NO SCHOOL THIS FRIDAY, 9-30-05

There will be no student attendance on Friday. (Teachers will be attending workshops.)

REMINDER: This Thursday, 9-29-05, we will be visiting Trailside Museum in River Forest, IL. This trip will be taken after lunch, and we will return for the regular dismissal time.

SPELLING WORDS FOR WEEK OF 9-26-05

Short a words:

1. pin
2. sit
3. if
4. fix
5. is
6. will
7. hill
8. six
9. win
10. this

BONUS: dinosaur

Spelling Words for the Week of September 19, 2005

This week's words haVE short a.

1. an
2. bad
3. bat
4. tap
5. sat
6. at
7. hat
8. dad
9. as
10. sad

BETSY ROSS OPEN HOUSE

All parents are invited to come to school on Wednesday evening, September 14, at 6:30 P.M. Come and see our classroom and meet your child's teacher! We look forward to seeing you!

Spelling Words for the Week of September 12, 2005

This week's words have the short e sound.

1. get
2. ten
3. yes
4. leg
5. egg
6. met
7. mess
8. set
9. men
10. yet

Discipline Plan for 2005-2006

Second Grade Classroom Discipline Plan – Revised Sept.,2005
Classroom Rules:

1. Respect people and property.
2. Raise your hand to speak.
3. Work and walk in line quietly.
4. Follow directions the first time they are given.

If a student chooses to break a rule:1st Time: Verbal Warning/reminder and name on board

2nd Time: Teacher puts check by student's name on board, note sent home by teacher to parent that must be signed and returned the following school day, student loses sticker on calendar for that day.

3rd Time: Once a student has broken the rule a third time, student serves lunchtime detention. A Detention Notice sent home to parent to be signed and returned to school the following day, student loses sticker on calendar for that day.

Rewards:
Praise, stickers on personal calendar, positive notes/phone calls home, tangible incentives from Treasure Chest (treats, toys, pencils, etc.), special privileges to be determined on an individual basis
All students will receive a calendar that is to be transported between home and school via his or her take-home folder. Students can earn a sticker for each day they demonstrate good behavior or only receive a verbal warning. Parents are asked to review and initial the calendar entries daily. Children who earn stickers for all school days in any one month earn a special treat or privilege.

Please know that I pledge to be fair and consistent in administering the discipline plan as outlined above. It is my hope that this program will help to ensure that each pupil enjoys a safe, nurturing, distraction-free learning environment.

--Ms. Prine

Welcome Back to School!

Dear Parents,

My name is Anne Prine and I will be your child’s second grade teacher this year! Because I will be spending several hours each day with your son/daughter, I would like to tell you some things about myself, both on a personal and professional level.

I’ve been teaching for 15 years, the past 11 right here in District #91. I have a BA in Elementary Education from Concordia University in River Forest, IL, and a M.Ed. from Olivet Nazarene University. I have teaching experience in grades Pre K, K, and second through fourth grades. I come from a family of teachers (grandmother and aunts) and I live in the Western Suburbs.

I thank you for entrusting me with your child. Please know that I am always interested in knowing your thoughts and concerns; it is my hope that we can work to forge a partnership between home and school. If and when you should have a question or need to share information with me, please send a note in your child's Betsy Ross Folder or telephone the school at 708-366-7498. I will respond as promptly as possible. I look forward to meeting you at our open house night, September 14. Good parental communication is an essential component to my being an effective teacher and so you will be receiving various written notices or newsletters throughout the school year regarding our second grade program here at Betsy Ross.

I will strive to make the 2nd grade classroom a place that children cannot wait to arrive at each day - a learning environment that is nurturing, enjoyable, and safe. I anticipate that our classroom discipline plan will have a positive impact upon your child's social and emotional growth.

Thank you in advance for your support and involvement in your child's 2nd grade experience.

Yours truly,

Ms. Prine

SPELLING WORD LIST FOR WEEK OF SEPT. 6-9, 2005

A single sheet of yellow paper with the new spelling words will be sent home at the beginning of each week. (This sheet may be cut into mini flash cards.) You may also refer to this site for the currrent word list. The second grade word lists come from our reading series, Signatures by Harcourt Brace. Each list has a corresponding story in the reader. Integrated spelling allows instruction to take place within the broader context of reading and writing. All tests will be given on Fridays, unless otherwise noted.

This week's words have short o:

1. top
2. lot
3. mom
4. pond
5. box
6. hop
7. fox
8. hot
9. doll
10. jog

Curriculum Overview 2005-2006

Thanks for a wonderful year! Have a safe and relaxing summer.
Love, Ms. Prine

Spelling Words for the Week of May 31

This will be the last test of year! This week's list is made up of words from the past 8 months.

1. leaves
2. again
3. between
4. moving
5. science
6. floor
7. might
8. heart
9. foxes
10. other
11. they're
12. wasn't
13. chicken
14. train
15. chair

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Dear Parents of our Second Graders:

As you know, tomorrow (Thursday, May 26) is the day of the Forest Park All-School Picnic!

Please take note of the following:

• Dismissal from school is at 10:30 A.M. We strongly encourage parents or guardians to pick up their children from Betsy Ross School at this time, as it is difficult to find people in the crowded park.

• If you must pick up your child at the park, please note that your child will be waiting next to the Forest Park yellow school buses that are parked behind the “Tot Lot” (where the playground equipment is located). We should arrive at the park at approximately 10:50 A.M.

• Please know that no child may participate in the picnic activities unsupervised; this is a safety issue that we take very seriously! If, at the last minute you are unable to escort your child, please make arrangements for him/her to join another parent or arrange for a relative or friend to attend the picnic with your child. (Please indicate to whom you've given permission to pick up your son/daughter in a note to my attention. I cannot release a student to anyone without parental authorization.)

Please don’t hesitate to call the school (708-366-7498) with any questions you may have.

--Ms. Prine

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Spelling Words for the Week of May 23, 2005

We will be learning about insects this week. The spelling test on all twelve words will be on Friday, May 27, 2005.

1. insects
2. flies
3. butterfly
4. honeybee
5. pollen
6. protect
7. hive
8. cricket
9. collect
10. tiny

BONUS WORDS: antennae, abdomen

We used a Root-Vue farm (such as this one) to plant our vegetables...

Plants!!!

This past week we've been studying about how plants grow, parts of plants, how seeds travel, and how we utilize the roots, leaves, stems, and seeds for food. We've sown beets, onions, and carrots in a special container that allows us to observe the roots develop.

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