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    August & early September News
    August 25, 2023

     

    Dear Parents,

    The first full week (well, kind of the first full week) of second grade has gone really well, thanks in good part to your efforts at home preparing your second grader for school. Reading and writing workshop are well under way, as is math and social studies. The primary focus in reading right now is choosing just-right books, applying reading strategies to read unknown words and reading for longer and longer stretches of time.  

    There are some things I wanted to ask of you:

    1. If you know behavior can sometimes be an issue with your child, please email or call me to ask how things are going if I haven’t contacted you already. 
    2. Take home folders (this was the student choice folder you bought from the supply list) come home daily.  If you would, please empty the contents and have your second grader return the folder to school the next day.  The graded math workbook pages that are in this folder are not always finished.  Your young mathematician is often not assigned all of the problems.  Students are welcome, here and/or at home, to complete these pages for extended practice should they choose to do so. 
    3. Please check the math homework the best you can before it’s returned to school, spending no more than 10 - 15 minutes on this homework every night.  It’s okay if it is not finished, especially when you are not sure what to do.  The more important problems will be reviewed in-class.  If you’re not already doing so, start with the Assessment Practice problem.  This is the last problem on the homework. 
    4. Please read for at least 20 minutes every day.  If your 2nd grader is bringing home a bag of books, return it when you’re ready so books can be exchanged.  Please let me know if you would like one of these bags if you are not getting one already.
    5. Nearly all of our reading is from books in our classroom library.  We are not reading online, except for a rare occasion. 
    6. Library is every Friday.  Thanks for reminding your daughter or son to return library books on-time every week once books start coming home.  Books can be returned to the library any day of the week (before 8:00) should you forget to return them on Friday. 
    7. Our first auction is in two weeks. If you have gently used things your children no longer play with, please send them in any time.
    8. The Book Fair will be open from September 5th  to September 11th.
    9.  Curriculum Night is September 7th in our classroom (room 163) at 6:00 p.m.  The Book Fair will be open from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.  

     

    Thanks for all of your patience and great parenting. Don’t hesitate to call or e-mail if you have any questions or concerns.

    Sincerely,

    Mr. Davis

     

    P.S. This is the only time the newsletter will be sent home on paper.  Please let me know if did not receive this in your email.



          

          

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

                                                                  Go to Scoop

     

                                                                                                    August 16, 2023

     

    Dear Parents,

     

    Welcome to Arthur Avenue!  I am pleased to be your child’s teacher and am excited about teaching second grade again this year.  This letter will provide you with some information about our classroom.  I’ll look forward to telling you much more on our Curriculum Night (August 24th @ 7:00).  If you have any questions or concerns after reading the following, please let me know. 

     

    Arthur:  Arthur is our class mascot.  As you may already know, he has his own television show on PBS. 

     

    The Home Folder:  The student choice folder on the supply list will be the home folder.  Please watch for this folder every afternoon, reading the contents of this folder promptly and, when appropriate, discuss them with your child.  Please keep the contents and return the folder to school the next day.  There will be days when there is nothing in this folder, but it should still come back and forth every day. 

     

    Homework:  Homework will soon be part of our weekly routine and you will be receiving an e-mail soon explaining what is expected.  Reading every evening for 20 minutes is an expectation for all 2nd graders (your reading aloud counts) and is an activity you can start right now.

     

    Birthdays:  Birthdays will be celebrated in-class by singing “Happy Birthday.”  Sorry, but birthday treats are no longer allowed. 

     

    Money:  Please seal all money in an envelope with your child’s name and directions as to how you want the money used.  Whenever possible, please do not send cash. 

     

    Specialists:  The children will be attending a specialist every day from 8:10 – 9:00 a.m.  The specialist schedule is as follows:  Monday – Music; Tuesday – Gym; Wednesday – Art; Thursday – Gym; Friday - Library (headphones are needed every Friday).

     

    Daily Schedule:  9:00 – 11:00 Writing, Reading and Handwriting

                                 11:00 – 12:00 Lunch (followed by recess at 11:30)

                                 12:00 – 1:00 Math

                                 1:00 – 1:20 Word Study

                                 1:20 – 2:00 Science or Social Studies

                                 2:00 – 2:20 No New Instruction

     

    Lunch and Snack:  The children will have lunch at 11:00 in the cafeteria, then recess at 11:30.  Please include a small, healthy, nut-free snack in your second grader’s lunch.  We’ll break for this snack about 9:00 each morning.  Snack will only be for 10 minutes and is not required.

     

    Water Bottles:  Water bottles are welcome; however, they should be filled at home rather than at school. 

     

    Bathroom Breaks:  Students may use the bathroom on their own before the 8:00 bell, at recess and lunch, during their specials time and at 2:20 before going home.  We will also be taking bathroom breaks often throughout the rest of the day, particularly at the start of the school year. 

     

    Desks:  Seats will be moved periodically throughout the year so your child will have the opportunity to sit with lots of classmates from our room.

     

    Special Events and Tests:  These will be announced every week along with the homework. 

     

    Special Needs:  Please let me know if there are special circumstances of which I should be aware (parents on vacation, death in the family, illness,…) throughout the year.  I can be a-little more attentive when I know your child is going through a tough time.

     

    Masks:  These are optional in the school building throughout the day.

     

    Arthur Allowance:  During the first week of school, the children will help write our classroom rules.  At the beginning of the school year, up to $2 in Arthur Allowance can be earned daily for students following these rules.  This allowance can be used to purchase small items from our classroom auctions that are held about every four or five weeks.  If your child breaks a rule, there is one warning (in Arthur Avenue, a warning is really a reminder and a Reminder Card is given when this occurs).  A second reminder results in your second grader not receiving his or her Arthur Allowance.  I will call you in the unlikely event of a third reminder.  Arthur Allowance is given (and Reminder Cards are removed) at lunch and at the end of each day.

     

    Auctions:  Arthur Avenue’s auctions depend, in part, on your donations of toys or other gently used items that are no longer of interest to your child.  Please send these items to school anytime throughout the year. 

     

    Please do not hesitate to contact me if you are concerned about any area of your child’s school experience.  I look forward to serving you and your second grader this year.

     

    Sincerely yours,

    Mr. Davis