Second Grade Update – Week of 10/28

Dear Second Grade Families, 

Happy Friday! 

Wow, we are already nearing the end of October! Time in second grade is flying by. Students are doing a very nice job staying on task during independent assignments and are doing better with their behavior choices during enrichment classes. Many students are also engaging in some additional challenges we have added to the classroom as well, including Math Masters and the October Math Challenge! They are demonstrating that they are true lifelong learners! 🙂

The highlight of our week was today’s field trip to the Lawrence Hall of Science. It was a true joy to watch your children’s enthusiasm for exploring, observing, creating, and experimenting. Their level of appreciation was wonderful and really came through in the reflections they wrote and illustrated when we were back in the classroom. 🙂 A very special thanks to our chaperones: Ms. Richards, Mrs. Campos, Mr. Matarrese, Mrs. Valenzuela, and Mr. James!

Please consider donating to the Annual Fund. The Annual Fund is where we come together as a community to support our school and help to make it a resource-rich environment for all students. Tuition alone does not cover the entire cost of educating a student at SPN. Again we are hoping for 100% participation – some donation (small or large) from every second grade family. Thank you!

Next week, we will enjoy a fun and spooky Halloween on Thursday. Please remember it is noon dismissal). On Friday, we will celebrate All Saints Day with an All School Mass.

Focus Areas for Our Learning Next Week:

• Reading – 
  • In reading groups, students will shift to SUPER magazine – back to informational text! Students will focus on identifying text features that support their comprehension as well as determining the meaning of unknown vocabulary.
  • At night, students should read aloud to practice fluent reading skills. Please encourage your child to observe punctuation, read at a good pace, and read the words as they appear in the text (no deletions or substitutions).
• Grammar/Spelling – In Superkids, students will practice decoding and encoding words with r-controlled vowels (ex. car, fork, girl). We will continue practicing the rules for adding ‘ed and ‘ing endings as this is proving challenging for many students. Students should practice their spelling words for homework so they are prepared for the quiz on Friday.
• Writing – Students will continue drafting their personal narratives, focusing on writing in complete sentences and developing a clear beginning, middle, and end. The goal is a well-written 5-7 sentence paragraph. Some will be longer!
• Math – Students will finish their place value robots by summarizing their creations in number forms – 
• Religion – We will continue our chapter about Jesus the Savior. Students will reflect about the concept of sacrifice and how it can apply to their own lives. Many times, simple sacrifices can be in the form of choosing to act in a way that benefits the common good, not just ourselves. 
• Science – This week, we will take a break from our normal unit and explore whether animals ever wear “costumes”! 🙂 Back to our normal unit next week! 🙂
• Social Studies – Students will use a compass rose to interpret directions on a map. We will also introduce new vocabulary: globe and equator. As a class, we will connect to the importance of celebrating our families and ancestors with a Dia de los Muertos read-aloud.

Other Updates for this Week:

• Covid Daily Screening – Please continue to do the daily screening. Your diligence is important and appreciated.
• Dates to Remember:
  • Wednesday, Oct. 30 – Last day for First Communion registrations
  • Thursday, Oct 31 – Noon Dismissal; Halloween Parade 8:15 a.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 1 – All School Mass for All Saints Day (students may dress like a saint if they would like to; otherwise all students need their sweater or sweatshirt)
  • Sunday, Nov. 3 – Rite of Enrollment, 9am Mass at SPN – All First Communion Candidates
  • Friday, Nov. 8 – End of First Trimester
  • Monday, Nov. 11 – No School – Veterans Day Observed
  • Friday, Nov. 15 – Report Cards Distributed
  • Friday, Nov. 15 – Minions and Friends Spirit Day
  • Tuesday, Nov. 19 – Free Dress for Nov. B-Days
  • Wednesday, Nov. 20 – Noon Dismissal / Teacher Development Day
  • Thursday, Nov. 21 – National Catholic School Principal Appreciation Day
  • Nov. 25-29 – No School – Thanksgiving Break!

We look forward to seeing our students on Monday!

All the best,
Catherine