TO 2ND GRADE

PRAYERDear God,

Help me to spend today with a Smile on my face,Love in my heart, Joy in His grace,

And my thinking cap on all day.Amen

MRS.TUPOU

St. Thomas More School

Community here is so important. We are a family of faith that cares for and looks out for one another.

I, along with all of the STMS staff, care deeply for your children and their success not only

academically but spiritually, emotionally and physically.

Community Participants Active Christians

Self Confident & Loving Individuals

Communicators

Independent Thinkers Life Long Learners

Students being on time and present at school is a HUGE

component of student success.

Please do your best to have students here & on time.

If your child will be absent, please let myself & the office

know.

Monday: Music & Art in Trimester 3

Tuesday: Computers & PE

Wednesday: Computers

Thursday: Music & PE

Friday: Library

On PE days, students need to wear appropriate foot wear, tennis shoes recommended.

1. Follow directions the first time given

2. Raise hand to speak

3. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself

4. Listen to the speaker

5. Use positive language

• Students receive an initial warning and behavior reminder.

• We use a clip system in our class. Students always begin their day with a blank slate, ready to learn.

• Our clip system allows students to move up as they are following rules, working hard and doing their best. If they need reminders they move their clip down.

• Students always have the power to move their clip back up and turn their day around.

• I will always communicate regarding behavior so that we are all on the same page and the expectations for students’ are consistent.

Students may celebrate their birthday by wearing free dress and

bringing ONE treat to share with their classmates, if they wish.

Treats must be store bought AND

nut free.

Please do NOT pass out birthday invitations at

school, unless the entire class is invited.

NO free dress on Full Dress

Days (Wednesdays or

Mass Days)

You can expect: - Weekly Emails

- Monthly Newsletters

- As needed updates & reminders (via Email)

I am always available via email.

I am more than happy to schedule a time to conference

and chat face to face.

Before and After School, without a prior arrangement, is NOT a

great time to talk. Please schedule time in

advance.

• Homework for the week is on the student assignment sheets that are kept in the front cover of the binder.

• Homework will be in the front pocket of your child’s binder and should be completed and returned in their binder each day.

• Generally, students will have a math activity, a portion of their spelling packet and reading.

• Please make sure students keep their homework in the “homework section” of their binder so that it travels back and forth to school each day.

Homework should not take more than 45 minutes maximum.

Homework is a tool to support student’s understanding of the concepts we’re working on in class, it should NOT be torture.

If it is becoming a significant struggle, let’s talk!

Students should be reading 20 minutes every evening. You can cut that portion in half so 10 minutes is solo reading, 10 minutes is

reading together, both are great!Exposure to text is our goal!

-Reading-Writing-Spelling -Math-Religion-Social Studies-Science

During reading class each week, students will read a story and practice a specific set of comprehension skills, phonics strategies, and vocabulary words.

Reading Logs are kept in students’ binders in the back pocket. Students should record books they independentlyread throughout the year.

Choosing a “Good Fit” Book: Can I read most of the words on the page? Do I sound smooth while reading? Do I understand what is happening? Can I retell the story to someone else?

Writing will be incorporated and integrated across all subject areas. Students will develop skills as writers through both formal and informal assignments.

At the conclusion of each reading unit, we will have a weeklong “Writer’s Workshop” where students will practice writing using the 5 step process that includes:

1. Pre-write (brainstorming and outlining)2. Drafting 3. Revising 4. Editing5. Publishing

I have included a copy of the proper letter formation that your child should be displaying in all written work. Handwriting may be

something that needs to be practiced additionally at home.

SPELLING• Spelling lists and homework packets will be distributed on Monday

every week. Lists vary from 16-30 words.

• Each spelling lesson will include a phonetic rule that applies to the first set of words on the spelling list.

• The second set of words on the list are “memory” words, these words do not follow a “rule” so students must memorize them.

• Please note that there may be words on the spelling test on Friday that were not on the original list but still use the phonetic rule. This is why it is important for students to learn and practice the phonetic rule each week.

*Mrs. Ransford’s MSL class has spelling homework assigned from Mrs. Ransford. She will make appropriate adjustments to students’ assignment sheets to let you know what their

spelling homework will be. However, reading and math homework stays the same.

Math units we will cover this year include:

-Recognizing and counting numbers to 1,000-Place Value to 1,0000-Problem Solving-Adding and Subtracting 2 and 3 digit numbers (regrouping and borrowing) -Telling time to five minute intervals-Counting money: half dollars, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies-Measurement-Fractions- Analyzing Data / Graphing

RELIGION• Emphasis for second grade religion will center on

preparing students for their First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.

• Themes include forgiveness, God’s love, and the Mass.

• We will begin to learn about Saints preparing for the All Saints’ Day Mass on Friday November 1st.

• Each student will also complete a project to research a saint, please look for more information coming home in a few weeks.

• Our Social Studies units will focus on community, citizenship, producers/consumers/goods, the world around us, our nation past and present and celebrating traditions.

• The second grade class stewardship theme is “Caring for God’s Creation.” We will begin this year discussing how we can see God in all of creation and that humans are special from the rest of creation because we are created in God’s image.

• The main topics of study in science this year will include properties of matter, relationships in ecosystems and earth science.

• Students will also share the experience of hatching chicken eggs.

• Science units will encourage students to explore the world around them with inquiring minds and our new science curriculum incorporates the components of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics).

We have 2 field trips this year.

1. Track Meet (May) 2. Woodland Park Zoo (June)

To be a driver/chaperone you need to have a current credit for taking the Call to Protect class. There will be one here at STMS on

Sunday September 29th from 1-4.

These trips cannot happen without your support as drivers and chaperones.

• I welcome volunteers in the classroom. If there is a time that you would like to come in to volunteer, please email me and we will work together to accommodate the time you’re available.

• On occasion I may have “take-home” volunteer work (cutting laminate, folding paper, craft/project prep). In this case I’ll send out an email.

• For special projects I may ask for certain items to be donated for the class. We will also need parent involvement for classroom parties, auction project and our class yearbook page.

I appreciate in advance your support and partnership this school year.

Wednesday Envelopes come from the office and are sent home on Wednesdays. Please return any appropriate papers to school inside of the envelope on Thursdays.

Power School is the online grade book we use at STMS. You will have access to your child’s graded assignments/tests. Please review the letter that comes home in the Wednesday envelope which contains all the information you need to set up an account. Please note that it is your account and the school does not have access to your parent log-in information. Please write down the username and password you choose and keep it in a safe place! I update grades biweekly.

Graded Work will be sent home in a folder labeled “Take-Home Folder” on Fridays. Please remove the papers and review the graded work with your child over the weekend so that the folder returns to school empty on Monday.

UNIFORM• Make sure all clothing is labeled with your

child’s name.

• Please make sure your child comes to school in the appropriate clothing.

• Refer to your Family Handbook section 10.2-10.3 for any questions regarding the uniform.

• Remember that hair accessories and shoes must follow uniform code and no fingernail polish.

UNIFORM

OUT OF UNIFORM