Friday, September 10, 2010

Welcome Back!

Wow! Is it really September already? It seems like just yesterday that we were all scrubbing desks and putting away books and materials for the summer. Time certainly does fly!

As you are already aware, this is the Room 211 blog! This is where you will find updates on classroom activities and news throughout the year. Although there will be times when it is difficult to find time to make postings,  I will do my best to update it weekly. So...to begin our 2010-2011 blog I would like to take a moment to welcome you all to second grade at Pine Glen and let you know that I am very excited about starting a new year with the children!

First, let me get to a  few housekeeping items that everyone should be aware of.

1.  This year we have students with significant food allergies. We are asking that you please check labels and send students in with snacks that do not contain nuts, specifically peanuts and tree nuts. If you plan on sending in a birthday treat with your child on his/her birthday we are asking that you please send in the ingredient label with the treat. Many store bought snacks have the ingredients attached but if you bake a box of cupcakes, etc. at home, it would alleviate a lot of Miss Varrell's anxiety about allergies if you could send in the empty box or cut off the ingredient label and send it in with the snack.  This way I can reassure the student(s) that the treats are safe to eat and I am assured of the well-being of all our students.

2. The first "project" homework of the year was sent home today. It is a science-oriented long term project on leaves and trees. Please be sure to read it with your child and follow the instructions included.

3. Homework expectations and the first "weekly" homework assignments of the year will be going home next week. Please be on the look out for a packet on Monday. There will be two copies of the homework expectations attached to the packet. Please be sure to sign and keep one at home (parent copy) and sign and return the school copy along with the first homework assignment.

4. Second grade reading groups (tiered instruction) will begin Monday, September 20. The days/weeks prior to that are being spent on learning routines, understanding classroom rules and expectations and getting back into the swing of school! Curriculum information will be presented at Open House on Thursday, September 23 (start time TBA).

On to our weekly summary...


This week we worked hard on learning classroom rules, work routines and participating in some classroom jobs.  We learned where things are in the classroom and talked about how we will keep the areas in our classroom organized so that we can always find what we need.

We started working in our mathematics programs, Investigations and Number Corner. We also began working in our first science unit, trees. We made a bulletin board with questions about trees that we want to learn the answers to. When you come to Open House, stop by and see it!

Today we had our Heroes Assembly where our guests were Burlington firefighters and police officers. We sang songs and listened to children read some of their letters written to thank them for their service to our town.

Last but not least we just had to include a class picture to show how we ended our week. All smiles!

Enjoy your weekend and READ READ READ!!!

:) Miss Varrell

No comments:

Post a Comment