 5 in Communion book-We Prepare

Math- Fractions

Science/Social Studies-Complete Government Unit/Life Cycle Catch up

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Porter’s Newsletter

Feb. 25th-Mar. 1^st, 2013

 

Calendar of Events-Riley Week

Tuesday-Feb.26^th-           Bring a $3 donation and you may wear jeans and a

                                      red shirt

                                       15 minute Walk in the gym

Wednesday, Feb. 27^th-    8:00AM Stations of the Cross

                                        8:30AM All School Mass

Thursday, Feb. 28^th-        Field trip to Eli Lilly-Please bring a sack lunch to

                                      School.

                                       Happy Birthday Alex!

Friday, March 1^st-            Irish Dancers at 10:00 in the gym

                                       Happy birthday Dr. Seuss!

 

 

NEWS AND NOTES

 

Next week the Student Council is sponsoring Riley Week.  Each classroom has a bucket in the classroom for donations to Riley hospital.  The winning class wins a field trip to tour Riley hospital on March 13^th.  Anybody who donates $3 by Tuesday can wear jeans and a red shirt that day.  There are some events planned during the week to educate us about what happens through the Riley foundation.

 

On Friday, March 1^st, we will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday.  I am asking students to bring in any Dr. Seuss books from home to share during the week.  They will bring these back home on Friday.

 

WANTS AND WISHES

 

I wanted to thank everyone for donating Kleenex boxes to our classroom.  I really appreciate the help!  Some other items that we are getting very low on are paper towels, pencils, and erasers.  If you have any of these items that you would like to donate, we could really use them!

 

 

REMINDERS

 

• Continue to contribute to the rice bowl during Lent. 
• Make sure you take your Mass Journal to mass and bring it to school on Monday.
• March 13^th and 14^th are half days-March 13^th are mandatory student-led conferences from 1-8.
• The First in Math page is due on Thursday, Feb. 28^th signed by a parent.  Please look for these over the weekend.  I have 9 students who did not bring them in today.

 

 

HERE’S THE SCOOP FOR NEXT WEEK

 

Reading-Prepare for Student-led conferences/Small group reading/Daily 5

Spelling-Unit 21-Suffixes, ABC order

Religion- Chapter 14-We receive the gift of Jesus

Math- Begin Unit 7-Parts of a whole, parts of a group

Social Studies-Government