As I write this note on this beautiful Sunday afternoon, I can’t help but think about my students and their families. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to help your child grow and learn.

I’m happy to report that our MAP/NWEA testing is complete. I’ll have reports ready to share at conferences in November. This was initial testing, providing me with important information as to what your child knows and what is yet to be learned.

Monday will be our first day of Neighborhoods, for both reading and math. Students are placed in Neighborhoods according to skill and where we think they will learn best. Although they may a different teacher for reading and/or math neighborhoods, I will still be responsible for materials taught. Neighborhoods are a great way of providing additional support to those students who might need it while, at the same time, providing extensions to those children who already understand the material.

I have been rethinking my homework policy and decided to make a change. I’ve found there are many students who really need some extra practice on skills learned at school.  Every student has a ‘homework folder’, which was given to them at the start of the year. Although most students return those folders to school, there are some who do not. Keep these folders in your child’s backpack so I can put important papers in the folders and you will know where to look for school information. 

Beginning on Monday (today!), look for 2 math homework sheets sent home and they will be due on Friday. In addition, I am inviting all students to participate in the Pizza Hut Book It Reading Program http://www.bookitprogram.com. Another note explaining the program was sent home. Return the reading calendar at the end of the month and your child will receive a certificate for a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut.

Don’t forget that Wednesday is a 1/2 day for students!

On a final note, Friday is POPCORN DAY. Students may purchase a bag of popcorn for $.50. 

Happy Monday! The children in Room 24 have been quite busy making new friends, learning procedures and reviewing some first grade concepts. I’ve been busy benchmarking my students, which means reading with each student to check for fluency (how they sound) and comprehension(what they understand). All of the children have been assessed on spelling and spelling patterns so I know exactly what each child already knows and what they need to yet learn. It’s been fun for me to get to know your child personally!

This week is the beginning of MAP/NWEA Testing for all students. My students will be testing on Wednesday and Friday morning this week. This is a test to get a grasp of what your child already knows.

Tomorrow is PICTURE DAY! I made an appointment for my students to have all photos completed in the morning before they go outside to play.

FUNDRAISING ORDERS should be turned in tomorrow, if you haven’t done so already.

Finally, our big PILLOW PROJECT is coming up. Earlier I sent a note asking each child to bring in fabric and stuffing by this Friday. I do have a lot of extra fabric so if you are unable to purchase fabric, your child will still make a pillow. Please continue to send in pillow stuffing!

Volunteer Opportunity:  If you are able to cut some fabric squares from home, let me know. I’m fortunate to have someone donate extra material. 

HOMEWORK~ At this time, I will not be sending weekly homework. The children will have plenty of opportunities to practice concepts during the school day. I also provide a reading time for the students to work on reading. **I will notify you if your child must complete unfurnished work at home or if they need extra practice.

Welcome to another great week! I’m hoping, along with the children, that this week won’t be so hot! We made it last week, but it was rough in the heat! 

This week I hope to begin a lot of pre assessing the children in the areas of reading and language arts. The goal is to know exactly where each child is in his or her learning progression. With that information, I’ll be able to know the child’s strengths and weaknesses, building on the strengths and strengthening the weak areas.

It’s PILLOW TIME!

Making pillows is a 2nd grade tradition that started with Mrs. Meulenberg, a retired 2nd grade teacher. She continues to return each year to make the pillows with the students. Each child with need to have qt 4 pillow squares, 9 x 9 inches. We’re also going to need a lot of pillow stuffing! The pillow squares can be all the same. The children will trade squares with their friends, allowing them to get different patterns. The pillows will go home with your child at the end of the year or whenever their last day at Alpine Elementary would be.

I put some pictures on the Facebook page. Take a look!

FALL FUNDRAISER

Fundraising packets were sent home on Friday. All products are 15.00, with half of that money going to Alpine Elementary for field trips and other fun events. All orders, along with the money collected are due on September 19, with delivery on October 18.

HOMEWORK

I will send homework home as needed. If your child does not complete the work at school or if he or she needs additional practice, homework will be sent and you will be notified.

Reading is encouraged every night. To motivate students, my class will participate in Pizza Hut’s Book It Program. Look for the information to be sent home soon.

Welcome to a new year in 2nd grade at Alpine Elementary! I am super excited to meet my new friends and get this year started! Tonight is an open house from 6:30-8:00pm. I hope you all can make it! If you are unable to attend, I am including a link to the google slide show that will be running throughout the evening. I'll send the handouts and other important information the first week of school.

At this point, I don't have a specialist schedule but I'll be sure to communicate this information as soon as I have it. Specialist classes include music, PE, art and Spanish.

I created a Facebook page specifically for our 2nd grade class in Room 24. It's a closed group, which ensures the privacy of photos and posts. I hope many of you use Facebook and this will be a fast and fun way to communicate. Let me know if you wish to be added to the group.

I'll be posting information on this blog, Facebook and email. The goal is to eliminate the need for paper copies. Let's see if it works! If you prefer the paper, I will be happy to send notes home, too.

Below is a link to the google slideshow I created for the open house tonight.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Q40_1K2W6r0DQjBjQYOGqqixBW_HCkEFzFWQjiK-zqY/pub?start=true&loop=true&delayms=5000&slide=id.gc6f59039d_0_5

Today started a very busy week for the 2nd graders in Room 24. Students have MAP/NWEA testing everyday this week. The tests require a great deal of concentration and perseverance. As you know, these tests are given to measure growth. These last tests are important in that they will be scores that set Compass Learning apps, as well as placement for next year.  I'm proud of all of the children, especially when I read some of the questions they were faced with. 

Please make every effort to have your child at school and on time this week. My students are scheduled for testing from 8:30-10:30 through Friday. If a child is absent, it means they will need to take extra tests in the afternoons since all tests will be completed this week. Imagine how hot, sweaty and tired a child is every afternoon.....

I will not be assigning any more homework this year, unless something comes up and your child begins to fall behind. If this is the case, you will hear directly from me. With all of the testing and extra time in the afternoon, we're going to take an easy and finish the year on a pleasant note.  There are a few students who requested homework tonight. Know that the work is optional. 

Finally, we have a few important dates coming up:

May 23-24 MAP Testing~ Math

May 25-26 MAP Testing~ Reading

May 25 AR Pizza Party for those students who met their goals (my entire class!)

May 27 1/2 Day~ Students dismissed at noon

May 31     All Library Books Due!

June 1 AR Popsicle Party for students with 30 AR points or higher

June 3 **Field Trip to Walker City Complex

June 6 Field Day

June 8-10 1/2 Days~ Students dismissing at noon

June 10 Last day of school

I believe that's it for now!

Alpine Families,

We’re on the home stretch but there’s still a lot going on. I think it would be best if I just highlight some important dates as we finish the year.

May 18 1/2 Day~ Students dismissed at noon

May 19-20 MAP Testing~ Language Usage

May 23-24 MAP Testing~ Math

May 25-26 MAP Testing~ Reading

May 25 AR Pizza Party for those students who met their goals (my entire class!)

May 27 1/2 Day~ Students dismissed at noon

June 1 AR Popsicle Party for students with 30 AR points or higher

June 3 **Field Trip to Walker City Complex

June 6 Field Day

June 8-10 1/2 Days~ Students dismissing at noon

June 10 Last day of school

**The kitchen staff needs to know this week if your child will need a sack lunch for this field trip. We want to make sure there is enough food for everyone. Send me a quick email or send in a note with your child.

Thank you!

Alpine Families,

Please remember to vote tomorrow. Much of the issues addressed will directly affect your child at Alpine Elementary. If you need transportation or if you have any questions, you may call the school and someone would be happy to help. You can also send me an email. Ask you child to tell you about the water falling from our ceiling!

Save the date! We have one last study trip planned for June 3. To conclude our study on local government, we will go to Walker City Central, which involves the courthouse, road commission, police and fire.  Weather permitting, we will enjoy lunch and playtime at the park behind City Central.  More information will be sent as the time approaches.

The students are doing an amazing job on the math standards. The students have mastered the content in “Numbers in Base Ten”, which involves a lot of addition and subtraction. The children are all very familiar with place value, word problems, and inverse operations (using addition to check subtraction answers). 

Beginning next week, your child will learn the basics of multiplication, which should be a very exciting time for everyone!

After learning about facts and opinions, the children started writing opinion papers. They certainly have a lot of opinions. We will be working on opinion writing for a few weeks yet.

The children had a bit of time to work on homework during class time today. They were all instructed to take it home, even if they finished the work, so parents could see it.

As always, contact me if you have any questions or concerns.