August 29 Parent Letter

Parents,

What a great first week of school we had.  Don't forget to call or stop by after school if you have questions or concerns.  Things will continue to improve in the next few weeks while we iron out the wrinkles.  Parents of second graders:  please continue to stress the importance of sitting quietly and following along in class.  I don’t read the textbook material to them, they read orally each day.  Students should be following along and keeping up with what is being read so that they know what’s going on when we discuss the material.

Obviously, it is blazing hot outside, and my classroom gets rather warm in the afternoon.  Students are welcome to bring a water bottle to school if they would like water in class.

A few things to remember:

Check the class web page weekly:   http://mrseckertsclassroom.blogspot.com/

Be sure and fill in the church and Sunday school page each weekend in the student's folder.  If no response is given, attendance will be recorded as 'no.'

I am sending home Scholastic book orders today.  If you order books for your child, please make checks out to Scholastic.  If at all possible, checks are much easier for me than cash.  This month's book orders are due on Friday, September 3.  You may also order online.  I will attach instructions on how to do that to the order forms.  Online orders will also be due by Friday.

Going home today are their crosses for Star Students.  Please have them color and fill these out and return them with a photo.

Thursday will be our first Social Studies Test.  A study sheet will go home on Wednesday(Tuesday). I do give an extra 5 points to their grade if their study sheet is returned with notes written on it.

Thanks again for a great first week!

In Christ,

Class Pictures

2011-2012 Second-Third-Fourth Grade Class

What is a group picture without a silly pose??

August 22 Parent Letter

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to school!  I am so happy to be teaching your child.  I know that your child will have a successful year of school!  There are some things to remember, which will help them to be successful and to learn many new things.  Your child needs your help and support.  Their work this year will be harder and will require new skills.  Please make sure they have all their supplies each day, check that assignments are complete, and study with them before tests.  Check their folders daily:  homework, graded papers, notes from teacher or principal will be in the folders.  The homework log requires a signature each day, even if no homework is assigned for that day.  Classwork that has not been completed in class must be returned complete the next day, or no credit will be given.

I am always available to meet or talk with you.  Feel free to call anytime.  We are occasionally gone in the afternoon or evening, but leave a message, and I will return your call.  If you call the school during the day, I’ll return your call at my first break.  My number at home is 592-4095 – please do not hesitate to call with any questions or concerns.  My school e-mail is:  stpaulblue@gmail.com

I reviewed the classroom, hallway, and lunch room procedures and my discipline plan today.  You will find my classroom procedures and discipline plan in their folder.  Please sign and return the back copy of the discipline plan.

I will send home our classroom schedule next week.  I want to try it out before sending it home to make sure no adjustments need to be made. 

I will send home a note each Monday alerting you to any extra assignments, tests, or things to return during that week. The student’s folder requires your attention daily.  Please take out graded papers daily.  In the student’s folder, you will find:

1)  TREAT Sheet (needs signature)

2)  Homework Log (sign each day!)

3)  Church and Sunday School Attendance Sheet (If neither is circled, it will be counted           

      as ‘NO’)

4)  Spelling List

5)  Reading List (signature NOT required on this)

6)  Writing Topic Assignments – (Coloring the picture is REQUIRED)

7)  Religion Memory Verses (once a week – on Friday)

Nightly homework assignments are due the next day – not any time before Friday.  They will lose a letter from their TREAT Sheet if their log is not signed AND if their homework is not turned in.

Our class web page will be much the same as last year.  I will post my Monday class note each week as well as the week's memory verse.  Web sites that may be of interest to you will also be posted, as well as any pictures of special activities.  This will be a good secondary resource in case letters or schedules are misplaced.  I will also need to have an e-mail address – that you check regularly – so that when unexpected things come up I can send a class e-mail rather than a paper note.

Our web page is :    http://mrseckertsclassroom.blogspot.com

Reading requirements for trophies will remain the same.  Second graders need to read 100 books at or above grade level.  Third graders read 100 books at or above grade level including 6 chapter books.  Fourth graders read 100 books at or above grade level including 6 chapter books worth 2.0 points or more.

Students will receive “Big Cookies” as follows:  Second Grade – at 25 & 50 points and every 50 points thereafter.  Third-Fourth Grade – every 50 points.

Student’s TREAT sheets will be used to determine your child’s conduct grade.  Only letters marked with a ‘T’ (Talking) or a ‘D’ (Other Discipline Issue)  will be counted for conduct.  The scale is as follows:

0 letters lost in grading period – E

1-2 letters lost in grading period – S+

3-4 letters lost in grading period – S

5-8 letters lost in grading period – S-

9+ letters lost in grading period – N

(If a Discipline Form is filled out, the student receives an automatic ‘N’)

Since our school day ends at 3:00 this year, we will only have a morning snack, around 9:30.  Please remember to send something healthy for your child to snack on.  Also, be aware that there will be no microwaving at lunch this year so don’t send lunches that need heating.

Again, I am thrilled to be your child’s teacher.  Do not hesitate to call with any concerns.