SECOND GRADE NEWS – JUNE 1, 2010

REVIEW ROUNDUP:
This past week second graders have started reviewing for the HATS tests with specially planned activities.  The theme of the first roundup is math.  Every class has a session with each second grade teacher focusing on these math concepts:  graphing and probability, geometry, time and money, and measurement. The second roundup will concentrate on the science concepts of magnets and matter, weather, plants and animals, plus a session on reading skills and test taking strategies.  The third roundup sessions will review the social studies units on famous Americans, Native Americans, China and Egypt, and Geography.  The students will be rotating classes for fun review lessons and games!  

From now through June 9, students will continue to answer HATS review questions and earn scholar dollars to put towards buying merchandise, snacks, or drinks during the Economic Extravaganza in the classroom store.  Please look for these review questions in your child’s purple folders.  They are a great tool to use for review.  

ECONOMIC EXTRAVAGANZA:
The Economic Extravaganza will be held on Friday, June 11.  We need your help to “stock” the classroom store.  Some suggestions include gently used toys or books, Dollar Store items, individually wrapped homemade or store bought treats, small water bottles, pencils, etc.   Please begin sending in these items on Monday, June 7.  

Volunteers are also needed in each classroom to set up the store and sell the merchandise to the students on Friday, June 11.  Set up will be from 11-11:30.  The store will be open from 11:30-12.

HATS TESTS:
Ways to help prepare for HATS
1.    Have your child get a good night sleep during the testing window.
2.    Eat a healthy breakfast.
3.    Review the morning practice questions or unit tests with your child.  In particular, the Native American and Geography Units.

If you would like a resource to use at home, here is a website with tons of science review materials!

http://guest.portaportal.com/hcps123

If you need a password to access this site please use “hcps123”.

During the school-testing window of May 25-June 10 teachers will have very limited access to email or the Internet.  If you need an immediate response to a question or concern, please call the school at 360-4700.

AFTER HATS:
We are excited to announce a fun filled end to the school year and have many special events planned for our second graders.  During the remaining weeks of school, we will begin to learn cursive writing, continue writing poetry, do a creative writing project, attend the 3rd Grade Market day to shop and preview what to expect next year, write letters and create travel guides for the rising second graders, and work on a scavenger hunt!  Best of all, Second Grade Spirit Week begins on Friday, June 11!

SECOND GRADE SPIRIT WEEK:

  Friday, June 11- BEACH DAY/ECONOMIC EXTRAVAGANZA!!!
Feel free to bring your favorite hat, sunglasses, a beach towel, and your favorite books!  Your child is also asked to bring a disposable lunch and drink for a picnic lunch.  From 11-11:30, we will be having our lunch outside on our beach towels and also sitting on our beach towels in the classroom while sharing our favorite books!  After lunch, students will “shop” for treats and goodies in our classroom store using the scholar dollars we earned from our HATS review questions.  Students will then get to enjoy the treats in the afternoon during a “beachy” movie!  

Monday, June 14 – MISMATCHED MONDAY
Wear clothing or shoes that do not match to school.  Mix up colors that you do not usually wear together, or pieces of clothing that do not usually belong with each other.  It will be fun to see what everyone comes up with!

 Tuesday, June 15 – TOTALLY COOL TUESDAY/POPSICLES FOR PARENTS
We are really looking forward to having our parents come to join us for the third annual  “Popsicles for Parents!”  Students will share a special project we have been working on with our parents.  “Popsicles for Parents” will begin in your child’s classroom at 12:45.  Students are asked to wear something that matches the color of their favorite popsicle on this day.


Wednesday, June 16 – WACKY WEDNESDAY
Dress wacky today!  Wear your clothes backwards or wear something silly, and bring your Amelia Bedelia books or any other silly books you enjoy to school.  We have also been invited to shop at the Third Grade Market Day in the morning.  The third grade teachers are providing our students with “money” to use for our purchases.

 Thursday, June 17 –
                    GAME DAY/PIZZA PARTY/POP – A – TOP/YEARBOOK SIGNING
Wear a shirt from a team you play on, or a shirt from a team you like, or the colors of your favorite team today!  Bring a board game to share with your classmates too.  We will have a pizza party lunch in the classroom.   All you need to bring is a drink.  You may “pop-a top” and bring a soda if you’d like.  There is no charge for the pizza, but if you prefer, your child may buy lunch or bring something else for lunch to eat in the classroom.   Second graders will meet to sign yearbooks at the end of the day.

Friday, June 18 – BLAZER BLAST
Wear a Twin Hickory shirt or our school colors, purple and white.  Parents are welcome to join in the Blazer Blast end of the year celebration of our wonderful accomplishments this school year in the gym.  This is the last day of school and is a half-day for students.

MISCELLANEOUS:
Thank you very much to the families who have offered to donate items for our classroom store and drinks and treats for testing days.  

To find books at our library over the summer use this helpful tip!
To search the online library catalog, Go to  http://catalog.henrico.k12.va.us/
Select our school. Click on the dancing books. Start your search

DATES TO REMEMBER:
June 2 – Math HATS
June 4 – Science HATS
June 7 – Reading HATS Day 1
June 8 - Reading HATS Day 2
June 10-Social Studies HATS
June 11 – Beach Day/Economic Extravaganza
June 14 – Mismatched Monday
June 15 – Totally Cool Tuesday/ Popsicles for Parents
June 16 – Wacky Wednesday
June 17 – Game Day/Pizza Party/Pop-A-Top/Yearbook signing
June 18 – Last Day of School!  Blazer Blast/Report Cards Distributed/ Student Half-Day Dismissal

Thank you so much for everything you have done to support your children this year!  It has been a great year!  Have a fun and relaxing summer!