Email: dgawlik@saintvincentdepaulschool.org
God Bless the Second Grade Class!
The second grade class celebrated their First Reconciliation on Saturday, April 27th. It was a very special day for them all! May brings warmer weather and beginning May 1st, students are allowed to wear uniform shorts as part of their uniform. Students may also wear uniform gym shorts to school on Thursdays and Fridays as part of the gym uniform. Please continue to practice subtraction facts and home and remember to read, read, read! Our spring concert is Tuesday, May 7th at 7:00. Second graders will be dressing like fishermen. They should wear jeans, vests if available, or light jackets, hats, rubber boots. This month in science, we will be studying Chapter 12, Earth and Space. Our chapter 12 test will be on Thursday, May 23.
SPECIALS SCHEDULE
MONDAY
Computer 1:00-1:40
Reading Buddies 2:30-2:50
TUESDAY
Music 11:00-11:40
Choir 1:00-1:40
WEDNESDAY
Mass 9:00-9:40
Art 1:00-1:40
THURSDAY
PE 2:20-3:00
FRIDAY
PE 9:40-10:20
Library 12:20-1:00
Lunch 11:40-12:10
Gym uniforms:
Students may either bring clothes to change into for gym class or wear their St. Vincent’s gym uniform on gym days. It would be very helpful to write your child’s name or initials in ALL of their clothing. It’s very easy for clothing to get mixed up, especially on gym days.
Take-Home Folders:
Each student has a take-home folder. Please check these daily for completed papers and notices that are sent home. Inside the folder, you will also find a sticker with the daily homework assignments for your child. These assignments will be the same each week. The daily assignments are as follows:
- Monday: Write spelling words 3X each
- Tuesday: Language Arts practice sheet
- Wednesday: Math practice sheet
- Thursday: Study spelling words for test
- Friday: Read at least 15 minutes & Practice math facts
If there is no school on Friday, the weekly spelling test will take place on Thursday.
Classroom discipline:
Throughout the year I will be using use a flip card behavior plan. I have a “Go For Green” poster with a labeled pocket containing four cards for each student. Each day the whole class starts on the green card, meaning "I'm doing well." If there's a behavior problem, I ask the child to please change his or her behavior and flip a card. I also point out which classroom rule he or she is not following. Below the green card is a yellow "warning" card. If the behavior issue continues, the next card is a blue "think about it" card followed by a red "note or phone call home" card. The blue "think about it” card involves a simple worksheet that the student fills out explaining what the inappropriate behavior is in his or her own words. The student then signs the sheet and shows it to me.
Each day all the cards flip back to the green "I'm doing well" position. I think the best way to succeed with classroom management is to establish the rules from the start and be consistent.
Snack:
We will have a snack time each day. Snack time is approximately 10:00 A.M. Please send in a healthy snack for your child for snack time.
Weekly Themes:
Each week, we have a fun and educational theme that we focus on. During the week, our read aloud selections and writing projects will revolve around the theme. Each week, either a parent “library liaison” or myself will travel to the library to find books that fit the week’s theme. The second graders will have weekly learning centers that will accompany the themes. Each day, students will travel to a different center to complete a math, reading, art or writing activity that is based on the theme. By the end of the week, students will have visited each center.
Science and Social Studies:
We have many fun activities to look forward to in these subjects, including our science labs. Generally, once each month, the students will be tested on the month’s science or social studies unit. Students are always welcome to bring their science or social studies textbooks and notebooks home to study, as long as they remember to bring them back to school the next day.
Handwriting
We will be working to master printing this fall and in January, our class will begin cursive writing.
Birthdays
You may send in a birthday treat for your child if you choose to do so. We have 17 students in our class. For those students who have summer birthdays, we celebrate half- birthdays (6 months before their next birthday).
Seating Arrangements
Each month I will switch the students’ desks around. If you or your child ever have a problem with where they are sitting, please let me know so I can accommodate him or her.
If you ever have any questions or problems, feel free to send me an email. I look forward to a great year working with you and your child!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Gawlik