Class Halloween Party

Our class Halloween Party will be Friday, October 29 from 2:00-2:30.

Parents are always welcome at our class parties. So if you have the time, feel free to join in the fun in Room 7.

We had a lot of parents request the first party in which you were asked to help out with a food item, so some of you may have gotten your second pick instead.

Loukas, Brieanna, Drew, Autumn, Alex, and Alana will be helpers for the Halloween party. These children can bring in their party item that day or their parent can bring it by party time on Friday...whichever is more convenient.

Thank you in advance to these parents for their help with our party!

Late Start Dates For 2010-2011

Late Start Dates will be the following dates: October 13th, November 10th,

December 8th, January 12th, February 9th, March 9th, April 13th, May 11th, and June 8th.

On Late Start Dates the school will open at 10:00 and school will start at 10:15 a.m. The bus will be picking up your child two hours later than normal. There will be no breakfast served on those days.

Reminder

Reminder!! There will will be no school on Friday, October 8th, for a State Inservice Day.

We Are Off To A Great Year!

Today we finished our first full week of school. The children have begun to settle into our classroom routine nicely.

We have started our first theme in our reader, which is 'Silly Stories.' The whole class enjoyed reading the first story which is about a silly dragon who goes shopping for food. Today the class took a reading test on that story. And later they also took a spelling and math test. The class did a great job of paying attention and following directions during our testing times.

We have also been having a lot of school wide testing over these past two weeks. The second graders have one more big test to take next Tuesday. We will all breathe a sigh of relief when these school wide tests are completed!

Volunteers

In the past, I have had parents volunteer their time in the classroom, and I encourage this because it provides opportunities for more children to receive personal attention. If you are interested in volunteering, please let me know. This can be on a weekly, monthly, or occasional basis for class parties or field trips or to share a special skill or area of interest with the students. All volunteers will need to complete a new volunteer packet to be eligible to assist in the classroom. Volunteer packets can be obtained from the school office and must be completed every year.

Birthdays

Birthdays are special occasions and we enjoy celebrating them at school. Please know that you are welcome to send treats to the classroom on your child's birthday, or on the Monday following a weekend birthday. We will be sure to take a few minutes to honor your child with singing and a few games.

Snacks

I find that kids at this age really function better with a morning snack. We will have a Snack Time / Story Time at 10:00 each morning. Please provide your child with something small and healthy each day. Some kids bring something new each day, and others bring a box of crackers, etc. lasting them several days. Some students may choose to eat a piece of fruit, or half of a sandwich from their lunch that they have brought from home.

Homework

Homework will come home every Friday in their PENGUIN folders unless stated otherwise. Homework at second grade usually consists of 5 items to be completed and is worth 5 points in the gradebook. Be sure to complete the following:

1. math page

2. 100 + recorded reading minutes (number of minutes each day in box, totaled to at least 100 for the week) Practicing their vocabulary words, high frequency words, new and old Take Home Books and their library books are all great ways to get weekly reading minutes.

3. high frequency word list (on the inside cover of the Take Home Book) practiced by student each day and signed off by parent

4. vocabulary word list (on the inside cover of the Take Home Book) practiced with the parent so your child understands the meaning of the words.

5. parent initials that the student has practiced that week's 'Take Home Book' each day until the your child can read the story fast and fluently. **Note the Take Home Books stay at home. Please keep them in a box and have your child re-read them to improve their reading fluency.

***Writing- extra credit will go to those children who complete the writing questions on the Comprehension Study Guide which is on the last page of the' Take Home Book'. They will also get to share their writing during our Friday Show and Tell time. This would be a great activity for those students wanting some challenge homework.

Remember the homework packet needs to be returned on THURSDAY with their folder. :)

Welcome to Second Grade

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to my blog. I use this space to inform you about weekly assignments, activities that the class is working on, as well as to remind you of important dates of upcoming school activities.

I have a 24 hour voice mail at school so if you have a question, feel free to leave a message before or after school. Our phone number at Parkside is 264-3800. You can also reach me by e-mail ( waldockt@tenino.k12.wa.us or follow the link on the school site.)

I am so excited about the new school year! I participated in the Tenino Art Institute class that was held at Parkside this August, and learned some fun and educational art techniques that I am going to use this year during our class art lessons. I fully expect to see some budding Picasso's this year in Room 7!

Tuesday, August 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., is our Parkside Open House and Ice Cream Social. I will be in Room 7 ready to greet you and show you where you new desk is. You can also bring your school supplies along and put them away in your desk. I'm sure you will see some school friends here putting their things away as well.

Enjoy your weekend, and I hope to see you Tuesday at the Parkside Open House!

2nd to 3rd Grade Transition Visit on June 7th

The 2nd to 3rd grade transition visit to Tenino Elementary School will be this Monday, June 7, from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. All parents are welcome to join us at the Tenino Elementary School meeting which will begin in their multi purpose room at 9 am.

Mr. Ford, the principal of Tenino Elementary School, will welcome us and then introduce the third grade teachers to our students. Each third grade teacher will lead one of our second grade classes on a tour of their school.

For many of our students this will be their first look at their 'new' school that they will attend in September. Our Parkside second graders are educationally ready to make the transition from second to third graders. We will all miss our students, but we know they will make us 'Parkside Proud' next year at their new school.  

North West Trek field Trip

Our class field trip to North West Trek was today, Friday, June 4th. We all had a great time. We were fortunate with the weather. It rained a bit on the way to North West Trek, and once again while we were on the tram. But that was all the rain we had for the rest of the day.

A huge 'thank you' to all our parent chaperones. You helped made the day a fun and educational experience for all the children in the class.

Five Beautiful Butterflies!

The children have had such fun watching our five caterpillars change into pupa and form coverings over their bodies called a chrysalis. This week they saw five beautiful butterflies slowly come out of their chrysalis. 

 We have read books about the life cycle of the butterfly. And we have watched, written and recorded the various stages in our writing journals. The children have been fascinated by our butterfly science project, and it has been a wonderful learning experience for the whole class.

On Friday,  April 30th, all of the second grade classes will release our butterflies on the school playground at 2 p.m. The butterflies are now ready to fly away to find flowers from which to get their food. 

B.E.A.R. Week At Parkside....Calling all Teddy Bears!!

April 26th - April 30th is B.E.A.R. Week at Parkside Elementary School. (Be Excited About Reading)  One of the many events planned is to have students participate in an at home reading program on the nights of April 26th, April 27th, and april 28th.  Our goal is to have students read 20 minutes per night...or more... and receive a donated book in the library. This year South Sound Reading Foundation will provide the books.

Students who read at least 60 minutes will also be eligible to participate in a drawing for a girl's scooter and a boy's scooter. The scooters have been donated by the Tenino Masons.

Students need to return the B.E.A.R. Bookmark on Thursday, April 29th to the classroom. The top readers from each grade will also be honored.

My goal is to have every child in Room 7 return their completed bookmarks. Thank you all in advance for your help in this worthwhile event.  

American Painted Lady Caterpillars ...to Butterflies

Have the children told you yet about the cup of American Painted Lady caterpillars that we have in the classroom? We have watched the larva hatch and grow from a quarter of an inch long to fat caterpillars over that are over an inch long.

The children have had a lot of fun observing the caterpillars eat and spin their silk threads that help them move around. The caterpillars shed their skin several times as they grow hundreds of times their original size.

We'll keep you posted on their progress!

I.T.B.S. Testing is Going Well

We are in our third day of testing. We have just one more day of testing to go. The children have all done a super job of listening to the test directions. They all have tried their best, and I am very proud of them.  

Later this afternoon we will have a special assembly. The assembly will focus on a juggling act. This will be a welcome break for all of us.

No Homework April 5- April 16th

There will be no homework the first two weeks in April.....April 5- to April 16th. The week of April 5th we will be doing test practice for the ITBS. And The week of April 12th we will be doing the ITBS testing at school. Make sure your child gets a good nights sleep during this test prep and testing time.

.March 22-25....No Homework This Week

There will be no homework for the week of March 22-25 due to Spring Conferences. I hope you all have a Happy Spring Break next week! School will resume again on Monday, April 5th.

March Is Our School Carnival Month

Our school Carnival will be on Friday, March 19th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You will be able to buy food at the concession stand. Games for the children will be held in the MP room, as well as throughout the school hallways. Be sure to check out the silent auction in the library. There are always many wonderful gift baskets each year.

Dr. Seuss Assembly is on February 26th

Each year Parkside has a big assembly honoring Dr. Seuss. Ms. Lakin has asked every child to read five books at home during the month of February. Your child has brought home a page with stars on it for you to help your child record the five books that they have read at home.

When your child returns their completed five stars and gives them to Ms. Lakin, she will give your child a Dr. Seuss pencil. Your child will also receive a free book as well as a chance to win other prizes at our Dr. Seuss Assembly.

Please make sure that your child has brought in their five stars with the five book titles that they have read printed on them.  

Happy President's Day and Mid-Winter Break

We will be working on the story "The Great Ball Game" for two weeks ( Feb. 8-19th ). Homework is being sent home today (Friday, February 5th ). No homework will be sent home on Thursday, February 11th. The next homework packet will be sent home on Friday, February, 19th.

Progress Reports for the first semester will be sent home Thursday, February 11th.

Valentine's Cards

The children made their valentine sacks on Friday. Students who choose to bring valentines to school may start doing so on Monday, February 1st. 

The children can bring their homemade or store bought valentines into the classroom and can immediately put them into their classmates valentines sacks. I will also provide a valentine making center in class so that every child has an opportunity to make and give valentines.

Class Valentine's Party

Our class Valentine's Party will be on Thursday, February 11th, from 2:00 to 2:30. Feel free to come and join in the fun.

A class valentine's list came home in today's homework folders, along with the names of those children who will be helpers at our class party. Aaron, Marcus, Katherine, Taylor, Emma, and Cole will be the helpers for our Valentine's Party.

PTA ART COMPETITION

This past December our class decided to enter the PTA's National Art Competition.

The children were asked to make a drawing of what 'Beauty' meant to them. I feel that the children came up with some great art work.

Two of our student's art work was selected for the local Top 10 category by a team of art judges. Congratulations to Allysa Klene, and Carrianna Plascencia for receiving this special recognition.

The PTA is having a meeting with refreshments to celebrate 'all' the students art submissions on January 19th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Tenino Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room. All are invited to attend to recognize Tenino Schools' students and their submissions to the National PTA Art Competition.

PTA Student Book Exchange Is Coming!

Start gathering your books! The 7th Annual Book Exchange is coming on January 22.

Starting January 11th students can bring in up to 10 of their old books ( in good shape) to exchange for 10 used books that they would like to own.

This is a great way for your child to recycle the books that they have at home. Encourage your child to choose books that they have out grown to send to school. I will encourage them to choose at least one beginning chapter book. Our reading goal this year is to have your child move from easy to read books to chapter books.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all!

The class made New Year's bells yesterday to help them remember that our year is now 2010. 

It was hard that first day back to school for all of us, after our long Christmas break. But the class is now once again back in our routine.