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St. Philip Neri Catholic School

Second Grade Update – Week of 10/30

Dear Second Grade Families,

Happy Friday! 

At this point, second grade is at 28% family participation for the Annual Fund. That means 28% of our second grade families have donated something (any donation counts!). We are aiming for 100% – no donation is too small. Please give as generously as your family can. Not only do a pizza party, ice cream, and free dress hang in the balance 🙂 , but more importantly, the Annual Fund is where we come together as a community to support our school and help to make it a resource-full 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 from all second grade families. Thank you!

Wow, we are already nearing the end of October! Time in second grade is flying by. Students continue to be good models of our SLEs – in the classroom, outside at recess, with enrichment teachers, and in church. They are routinely recognized for lining up quietly after recess! Go second grade! Students are also doing a very nice job staying on task during independent work while we have reading groups. 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! 🙂

Please ask your child what they are reading for AR in class. Students are working up through their AR range (their “just right” books). They are completing thoughtful reading logs and demonstrating success with comprehension quizzes. Please congratulate them on their good choices and practice! As we approach trimester two, I will be challenging them to add more to their reading logs, both to practice good writing skills and demonstrate that they understand details within the text. They are ready! 🙂

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

Below is our second grade update.

Focus Areas for Our Learning Next Week:

  • Reading – 
    • In reading groups, students will wrap up our book clubs. We will focus on summarizing a story and identifying the main events in the beginning, middle, and end. Students will also think about how characters have changed throughout the story and what events led to those changes.
    • 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 finalize their edits and complete the final copy of their personal narratives. They will also add an illustration to match the details of their story.
  • Math – Students will review measurement, discussing and practicing how to measure with accuracy and with precision.
  • Religion – We will continue our chapter about God the Father and focus on his love for us as well as how we honor Him. Students will also be given a copy of the Glory Be prayer in their homework folder. This is a simple prayer, and students should work to memorize it by the end of the trimester (Nov. 9th).
  • 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 read-aloud with Ms. Andie.

Other Updates for this Week:

  • Covid Daily Screening – Please continue to do the daily screening. Your diligence is important and appreciated.
  • Dates to Remember:
    • Tuesday, Oct. 17 – Free dress October B-days
    • Thursday, Oct. 26 – Art Docent!
    • Thursday, Oct. 26 – K-5 Town Hall Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
    • Friday, Oct. 27 – First Communion registrations due!
    • Tuesday, Oct. 31 – Noon Dismissal – Halloween
    • Wednesday, Nov. 1 – All School Mass – All Saints Day 9:30 a.m.
    • Thursday, Nov. 2 – Mini Maker’s Fair, 5-7 p.m.
    • Sunday, Nov. 5 – Rite of Enrollment (all First Communion candidates must attend)
    • Thursday, Nov. 9 – End of First Trimester
    • Friday, Nov. 10 – No school: Veterans Day Observed

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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