Dear Families,

         Welcome back! We have been busy planning for your child's arrival and for a fun filled, academic school year. Here is a list of helpful hints to make second grade a successful year. We will go through this information in further detail on curriculum night.

Thank you,

Mrs. Savage and Mrs. Rebholz

OFF TO A GOOD START/SCHOOL HOURS.

     * Children should arrive at school no earlier than 8:35 as there is no adult supervision until then. Our school day promptly begins at 8:45. Please plan for your child to arrive on time, as late arrivals are a disruption to the entire class.

HEALTH

• Children should stay home if they are running a temperature or if they have a cold, stomachache, vomiting, or any other communicable disease.  This reduces the chance of missing more days and of exposing other children and adults.  Please contact the office and make them aware of your student’s absences.

• Children may not stay inside at recess, as there is no supervision in the classroom. 

NOTICES, NOTES, AND EXCUSED ABSENCES

• All notices and forms sent home are important.  Please check your child’s backpack DAILY.  Please read all notices and respond as requested.

   *   IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT YOU PROVIDE NOTICE IN WRITING WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN YOUR CHILD’S ROUTINE FOR LEAVING SCHOOL.  THE STAFF WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO DEVIATE FROM THE NORMAL ROUTINE WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM A PARENT. (This is to ensure your child’s safety.)

 *  A bus pass is needed if your child does not normally ride the bus, but is taking the bus home with another friend or if your student rides the bus and is getting off at a different stop.

*    A written note is better than e-mail.  Substitutes do not have access to our e-mail accounts. 

*       If there is an emergency or late change of routine, please call the office.

*      Notes should be written on a regular size sheet of paper in large, dark ink with the date clearly written on it.

• After an absence, a child is required to bring a note from a parent indicating reason for the absence.  If you wish to take a child out of class early, you MUST GO TO THE OFFICE and they will notify the teacher.  Children are excused through the office only.  If your child is arriving to school after the start time, he/she must go to the office first to get an “admit” pass, before coming to the classroom.

BUS TAGS

*     If your child rides the school bus to and/or from school he/she needs to have a bus tag. PLEASE see that your child has their bus tag each day, occasionally there are substitute bus drivers. Extra bus tags are available in the school office.

VISITATIONS AND CONFERENCES

*     Whenever you enter the school building, you must sign in (and out, when leaving) at the school office. 

*  Parent volunteers begin helping after the first month of school.  We reserve the first month for your child to learn the routines and get to know their teachers and classmates. 

*   Parent conferences have scheduled dates, please refer to your Rieke calendar for those dates.  Conferences can also be held at your request throughout the year by making an appointment.

CLOTHING

• Please make sure to label all clothing that your child might remove at school.  Our lost and found bins are often overflowing with unclaimed items.

• Please dress children suitably for active participation in all classroom and outdoor activities.  Children should wear clothing appropriate for weather (and possible weather) conditions. We often have recess in the rain.

BACKPACKS

 *     Please send your child to school with a backpack and folder everyday. 

*     Please label your child’s name on the inside of backpacks and outside of folders.  Many students choose similar styles.

*    Toys, games, cards, and electronics should be left at home.  These items are often a distraction and easily lost.

SNACK

We will have snack every day. Please pack a small, healthy, and easily manageable snack.  It’s most convenient to pack this snack separate from your lunch and in the outside pocket of your backpack. Drinking water throughout the day is encouraged, at the appropriate time. There are drinking fountains located in the hall and one in our classroom. You are welcome to bring a reusable water bottle. (Please put your name on it.) We will keep water bottles on the back sink. 

HOMEWORK

In second grade, students will receive a Monday through Thursday week-long homework packet. Each night’s work should take no longer than 30 minutes. The purpose of the homework is to review, reinforce, and extend what has been taught in class. In addition, students are expected to read daily. Homework will receive credit for completion and spot checked for accuracy.

When homework begins, all written work will be completed in class for the first week so students have a clear understanding of “quality work”, homework expectations, and how to manage homework successfully. Your child is expected to share what they have done with you during this week.  We will go over homework in further detail at curriculum night.

HELPFUL HOMEWORK TIPS

HOMEWORK EXPECTATIONS

• Homework should be completed neatly and in pencil only.
• Homework should be labeled with student’s name and date.
• Homework should be kept clean and unwrinkled.
• Homework should be reread and edited by the student.
• Students should do their best!

WORK AREA - Please establish a designated homework area (ex: desk or kitchen table) at home. This area should be calm, quiet, and clean.  It is helpful for students to have a large surface area so they can spread their work out and organize it.

TIME – Please establish a routine and time for students to complete homework, for example: after school, after a snack, or 30 minutes before dinner. We‘d like to suggest that your routine occurs before dinner. Students are usually exhausted from school and extra curricular activities. Just like adults, children need time to unwind before bed. Reading can definitely be saved for bedtime.

HOMEWORK SUPPLIES – It is helpful to have the following homework supplies accessible in the designated homework area: pencils, crayons, scissors, glue, dictionary, erasers, and paper. Keeping homework supplies in a shoebox or basket will make them easy to locate and to put away.

BIRTHDAYS

We love birthdays and we love books! Birthdays will be celebrated in the classroom during story time either on or near the actual birthday. Summer birthdays will be assigned a special day in the months of May and June to be celebrated. In honor of your child’s birthday your child may bring in a favorite short story (approx. 15 minutes) to be read aloud to the class. There will also be a special time when a story about the child, written by a family member is read aloud. Please do not send treats. We have found our Birthday Book celebration to be a favorite. Kids love to share what they are reading at home. If you would like to donate a copy of your child’s favorite book on their birthday to the classroom, please dedicate it on the front page with a note to the class and the year. Kids love to reread books their friends have given to the class.

PE AND LIBRARY

*   Please dress your child appropriately for exercise. Tennis shoes are strongly encouraged. A PE schedule will come out closer to the start of school.

*   Our class will visit the library once a week. Each child will check out one or two books and be asked to return it the following week. If a book is not returned, a new book cannot be checked out. If your child’s book becomes lost, please contact our librarian, to make arrangements to pay for it.

CONTACT INFORMATION

*      When contacting either of us for absences or needs for your child, please make sure to always copy both of us. Our e-mail addresses are ssavage@pps.net and jrebholz@pps.net . Feel free to e-mail anytime or you can reach us by calling the Rieke office.

It is our hope and expectation that your child’s second grade year will be a joyful learning and growing experience. Please be sensitive to your child’s needs for a healthy diet and adequate sleep.  We are looking forward to working with you and your child this year and appreciate your support and involvement.