Welcome back!

I hope the summer has given you time to enjoy each other and the world around us. The students of the second grade have been working very hard for the first few days of school. Routines are being established and expectations are being set. We are off to a good start and I am pleased with all the students’ efforts. I thank you for your timely return of all September bookkeeping. I have but one request. Please be prompt when bringing the children to school and picking them up. It helps me a great deal if you stand in the same spot at dismissal and give me a wave when I release your child.

Our focus for the first few weeks will be to write in complete, neat sentences. Remind the students to begin each sentence with a capital letter and end with a period. I notice that many of them rush to get their assignments done and that results in work beneath their ability. Remind them to print slowly with a mind to forming their letters correctly. They should also be careful to leave a finger space between their words.

In Math the year begins with a unit on addition. To help them in this endeavor please practice at home with flash cards. By the end of second grade the students should have sums through 20 memorized. Begin drilling now. It is too late once the children fall behind. Be proactive and work with flash cards every night before a problem arises.

St. Francis of Assisi School has adopted a new program called The Ruler Approach. As a class we have begun to write a Charter. This document explains how we want to feel in school, (happy, loved) and the actions we will take to get there. Please remind your child to be kind, polite and tolerant. The best way to do this is to live lives modeling these attributes. Our theme for the 2011-2012 school year is ....”Love one another as I have loved you.” What a wonderful place to start!

Please know that my door is always open for you, and I check and respond to my email daily This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please share your concerns with me as the year progresses.
I look forward to working with you.