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.

Dear Families,

It’s hard to believe we’re already at the end of the third marking period! Thank you for coming out to conferences and showing an interest in your child’s growth and development. I enjoyed seeing everyone.

Your child received a fun homework sheet today, along with a plastic egg. Take a look at “What’s in my egg?” handout. The children may return the egg and clues tomorrow or Monday. This is simply a fun paper, nothing that is required. Just have fun with it!

The John Ball Zoo field trip will be here soon after returning from spring break. If you haven’t done so already, please send in $3.00 to cover this cost. The money needs to be turned into the zoo two weeks prior to the actual date. If you are able to help with research in the afternoon (April 15), let me know.

The PTO is sponsoring an Ice Skating Party at Walker Ice and Fitness next week Thursday night, March 31 (6-8pm). The children had a blast when we took them on the field trip. Everyone is sure to have a great time!

As you are aware, the bond vote is May 3. Please make sure you get out and vote. There will be a parent meeting at Alpine Elementary (library) on Monday night. If you are unable to attend or if you would like specific information, I would be happy to discuss with you how this will impact your family directly. 

Remember, next week Thursday, March 31, the students will be dismissed at 12:00 and there will be no school on that Friday. 

Enjoy your spring break time together with your family!

Dear Second Grade Families,

Conferences are right around the corner! Please sign up for conferences using PTCFast.com. Our first night of conferences are tomorrow night!

In conjunction with our unit on animals adaptations and habitats, we will be traveling to John Ball Zoo on April 15. Although the time seems far off, the zoo requires all payments are received before Spring Break. Please send in a payment of $3.00/student. If you are planning to chaperone, an adult admission is $5.00. 

March is Reading Month is here! Students are invited to dress like a prince or princess on Friday. Next Friday, March 18, is Robe and Slippers Day!

I think that’s all for now! I look forward to seeing you at conferences!

March is Reading Month! To celebrate our love for reading (and food!), we’re going to have a “Read and Feed” on Friday afternoon. This will be our Fun Friday celebration for those students who make good decisions, as well as those who complete the weekly homework.

Your child is invited to bring in a special snack and/or a snack to share with the class. This is also a day to ‘wear a crown or royal hat day’ and popcorn day! Popcorn is .50. 

Don’t forget to send in Box Tops for our monthly collection this Friday! Money earned goes directly to our classroom. 

Conferences begin next week! Please register for a conference time online at www.ptcfast.com/schools/Alpine_Elementary. If you need assistance, call the office at 784-0884 or let me know. 

Look for information for our next field trip in your child’s backpack. We’re going to John Ball Zoo to study animals. As part of a 2nd grade standard, the students must learn about an animal and produce a slideshow using the information learned. The morning will consist of a trip to the zoo, with the afternoon reserved for research. We could use all the help we can get that day, whether its for the entire day or a portion of the day!

Miss Brinks and Miss Liabenow