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.)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

A yummy treat shared by a terrific 2nd grade family!
You can try this at home!

Our belated Halloween celebration!

After the Storm

Watching the first snowflakes of the season...

Greetings!  Here's hoping that power has returned for everyone!

Here are a few date changes:

Thursday, Nov. 8th - the Veterans program will not take place.  Please don't worry about wearing red, white, and blue.

Friday, Nov. 9th - Author visit cancelled

Friday, Nov. 9th - YOU CAN WEAR YOUR COSTUME TO SCHOOL if you wish (or Halloween colors).  This was just announced today at Ox Ridge.  However, if your costume has something that covers your face, that will have to stay off while inside the building.  If you choose to wear a costume, please be sure that your costume allows you enough movement so that you can get around safely, including on the bus and  at recess.  

Monday, Nov. 12th - Veterans Day program.  Please wear red, white, and blue

Stay well!

FRANKENSTORM

Hurricane?  What hurricane?  We are too busy to let Frankenstorm get in our way!

The Shoe Game in Math

Meeting an amazing author, Patricia Polacco

The Friday before Frankenstorm...

ANOTHER BUSY WEEK

Here we are, learning about composting with Mrs. Batson, Mrs. Almy, and the Darien Environmental Group!

 

Mid-McMonthly News

A chilly, funny-weather day for most of us in our 2nd grade class...
Check out the leaves that have fallen off already!

THE PUMPKIN FAIR IS IN TOWN!
Head on over to Tokeneke this weekend to enjoy the Pumpkin Fair from 10am until 4pm Saturday, October 13th!

FALL FOR MATH
Fall for Math takes place for the weeks of October 15th and 22nd.  Feel free to do all 2nd grade homework, or just Word Study and Fall for Math - whatever works for you and your family's schedule.  Please be sure to log your minutes on the sheet from your Take Home Folder!

LUNCH BUNCH
The Lunch Bunch program has been re-organized a bit this fall.  Details to come.

FUN SITES
scholastic.com  (Go to the Student Activities tab)
squiglysplayhouse.com

UPCOMING DATES

Book Fair - Monday through Wednesday, Nov,. 5 - 7
No School - (Election Day) Tuesday, Nov. 6
Picture Retakes - Wed., Nov. 7
Veterans Day Program - Thursday, Nov. 8  (wear red, white, and blue)

SNAPSHOTS OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING

 



Gathering new ideas for writing - Ideas are everywhere!



Writers Celebration with some other 2nd grade buddies!

OCTOBER NEWS

 

SECOND GRADE MCMONTHLY REVIEW

AND UPCOMING NEWS

SEPTEMBER WRAP-UP

By Many Student Reporters

 

BIRTHDAYS

 

Wed., Sept. 19:   Michael Mostofi

Thurs., Sept. 27:  Mathison Hole

Sun., Sept. 30:  James Caliendo

 

Reading – we learned what makes a book Just Right, practiced how to make our words sound smooth, thought about characters and the whole story before, during, and after reading, and how to be a good reading partner.

Writing – we wrote stories about small (important) moments from our lives, how to stretch sentences and stories, and what to include in our stories.

 

Math – We worked with addition, subtraction, doubling, tens place, and the tricky fact families.  We are sharing with each other about how we figure out the answers.

Science and other News – We made observations outside and noticed how the seasons are changing.   We had an assembly on the World Language Program.  We are learning Dreambox on the computer.

NEWS FROM MRS. MCGETTIGAN

We are finishing our first writing unit on Small Moment stories.  We soon turn to our writing unit called Authors as Mentors where we’ll study the craft and technique of amazing authors such as Ezra Jack Keats and Donald Crews.  We’ll try some of their cool stuff in our own writing.  We will also work on learning to make our writing better so others will want to pull it off the shelves and read it – like they do with other favorite authors!

In reading, we are tackling tricky words with many word strategies and we’re also remembering how important it is to distinguish between basic short and long vowel spellings so we’re ready for trickier words inWord Study and in books we are now reading.

Math brings us to reviewing basic 2-digit numbers, odds and evens, doing more complex problem solving, and becoming expoerts and doubling. Later this month, we delve deeper into 3-digit place value.

BIRTHDAYS

 

Mon, Oct. 8:          Brea Church

Wed., Oct. 24:         Trevor Herget

 

REMINDERS

 

Mon., Oct 8: Columbus Day, no school

Oct. 15-26:  “Fall for Math” (details to come)

Thurs., Oct. 25: Patricia Polacco visit

 

SPECIAL NOTES

·         Be on the lookout for some visiting authors soon (right around Book Fair time!)
 

·         I can’t thank you enough for sending in all the supplies in September.  The 2^nd graders have quite a lengthy list, so we appreciate all you have sent in!
 

·         Thank you for  coming to Open House.  It was pleasure to see the families who were able to attend.  If you were not able to, I certainly understand.  If you did not receive the paperwork, please let me know (and another time, I can show you the children’s photographs!)
 

·         Thank you advance for volunteering in our classroom.  The students and I are excited that most activities are starting this month, especially with Mystery Guests, our first Activity Afternoon, and our Halloween celebration later this month.
 

·         Two separate lunch-bunch permission forms went home earlier in September.  If you filled out one or both, you are all set (we’re sorry about the duplicates).  If you’d like your child to participate in lunch bunch and you need a new form, please let me know.
 

·         Continued thanks to our Room Moms, Allison Melich and Shelby Smith!
 

·         Star Wars enthusiasts:  There is a special “Star Wars Reads” gathering at Barnes and Noble next Saturday 10/6 from 1-3pm.  Come dressed as your favorite Star Wars characters for lots of excitement…

 

Some first photos of this year!

 

SEPTEMBER NEWS

Greetings, Families!  We have had a great first 2 weeks of school!  Thank you for all the supplies, emails, and notes.  I hope you had a chance to attend the Class Coffee.  If not, please let our Room Moms know.  Our Room Moms are  Allison Melich (amelich@optonline.net) and Shelby Smith (shelbynyc@hotmail.com).

Annie and Owen are proud that their Moms are our Room Moms!

There is a lot going on at Ox Ridge this month!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Sun., Sept. 9^th, 4:30-6:30           Family Picnic

Mon., Sept. 10^th:              Scholastic Orders due

(*you can place your orders online, or send the hard copies back to me by 9/10/12)

Mon., Sept. 10^th:              First 2^nd grade official homework home (due Fri.)

Wed., Sept 12^th:              World Language Assembly for students

Fri., Sept. 14^th:               Favorite books, family photos, and bus contracts due

Mon., Sept 17^th:               No school, Rosh Hashanah

Mon., Sept. 24^th:             Word Study begins

Wed., Sept. 26^th:         No school, Yom Kippur
Thurs., Sept. 27th:          Open House for Parents, time to be announced

BIRTHDAYS

Wed., Sept. 19^th:             Michael Mostofi

Thurs., Sept. 27^th:           Mathison Hole

Sun., Sept. 30^th:              James Caliendo

SPECIAL NOTES

v  The students are doing a great job learning our 2^nd grade routines.  Occasionally, some mail ends up back in our mail slot that has not been seen at home, or it falls out of a mailbox.  If you are missing one of the following papers, please let me know:

·         Family Picnic flyer

·         Second Grade News and class list from Friday, 8/31/12

·         Lunch Bunch permission slip

v 
Sharing will be on Fridays on a sign-up basis, so that everyone gets a chance to share a treasure throughout the month.  As the year goes on, the sharers will be asked to write up a short description of their sharing (I will keep you posted as to when that starts).

v  All Ox Ridge students have been asked to have a “bus-time book or magazine” available to help maintain peace (and promote reading!) in our hallways.  Please have your child bring a small book for that time.  

v  Ox Ridge Snack:  The children have the opportunity to order an afternoon snack from our cafeteria.  I have encouraged the children to talk to their families about how often, and if, they can buy this extra snack.  The snack money will be deducted from the students’ lunch accounts. 

v  If you still have your child’s summer reading journal, please send it in to class this coming week, so we can send along the good reading news to the Library!

v  Photo Day is this coming Tuesday, September 11^th.  Please take a peek at the photo packet that went home earlier this week.  The Lifetouch Company is doing their orders a little differently this year.

v  Please check our blog periodically for class updates and photos.  The 2^nd grade reporters will start reporting very soon!

v  Please feel free to call me at school with any questions or concerns (655-2579, ext. 1142).   You can also email me at cmcgettigan@darienps.org; I will respond as quickly as possible, but sometimes, due to our class schedule, duties, or meetings, I might not be able to respond until the end of the day.

v  I hope to see you all at the Open House evening when I will explain in more detail about our schedule, curriculum, homework, and class routines.  Please bring your calendars, as I will have our Conference sign-up sheet available that evening.

Thank you so much!  I look forward to working with your children during this exciting, second grade year!

Cathy McGettigan

cmcgettigan@darienps.org