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St. Philip Neri Catholic School

Second Grade Update – Week of 2/20

Dear Second Grade Families, 

Happy Friday!

This week, students enjoyed many treats and special events. Thank you to Mrs. Fisher and Ms. Underwood for an adorable Valentine’s party craft and to Ms. Ortiz for another creative Art Docent lesson! These students are VERY blessed. 🙂

Next week, we start the season of Lent. We will have an all-school mass for Ash Wednesday. Students will learn about what makes Lent special and reflect on the commitments they will make to prepare for Easter. 

Below is our second grade learning update.

Focus Areas for Our Learning Next Week:

  • Reading – 
    • In reading groups, students will continue their book clubs. We will focus on the skill of summarizing what we are reading, and specifically identifying the important events of the beginning, middle, and end of their stories. As always, there is a focus on reading fluency and speaking and listening skills as we work together in a small group.
    • 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 letter-sound correspondences for a-/ŭ/,-en/ŭn/, and -on/ŭn/ (ex. above, happen, ribbon). They should practice their spelling words for homework so they are prepared for the quiz on Friday.
  • Writing – Students will use their story plans to draft their descriptive narratives. They will focus on writing clearly and connecting their ideas to ensure the reader understands. 🙂
  • Math – The class will be assessed on their fluency with money. In Number Corner, we continue with basic fractions. Students will also be introduced to the concept of rounding. 
  • Religion – We will finish our chapter about the seven sacraments. In Family Life, we will continue with God’s gift of family.
  • Social Studies – As we wrap up our unit, students will show what they know about the early history of our nation with an assessment this week. We also continue to celebrate Black History Month with read-alouds and song. 
  • Science – We will review our unit about material properties and prepare for an assessment. Next up, plants and their adaptations!

Other Updates for this Week:

  • Circle of Grace – Linked here is a letter about lessons that will be shared with students this week. If anyone has any questions, just let me know.
  • Operation Rice Bowl – Students will participate in this program throughout Lent. It gives us an opportunity to focus on the needs of our broader world and the issue of hunger. Please consider donating to this cause. Attached is a letter that shares more.
  • AR Reading – Just a reminder – I am encouraging all students to use their AR book for their homework reading time (15 minutes each afternoon/evening).
  • Dates to Remember:
    • Monday, Feb. 20 – No School, President’s Day
    • Tuesday, Feb. 21 – Burning of the Palms; February B-Day Free Dress
    • Wednesday, Feb. 22 – Ash Wednesday All School Mass

Wishing you all a wonderful long weekend, and we look forward to seeing our students on Tuesday!

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