Ms. Russell
Second Grade Newsletter
Chaparral School

September 9, 2009
Dear Room 6 Families,
Today begins the life of a new family. Our classroom will become a place of safety and risk taking, thoughtfulness and questioning, learning and testing what we have learned. While we practice those small steps that build the skills we need as tools for learning, we will also ask the open-ended questions that will put those tools to work. This will be a journey of 181 days and it starts this morning. There will be unexpected discoveries and a lot of fun.

At Back To School Night, you will hear about our curriculum and my classroom expectations. This week in Room 6, we will be making new friends, reacquainting ourselves with “old” friends, learning how to be safe and happy at school, beginning informal assessments, and discussing the behavior expectations I have for each child.

This morning, we will be enjoying songs and discussion prompts revolving around Labor Day. In addition, the children will be introduced to our getting-to-know-you pirate theme. This afternoon, each child will take home a pirate treasure chest. Please help your child select an object to put in their treasure chest that will help us learn more about him or her. Attached to this newsletter are directions for this assignment. On Thursday morning, we will share our treasures.

For all those students returning to Chaparral, remember to bring back your summer reading log. Return the log to THIS year’s teacher. We are looking forward to seeing what books you enjoyed this summer. Which was your favorite?
Please look for this newsletter EVERY Monday, or Tuesday if there is a school holiday. In it you will find information about the academics of the week and school events. If you have any questions, always feel free to write me a note and send it to school with your child, or put it in the teacher’s box in the staff room.

Every Monday your child will come home with a H.A.S. (Homework Assignment Sheet). The homework for the day is written on this sheet, along with a space for your initials. Sign your initials only after you have reviewed the completed homework with your child. In this way, I will know that you have seen the homework and your student will know that s/he is accountable to both her/himself and to you. Please be sure to have your child return their homework envelope, with the H.A.S. inside it, EACH DAY, even if it is empty and there is no homework to return to school.

You will also see a R.I.S.E. (Reading Is Sound Enjoyment) sheet coming home today. Keep this at home until it is filled out. When your child has completed it and returns it to school, s/he will get another one to take home. This program is reflected by a grade on your child’s progress report three times a year and is a very important part of your student’s home-school connection.

There is a family homework assignment this week, an All About Me poster. It is inside your child’s homework envelope and is due on Friday, September 11. We will be using this poster for a number of activities. Instructions for the poster are attached.

You have the opportunity to read this weekly newsletter online. This is only one of the many reasons you will want to check out our
Room 6 web page. Stay tuned!

I look forward to this year and to working with your child. Please remember that you are a big part of the teaching team and I welcome your visits to the classroom, as well as your comments.

Sincerely,
Ms. Russell