I hope you had a wonderful Winter Break with your children and had some time to reconnect with family and friends! It was a great recharging, reflecting, and renewing time for me with some organizing, visiting, hosting, skiing, and reading! Much needed!
Now..it's go time! 2019 is the year we transform into 3rd graders!
Difference Maker Research Begins this Week!
Our very exciting "Difference Makers" unit will culminate in our famed 2nd Grade Living Museum! Mark your calendars--this showcase event will take place on Wednesday, February 6th @ 9:00- 9:40 am. Second graders will be enlightening our Westlake community on their chosen Difference Maker!
By now, your child should have chosen their Difference Maker, and have at least one resource to bring to school to begin their research this week. During the next few weeks, we will be researching facts in class on our Difference maker, writing a script from the first person point of view, memorizing that script, and performing for our museum goers in February! As a parent, you can help in guiding your child in his/her Difference Maker choice, providing a book/resource for research time at school, and assembling a costume of their Difference Maker that your child will wear on February 6th. We will be doing the majority of the research, writing, and memorizing work in class, but some 2nd graders may need additional support from home. I will keep you posted.
I am sharing this spreadsheet for us to work on together to help communicate during this project! Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. As you can see, most of your children have selected difference makers already. I do have resources for some Difference Makers (not all) they can use in class, so your providing one reliable resource for your child's research would be great! It is important that your child has an interest/passion for their Difference Maker because they will be spending a lot of time studying him/her! Let me know if I can help in any way!
Optional Homework over the Break:
The Math pre-test and practice worksheets sent home in blue folders prior to Break will help students warm up to returning to school and get ready for mid-trimester assessments. These papers are due this upcoming Friday. I will look for them in blue folders then.
Progress Reports:
Mid-Trimester 2 Progress Reports will be going home Friday, January 18th in blue folders.
NWEA Test Sessions:
Friday, January 11th @ 10:30 am - NWEA Reading Test
Tuesday, January 15th @ 10:30 am - NWEA Language Test
Wednesday, January 16th @ 10:30 am - NWEA Math Test
Please make sure your 2nd grade explorer is present, well-rested, and breakfasted on these days. All tests will begin after our mid-morning snack time. Thank you for your support!
School-wide News:
Go to School Night" Wednesday, January 30 from 5:30 – 8:00pm to learn more about supporting your child's learning at WCS! BASE will be free for the evening - please click HERE to reserve your spot. See you there!
Enrichment Sign Ups Happening Now: Click HERE to see AS Live class offerings, prices, and links to sign up. Enrichment will start Monday, January 7. Scholarships are available; there is a spot on the sign-up form to indicate that you would like a scholarship. Email [email protected] with questions.
Call for Coaches: Families, we're recruiting BASKETBALL and DODGEBALL coaches and referees for our winter season of Explorer Athletics! Click HERE for more information, to sign up to help out, OR refer a coach! Click HERE for the link for teen coach sign-ups. Email Allison Chavez [email protected] with questions.
Standards Based Grading Parent Night: What is Standards Based Grading? Please join us on Thursday, February 7th, from 6:00-7:00 pm in the Cafeteria for a parent information night about Standards Based Grading.
That's all for now!
Happy New Year to All--I wish you all good health and good things! I can't wait to see your children's sweet faces tomorrow morning!
Mrs. A