Westy of the Week

Westy of the Month

Bus Information

Transportation Changes

If you have a transportation change, please send a note in your student's take home folder.  Please remind them to bring me the paper in the morning.   You may email me the change and wait for me to reply that I have read the email and am aware of the change.  If you have an urgent message for an unexpected change of transportation after noon, please call the office to make sure I have the change.  (706-541-2723)

ABC’s of 2nd Grade

A

Absences:  If your child is absent, please send in a note stating the reason for the absence to avoid an unexcused absence. If you can, please text or email me in the morning to let me know they will be out that day.

B

Birthdays:  You are welcome to send in store-bought treats for your child's birthday to be enjoyed by our class.  Please note:  The treats need to be store-bought and no drinks please!!  Party invitations will be passed out at school only if everyone in the class is invited.

Behavior:  As a schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) incentive, students strive to be respectful, responsible, and do their best.  When our class models this behavior, they receive compliments from other teachers and staff members.  The compliments allow us to earn a class link on our white board.  When we earn 40 links, we earn a class party.

We work hard as a class to make the classroom a positive and safe place to learn.  In second grade, we strive to take ownership of our learning and our behavior.  When we see a classmate showing kindness to another, we can create a “Kindness Report” and hang it in the classroom for all to see. 

Every week, students nominate and vote for a “Westie of the Week” comprised of a student who is following classroom expectations and completes their weekly homework.  This student has many privileges during the week such as, extra technology time, show and tell, lunch with a friend, bring a small stuffed animal to school, sitting in the captain chair and they get to take home our furry mascot, Peter for the weekend.  

The Bear Paw system allows me to offer positive reinforcements to the students who are following classroom expectations.  Students who are respectful, responsible, and the best they can be receive “Bear Paws” that are a form of currency.  Students can visit the Bear Paw Store to purchase great prizes.  Likewise, students can earn “Bear Paws” from other teachers, bus drivers, custodians, and the administration. 

To motivate our classroom community in a positive way, the class (as a whole) can earn drops in our bucket.  Drops can be earned if the class follows morning expectations, earns compliments for hallway expectations and receiving thumb-ups from our administration!!!  When our bucket is full, students celebrate with a predetermined treat (party)!!

Having trust in a trust bank is one way I encourage students to be trustworthy and honest.  This allows students to develop responsible decision-making skills.  They will gain trust when they are exuding characteristics of a great classroom citizen.  That means they follow the expectations, they are honest, kind and trustworthy.  I will reach out to you if your student is having a difficult time making good choices in class.

The "Westy 3"

Be Respectful

Be Responsible

Be The Best You Can Be!

C

Conferences:  Parent and Teacher conferences are officially held twice during the school year. More information will come home at that time. However, conferences may be held in between the scheduled times as the need arises.

Communication:  Communication is the key to educational success!!  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you have!!  I will occasionally send your student a video message.  Please make sure they see it!  Email is the quickest way to contact me, however, please feel free to text me.  (706-945-9997) I try to respond to emails and text messages just as quickly as I can.  Please check your email frequently, read the newsletter and check your student take home folder daily.  Please make sure your student returns it to school EVERY DAY!

D

Data:  This year, students will be responsible for their own learning.  They will make goals and chart their data weekly in their data folder.

Drinks: It’s important that our students are hydrated!!  Please send in a SPILL PROOF water bottle -water only (Labeled with your child's name.)

E

Email:  Please make sure I have your latest email address!  If you do not hear from me during the first few days of school via email, please email me.  Charmane.joiner@ccboe.net.

Emergency/Nurse card:  Please complete and return the emergency card promptly. If your home or work phone number changes, please inform the office and me as soon as possible.

F

Field trips:  Information about field trips will come home in the take home folder and will have more details on the field trip permission slip, newsletters, and emails.

G

Graded Papers:  I will try to send home graded papers once a month in a white folder.  Please go over the papers with your student, sign the sheet and return to back to school the next day.

H

Homework:  Students will have homework in 2nd Grade. They will receive a reading passage every Monday.  Students will read for one minute, please note the number of words they read on the sheet.  They will then continue to read the passage and complete the comprehension questions on the back with a pencil.  Homework is due on Fridays.

I

Independence:  Along with becoming responsible for their learning and for their behavior, it is a goal for students to become independent in other aspects of their daily classroom lives.  Independence builds self-esteem and self-confidence. Second Graders are very capable of doing many things on their own, and I encourage them to do as much as they can for themselves in the classroom.  Students are expected to unpack their bags and check their folders for money and notes each morning (If you are sending these items, tell your child so they know to double check.).  They are also required to keep up with their materials. 

J

Journaling:  Writing takes place every day in 2nd Grade. One way we accomplish this is through writing stories in our journals. Encourage your child to write at home for a variety of purposes.

K

Keep updated:  Keep up to date on the happenings of our class by reading the classroom newsletter (online) often, checking emails, and checking the Take Home Folder every day for notes and information.

L

Lunch:  Our class eats lunch at 12:25.  Please send money in the take home folder with a note specifying that the money is for lunch. EZ Pay  is a great way to monitor and add lunch money to your child’s account. You are welcome to join our class to eat lunch with your student any day!  (Please sign in with the front office.)

M

Media Center:  Our class will visit the Media Center on Day 5 of our specials schedule. If your child forgets to return the book, they will not be allowed to check out a new book until it is returned. 

N

Newsletter:  Our weekly newsletter will be on our website, to keep you updated on our learning. Remember to check the website regularly. 

O

Opportunity to volunteer:  You are more that welcome to volunteer for our class.  We are always looking for a room mother, help with small groups, big projects and field trip chaperones.  Volunteers must meet the requirements and complete the county training.  Volunteers

P

Pulling student for appointment:  Please email me or text me if you will be pulling your student for the day for an appointment.  Be mindful of lunch times or recess.

Q

Quiet Mornings:  Students are expected to come into the classroom every morning and quietly settle in and quickly begin our morning routine.  This routine sets the tone for the day. 

R

Report cards:  Report cards will be sent home EVERY quarter. 2nd Grade utilizes a Standard Based Report Card.  The levels should NOT be equated with numerical grades!  It simply is a leveled scale indicating mastery of the current standards.

 • Level 3 Meets the Standard

 • Level 2 Progressing toward the Standard

 • Level 1 Does Not Meet the Standard

(A parent teacher conference needs to be scheduled to discuss interventions to help the student improve.)

Recess:  We go outside every day unless there is extreme weather.  Please be mindful that our recess is from 2:30 to 3:00.  If you need to pick up your child please do so before we go outside.

S

Snack:  We will have a daily snack.  I will send a snack calendar with your assigned day to send in a snack for the class. If you do not wish to participate, please let me know and you will need to provide snack for your child only.  Please send enough for 22 students.  Only store purchased and individually wrapped snacks are allowed.

T

Transportation:  If you have a transportation change, please send a note in your student's take home folder.  Please remind them to bring me the paper in the morning.  You may email me the change and wait for me to reply that I have read the email and am aware of the change.  If you have an urgent message for an unexpected change of transportation after noon, please call the office to make sure I have the change.  (706-541-2723) Unfortunately, we cannot take the word of your child.

Toys:  Please keep all toys, cards and books at home.

U

Understanding:  When teachers and families communicate and build relationships, students benefit.  The partnership between students’ caretakers and their teachers impacts a child's academic and personal development in many ways.  The biggest benefit is the enhancement of students’ self-esteem. A strong partnership between parents and teachers gives children a supportive network, reinforcing their sense of worth and confidence.

V

Visitors:  At times students may have visitors.  For example, twice a year students may have a family member eat lunch with them and the visit the book fair.  All visitors must register in the office prior to entering the school.

W

Wish List: I really appreciate classroom donations.  Here is a short list:  tissues, disinfecting wipes, paper towels, Ziploc bags (two gallon, sandwich, and gallon), prizes, fine point expo markers.

Weather:  We go outside unless there are extreme weather conditions. Please send your students to school dressed appropriately with hats, gloves, and jackets as the weather gets cooler. 

X

X-tremely cold in our room:  Please send in a light sweater for your student to keep at school.  Don’t forget to label it with their name.

Y

Your ideas:…Your ideas and suggestions are always welcome!

Z

 Zzzzzzz:  Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. Setting and keeping a bedtime routine is a wonderful gift you can give your child.