Mrs. Porter’s Second Grade News

Week of November 25-29, 2013

Calendar of Events

Monday, Nov. 25th-Send Friendship Mix

Tuesday, Nov. 26th-8:30AM All School Mass-Celebrate Allan’s birthday!

Wednesday, Nov. 27th- Friday, Nov. 29th-Thanksgiving Vacation-No School

I am sending home a note today explaining our Friendship Mix day.  Basically, we are asking students to bring a bag of his/her favorite snack.  Raisins, pretzels, cheez-its, candies, etc.  We will put each snack food together in a big bag to make our friendship mix.  Students will need to bring this on Monday.

The Book Bingo is due on Tuesday, Nov. 26th.  I hope that you all enjoyed having a chance to choose some different books to read with your child.  I also hope that some kids found some new book series to enjoy.

My next First in Math challenge is for students to go to the K-2 World and complete the See3 and More or Less games.  They should continue to work on Skill Set 1.  Just the Facts addition should be finished and kids should be on to Subtraction! Reading and First in Math will be your child’s assignments during the break!

I am going to ask each child to bring a favorite holiday book to share with the class the week after Thanksgiving break.  We will use these books during read to someone time and it will be our next book report.  Please help your child pick a “good fit” book that he/she can read out loud.  It would be a good idea to practice reading the book over break.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break!  I am truly thankful for all of you. 

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Religion-Chapter 4- We Praise and thank God

Reading-Continue Cause and Effect/Daily 5 small groups

Math-Continue Close to 20 and Story problems/Practice Math Daily 5

We will also be enjoying some fun Thanksgiving activities

Mrs. Porter’s Second Grade News

Week of November 11-15, 2013

 

Calendar of Events

Monday-November 11th-Thank a Veteran on Veteran’s Day!

Wednesday, November 13th-8:30AM Mass

 

Reconciliation is tomorrow.  Families with names ending A-L need to come at 10:00AM and those ending with M-Z need to come at 11:00.  I am proud of how hard the students have worked on the steps.  Many students were able to recite the Act of Contrition by memory.  Please make sure to celebrate the sacrament when you are finished because it is a special time.

 

Your child should have a Book Bingo page to be kept in the “Keep in Binder” section of the GO binder.  This is the at home reading assignment until Thanksgiving.  A parent or guardian is in charge of writing the information of the book on the back of the page.  A bingo is made when you have made a bingo(5 in a row) on the game board.  If you don’t have these books in your home, please visit your local library.  These books can also be found here at school.  Encourage your child to find them!  Maybe he/she will even find a new series to enjoy!

 

I have let the students know that I will be checking First in Math once a week to see if they have been on.  If they haven’t, they will get on that day at recess for at least one game.  I expect students to have the addition facts complete and they need to be moving on to subtraction in the Practice gyms.  Subtraction is also found in Skill Set 2.

 

Our next class mass will take place on Wednesday, November 20th.  If your child did not have a part in our first mass, they will have a part in this one.  This is an all school mass.  You are all welcome to attend!

 

Are you checking www.mystudentsprogress.com?  This is where you will find the latest updates on your child’s grades.  I try to input grades at least once a week.

 

Next week, I will be teaching the proper way to write an address.  Please work with your child on your home address.  If it’s not already in the front of your child’s binder, please put it there.   It should be set up in this way:

 

First and Last Name

House number and Street

City, State

                   Zip Code

 

 

 

Here’s the scoop for next week:

 

Religion-Chapter 2- We Belong to God’s Family

Reading-Continue non-fiction/author’s purpose

Writing-Persuasive writing assignment

Math-Begin Unit 3-Base Ten and multiple addends/Close to 20

Social Studies-Addresses/ North American American Indians

Newsletter Nov. 4-8, 2013

Mrs. Porter’s Second Grade Newsletter
Week of November 4-8, 2013

Calendar of Events
Saturday, November 2nd-Reconciliation Retreat from 10:00-12:00AM
Wednesday, November 6th-Mass 8:30AM

It’s November-wow-and I believe that our schedule is back to normal for a few weeks.  I wanted to say a big thank you to Mrs. Angie Burck for coordinating and planning our Halloween party yesterday.  Three students actually came up and said that it was the best day ever!  They loved playing Bingo with real daubers and the face painting was so cute.  Thank you to the few parents who were able to join us and for those who sent the goodies in for the class.  It was a great day!

We just had a meeting about Saturday’s Reconciliation retreat and I think it will be a very nice event for both the parent and child.  Please meet us in the church at 10:00AM on Saturday morning.  Thank you for writing the “Love letter” to your child.  That moment will be very special.  Next week will be dedicated to completing our Reconciliation preparation.  I will test the kids on the Act of Contrition and we will be discussing Sin vs. Mistakes, and the Steps to Reconciliation.

If I ever send a study guide home with your child, please go over it.  If students know everything off of the study guides, they will do great on the assessments.

Please continue to read and do First in Math even over the weekend.  Some other ideas for practicing math facts are rolling dice, getting numbers from playing cards, and even flashcards.  To learn math facts, you need to practice!  Next week’s focus will be on all of the addition facts and then we will start subtraction facts.

The kids really enjoyed our pumpkin unit.  We learned about collecting data, making observations, and measurement.  I want to thank all of the parents who stopped by this afternoon to help open the pumpkins and get messy!  I appreciated all of the help.


Week at a Glance
Religion-Steps to Reconciliation/Sin vs. Mistakes/Act of Contrition
Spelling-Word Preview on Monday, test on Friday-review words please!
Reading-Non-fiction read and tell in small groups/Book Bingo
Math-Complete Unit two-Rectangles, area, congruency, and Symmetry
Social Studies-Explorer

Have fun trick or treating tonight if you go out!  I’ll see you tomorrow morning!

Mrs. Porter's Second Grade News

Week of Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 2013

Calendar of Events

Monday, Oct. 28th-Bring a pumpkin

Thursday, Oct. 31st-Halloween Party from 11:30-12:30

Friday, Nov. 1st-All Saints Day mass at 8:30AM

Saturday, Nov. 2nd-Reconciliation Retreat from 10:00-12:00

Thursday, October 31st is our Halloween party from 11:30-12:30.  All are welcome to join in the fun.  Students may wear orange or black with jeans that day.  We do not want to ruin our costumes or lose any pieces.  

I am asking that all students bring in a pumpkin that he/she can easily carry on Monday.  We will be spending the week doing observations, measurements, and experiments with these pumpkins.  All parents are welcome to join us at 1:40 on Friday afternoon to open the pumpkins and look what’s inside.  Please come if you’re able to and bring a carving knife!  

Next Saturday, Nov. 2nd, is the First Reconciliation retreat for all second grade students.  At least one parent is required to attend.  Parents and children will be together for part of the morning, and then Father will be talking to the parents for the other part.  Please meet in the church at 10:00AM.  Miss Hill and I will be there too.  Also, parents, please make sure that you are completing your 'homework letter' and sending it to Gladys in the religion office.  We want every child to have a letter!  I will be testing the students on the Act of Contrition the week of Nov. 4th-8th.

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Reading: Small group work with non-fiction text/Daily 5/Book Bingo due by Thanksgiving

Religion: Chapter 7...Sin and Mistake...Practice Act of Contrition

Math:2D and 3D figures, rectangles

Spelling: Please review words on the lined paper that comes home on Monday evening, and the words to learn in your child’s binder.

Science: Pumkinology

Social Studies:  Studies Weekly

Mrs. Porter's Second

Grade Newsletter

Week of October 21-25, 2013

Calendar of Events

Monday, October 21st-Parent prayer service at 7:30AM

Wednesday, October 23rd-All School Rosary 8:10AM/Mass at 8:30AM

Friday, October 25th-Reconciliation note due to Religion Education office

It was a pleasure visiting with all of you at conferences last week.  Please know that I am aware of your child's strengths and weaknesses and will use my knowledge to assist him/her in those areas.  Make sure that you are checking for updates of your child's grades on www.mystudentsprogress.com.  

The First Reconciliation celebrations are coming soon!  Our retreat to prepare for this special sacrament will take place on Saturday, November 2nd at 10:00AM, and the actual sacrament will be on Saturday, November 9th.  We will continue to prepare at school as well by practicing what we say and examining our conscience.  Continue to pray the Act of Contrition every night!

This is the final week for Box Tops!!  The final tally day will be on Friday, October 25th.  So, if you are holding on to any at home, please send them in.  

Thank you for your support of the First in Math program.  All of the students in my class are working hard at earning stickers.  The games that students should be focusing on are Skill Set 1, First in Tens, Just the Facts(Whole Number-addition), and 3 to 9.  Students who have completed First in Tens are:  Zoe, Daniel, Karmen, and Connor.  Allan, Owen, and Connor have completed Skill Set 1!  Way to Go!!

The week of Halloween, we will be doing some different activities with a pumpkin.  I am asking that each child bring a pumpkin that he/she can carry by Monday, Oct. 28th.  I will also need lots of parent volunteers on Friday, Nov. 1st from 1:40-end of the day to carve pumpkins.  Let me know if you can help out!

Next week is Spirit Week!  Your child may dress in uniform or Spirit Wear:

Spirit Week Sponsored by Student Council.

Dates Oct. 21st - Oct. 25th

Dress Out Days

Monday - Career Day*

Tuesday - Mix Match & Neon Day

Wednesday - Interview Day*

Thursday - Green & Gold Day - Pep Rally - Please be seated by 1:40

Friday - College & NFL Sports Day

*Please take some time to go over what career dress and interview attire looks like.

Lunch

No assigned seats or grade level assignments for lunch this week! They can sit wherever and with whomever they wish! Parents, please feel free to come and join us for lunch!

Candy Grams

Also know as “warm fuzzies.” You can buy them for 50 cents each. Please write who it is to and that person’s homeroom teacher’s name. Student council will put a piece of candy with it and make sure it gets delivered. You may write to any student or staff in the school. They are for sale at the front office or from Mrs. Amy Moranamaoran@holyspirit-indy.org) You may give all candy grams to Miss. Pusti, Mrs. Amy Moran or turn them in to the school office.

Halloween party information will be coming soon.  If you are the room parent, please let me know when you would like the party to take place.  I can not remember who that is!   I will be giving more information about costumes, etc. soon.

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Reading: Text features, re-read and re-tell; small group work

Math:  Geometry/2 and 3D shapes; rectangles

Religion:  Final Chapter in Reconciliation book; Sins vs. Mistakes

Social Studies: Studies Weekly #6

Science:  Observe and record plant growth-Transplant pea pods/ Tree rings

Have a great Sunday!  Go Chiefs....and Colts!

Mrs. Porter’s Second Grade News

Week of Oct. 14-18, 2013

Calendar of Events

Friday, Oct. 11-Harvest Hoedown 5-8

Tuesday, Oct. 15^th- First Quarter Awards Ceremony at 10:30AM

Dismissal at noon/Conferences 1-8:30

Wednesday, Oct. 17^th-Dismissal at noon-Fall Break!

Thursday-Friday, Oct. 18-19^th-No School-Fall Break

         

No more shorts after fall break!  On cold days, girls may wear navy blue leggings under their jumpers.  Boys need to wear uniform blue or khaki pants with their shirt tucked in.  We are asking that boys wear a white polo shirt, or hunter green uniform top.  We will be going outside for recess as much as possible, so please make sure you send a jacket with your child on those chilly days.  Wednesdays are always jumper days for the girls, and spirit days are on Friday.

Thank you for signing up for parent/teacher conferences!  If you haven’t done so, please do!  I would really enjoy meeting with everyone.   If you can’t come on conference day, then I would be happy to set up another day to meet with you.  I look forward to talking to you all about your child.  These conferences are Teacher-led in second grade until the spring.  This is also the day that they are asking you to pick up any trash bags that you sold.

You should have received an envelope from the Religious Education Office this week. Please make sure that you have looked in the envelope.  There is a very special project that you are asked to do in preparation of the Reconciliation retreat day on November 2nd.  This is due in the Religious Ed. Office by Oct. 25^th.  All students and at least one parent are asked to attend the retreat day.   The Reconciliation celebration takes place on November 9^th!

We are asking that you wait to check on your child’s grades on MSP until Monday. We are finishing up some various parts that are new.  You will not be receiving a paper copy, so this is how you can check to see how your child is performing in school. Please check it by the time you come to conferences on Tuesday.  Remember it will look a bit different this year.

Spirit Week will take place right after Fall Break, so look for information to come from the office about what student’s can wear each day that week.

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Reading: Catch up on unfinished work- discuss going back and re-reading to find answers in a text/Daily 5

Religion: Chapter 5-We are Forgiven

Math: Geometry-review subtraction

Spelling: Review words to learn-no words this week

Science: Observe plants-do fall measurements on each other

Mrs. Porter's Second Grade News

Week of Oct. 7-11, 2013

Calendar of Events

Wednesday, Oct. 9-Mass at 8:30AM-

Thursday, Oct. 10-Flu Shots from 7:00-8:00AM

Gold Reward day for students who have passing grades and no missing assignments

Friday, Oct. 11-End of first grading period/

Harvest Hoedown from 5:00-8:00PM

Saturday, Oct. 12-Parent/Coach bullying meeting from 10:00-12:00AM.  Please attend if you were unable to attend the first meeting.

Please send in your trash bag sales first thing Monday morning if you haven’t already done so!

On Wednesday, I sent home the Energy posters.  If your child is interested, he/she may design a poster and you can enter it at the address provided.  This is completely optional.

Wow!  What a turnout for the parent bullying session on Tuesday evening!  The students were rewarded with a dress down day and extra recess if they had a parent or guardian present.  There will be another opportunity to get information on the program and your child can still earn the reward!  It will take place on Saturday, Oct. 12th from 10:00-12:00 in the school gym.  Please come if you can!

You have the opportunity to have your child receive the flu vaccine here at school on Thursday Oct. 10th.  They will be administering the vaccine in the parish center from 7:00-8:00AM that morning.  You do not have to be present, but you do have to send in the completed consent form and $25 with your child.  Please copy the consent form from the school e-mail, or let me know and I will send you one.

Parent/Teacher conferences are coming soon.  I'm excited to meet with each one of you and go over some important information about how we can help your child learn the very best way.  Please sign up at www.signupgenius.com.  Go to Look for sign up and type in rparsons@holyspirit-indy.org. If you need to meet with me on another day, please send me an e-mail and I will work with you.  I would like to make sure to meet with all parents!

Our class is in fifth place in First in Math and we’re still working toward the pizza party with the Box Tops.  Send the Box Tops on Monday mornings.  Thank you so much for your support in both of these worthwhile programs!  Continue to encourage your child to log on to First in Math every night and focus on Skill Set 1, First in Tens, and the practice gyms for now.

Your child will be bringing home a biography book on Monday. This will be the reading assignment for the night.  I will also send a worksheet with the book to be completed by Wednesday.  Students in the past have really enjoyed learning about biographies so take some time to talk about why biographies are written and maybe even do some research online about the person that your child is assigned! 

I will be sending home the October book order on Monday morning and this will be due on Friday.  If you would like to order online, our class code is GV3KZ.

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Reading: Complete goal conferencing, go to all five Daily 5 stations, biographies

Religion: Chapter 4- We are Sorry

Math: Begin Unit 2-Geometric shapes and blocks

Spelling: Review Words to Learn, and the words on the lined paper

Science: Plant life cycles

Social Studies:  History and Time