Congratulations to Eli, Lily S., Aiden, and Eddie for earning their CHAINS OF SUCCESS last week!  They worked hard!

Students enjoyed sharing their “It happened to me” stories using onomatopoeia!

We had the pleasure of having my Mom (a retired 3rd grade teacher) come in and give a challenging Math lesson on Dutch Squares!

Meet Kathy Frink!  She is our Room Parent and has given me permission to give you her contact information.  Please let her know if you have any questions or concerns regarding PTAO! 🙂

[email protected]

904-349-6005

What LEARNING and GROWING went on in room 217 this week:

Academics

ELA:  We began reading Horrible Harry and the Goog by Suzy Kline.  This is story about a mischievous boy and his escaped cat exploring Southside School and literally has us laughing out loud!  Our novel study is quickly becoming the most favorite part of our school day.  Our reading block also focused on sorting and recognizing long o words as well as describing connections between historical events.

Writing:  Students wrote “It happened to Me” narratives incorporating onomatopoeia.

Math:  Numbers to 1,000 were tackled the week – students were challenged with their number sense through word problems, higher order thinking questions, and independent work revolving around larger numbers.

Science: We discussed Earth Science and Earth’s Structures. Students recognized that the Earth is made of of rocks and that rocks come in many sizes and shapes.  They also described how small pieces of rock and dead plant and animal parts can be the basis of soil and explained the process by which soil is formed.

Social Studies:  Students studied the world in spatial terms as well as breaking down “Me on a Map”

Students of the week:

Lily S. and Jayce

Thank you for showing the character count traits of responsibility and respect.

Important Dates:

9/4 – No school – Labor Day

9/12 – Interims sent home

9/21 – PTAO meeting at 3:10

9/20 – FUND RUN KICK OFF

9/29 – FUND RUN

9/30 FUND RUN RAIN DATE

Reminders

• I’ve collected A TON of box tops this week!  Keep ’em coming!
• Please let me know if you plan to check your child out early ahead of time  so they will be packed up and ready to go before the academic day begins.
• If your child needs a new library bag please send in $1 to purchase one from Ms. Gorick.  Otherwise, please send in a bag from home.
  

  Have a great long weekend!  Go ‘noles! 🙂

Happy Birthday to Wyatt! 

Practicing sketching outside

What a MEMORABLE and EXCITING day Monday was watching the Solar Eclipse!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ELI, LILY S., EDDIE, AND AIDEN for earning their chains of success!  These students will be pictured next week.  🙂

What LEARNING and GROWING went on in room 217 this week:

Academics

ELA:  We finished reading Junie B. Jones Cheater Pants.  Students had the opportunity to take an A.R. test on this book as well as many other books this week!  Our reading block also  focused on main idea and finding key details in texts to help support our conclusions.

Writing:  This week students continued practicing narratives about our family, sketching, and sharing stories with our partners.

Math:  Students wrapped up Number Concepts and took Chapter 1 test.  Next week we will begin studying numbers to 1,000!

Science/Social Studies:   Eclipse, Maps.

Students of the week:

Aiden and Alianna

Thank you for persevering and showing LEADERSHIP this week!

Important Dates: 

8/31 – PTAO meeting for Room Parents

9/1 – Scholastic orders due

9/4 – Labor Day – No school

9/12 – Interims sent home

9/21 – PTAO meeting at 3:10

9/26 – Fun Run Kick-Off and Picture Day

Reminders

• We are collecting box tops!  Please send them in!  Ask friends and neighbors to join in as well!

  Have an exceptional weekend!

Students enjoyed sharing their “All about ME” bags and displaying their treasures on the Smartboard.  Students also practiced using the microphone with a clear PRESENTER voice. 

Practicing number sense with tens and ones as well as learning about the upcoming Solar Eclipse!  Please remind your child of the safety precautions encouraged during this exciting time. 

What LEARNING and GROWING went on in room 217 this week:

Academics

ELA:  We began Junie B. Jones Cheater Pants as our 1st novel study.  Students had great conversations about the importance of honesty in school and how to redeem ourselves when we make mistakes… because we ALL make mistakes!   Our reading block also introduced “Read to Self” and “Work on Writing”.   These activities were completed independently.  We also focused on asking questions while we read and finding the answers in our text.  Students used highlighters to show text evidence while looking for key details.

Writing:  “Free-wheeling” sketches like author/illustrator Donald Crews were practiced this week while we wrote stories with partners and continued writing various narratives.

Math:  Students were stretched to the limit with their number sense this week.  We worked on Number Concepts.  Practice counting backward, by two’s, fives, ten’s, and recognizing number patterns on 100’s charts!

Science:   We read “Eddie’s Eclipse” and discussed the importance of safety during the upcoming eclipse.

Students of the week:

Eli Forbes and Wilder Middaugh

Thank you for being exceptionally hard-working and taking initiative this week!

Important Dates: 

8/31 – PTAO meeting for Room Parents

9/1 – Scholastic orders due

9/4 – Labor Day – No school

9/12 – Interims sent home

9/21 – PTAO meeting at 3:10

9/26 – Fun Run Kick-Off and Picture Day

Reminders

• We are collecting box tops!  Please send them in!  Ask friends and neighbors to join in as well.
• If your child needs a new library bag please send in $1 to purchase one from Ms. Gorick.  Otherwise, please send in a bag from home.
• Please remember to send in 1 healthy snack with your child each day.
• Thank you SO much for all the donations!  Oh my word!  I feel so spoiled.  Thank you a MILLION!
• Are you interested in being my Room Parent?  I need 1 or two parents to volunteer to help out our class.  I PROMISE it is not overwhelming and won’t work you too hard.  Please email me if you are willing to take on this task for our sweet class this year.
• Let me know if you plan on checking your child out during the eclipse; it will be excused.  If you did not receive the letter from our superintendent regarding the eclipse, please contact me to clear up any confusion.  We will NOT be viewing the eclipse as a class outside.  PLEASE have conversations with your child about staying safe during this exciting time.  We have gone over safety precautions as a class, but reinforcement at home is ALWAYS encouraged and appreciated.  More information from NASA on eye safety during the eclipse:  https://www.nasa.gov/content/eye-safety-during-a-total-solar-eclipse

  Have a stupendous weekend.  Go outside, play board games with your family, and enjoy our beautiful city!

We were the FIRST class to play on our new playground equipment!

Number sense!  Students cut out numbers 1-100 and had to use different strategies to put them back in order!

Somewhere over the rainbow…

Mrs. Saxon’s Class 2017-2018

We had a GREAT first 2 days of 2nd grade!  I enjoyed getting to know the students through various activities and games as well as going over rituals and routines for the school year.  Next week, we will officially begin our academic schedule so be on the look-out for Math homework as well as Reading Logs.

Thank you for sharing your children with me!  They are WONDERFUL!

Looking forward to making the 2017-2018 school year the best YET!  Have a great weekend!

Reminders:

• Turn in pages 64, 65, and 66 of the student code of conduct
• If you are missing any paperwork, I sent it home on the “Return to School” side of the red communication folder
• Turn in brown “All about me Bag” by Monday
• August 18th:  Volunteer Welcome Breakfast
• August 25:  Summer Reading Celebration
• August 31:  PTAO meeting for Room Parents

Have a great weekend!

Thank you so much for coming to school today for Meet the Teacher!  I am SO pumped for the 2017-2018 school year!  Here are a few gentle reminders for parents and students:

• Please SIGN and return page 64, 65, and 66 (the last 3 pages) of the student code of conduct.  The booklets can be found on the “Return to school” side of your child’s red communication folder.  You would make me the HAPPIEST teacher in the world if these were turned in by tomorrow or Friday.  🙂
• Remind your child to go straight to the Art Room in the morning.  I will pick them up at 8:10.
• Students need to bring a healthy snack EVERY DAY to school.
• If your student read ANY books over summer and are confident in their ability to take an A.R. test on them, please have them write the titles on a sheet of paper so they can earn their AR points at school!

Looking forward to a great first day!

What a year!   You are such a talented, respectful group of students – collectively and individually.  I have LOVED being your teacher!  I know you will continue to read, write, and solve problems every day, because you have internalized the value of learning.  I expect to continue hearing GREAT things about all 17 of you in the future.  Have a fun summer!  I’m already looking forward to seeing your smiling faces return to R.B Hunt in August!  It will be here before we know it!  Love you all!

What at great celebration today! Thank you parents for all your help!

WOO HOO!  Our class WON the box top challenge for the entire school!  Students have earned a special treat Monday afternoon before the Mega Party!  Thank you parents for sending in so many box tops!  YOU ROCK!

What LEARNING and GROWING went on in room 217 this week:

Academics

ELA:   continued class novel Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm, wrapped up Wordly-wise vocab, noting details

Writing:  letter to incoming 2nd grade students

Math:  Multiplication strategies

Science:  Force and motion

Students of the week:

Saylor and Belle

Upcoming Events/Important Info

Important info regarding Mega Party:

This is just a quick note with some guidelines for this year’s MEGA Party, coming up on Monday, May 22nd (with a rain date of Tuesday, May 23rd).

First and foremost, we need volunteers!  Parents, guardians, and any building-access-approved relative (we’re not picky!), please click this link to sign up to help out, either serving snow cones or monitoring a bounce house: http://signup.com/go/MATBlOj

– When students arrive for their time slot, they should remove their shoes when they enter Coach Durr field.  Shoes can be left at the fence.  We are highly (highly highly – did I mention highly?) encouraging students to WEAR SOCKS!  The bounce houses can get hot, and socks will prevent little feet from being scorched.

Also, if you have extra socks your child could bring in to offer to someone else who might have forgotten, it would be greatly appreciated!  

– All students must remove eyeglasses, jewelry, and any hard or sharp objects before coming out to the field.  If a student can’t see to walk out to the field without eyeglasses, they can wear them out to the field, but they need to be removed and handed to a teacher or parent volunteer before entering a bounce house.  If a student absolutely cannot see well enough to bounce without eyeglasses, I am sure we can make an exception, but no guarantees that the eyeglasses will come out of the bounce houses in one piece.  Sport eyeglasses that will stay on a child’s head via strap are okay.

– We will again have some non-bounce activities .. “shooting stars” basketball and tee-ball  so if kids can’t bounce for whatever reason, there will be something they can do.

– All students must empty their pockets before coming out to the field. Otherwise, stuff LIKE FIDGET SPINNERS will invariably end up LOST ?  .  Especially no pencils, pens, or again, anything remotely sharp!   These are bad for anything inflatable.

– Absolutely NO flips, wrestling, or other forms of “rough housing” are allowed in the bounce houses.

– There will be snow cones out at the field for kids.  One snow cone per student.

– Parents/guardians should apply sunblock to their kids before they get to school.

– The schedule:

8:40-9:30 Kindergarten

9:40-10:30- 3^rd grade

10:40-11:30- 5^th grade

11:40- 12:30- 4^th grade

12:40-1:30- 1^st grade

1:40-2:30- 2^nd grade

– If it rains on Monday, tell your kids not to panic!  The party will then happen on the following day (Tuesday).  Hopefully if it rains this year, knowing this in advance will avoid any tears.

– Teachers can bounce too!!

– Song requests (new this year!): http://bit.ly/MP2017Song – Parents should fill out this form on behalf of their child, and all requests WILL be vetted for appropriateness!

Email, or text me with any questions you might have (my info is below.. parents are welcome to as well) and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Thank you!

Pete Clark

email: [email protected]

text: 904.540.4649

5/22:  Book/Beach Towel Day!  We will be spending time reading in and out of class on Monday, May 22nd.  Students are allowed to bring in (with your permission) books from home.  Please also allow them to bring in a beach towel as we will be outside reading!

5/22:  Box Top Winner Treat at 1:15 and Mega Party – 1:40 – 2:30

5/23:  Game Day!  Students are allowed to bring in board games to school!  Please do not send any electronic devices.  🙂

5/23:  A.R. Celebration – Ice cream sundaes for those who met their goal!

5/24:  Movie Day – Students are allowed to bring in any Rated G movie.  IT MUST BE RATED G!  🙂  Class will vote on which movie to watch.

5/24:  Last day of school, Report Cards sent home

Families,

  Just a reminder that our class celebration is tomorrow.  If you plan to join us, please meet in our classroom at 11:30 for superlatives.  Afterward, we will head out to the picnic tables outside to have lunch.  Students will not need to bring a lunch from home.  

Thank you!

Mrs. Saxon

SWIM WEEK FUN!  Students had a BLAST learning water safety and swimming at Calhoun Center this week.  Thanks so much to Coach Z for all the thoughtful planning to make this outreach a success for our school!

Congratulations to Gaby, Emi, Ennis, and Caenan for making it into the MILLION WORD Club! 

READERS ARE LEADERS!

What LEARNING and GROWING went on in room 217 this week:

Academics

ELA:   began class novel Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

Writing:  2nd grade memory book

Math:  STAR Math, fluency tests

Students of the week:

Caenan and Brooke

5/19:  Class party – 11:00-12:30.

5/19:  Variety Show- GRADES 3 – 5 (We will be part of the audience!)

5/22:  Book/Beach Towel Day!  

5/22:  Mega Party – 1:40 – 2:30

5/23:  Game Day!

5/23:  A.R. Celebration – Ice cream sundaes for those who met their goal!

5/24:  Movie Day, last day of school, Report Cards sent home