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St. Philip Neri Catholic School

Second Grade Update – Week of 5/1

Dear Second Grade Families, 

Happy Friday!

This week, a highlight was Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft’s visit! Students enjoyed asking the questions they had brainstormed last week and finding out her answers! They did a great job listening attentively, and the Mayor did a wonderful job sharing lessons about never giving up even when you fail the first time, listening to others’ ideas to arrive at the best solution, and working hard for the common good. And of course, a big hit was the fact that the Mayor loves biking around Alameda and stopping for Tucker’s ice cream! 🙂

Next week, students will start an informational report about an animal of their choice. They will need to identify a book on Epic about their animal (within their reading range so that they understand it), research and take notes, and then turn those notes into a well-written report. Another option is for them to bring a book from home or the library (that they can read themselves). They will need it by Tuesday.

Field Trip to Semifreddi’s – 5/23 – 10am-12pm
We still need the following volunteers in order to go on this trip. Please reach out to me if you are willing to assist. Thank you!

  • 3-4 more drivers
  • 4 chaperones

Below is our second grade learning update.

Focus Areas for Our Learning Next Week:

  • Reading – 
    • In reading groups, students will continue their Book Club with a continued focus on summarizing the most important beginning/middle/ending events. 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 will practice decoding and encoding long “a” words. They will also practice proper capitalization. Students should practice their spelling words for a quiz on Friday.
  • Writing – Students will start their informational animal reports by choosing an animal and identifying a book that they can use for research. Again, if they would like to bring a book from home or the library, they can, as long as they can read it themselves.
  • Math – Students will continue to practice with currency, specifically solving word problems, and making change. We will also review three digit addition and subtraction with regrouping as well as adding three two-digit numbers.
  • Religion – We will finish our Family Life unit about God’s gift of family. Students will also play “Jeopardy” to review the parts of the Mass. 🙂
  • Social Studies –The class will wrap up our unit about government and then play a game where they will work together to reinforce important vocabulary and earn points as a class. 
  • Science – In our new unit, students begin to develop an understanding of the world’s animal biodiversity. They will explore animal classification and the traits that define each group. Students then turn their focus to habitats and how the surrounding environment affects what organisms live in a particular environment.

Other Updates for this Week:

  • AR Reading – This week in your child’s Friday folder, I sent home their most recent AR report for the period 3/1-4/25. Please review and discuss with your child. Congratulate them on their successes and also encourage them to keep going. Chapter books can take a little longer, but the goal is still at least 1 book every 2 weeks with 80-100% comprehension. They are allowed to take their books home. I encourage rereading, especially with nonfiction texts. At this point, I cannot stress enough the importance of consistent, careful reading for their continued growth and success.
  • Dates to Remember:
    • Wednesday, May 3 – All School Mass – May Crowning
    • Saturday, May 6 – First Communion Retreat, 10am-12:30pm, Banners DUE
    • Tuesday, May 9 – Fun Run!
    • Thursday, May 11 – Celebration of the Arts & Sprint Concert
    • Friday, May 12 – Emergency Evacuation Drill
    • Saturday, May 13 – First Holy Communion, 10am in the church
    • Monday, May 15 – First Communion Brunch after 8:30 Mass
    • Tuesday, May 16 – Free dress for May b-days
    • Friday, May 19 – Sports Awards Night
    • Tuesday, May 23 – Field trip to Semifreddi’s
    • Monday, May 29 – No school – Memorial Day

We look forward to seeing our students on Monday!

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."
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— SPN Parent
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— SPN Parent since 2016

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