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St. Philip Neri Catholic School

Second Grade Update – Week of 12/2

Dear Second Grade Families, 

Happy Friday and happy Thanksgiving break!

Thank you to our wonderful chaperones who accompanied us on our field trip to see “A Christmas Carol” at the Children’s Musical Theater of San Jose today! Mrs. Jeffers, Mrs. Downes, Mrs. Perez, Mrs. Cooke, and Mr. Weesner, I am so grateful to you for spending your day with us! Students were treated to an amazing performance with actors between the ages of 9-15, some of whom could surely make it to Broadway! When we returned, students reflected about their favorite moments of the day and from  the show! Themes of generosity, appreciation for all we’ve been given, the call to serve others, and to live with a joyful heart were perfect to bring us into Thanksgiving Break, and the Christmas season. 🙂

The week we return from break will start our season of Advent, a time of preparing for our Lord. It is a time to reflect on how we can prepare our hearts and homes for Christ’s birth. It is a time for faith communities and families to remember the true meaning of Jesus’ birth through prayer, reflections, special music, and good deeds.

Please reinforce the spirit of giving with your child. We are looking to support families through the Adopt-A-Family drive and our second grade drive for the Alameda Food Bank. Here are the Adopt-a-Family Amazon links – items will be shipped directly.

Focus Areas for Our Learning Next Week:

  • Reading – 
    • In reading groups, students will start their new book club! The focus will be on identifying the main character(s), setting, genre, and the beginning story events.
    • 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 practice associating oo, ew, and ue with /ōō/ (moon, new, blue). Students should practice their spelling words for homework so they are prepared for the quiz on Friday.
  • Writing – Students will continue their informational piece about a continent. We remember that our goal is to teach and inform. Students will use the notes from their research planning page to write well-structured paragraphs with topic sentences.
  • Math – The class will continue practicing 2 and 3-digit addition and subtraction using the number line. We will also be learning a few other strategies. The goal is for children to learn each strategy and then narrow in on the one that works best for them.
  • Religion – We will start our chapter about the Church. 
  • Social Studies – Students will review different types of landforms and natural resources. The class will reinforce map skills as well.
  • Science – The class will start our unit about material properties with an anchor phenomenon. We will explore a special type factory called a foundry, a place where people melt solid metal into a liquid that can be poured into new shapes. Since foundries can be dangerous places to work, students will determine how the people that work in foundries stay safe. During the introduction, students generate observations and questions about the phenomenon and create an initial conceptual model to explain the phenomenon.

Other Updates for this Week:

  • Mass Responses – A “cheat sheet” will be sent home in your child’s homework folder so that they can continue learning how to actively participate during the Mass. Some of these responses are sung, and children can become very familiar with them during Saturday and Sunday Masses. This is especially important for all students who are preparing for their First Reconciliation and First Communion in the Spring.
  • Daily Screening – Please continue to do the daily screening. Your diligence is important and appreciated.
  • Dates to Remember:
    • Dec. 2-6 – Book Fair
    • Tuesday, Dec. 10 – Free Dress Dec. B-Days
    • Thursday, Dec. 19 – Christmas Concert, 7:00pm, Student Attendance Required
    • Friday, Dec. 20 – Noon Dismissal / No Share and Care after Dismissal
    • Dec. 21-Jan. 3 – Christmas Break

Wishing you a blessed and safe break with family and friends! We look forward to seeing our students after Thanksgiving! 

All the best,
Catherine

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"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
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— SPN Parent
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— SPN Parent since 2016

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