Johnny the K

Recent Exciting Events!

Johnny the K!

Entertainer/Educator 'Johnny the K' visited Steward School on Thursday, October 9th.  During his performance, Johnny focused on character education and community building.  Many thanks are sent to TESPTO for funding this special event.  The children learned a great deal!
Click on the picture of Bob turning the world to hear the song Johnny was singing as Bob helped out!

Johnny explains to the children how 'all people are a gift!'

Johnny shares how all people deserve to be treated with respect.

Bob helping out Johnny!


We Have Butterflies!

Wouldn't you know it....our chrysalids hatched over the long weekend! Unfortunately, we weren't able to witness the last stage of the butterfly life cycle......but take a look!!!

Our caterpillars turning into pupa's.

Yippee...adult butterflies!


Accessing Spelling City!

spellingcity.com

I love Spelling City!  My favorite is 'Hang Mouse'.  What's your favorite?  Please comment below!

The directions to access Spelling City are:

Spelling City Directions:

1.     Go to spelling city.com

2.     Click on search

3.     Type  in zip code:  01983

4.     Click on Steward School

5.     Click on Second Grade (not Mrs.  McCarthy)

6.     Scroll to bottom and click on the list of the week.

This information is also included on the homework

Insects, Insects, Insects!

Our Insect Field Trip

Our Field Trip to the Ipswich Wildlife Sanctuary was a wonderful learning experience!  

Hunting for Insects!

"Look what I found!"

"Where should we look now!"

"Wow, very cool!"

Rita, our field scientist, helped us to identify the insects we caught! 

"I caught a cricket!"

Creating a drawing of our own insect-six legs, three body parts, two eyes, two antennae.

Why do We Study the Stages of the Butterfly Life Cycle?

Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks:  

Strand:Life Science (preK-8)
		Topic:Characteristics of Living Things Strand:Life Science (preK-8) Recognize that plants and animals have life cycles, and that life cycles vary for different living things. 2006 Science and Technology/Engineering
				4173

Thank you Parent’s for Attending Parent Night!

The munchkins of room 205!

Introduction

It was wonderful to meet you, and to work closely with you as your child begins his/her second grade year!  I am in the process of establishing our volunteer calendar for October-volunteers will begin in October.  On September 29^th, I will send home a parent newsletter with our first volunteer calendar.  If for some reason you are unable to make your scheduled time please let me know by a phone call or email.  ThanksJ!  978-887-1538 ext.  205  or dmccarthy@topsfieldps.org

Room Parent Training:

I would like to thank Mrs.  Champlain, Mrs.  O’Brien, Mrs.  Wilmot, and Mrs.  Foley for volunteering as Room Parents.  As a reminder, there is a mandatory room parent training on Wednesday, Sept. 24^th @ 8:30 at Steward School.  If you are unable to attend, please email our school nurse, Mrs.  West   mwest@topsfieldps.org

Getting Buggy in Room 205!

Learning all about the butterfly life cycle

The children are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our caterpillars!  They should arrive in the next few days.  We will watch our caterpillars transform into Painted Lady Butterflies-as children will see first-hand the ‘complete metamorphosis’ from caterpillar (Larva), to chrysalis (pupa stage), and finally to an adult butterfly.  In class, we have been reading many books about the butterfly life cycle, and how exciting it will be to see this life cycle taking place in our classroom. 

Our First Field Trip!

We are off to the Audubon Thursday, September 25^th (rain date, Friday, Sept 26^th) for an ‘Insect Hunt’.  Please know, this field trip will take place on September 25^th,  even if the weather is drizzly-it will only be changed to the 26^th if the weather is expected to be a ‘wash out’.  Parents will be notified by “Connect Ed” (phone call) if this field trip is changed to Friday, September 26^th. 

As the students prepare for this field trip, it is extremely important that your son/daughter is dressed appropriately.  Please have your child wear a light colored long sleeve shirt, long pants, closed toed shoes or boots.  The children will eat their snack before going on this field trip.  We are expected to return back to school grounds at 11:30 a.m.

After our field trip, a tick check will occur, but we ask that you do a more thorough tick check with your child when he/she returns home.

Parent chaperon information was sent home on Monday, September 22^nd.  The grade two teachers request all parent chaperones to be in our classrooms at 9 a.m. on the day of the field trip.

Many thanks are sent to TESPTO for funding this field trip for grade two!     I will bring my IPAD as I will take many pictures and I look forward to sharing them with you on our class blog. 

Fondly,

Diane

Busy and Productive Days for the Munchkins of Room 205!

Hello Parents,

As we begin a new school year, our direction during our first ‘few’ days together has focused on establishing routines, reviewing expected behavior, setting classroom rules, and community building.  Each morning we say our classroom pledge together.  Today, the children signed a class copy of this pledge, as our classroom constitution.  I am happy to share our pledge with you:

My Second Grade School Promise

Each day I’ll do my best,

And I won’t do any less.

My work will always please me,

And I won’t accept a mess.

I’ll color very carefully,

My writing will be neat.

And I will not be happy,

Until my papers are complete.

I’ll always do my homework,

And try my best on every test.

I won’t forget my promise,

To do my very best!

The children are working toward becoming a wonderful, respectful learning community.  As I tell the children each day, our class is our ‘school family’, where each student (and every teacher) is to be treated with respect and kindness.  Establishing this foundation is vitally important as these building blocks will provide solid groundwork for all the learning which is ahead.  We are off to a great start, and I am enjoying this time as I get to know your child better. 

Thank you to all the parents who filled out my teacher questionnaire about your child.  This information helps me immensely as I learn about your child through ‘your eyes’.  If you have not filled out the questionnaire yet, please do!

Few Reminders:

• Yellow Emergency Card and Blog Permission Slip:  If you haven’t done so already, please fill out the yellow emergency card and Blog permission slip.
• Parent Seminar Night:  Save the date-September 16^th from 6:15-7:00 p.m.  Come meet the teacher and learn about the curriculum your child will be taught in second grade! 

Looking Ahead:

Parent Volunteer Opportunities with the Munchkins in Room 205:

On Monday, September 8^th, your child will bring home a newsletter outlining all the volunteer opportunities in our class this year.  Some volunteer positions can be done at home, while other positions will take place in the classroom.  When you receive this newsletter, please read over the information, as you will have a chance to sign up for volunteer positions during Parent Seminar.  I always try to give parents a ‘heads up’ about the volunteer positions, as the connection between home and school is of the utmost importance in ensuring a wonderful second grade year for your child.

Your child is a ‘gift’ and I am so blessed to be his/her teacher this year! 

-Diane