Reading?

How's the reading log and book project going?  Don't forget to fill  out the log and return it on Monday the 3rd for a ticket to Six Flags.    Book projects are due no later than Wednesday the 5th.  I hope you're having a nice break, had a wonderful Christmas and will have a fantastic new year.  See you in 2011!

Great times!

We had a lot of fun this week at school!  Thursday afternoon was our holiday party and the kids "bought" their candy to decorate their gingerbread houses.  I think some of them may have eaten more than they decorated with, but they had fun!  At the end of the party they all opened up a pair of pajamas that Mrs. Lorenz, Mrs. Dyches, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Keane, and Mrs. Bland purchased for the class.

On Friday, it was Pajama Day.  All the kids wore the pj's they were given at the party.  We opened the gifts from the gift exchange.  They were so excited to see what they got and who it was from.  It was so fun to hear their excitement and all the "thank you's" that morning.  

Have a Wonderful Christmas!

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!  School will resume on Monday, January 3rd.  Book projects are due to school no later than Wednesday, January 5th.  In the Friday folders there is a notice for a reading contest in which any child who fills out a reading log adding up to 6 hours of reading over break will receive a free ticket to Six Flags.  See the details in the folder.  The reading logs must be brought back the Monday we return.  I cannot accept late logs.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
See you in 2010!

Math Practice

Our 2nd district math benchmark assessment is coming up the second week after we get back from break.  The test consists of a lot of time, money, measurement (to the nearest inch and centimeter), three-dimensional shapes and algebra.  Yes, I said algebra.  For instance, 2 + ___ = 16.  If you're itching for some math pratice over break these would be great things to brush up on. :)

Gift Exchange & Candy

Just a reminder that all gifts for the gift exchange and candy for the gingerbread houses are due tomorrow.  The gifts should be wrapped and labeled with who they are from.  Please let me know as soon as possible if you're unable to bring in any of these items or if you have questions regarding what I'm talking about :)

From Mrs. Lorenz...

Just a reminder that the class party is next Thursday, December 16th from
1:45-3:00 pm. The kids will decorate a gingerbread house, snack on some
goodies, and participate in a gift exchange.


Please remember to bring in your "candy assignment" and your wrapped
hat/glove/scarf set by Tuesday, December 14th! Please let Mrs. Fredrickson
know as soon as possible if you will not be able to bring in either of the
items.


Also, on Friday, December 17th, the whole school participates in a Polar
Express Assembly! To help celebrate this, that Friday is also Pajama Day -
the kids are encouraged to wear their PJs to school! Just so you know, a
few of the families in Mrs. Fredrickson's class have purchased matching
pajama sets for the girls and matching pajama sets for the boys to wear on
this "special spirit day." These pajamas will be handed out as gifts during
the Holiday Party next Thursday - please be on the "lookout" for them and
don't forget to dress your child in them Friday, December 17th (we would
hate for anyone to feel left out...).


Thank you Jill, for all of your help!!

First Book Project

It's time for our first book project!  It is due on January 5th, the Wednesday we get back from break, and should not take a whole lot of time to complete.  The specifications of what the students will be graded on are listed on the form.  I do look heavily at direction following and effort when giving the grades on these projects.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  I can also upload the directions form if necessary.

Book Project Dec

Still want to Chaperone?

I have three spots left for chaperoning that have become available for the field trip to the Cinderella play next Tuesday, December 7th.  The tickets are $6.  Please let me know as soon as possible if you'd like to go with us to the play.  We will be leaving school between 9-9:15 and returning sometime around 11:30-12. 

It's that busy time

The time of the year has arrived that is beyond busy.  Three important notes went home today in the homework folders.  One was explaing the first book project which will be going home this Friday along with the book that each student has been assigned.  This project is to be completed at home and then students will present their book and how they did their project some time the week that it is due (the due date for the project will be on the instructions on Friday).  Students' grades are heavily weighted on effort and direction following.

Second, a pink slip went home with almost every student asking for a specific type of candy for our "candy store" at the holiday party. If you did not get a pink slip with a candy assignment it's more than likely because you signed up to help with the party and will be given a special request. :)  Please let me know if you're having a difficult time finding the specific candy or if you have no idea what I meant.  These need to be brought into class no later than Tuesday, December 14th in order to make sure we have everything necessary for the "candy store".

At last but not least, a note went home today about a gift exchange that we will be doing the day of the party, December 16th.  Please read over the note and let me know if you have any questions or if you will not be able to participate.  Every child has been asked to bring in a wrapped gift of two winter accessories- a hat and gloves, a scarf and mittens, etc.  Please wrap both items as one present and label only with who it is from.  Girls should bring in a gift for a girl and boys for boys.

Mitten Exchange

Quite the week

We had quite week this past week.  Our story this past week in our reading program was Owl Moon so we spent a lot of time learning all about owls, doing owl art, and last but not least, dissecting owl pellets.  Some of the kids were a little hesitant about this project, but after digging in and finding lots of skulls and other little bones they were very excited!  We had our own little group of scientists classifying bones on our hands.

We also helped finish up the coat drive by making special tags to attach to the coats that were collected over the past couple months at our school.  The coats were delivered to Sierra Vista Elementary school along with some hot chocolate.  Below are some pictures of the tag making process and getting ready to attach.  The plan was to also take some pictures of them in action along with Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Rippingham's class attaching the tags and sorting the coats by size; however, it got a little hectic and I didn't have a spare second to snap a photo.

Easier Communication

In order to help with easier communication on our new website, I have changed the settings required to make a comment.  You will not need an account in order to comment on something or to ask a question!  Just click on the comment line (or the little pencil) under the post, choose Name/URL, type your name and comment or question and post!

Last one

Tomorrow in the Friday Folders I will be sending home the last paper-type news bulletin. From now on all the news and reminders will be given from this website. Please save the address to your "favorites" and try to check it at least once a week. Here is the last newsletter...
Second Grade Newspdf

This has been a fun, busy week.  We made 114 tags to be attached to the coats that were collected in the coat drive for Sierra Vista Elementary and we will be attaching them to the coats tomorrow.  We also dissected owl pellets today!  Pictures and more details soon....

Thank you

We had a great turn out for conference week with 100% of all our conferences completed. Thank you so much for helping make it a successful week!

Make sure to take note that next Wednesday, November 17th, is a 3:00 dismissal due to bussing issues due to high school proficiency testing. Have a wonderful weekend!

Due Dates

There are a couple of due dates coming up.

First....our November/December book orders are due by this Friday.  You can place the order online or send in the order forms with a check.  If you choose to order the books online please do so no later than the morning of Friday the 19th so the orders can be finalized at the same time.

Second....our first field trip will be here before you know it.  The $9 for our Cinderella play is due back by November 29th.  Please let me know if you'd like to chaperone.  Spaces for chaperones are limited.  I will notify parents who will be able to chaperone and at that time they can send in the money for their ticket.  I believe chaperones pay $6 since they do not pay for the pricey and fabulous school bus.

Cinderella Field Trip

Busy, Busy, Busy

This week has been crazy and it's only Monday, not a good sign. :)  We have half days everyday (except Wednesday is the normal 2:15 release and there's no school Thursday), we are taking the district-wide Math Benchmark tests (you will get the results on Friday) and we are going to decorate the t-shirts you all sent in to get ready for our first field trip in December.

Next week will be the only full week of school for the entire month of November.  We will doing a big unit on Owls to go along with our Owl Moon story for the week.  As a tie to Science we will be dissecting sterilized owl pellets in partners on Wednesday afternoon.  Make sure to let me know if you'd prefer your child not to participate in this activity.

On another note, today was the first day that Miss Loux was not in our class but we did have some sightings of her in building.  It's like a celebrity spotting or our own personal version of Where's Waldo? on a daily basis...fun! :)

So long Miss Loux...

This is Miss Loux's last week in our class.  I can't believe how quickly the time flew!  She will now be completing a ten week internship with the special education teacher at our school so we will still see her around.  I know that Julie had a great time working with all the students and parents in our class and will take lots of learning experiences with her on the rest of her teaching journey.  Good luck Miss Loux!  You're a great teacher!

Just a Reminder...

...that there is no school this Friday in celebration of Nevada Day.  There is also no school on Tuesday, November 2nd for Election Day.  Next Friday, November 5th is a 12:50 early release due to conferences.  Next week Monday, Tuesday, and Friday are also 12:50 releases for conferences.  There is no school that Thursday, November 11th in celebration of Veteran's Day and Wednesday is a normal 2:15 release.  Could it be any more confusing?

Halloween Hullabaloo

Halloween is right around the corner and there are many fun events at school this coming week.  The pumpkin decorating contest, the school-wide costume parade around the neighborhood and our class party to name a few.  The parade will take place Thursday morning the 28th at 10 o'clock.  Our class party will start that day as well at 1:30.  We are all excited to see everyone in their fun and creative costumes but we ask that students leave any masks and distracting accessories like wands and swords at home.  Also on Wednesday this week we will celebrating our class's October birthdays!  Happy birthday Jenna, Tristan, and Delaney!  And Happy Halloween!

Welcome One and All...

Welcome to our class's new blog!  We have started this as a fun and easy way to convey important information about our classroom events to you.  Every week I will also post the spelling words on the site in case you lose your list.  This blog also includes some fun links that you may find helpful.  As I become more familiar with the blogging world I have hopes of adding much more to the site.  You are also able to comment on posts or ask questions as long as you have an account.  If not, they are very easy to sign up for, otherwise you can always email me.  Happy blogging!  Keep posted for more news soon!