Dear Families,
I can't believe we only have two weeks until Winter Break!  Even though there aren't many days, there are tons of things happening.  Here's what I know about at this point.

Holiday Shop- PTO is sponsoring a Holiday Shop this year.  The Shop will be open this week (December 7th).  Students will have an opportunity to browse at the shop on Tuesday and then do their actual shopping on Thursday.  The hope is that the Holiday Shop provides a place where students can Christmas shop for friends and families. The Holiday Shop will also be open the evening of December 10th.

Cookies, Hot Chocolate, and Caroling- PTO will also be hosting Broadway's Second Annual Cookies, Hot Chocolate, and Caroling party on Thursday, December 10th from 5:30-7:00.  Pizza will be available to purchase; cookies and hot chocolate will be free.  PTO is looking for donations of baked goods. This is a fun event, hope to see you there!

Field Trip to Wells Fargo- The second graders will be walking down to Wells Fargo on Wednesday, December 16th.  They will be learning about the different types of services banks provide.  They'll also get a chance to see the vault and other areas of the bank.  Please sign and return your child's permission form if you have not already done so.

Class Christmas Party- Information about our class Christmas party was sent home with your child on Friday.  However, I know that sometimes the info may not get from school to home, so I am attaching the letter here as well (Christmas letter).  We'll be looking for family members to help with cooking, serving, and crafts.  Janille Hudson, our class room parent, may be contacting you to see if you are available.  Thanks in advance for your help, and, as always, families are welcome to join us for any portion of the day's festivities.

Winter Break-Winter Break will be December 21st-January 4th.  There is no school for students on Monday, January 4th.  This is a work day for teachers to finalize second quarter report cards.  Students return to school on Tuesday, January 5th.

Families,
Boy, there are always lots of things going on!  Here's a quick hit of the things I know about that are coming up.

Music Program- The second grade music program is this Monday, at 6:00.  Mr. Brenholtz would like students to be at school by 5:40 (kids are coming to our classroom).  They are welcome to wear their Halloween costumes if they’d like.  Can’t wait to see you all there!

Elementary Planning Day- Friday, November 6^th is an elementary planning day.  There is no school for students on this day.

Growth Mindset Workshop for Parents- At conferences, we talked briefly about the work Broadway is doing with growth mindset and Habits of Mind.  Growth mindset is incredibly powerful for students and we can’t wait to share some of what we’re learning with you!  Please join us on November 10^th to learn more about this work!

Field Trip to the Math and Science Center- The second grade classes will be traveling to the Math and Science Center on Wednesday, November 18th.  Staff at the center will lead us in a hands-on exploration of forces and motion and we'll also be able to explore the Center.  We'll be leaving right around 9:00 and getting back to school just before 12:00.  Please note that we have traded lunch times with fourth grade for this day as we won't be back in time for our regularly scheduled lunch.  Students will have lunch from 12:00-12:40 on this day.  Permission forms will be coming home on Monday, October 26th.  We'd love to have two parent volunteers join us for this trip so if you're interested, please let me know.

Thanksgiving Lunch- Broadway's Annual Thanksgiving Lunch will be held on Thursday, November 19th.  Reservation forms came home last week.  If you would like to join your student for lunch on this day, please complete the reservation form and send it back to school so that the kitchen know how many lunches to make.

Thanksgiving Break- Thanksgiving Break will be November 23rd-27th.

Upcoming Dates

Families, there are lots of things coming up in the next few weeks.  Here are the events and dates I know about so far.

• Tuesday, September 22nd- Parent Math Workshop from 4:15-5:15
• Tuesday, September 29th- Fall Family Festival- Watch for more information to be coming soon from PTO.
• Wednesday, September 30th- No School (Teacher Work Day and Parent/Teacher Conferences)
• Thursday, October 1st- No School (Parent/Teacher Conferences)
• Friday, October 2nd- No School
• Monday, October 5th-Friday, October 9th- No School (Fall Break and Intersession)

Family Math Night

Families,
Earlier this week I sent a flyer about an upcoming math night sponsored by Western Colorado Educational Services.  Several of you sent back notes saying the file wouldn't open for you.  I am adding a link to it here for you.  The workshop is not until September 24th so you have some time to think about it. 

The Math and Science Center is also getting ready to host their first Family Science Night on Thursday, September 3rd.  More information about that is also available in the link below.

Western Colorado Educational Services Math Night

Math and Science Center Family Night

Families,

Welcome to our class website!  At our site you can find information about what we are working on in each content area, current homework, our weekly newsletter, and news about upcoming events. The homework, newsletter, and upcoming events sections will be updated weekly.  Other sections of the website will be updated as we transition between units of study.  If there is something you would like to see added to our class website, please let me know and I will see what I can do!

 

Second grade is such a growth year for students and they are growing up in so many ways!  Although students will be involved in a number of units of study throughout the year, there will be some year-long themes that help us to tie everything together.  The following are the Yearlong Essential Questions for Second Graders:

• How do decisions influence community?
• What do effective problem solvers do when they get stuck?
• How do thinkers notice and use structure?
• What decisions do thinkers make to communicate clearly?
• How do thinkers communicate in partnerships to deepen their understanding?
• How does flexibility enable thinkers to create meaning with texts?
• How do thinkers use feedback and reflection to further their learning?
• How do thinkers use evidence to draw conclusions?