2nd Grade News - Week 2

The first two weeks of school have come and gone.   Students have been working hard at getting to know each other, their teachers, and our daily schedule.  Over the last few weeks we have put a lot of emphasis on our three school rules: Be Responsible, Be Safe and Be Kind.  Working in large and small groups with lots of different personalities can be challenging for adults and kids.  It is amazing to see how well our students are adapting to a new classroom and new friends.  They are showing patience, acceptance and an appreciation for each other.  We will continue to revisit the school rules over the course of the year!

As a parent myself, I know it is not always easy to stay informed about what is going on in my children’s classrooms.  Therefore, it is my goal to help you stay informed about what we are doing academically and socially in our classroom and at Grout School.  Every Friday you will receive a newsletter about what academic areas we will be focusing on the next week of school.  This will allow you to talk to your children about what they are learning in the classroom without always getting the answer, “Nothing,” or “I don’t know.”  You can always feel free to email me or make an appointment after school to discuss your child or their education further.

Volunteer Opportunities:  I’m looking for a parent that would be willing to stuff take-home folders Thursdays after school.  This job would take about 20 minutes.  Please let me know if you are interested.  I also would like to find a parent volunteer who would be willing to clean our desks, door handles, ect with Clorox wipes on Friday after school.  Flu season is quickly approaching.  I would like to do everything I can to help your children avoid getting sick.

All volunteers must complete a background check online (http://volunteer.pps.net/) or in the office before volunteering in the classroom, on field trips, or at Grout School.  If you think you will be participating in any of these activities this year please complete this form as soon as possible.  It takes about one month to process.  Background checks are good for three years.

Library:  This year I’m allowing students to decide whether they would like to take their library books home or keep them at school. If your child chooses to bring their book home, please have your child return their book to school by Monday.  All books have to be returned to the library by Monday morning.

Homework:  Reading logs, a math activity sheet, and school notes will be sent home in student folders on Fridays. Folders, reading logs, and math activity sheets need to be returned by the following Wednesday.  Please read with your child daily and help them complete their reading log.

  

Academic Areas of Focus for Next Week:

Literacy:        1^st Grade Review

                        Reader’s Workshop – Read to Self, Read to Partner

Mathematics:  Sorting by a variety of attributes

                          Creating and analyzing Venn diagrams

                          Recognize, describe, reproduce, and extend growing patterns

                          Mental arithmetic/Adding and comparing quantities to 25

                          Counting by 5’s and 1’s

                          Recognizing coins and their worth

                                                           

Social Studies:  Reviewing school rules: Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Responsible

Writing:  Intro to Lucy Calkins Writer’s Workshop

Upcoming Events:

       *Picnic and Open House – Thursday, Sept. 12^th 5:30 – 7:00 pm

            *PTA Meeting – Wednesday, Sept. 18^th 6:30 – 8:00

            *Popcorn Friday – Friday, Sept. 20^th

            *PTA Movie Night – Friday, Sept. 20^th

            *Picture Day – Wednesday, September 25^th

            *August/September birthday celebration – Friday, Sept. 27^th (more info to come…)

            *Grout t-shirt day – Friday, Sept. 27^th   

Have a Great Weekend!

Mrs. Hawksford (ahawksford@pps.net)

2nd Grade News - Week 1

What an amazing beginning to the 2^nd grade year.  I am very happy to be teaching your child and look forward to a great year with your family.  I thought you may want to know a little about me since your child and I will be spending so much time together.  This is my 20^th year teaching for Portland Public Schools. I began my teaching career at Beach School where I taught K and 1^st for 13 years.  This is my 7^th year at Grout and my 3^rd year teaching 2^nd grade.  When I am not working hard in the classroom I am with my family.  My husband Rob and I have four children: Ian (26), Riley (23), Mia (16), and Delaney (15).  Mia and Delaney both love to dance.  Most of my free time is spent at dance competitions, performances, or driving carpool.

Paperwork:  If you have not sent back the paperwork sent home on the first day of school, please do so as soon as possible.

Specials: Your child will be attending Art on Thursday, Library on Tuesday, and PE on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. Please make sure your child wears appropriate clothing and shoes on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday for P.E.

Family Picnic/Back to School Night: This is scheduled for Thursday, September 12th from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.  I look forward to meeting your family at this time and sharing what we have been busy doing the first few weeks of school. 

Homework:  A reading log, a math activity sheet, 2^nd Grade News, and notes will be sent home in student folders on Fridays. Folders and homework need to be returned by the following Wednesday.  Please read with your child daily and help them complete their reading log. 

This week’s homework is a little different then normal.  Each student in our class will have the opportunity to be the, “Star of the Week.”  This is an opportunity for the class to get to learn about your child’s interests, hobbies, and family.  Please help your child complete the All About Me poster included in their take home folder.  Instructions are attached to the poster.  This project will be due by September 12^th.

Snack: The school will be providing a fruit or vegetable snack everyday, beginning Tuesday, October 1^st.  2^nd grade has the last lunch of the day at 11:50 am. This is a long time to go without a little snack. I will be hanging a class snack sign-up outside the classroom door to ensure all students receive a snack each day before school snack begins. Great snack choices are apples, oranges, carrots, pretzels, Goldfish, crackers, granola bars, ect.  All snacks need to be store bought.  Please no treats, chips, or junk food of any kind.  We also have a lactose allergy in our room.  If each family could sign-up to bring snack for 23 students, 1 day it would really help!

Birthdays:  We will be celebrating September birthdays on Friday, September 27^th.  I’ll send more info home a week or so before the party with those students who have September birthdays.  Please do not send treats on the actual day of your child’s birthday.  We do not do individual parties.

Thanks,

Anjanette Hawksford

2nd Grade News - Welcome to Second Grade

Welcome to 2nd grade! My name is Anjanette Hawksford (ahawksford@pps.net) and I will be your child’s 2nd grade teacher. This is my 20th year teaching for Portland Public Schools and my 7th year at Grout Elementary. I’m very excited for the school year to begin. It is going to be a year full of learning and fun! Below I have included some school procedures and information about our classroom to help get the year off to a great start.

Breakfast: Supervised breakfast is served daily from 7:30 am – 7:50 am in the cafeteria. If your child is having breakfast at school please have them eat in the cafeteria during this time. You may enter the classroom between 7:50 - 8:00 am. Classroom learning begins promptly at 8:00 am.

After School Dismissal: Second – Fifth graders are dismissed at 2:15 from the classroom. Children riding the school bus and going to YMCA or SUN School will be dismissed first. Please fill out the attached after school pick-up form so I am able to get your child home safely.  If you need to pick your child up before the end of the school day you must first check them out through the office and then come to get them in the room.

Specials: Your child will be attending Art on Thursday, Library on Tuesday, and PE on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. Please make sure your child wears appropriate clothing and shoes on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday for P.E.

Book Orders: Every few months I will be sending home book orders. This is a wonderful way for you to purchase inexpensive books for your child. Make sure that you return the book order or order online by the due date.

Personal Items from Home: Please do not send your child to school with personal items (ie. toys, lip gloss, trading cards, phones, etc.) from home. They are a distraction and often cause conflicts.

Birthdays: We celebrate birthdays on the last Friday of each month. August birthdays will be celebrated with the September birthdays. June and July birthdays will be celebrated the last Friday we have school in June. If your child has a birthday during the month they will receive a prize from the prize box. I will send a sign up sheet home for treats, fruit, and juice with students having a birthday that month. Please do not send treats on your child’s actual birthday.

Back to School Night: This is scheduled for Thursday, September 12th. I look forward to meeting your family at this time and sharing what we have been busy doing the first weeks of school.

Homework: A reading log, a math activity sheet, our class newsletter, and notes will be sent home in student folders on Fridays. Please send a full size backpack to school everyday. Make sure to remove all items from backpacks weekly. Folders and homework need to be returned by the following Wednesday. Please read with your child daily and help them complete their homework.

Paperwork:  Please turn in all of the attached paperwork by Friday. (Student Verification, Afterschool Pick-Up, Walking Field Trip Permission, Dental Sealants, Getting to Know Your Child)

Thanks,   

Mrs. Hawksford