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St. Philip Neri Catholic School

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

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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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