Events Next Week

I am very excited to see everyone next week.  Just a reminder that we have two events that are open to all Porters Point School families next week.  Our first event is the PTO Welcome Back BBQ on Monday, August 29^th. The BBQ begins at 5:30.  If you anticipate coming to the BBQ please click here to be directed to the sign-up link.  The other event is an Open House for 1st and 2nd graders on Tuesday, August 30th .  The Open House will begin at 8:00 am and ends at 9:00 am. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to come and see the classroom, catch up with old friends and meet their new classmates.  Please let me know if you have any questions, I am looking forward to seeing everyone soon! 

Headphone Recommendations

Sony

Kidz Gear

Headphones for Kids

LilGadgets

ABCs of Ms.LaRose's 2nd Grade 2016 - 2017

ABCs of Ms. LaRose’s 2nd Grade

2016 – 2017

A

Arrival - School begins promptly at 8:10 a.m. Students arriving before that time need to report to the back playground.  Students must be in the classroom by 8:10 to avoid being counted tardy. If your child arrives after 8:10 please be sure to sign them in at the front desk so that they are not counted absent.  If your child is going to be absent please call Sheila in the front office at 264 - 5920.

B
Birthdays - Birthday treats are welcome (please follow the healthy birthday treat policy). Your child will be allowed to share them during our snack time (at the end of the day).  Please do not send birthday invitations to school unless there is an invitation for every child.

Classroom Blog - Our classroom blog is: http://larose2ndgrade.blogspot.com/ (click here to be directed to the classroom blog). The classroom blog is a great way to stay connected and to learn about what your child is doing in school. The classroom blog contains photographs from each week, classroom news, important dates and educational sites your student uses in school.

Student Blogs - Each student in our classroom has their own blog!  More information about student blog accounts will be coming soon!

C

Communication - One thing I enjoy about teaching (besides, of course, the students) is the relationships I have built with parents.  The best way to contact me is via email.  My email address is: natalie.larose@colchestersd.org .  I will make every effort to get back to you within 24 hours.

Conferences - We have two scheduled parent-teacher conferences over the course of the school year.  However, I am happy to meet with you at any time to discuss your child's progress or any concerns you may have. We can also hold phone conferences. Just send me an email or note to set up a time.

D

Dismissal - School ends at 2:45 each day.  If there is any change in where your child should go after school or their method of transportation please send in a note or call the front office.

E

Email -  Email is my preferred method of communication because of the quick turn-around. If you have an Email address that you check regularly please provide it to me to maximize our communication.

F

Folder – In an attempt to “go green”, each Monday I will be sending out an email with attached fliers/notes from the week.  Information that needs to be completed by parents will be sent home in your student’s Homework Folder (on Monday). If you would prefer a paper copy of the notices to be sent home in addition to the Email please let me know.  

G

Grading - All report card grades are based on year-end standards. Regular progress reports will be sent home to parents.

H

Homework – Homework will be sent home on Monday night in your child's Homework Folder.  Homework needs to be returned on Friday.  Each week your child will receive a math packet.  Your child should complete one page a night; each page should take no more than 10 minutes.  Students are also expected to read for 10 minutes a night and complete a Reading Log.  If your child needs the weekend to complete their homework or something came up and your child didn't get a chance to finish their homework, no problem!  Just send in a note.

I

Independence – Independence is a goal for students in 2nd grade because it builds self-esteem. 2nd graders are very capable of doing work on their own, and I will encourage them to do so in the classroom.  Your support at home regarding independence in doing homework would be beneficial.

J

Journals – We love to write in 2nd grade.  Journals are used in science as Science Notebooks.  The 2nd grade science curriculum provides students with real life scientist experiments and their notebooks are a wonderful way to document their new learning and experiments.

K

Keep Reading - Please encourage your child to keep reading.  Students need to read each night for at least 10 minutes, but encouraging them to read more will go a long way. Reading to your child is a wonderful way for students to be introduced to new vocabulary and work on comprehension.

L

Lunch and Lunch Money – We have lunch each day from 12:25 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. You can access your child's lunch account by going to www.mylunchmoney.com to check their balance or to add funds.   

Library - We have library on Tuesday.  Every Tuesday your child will check out a book to take home for that week.  Please be sure your student returns their library book each Tuesday so they can check out a new book.

M

Money – Please make sure that any money sent to school is in an envelope or baggie with a note telling me what the money is for (field trip, lunch money, photographs, etc.)

N

News- For the most up-to-date news from our classroom please subscribe to our classroom blog.  For information that is time sensitive I will send an Email to parents/guardians directly.

O

Open Door - You are always welcome to come into the classroom.  Whether that is in the form of reading, helping out with a project, sharing a special treat or sharing your expertise on a topic.

Our Week In Review: Each week I compile photographs from the week to create an “Our Week In Review” video.  This video will be available on the classroom blog.

P

Physical Education - We have Physical Education on Tuesday and Wednesday each week.  For your child’s safety, please make sure s/he wears gym shoes on these days. On non-PE days, we go outside for recess, so if your child likes to run or play on the playground equipment, it would be beneficial for them to wear sneakers daily.

Q

Questions - Instead of asking your child, “What did you do in school today?” ask, “What book did you read during independent reading?” or “What did you learn in math?” or “Tell me what you wrote about during Writing Workshop!” Show that you’re interested, and ask specific questions. Most likely, your child will respond positively and more openly.  

R

Report Cards – Report cards are sent home every nine weeks. Please be sure to sign and return the envelope that your child’s report card is sent home in.

S

Snack – We have breakfast each morning from 8:25 - 8:45 and a full snack at 2:30. When healthy snack choices are made, they provide the nutrients and calories kids need for growth, good health and energy to get through the day. Please pack your child a healthy snack to enjoy on a daily basis.  

Snack Share - Each day during math we have a working snack.  The food provided during the working snack is part of our classroom “snack share”.  Snack share is made possible by families donating a small snack to our classroom at the beginning of the month.  By everyone having the same snack it promotes less distraction during our working time in math.  Items that I appreciate families bringing in for snack share are: granola bars, peanut butter and crackers, goldfish, animal crackers, cheeze-its.

T

Toys – Please be sure your child does not bring toys into school.  Toys can be distracting and can cause conflicts if they get lost. If your child would like to bring in a toy to share during Morning Meeting I will keep it in a “safe place” throughout the day and give it back to your child at the end of the day.

U

Unique - I believe each child has unique learning differences; therefore, I may be providing instruction to your child that may be different than their peers. What is fair does not always mean equal.

V

VOLUNTEERS and VISITORS – Volunteers and visitors are welcome!  There are many opportunities for you to be involved in the classroom this year. If you would like to volunteer please see me for a “Calling all Volunteers” sheet.  When you arrive at school to volunteer or visit, please sign in at the office and pick up a badge before coming to the classroom. This policy is for the safety of our children. Before anyone can volunteer in the classroom they need to complete a Volunteering Sheet (click here).  This sheet will be sent home in the “1st day of school packet”.

W

WATER BOTTLES – Please feel free to have your child bring a water bottle to class. I prefer the reusable, aluminum water bottles with tight fitting lids (fewer spills). Please encourage your child to bring their water bottle home regularly to wash it.

WISH LIST – We have various supplies that need to be replenished throughout the school year.  These items are on the on the classroom Wish List and can be viewed on our classroom blog.

X, Y, Z

It is EXCEPTIONALLY important for your child to have a successful second grade YEAR. I will do my best to make learning fun and exciting – you can expect a lot of growth in so many different areas. The 2015-2016 school year will ZOOM by!

Student Welcome Letter

August 2016

Dear Student,

I hope you are enjoying these last few weeks of summer.  I look forward to seeing you soon and getting to know you and your classmates.  I can’t wait to hear about your summer adventures.  I have been gardening, visiting with friends and family, attending various concerts, hiking some new trails, spending lots of time with my cousins and godson who just turned five and is full of energy.  The highlight of my summer was visiting the ocean with family and friends.

The first few weeks of school will be dedicated to building our community of learners.  During the first week of school we will be sharing our favorite books.  Please bring in your favorite book from home on the first day of school.  This book can be one that you love to have read to you or one that you like to read by yourself.  It can be old or new, it doesn’t matter.  I can’t wait to see the variety of reading tastes in Room 6!

    

You don’t need to bring any supplies to school. All supplies you need will be available in the classroom.  

August 31st is right around the corner and it is time to start thinking about school.  I know that you might be a little nervous (I am too), so to make the transition from summer vacation to school easier there is an Open House on Tuesday, August 30th.  Come to our room (Room 6) from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. so you can explore the classroom, find your seat, meet new friends, complete a scavenger hunt and see old pals.  Enjoy the last few days of summer.  I am very excited to be your teacher - I can’t wait to see you!

Ms. LaRose

Welcome Letter to Parents and Guardians

Welcome to Second Grade!

August 2016

Dear Parents and Guardians,

For those of you who have not had the opportunity to meet me, my name is Natalie LaRose and I will be your child's second grade teacher.  This will be my fifth year teaching at Porters Point School and my sixth year teaching second grade! At the end of each summer, I am always reminded of what a privilege it is to teach and become part of a student’s life.  School is vitally important to our children's well-being and I am honored to be a part of your child's educational journey!

Technology plays a large role in our 2nd grade classroom.  We have a classroom blog that offers a great way for families to stay current regarding what is happening in our classroom.  The blog can be accessed through the Porters Point homepage http://www.csdvt.org/pps/ .  After you have accessed the homepage, click on the Teachers’ Pages tab on the left.  On the right hand side you will see 2nd Grade Teachers and you will find Ms. LaRose's classroom blog.  Once you have accessed our classroom blog I recommend signing up to receive notification each time the classroom blog has been updated.  You can sign-up by entering your e-mail address in the “follow by e-mail” text box.  You can also link to our class blog using http://larose2ndgrade.blogspot.com/ .

Additionally, our class is on Twitter.  Our Twitter handle is LaRoseKids.  

Attached to this letter is one double-sided document: “Student Information /Hopes and Dreams”.  Please complete the document and either mail it back to school, return it to me during the first week of school, or complete the form electronically on our classroom blog (which is greatly appreciated)!  You can find this form under the 2016 – 2017 school year tab.

When I read through the information you provide I learn more about your child and it helps me plan for them throughout the school year.  I am happy to sit down with you and discuss your child's “Hopes and Dreams” for the school year.  The best way to contact me, or to set up a time to meet, is via email (Natalie.LaRose@colchestersd.org) or you can call Sheila in the front office at 802-264-5920.  

Porters Point School will be hosting an Open House on Tuesday, August 30th from

8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. This is an informal event for your child and you to be able to explore the classroom.  I will offer a scavenger hunt for your child to complete.  My hope is that this will help your child become more familiar with the classroom, and me!  This is a fun way to get back into the swing of school!

Your child does not need any supplies for the first day of school. As a precautionary measure, I ask that each student bring a set of headphones for personal use.  I have a list of headphones that I recommend and where you can purchase them on our classroom blog. As you are doing your back-to-school shopping please keep in mind the items below which are part of our classroom “Wish List”. The list consists of items that will be used on a regular basis in the classroom and will need frequent replenishment.  Any contribution you can make to make to the classroom “Wish List” will be greatly appreciated.  

 

• Post-it Notes (and Pop-Up Notes)
• Kleenex
• Disinfecting Wipes
• Snacks for our “snack share”
• Pencils
• Markers
• Colored Pencils
• Erasers

Important dates to remember are:

• Tuesday, August 30th  8:00 a.m. – - Informal Open House

• Wednesday, August 31st  - - First Day of School
• Monday, September 5th - - NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)
• Tuesday, September 16th – - Picture Day

Lastly, under the “2016-2017” tab on the classroom website you will find a packet titled “The ABCs of Ms. LaRose's 2nd Grade”.  This packet will include information you will need for the school year.  Please let me know if you would like a hard copy of this document.

I hope you enjoy the last few weeks of summer and I look forward to seeing you soon!  If you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact me.  Working as a team, we can guarantee a successful year for your child.

Sincerely,

Natalie LaRose

P.S. This letter can be found on the classroom blog.