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

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Porter’s Newsletter

Feb. 18^th-22^nd, 2013

 

Calendar of Events

Monday, Feb. 18th-President’s Day-NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, Feb. 20^th-8:30AM All School Mass-This is our class mass.

 

NEWS AND NOTES

 

We have booked our first field trip to the Lilly building.  This field trip has some excellent lessons based on each grade level’s standards.  The second and third grade will be going on Thursday, Feb. 28^th.  The fee for field trips was included in your school fees.

 

I have recently discovered a new website that your children explored today.  It is www.technologyrocksseriously.com and it’s full of great apps and websites for kids to go to.  Check it out!

 

Everybody who is receiving First Communion this year should have received a letter from the Religious Education office.  The retreat is coming soon!  It will be held on March 10^th.  Just make sure that you have that on your calendar.  We will start working on learning the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes.  These are some other important parts of our faith that second graders are asked to know and understand.  I am sending home a copy of these today.

 

Thank you so much for sending in Valentines!  I appreciate the chocolates, coolie cup, candle, and other goodies that I received on my desk.  I’m so glad that I did not give up chocolate this Lent-ha.  Also, thank you to everybody who came and assisted with the party that afternoon.  The kids always look forward to celebrating these special days with friends.

 

Don’t forget to check your child’s school progress on www.mystudentsprogress.com.  I will be adding more grades in Science, Social Studies, and Religion throughout the rest of the quarter.

 

 

 

Reading-Small group work/Daily 5/Story mapping

*****There will be no spelling words this week.

English-Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives

Religion- Chapter 4-We Listen

Math- Begin Unit 7-Fractions

Social Studies-Our Government

Mrs. Porter’s Newsletter

Feb. 11^th-15th

Calendar of Events

Tuesday, Feb. 12th-12:00-Valentine’s Day party-please see the e-mail from the school office about ordering candy grams or paying to wear jeans that day

Wednesday, Feb. 13th-8:30AM All School Mass-Ash Wednesday

Monday, Feb. 19th-No School-Presidents Day

NEWS AND NOTES

Tuesday is our Valentine’s Day parties!    I ask that students do not put names on the Valentines.  They can sign them, but it’s much easier to pass out if they aren’t “individualized.”  Our class has 23 students.  The party will begin at noon and all are welcome.  We will be decorating our bags to put the valentines in that morning. 

Yesterday, your child brought home a Rice Bowl for Lent.  Traditionally, these have been used in Catholic households to try and save extra change for those who need help.  At the end of Lent, you will turn your rice bowl in to the church.  I will encourage students to take a little extra time during the season to think of how to help others.  Maybe your child can do some extra work around the house to earn money for those in need.  We will talk about this in the classroom.

Thanks so much to all those who have donated Kleenex boxes and paper towels!  This is always the time of year when our supplies start running low, so I appreciate all of your help in stocking my closet.

The second and third grade classes are in the process of deciding where we would like to go on our field trips.  We are going to try and go on at least 2 sometime in the spring.  I will keep you posted on what we decide.

Our class mass is coming soon.  We will be in charge of the mass on Wednesday, Feb. 20^th.  If your child did not have a part at our last class mass, they will have one for this one.  I do have a list that tells me what each student has done for masses this year. 

I am so proud of how many students are remembering to fill in their mass journals.  Even if you don’t go to mass, you can find the readings for the day online.  It would be great if you share the readings with your child over the weekend and then he/she can reflect in the mass journal.  This weekend, students are asked to write a reflection on week number 6. 

Here’s the scoop for next week:

Reading-Valentine’s stories/Daily 5/Small group work with vocab./comprehension-complete biography unit

Spelling-Unit 20-prefixes-nouns/verbs, plurals, and spelling of /s/.

Religion- Chapter 3-We are forgiven

Math-Collecting and organizing Data

Social Studies-President’s Day activities

Mrs. Porter’s Newsletter       

Feb. 4-8, 2013

 

Calendar of Events

Wednesday, Feb.6th-All School Mass-8:30AM

Friday, Feb. 8^th-February Book Order due

 

NEWS AND NOTES

Last night, I assigned a family religion page for homework.  I then forgot to remind the students to put their religion books in their backpacks.  So, they will be coming home with the books for the weekend.  Please try and take a few moments to talk about page 11 with your child.  We are beginning our preparation for First Communion.  Your child is also bringing home his/her mass journal.  Once again, I ask that he/she take this to mass over the weekend and jot some notes in it. 

Bring it back to school on Monday morning.  We are on week 5 in the journal.  If your family is unable to make it to mass, please jot that down in the journal. 

 

Please make sure that you keep your child’s First in Math paper in a safe place.  I would like these to be returned to school at the end of the month with a parent signature.

 

Valentine’s Day is coming soon!  Since Ash Wednesday falls on Feb. 13^th this year, the school will be celebrating with Valentine’s parties on Fat Tuesday-Feb. 12^th.  Please have your child sign and bring 23 valentines for the class.  It’s easiest if they are not personalized to each student.  We will be making Valentine’s bags in class to put our Valentines in.  Thanks so much!  The party will start at 12:00 that day since our class has specials at 12:55.

 

Our classroom is down to our last box of tissues.  This season has been tough!  If you can donate some boxes to our classroom, we would sure appreciate it!

 

I have received one package of local college items for the Reverse Raffle basket.  Please refer to Mrs. Moyar’s e-mail about items to donate for our basket.   Thank you so much!

 

Week at a Glance:

 

Reading- Biographies; small group work

Religion- Chapter 2-We Gather

Math-Unit 4-Organizing and collecting data

Science-Complete Air and Weather

Spelling-Unit 19-ar words; ly suffix, contractions