FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL LETTER

August 26, 2013

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the second grade community at Ox Ridge!  We hope you all enjoyed the summer and are excited about a new school year.  We have been collaborating over the summer to get ready for the start of school and will continue to plan together throughout the coming months to make this a terrific year.  We are providing some initial information for you today and will continue to keep you apprised of our grade level news going forward.

Enclosed is a specials schedule.  Please make note of scheduled PE days so your child will have appropriate footwear.  Library books should be returned on the day we have library.  Also, please send in a smock labeled with your child’s name, which will be kept in the classroom for art.  (An old shirt would be great.)

We will be having snack on a daily basis (parent provided, or students may sign up to buy snack from the cafeteria).  Please be sure to send in a snack every day or let your child know if he/she has permission to buy snack.  Remember, healthy snacks will give our students the energy to be the best that they can be.  Due to specific food allergies of students in our classroom, please speak with your child about not sharing snacks at school because of health concerns.

If there is a change in your child’s transportation home, please be sure to send in a note that morning.  We also require a note if your child will be picked up, attending after school activities, etc.   Please send in a note as soon as possible confirming your child’s bus number that he/she will take home from school.

To cover the cost of special activities and projects throughout the year we are requesting that each student contribute $15.  This money will be allocated for Time for Kids Magazine, special craft supplies, etc.  If you have questions or concerns regarding this contribution please let us know.  Cash is preferred.  If you need to send a check please make it payable to CASH or your child’s teacher.  Please place the contribution in an envelope marked with your child’s name.

In the near future, we’ll send an explanation about homework.  Homework will begin the week of September 9^th and we will add in the word study component starting the week of September 23^rd.

We are so excited that our year has begun.  We look forward to helping your children grown in academic strength, as they take on greater responsibility.  At our Open House on Thursday, September 26^th we’ll be discussing curriculum and daily routines.  We are looking forward to a great year together!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Frawley, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. McGettigan

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Dear 2nd Graders,

Welcome to second grade!

Please pardon our website. 
Since Mrs. McGettigan's classroom moved, the website is still under construction.

Thank you, and please check back soon!

SPRING CLEANING!

Greetings, and Happy Spring!
The 2nd grade bloggers became extremely busy this winter, so we are sorry for the lack of updates.

Hopefully, some spring photos will make up for lost time.

Before we share our recent happenings, here are a few important reminders you may have noticed in the McMonthly News:

• Friday, May 24th:  all-school Patriotic Day
• (wear red, white, and/or blue combos for honoring Memorial Day)

• Friday, May 31st:  2nd Grade Musical at 2:30pm "Sing Me A Story"  
• (All Family members welcome!  Come early for good parking!)

• Wednesday, June 5th:  Field Day from 10:00 - 11:30 
• (All family members are welcome!)

• Thursday, June 13th:  2nd Grade Breakfast at 9:15am 
• In cafeteria for Moms and Dads with their children;
• Same day - Memory Share 9:45 - 10:30 in 2-Mc classroom  (All family members are welcome!)
• * You are welcome to come to both events on Thursday, June 13th 
• (or you can come to one if you wish - whatever your schedule permits !)

• Friday, June 14th:  all-school Tropical Caribbean Day: 
• Students, please wear "island" type clothing.  Bring a beach towel for some outdoor lessons!

• Thursday, June 20th:  Last day of school for students (1:30 dismissal)

Whew - That's a lot of info!  And now, please enjoy ....

Earth Balloon

 

Team Work in the Garden

Antics in the Classroom

Selleck's Woods Nature Preserve

 

Reader's Theater

New Year Resolutions

I can help my little brother and sister have school lessons, and be the coach for my brother’s football camp. – JB

Earn a million dollar and donate it to people who need it.  I will also grow my hair super long, and then cut it short to donate the locks to other who need it. – BC

I will give a piece of fruit or some money to homeless people in NYC. – DP

I will try to practice sports a little more and read more than 20 chapter books in a year. – CB

I will play football with my little cousin a little more. – MH

I know a little science and I want to learn more! – ACM

I will try to play a little more sports.  – MM

I will help my brother with the things that are tricky for him in school.  – AFM

I will make a fake school with my brother and help him learn more. – OS

I will pass down my too-small clothes to people who need clothes. – KP

I will help my dad crack the ice on our driveway. – CL

I will help my dad put up the ice rink and play less video games. – BB

I will stop fighting my brothers. – AK

I will say less often that my sister is annoying. – RA

JANUARY MCMONTHLY NEWS

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

It’s so nice to be back with the children again!  This month, we will delve into studying the science principles of Matter.  In Social Studies, we will focus on our own classroom community as we begin Superstar of the Week and learn new tidbits about one another.  We will also continue promoting STAR traits and will start “catching” people doing random acts of kindness in our classroom as well as the whole school.  We will also soon start community projects by investigating….Darien and coming up with our ideal community!

LANGUAGE ARTS

 

This month, we begin some non-fiction reading and writing.  We will be able to share our writing on topics in which we are “experts.”   Later, with our Book Club groups, we will research other topics and share and listen with other 2^nd graders.

MATH

 

We have really been stretching our thinking with math concepts by concentrating on the many tools we can use to reach our answers, in addition to the many strategies we can use.  We will continue with double-digit addition and subtraction, including regrouping. 

 

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS 

Tues., Jan. 22:  Charlie Hughes

Sun., Jan. 27:  Annie Melich

 

REMINDERS

 

Fri., Jan. 11: High Touch High Tech “Matter” Enrichment

Fri., Jan. 11:  Scholastic orders due

Wed., Jan. 16:  Darien Library visit us about “Communities”

Mon., Jan. 21: Martin Luther King Day/No School

Thurs. Jan. 31:  Activity Afternoon

SPECIAL NOTES

• Since the cold weather has returned, please label any extra gear, such as boots, snowpants, mittens, and hats.    
• Thank you for sending in the monthly supplies.  They are most appreciated!
•  “Box Tops for Education” are being collected by the Student Council.  You will see the red and white rectangular shapes on certain types of packaged food boxes.  Please check the expiration date, cut them out, and send them in with your children so they can help earn $$ for our school or a worthy need connected to Darien Public Schools.
• Thank you, Volunteers, especially during our busy month of December!  Thank you in advance for this exciting, second part of the year!
• SUPERSTAR OF THE WEEK  is a chance for the students to have a week that is special for them, so the rest of their classmates can honor them (and perhaps learn something new about their friends).  The students are picked at random the week prior and a letter will be sent home that describes what it’s all about.  Basically, it’s a chance for them to bring a treasure or two from home to school for 3 days of a week.  It’s a good idea for the Superstar to have 2 or 3 reasons why it’s a special treasure (perhaps a notecard will help, but they don’t have to do that, nor do they have to do a poster.) 
• Regular Friday sharing will only take place if students write out a few sentences on their treasures.
• New Year Student Tip to Build up Vocabulary and Word Study Patterns:  Keep track of your words by writing them down in a notebook at home and then reviewing old words as each new week begins.  You will feel proud of all you know!

• I feel very proud of your children!  They work hard, and they are kind, compassionate students!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

A comfy day at school
(although some of our classmates couldn't join us in the pic -
we'll catch them another time!)

Always ready for a goofy face

Here we have many "class pets" surrounding
the Best Tree Ever
decorated with very special ornaments created by the 2nd graders!
A gift to treasure!

Stay well Everyone!  We will see you in 2013!

DECEMBER NEWS

December arrived quickly, along with a special visitor:  Elfie!
(Here we are with Miss Joanna, as we get ready to start our first day of December.)

*Students are welcome to bring PJs, bathrobes, slippers, and stuffed critters for the Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 19th!

*Scholastic Book Club orders are due by Monday morning, Dec. 10th.  I'll place the order at lunchtime, so we'll have the books delivered before December vacation!

NOVEMBER WRAP-UP

Reading this month

We worked on tackling tricky words when we get stuck.  We realized that we know a lot already and can figure out what to do on our own or with a partner.

Writing

We loved reading books by some favorite authors, such as Ezra Jack Keats, Marc Brown, Kevin Henkes, Patricia Polacco, Donald Crews, Cynthia Rylant, and Robert Munsch.  We noticed strategies that make their books so cool and tried some stuff in our writing!

Math

We have been working with humongous numbers – way in the hundreds!

Social Studies and other News

We have concentrated on our school community a lot so far this year.  With the hurricane, it has helped us to focus on our town communities.  With the election, we have learned what communities in U.S. states do.

We started Spanish!  Muy bien!

NEWS FROM MRS. MCGETTIGAN

We are working on Realistic Fiction writing now, where we can write about characters that face real-life problems.  We can even take something that happened and stretch that story a little bit, and then can “try out” different ways the problems can get solved. 

In reading, we have been focusing on paying closer attention to what characters want and need.  We are noticing their traits, feelings, and are learning more about everything that happens in a story by closely following characters and their adventures throughout a book.

Math has been a strong focus into place value and the students have done an exceptional job.  We continue to work with problem-solving, and will begin to use different strategies to add and subtract 2-digit numbers. 

 

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

November 18:  Billy Batson

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

December 30:  Jack Barber

REMINDERS

Mon., Dec. 10:  Scholastic orders due

Wed., Dec. 19:  Class Holiday Party

*Students are welcome to bring PJs, bathrobes, slippers, stuffed animals*

December 22 - January 1, 1013:  December break, no school

DECEMBER CAMPAIGNS

Hurricane Sandy took a lot out of everyone; however, if you still wish to donate to some wonderful causes at this time of year, there are a few taking place at Ox Ridge:  (Thank you for your generosity!)

Kids Care - Holiday Hope Chests need to be collected by Dec 1st.  They can be dropped off in the Hope Chest collection box in the school lobby or at 9 Haskell Lane.

Toys for Tots – Sponsored by; U.S. Marine Corps  - bring in unwrapped toys for needy children  (toddlers through teens) through Dec. 14^th.

Hurricane Sandy -  through Notre Dame Academy in Staten Island, where Mr. Latona’s cousin is Principal.  He will be collecting gift cards for his cousin to personally distribute to the most needy/ effected families associated with the school in Staten Island.  The most useful gift cards would be:  Babies R Us, Shop Rite/Stop & Shop, Sears, Home Depot/Lowes, Pathmark/CVS, Target, Walgreens, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Visa/Mastercards.

SPECIAL NOTES

• I hope everyone is back on track after October's Superstorm Sandy!
• Thank you for your time during Conference week!
• Continued thanks to our Room moms, Allison Melich and Shelby Smith!
• Continued thanks to all volunteers and for all the work you do with your children at home!
• Scholastic Book Clubs:  
• You can still send in your completed forms for me to submit online, but you can also do online shopping through scholastic book clubs.  This month’s deadline is the morning of Monday, Dec. 10^th so that those books will arrive before we depart for Dec. vacation (you can still order after that, but your books will not arrive prior to the break.)  There are many other wonderful book choices listed in specialty catalogs, in addition to the usual 2 or 3 catalogs which are sent home in the children’s school mail.  If any catalogs for which you are searching do not appear as the top recommended, they are still available by selecting the “Shop By Flyer” option at the top of the Parent’s page next to your child’s name.  (For example, if you’d like to order from the Holiday Gift catalog that was sent home last month, you can still do so.)