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St. Philip Neri Catholic School

Second Grade Update

Dear Second Grade Families,

Happy Friday!

Thank you to Mrs. Frentzel for a lovely art docent session! Students made flags with the theme of God’s gifts of family, self, life, love, and community. Some students made more than one flag and took it in a country or even state direction! Attached is a picture of the class and their creations. 🙂

We have a number of upcoming events and requests for assistance/donations. Please see below:

  • Adopt-a-Family – This year’s project will support Alameda Meals on Wheels, a Welcome the Stranger refugee family, and local convalescent homes. We will collect the following items through December 10th. Please consider contributing if you can. 🙂
    • Gift cards for groceries or food delivery
    • Socks, scarves, or slippers for elderly men and women, wrapped (please label Male or Female and “socks,”  “scarf” or “slippers”)
  • Christmas Eve Mass – SPN is doing a Christmas Eve Mass at 5:15 pm on December 24th. Children are needed to act out the gospel. There’s a mandatory rehearsal on Dec. 23rd at 5:00 PM (roles and costumes will be given out at that time). Please contact Hailey Castelaz (hcastelaz@gmail.com) if you are interested in having your child participate.

Below is our weekly update:

Focus Areas for Our Learning Next Week:

  • Reading – Students will continue SUPER magazine! We will focus on identifying and understanding key vocabulary, using text features, and summarizing the text. Fluent reading (reading at an appropriate pace with accuracy and expression) is always a focus for all students. 
  • Grammar/Spelling – In Superkids, students will practice decoding and encoding words with oo/ŏŏ/ and ew/ōō/. We will also review how to use quotation marks and commas in dialogue.
  • Writing – Students will finalize their creature poems using their editing skills and best handwriting. They will bring their creatures to life with their artistic skills and then share their poems with the class. 🙂
  • Math –Students will create Christmas-themed story problems using 2-digit numbers. The focus will be on writing a story problem that provides the necessary information and a clear question for readers to solve. Students will get to use their creativity to create a background scene that supports their story problem.
  • Religion –The class will discuss the importance of the Advent period and identify ways we can prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. Students will create a class Advent wreath to share their commitments.
  • Science – Students use their observation skills and knowledge about the properties of materials in an art project where they will create snowflakes. 
  • Social Studies – This week, students will complete their continent research projects and then teams will present their posters to the class.

Other Updates for this Week:

  • Christmas Cards (homework) – As a school, we are making Christmas cards to spread cheer and joy of the season to those less fortunate or who may not have as many family connections. All materials will be sent home in the homework folder, including the name of the person they are writing to. Please have them write a kind note of holiday spirit and blessings to their individual and turn it in with their homework on Friday. 
  • Dates to remember:
    • Tuesday, Dec. 14th: Free Dress for December Birthdays
    • Thursday, Dec. 16th – Christmas Concert, 7pm
    • Friday, Dec. 17th: Noon Dismissal, NO SHARE & CARE
    • Dec. 18th-Jan 2nd: Christmas Break
    • Monday, Jan. 3rd: No School, Staff Work Day

We hope you enjoy the weekend and look forward to seeing our students on Monday! 🙂

All the best,
Catherine

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What Our Families are Saying

"The supportive teachers at SPN played a big role in preparing me for high school and helping me understand what to expect. They encouraged me to ask questions and seek help when needed, which made me more confident in my learning. Thanks to them, I entered freshman year already familiar with many concepts and effective study habits that have helped me stay on top of my work. SPN also taught me valuable life skills that I still use today, helping me succeed academically, build strong friendships, and maintain my overall well-being."
— Tibby Horvath, SPN Class of 2022
"We are very satisfied with the SPN community, something that is important to our family. My children feel safe and comfortable with SPN. Our family feels connected with the SPN community from parents and families to the staff and faculty. My children and we as parents have made healthy and positive relationships with other families from school. We share time outside of school with other families which brings a level of connectedness I don't know if we would have elsewhere"
— SPN Parent
"My children are experiencing community in other ways than just friends and playdates. Faith Families is an example of community, interacting with students from all grade levels, and learning and creating for others outside of SPN. Field trips to Kids Against Hunger or the Alameda Food Bank where they work and see firsthand how their efforts help others less fortunate, for those who are in need of support. Community is not just our SPN ‘bubble,’ and that is what SPN demonstrates and provides– opportunity to explore a bigger community."
— SPN Parent since 2016

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