Dear Families,
WELCOME BACK -I am delighted to have your child in my class this year and we are looking forward to a wonderful second grade year together. Newsletters will be posted online every Monday. You will be informed of specific class activities, areas of curriculum study and the list of Spelling words and Bible Verse for that week. On the first Monday of each month, all the Spelling words and Bible Verses for that month will come home printed up on a theme paper. This way you will have all the month’s work for Spelling and Bible Verses at a glance and available. This allows those students who need extra time to have them in advance. I am excited to begin our journey together in second grade. TALLYS TREASURES ROCK!!!!!
Please note a few items of importance to you and your second grader.
Snacks: Snacks may be eaten during the morning recess. Fruit, veggies, crackers, cheese, chips, yogurt, raisins and fruit snacks are some suggestions. We will save our dessert foods for lunch. Because of various children’s food allergies, we are not allowed to share or trade food.
. School Box: Please send a pencil box that is approximately 9 x 6 x 3 inches to hold pencils, crayons, glue sticks, erasers and scissors. Larger boxes will not fit in our cubbies because of our big books and other classroom supplies.
Backpacks: Please send a full sized backpack with your child every day. It can have wheels if so desired, as we keep them behind our chairs.
Dry Erase Boards: We do a lot of word work, phonic sounds and mental math on our boards, which the children keep in their cubbies. Please send a white sock to be used as an eraser. We then store our pens in our socks so we don’t lose them. Imagine that, second graders losing something!!!!
Dress Code – There have been some changes in the dress code. Please refer to the student handbook to familiarize yourself with these changes. Teachers have been asked to check daily for those who are not adhering to the current dress code.
Show and Tell: We will begin show and tell the first week of school. Everyone can share one time during the first week of school. Beginning the second week of school, each student will have the opportunity to share every other week. Anything that is meaningful to your child is acceptable. Be creative!!! Team A will share the week of Aug 19-22 and Team B will share the week of Aug.26 – Aug. 30.
Classroom Behavioral Expectations: In order for our classroom to run smoothly we will be discussing the rules that we need to follow in order for that to be accomplished. The children will be brainstorming and role-playing to create our rules. We will be discussing self-control, respecting rights and property of others, listening without interrupting, cooperating with others, first time obedience and demonstrating positive attitudes and effort. We will be making classroom Care Agreements which will be posted in our classroom.
Birthdays: Children will be honored individually on their birthdays. Each child will have his/her own day to celebrate. You may bring a treat and drink if you choose. Your child and you may choose and there are no restrictions, whatever is a favorite to your child. We usually do our celebrations at 2:20 PM. If it is in the warmer weather, we go out to the picnic tables and in the cooler weather we celebrate inside. Just let me know a few days ahead of time if you want to celebrate at school. It certainly is not mandatory, however, the children really do enjoy celebrating with their friends. If your child has a summer birthday, he/she will not be forgotten. We will find a day for them. It can be on their half birthday or any day that works for you.
Fire Drills: We will be having emergency fire drills monthly and we will be practicing several times during the first few weeks of school. You may want to reinforce and discuss the need for these with your child at home as well.
Classroom Helpers: Sign-ups for morning classroom helpers will be on our outside door. Please stop by to choose a day you are available to assist. Helpers are used during Language Arts Block Monday-Thursday from 8:30 -10:15 and in Math from 10:40 – 11:30. No parent helpers are used on Fridays. There may be some more days that I will need parent help in the afternoons for writing, but at this point I do not know yet which day/days that will be.
P.E. Helpers – We are blessed to have Mrs. Whipple for P.E. once a week. Since we have a longer day, there is time in our schedule for another P.E. time. I would love it if we could get 4 dads to assist with this second P.E. class, so it would mean a time commitment of once a month. The day that is open for us is Tuesdays at 2:00 PM. I will have a sign up on our door if you can help with this.
Book Orders: Book and software orders are sent home monthly. Scholastic publishes excellent books and software for children at a moderate price. Please do not feel obligated to purchase. Our code for purchasing is the same as last year and will be on the first order form that is sent home. You are not restricted to our grade level, but have access to all the books Scholastic sells.
Back To School Night: Please save August 20th for our Curriculum Night at school. It will begin at 7:00 PM. This is not a night for the kids…..they would be bored to death!!! I look forward to seeing you.
Milk and Juice Cards – Milk and Juice will be offered for K-6 students. Milk and juice are 40¢ each. You may purchase a milk and juice card for $8.00 each. Each card is good for 20 drinks. These are available in the elementary office. You will be notified when it is time to purchase a new one. This is offered as a convenience to you and is not mandatory.
As I pray for your children and their growth throughout the school year, I trust you will pray for us. I look forward to a great year as we partner together to educate and raise children who will love and serve the Lord Jesus!
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact via phone or email.
School: 299-1695 Email – dtally@fresnochristian.com. I check my email regularly before school, at lunch, after school and evenings.
8-11 – Happy 8th Birthday Alex Fox
8-12– Convocation – Peoples Campus – 8:00 AM
8-15 – PTF Fall Fundraiser Kickoff
8-20 – Back to School Night – 7:00 PM
8-21 – School dismissed at 12:00 PM – Teacher Inservice
8-26 – Happy 8th Birthday Colby Poplin
9-2 – Labor Day – No school
9-10 – Elementary School Pictures
9-13 – Happy 8th Birthday Sanjay Stephen
9-18 – School dismissed at 12:00 PM – Teacher Inservice
9-23 – Happy 8th Birthday Kaleb Marquez
9-25 – Happy 7th Birthday Mallory Loeffler
9-27 – Happy 8th Birthday Paige Deffenbacher
9-23-27 -Elementary Parent Teacher Conferences- School dismissed at 12:00 PM
Spirit Day is every Friday. Please wear your favorite FCS shirt.
Bible Verse – August 12-16
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 13 pts.
We will write our Bible Verses on Fridays with our Spelling and Dictation Tests. Spelling and Dictation Tests will begin the second week of school. Our first Bible Verse test will be 8/16.
