Back to School Night
Second Grade
Mrs. Blackburn and Mrs. Zakrajsek
2023-2024
Please keep this information in this 2nd grade Wolf Folder for reference throughout this school year to keep at home. We may refer you to this packet in the future, as many answers to your questions will be found here.
Contact Information:
blackburn@cmsd12.org 719-527-0300 extension 32
szakrajsek @cmsd12.org 719-527-0300 extension 31
Please contact us via e-mail, telephone, or by writing a note in your child’s planner with any questions or concerns. If you need to meet with us, please schedule an appointment for a conference. We will not be able to meet with you at the beginning or end of the day when students are coming into the classroom or are being dismissed. Please speak to the front office staff if you need to get a message to your child during the school day. Phone calls during the day will be directed to voicemail.
Daily Schedule
Arrive on time:
Students arrive no earlier than 7:40 A.M.
The start of school bell rings at 7:50 A.M.
Students will be tardy if not in the classroom at 7:55 A.M.
Dismissal at 2:50 P.M. at the 1st grade/2nd grade pod door.
Morning Meeting (adopted school-wide)
5 Components : Greeting, Sharing, Activity, Morning Message and Interactive
Math: McGraw-Hill, ConnectEd My Math
*Homework is assigned every Monday through Thursday nights.
*Check your child’s planner or our class homework page on the PVE website for assignments and due dates.
*Practice Addition and Subtraction Math Facts at home.
*Students need a solid foundation and quick and rapid knowledge of these facts.
*We will also incorporate “Touch Math” on a regular basis
*Instructions will be forthcoming on how to access the math site online, including the Redbird program.
Wonders
*Reading groups based on the child’s reading levels
*Assessments determine placement; however, groups are fluid throughout the year.
*Intervention (outside teacher support for qualifying students); 3 times a week
*Leveled Readers
*Weekly Reading Selection Test every Friday
*Please read with your child at least 20 minutes daily, including weekends
* Talk to them about their books. Ask questions from the attached sheet.
Spelling
*Spelling words are sent home Friday of the following week.
*Students will be tested on Friday.
Social Studies: Map skills, —---------------
Science: Kit Based Science
*Matter
*Earth Materials
*Life Cycles
Writing:
*Whole group instruction
*Small group work with teacher
*Groups are fluid according to the skills that have been mastered
Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears (HWoT)
*We will be reviewing the proper way to hold a pencil, proper writing posture, correct letter formation, and correct spacing between letters and words.
*A copy of the HWoT Alphabet and Numbers is attached.
Homework Policy: See attached document
Personal Best Wall
Each second grade class has a Personal Best Wall in the classroom. We display work for all to view each student’s progress. Additionally, we have a bulletin board outside the classroom where we will highlight some class assignments. Teachers and students will be able to see the growth a student has made.
Specials
P.E. All year (Mr. Johnson); Music 1st and 3rd Quarters (Mrs. Peterson); Art 2nd and 4th Quarters (Mrs. Foster)
Snacks
*Always send in a water bottle with your child’s name clearly labeled (even if it is a one time use water bottle).
*Students are encouraged to drink water throughout the day. (NO flavored water, Gatorade, milk/chocolate or juices allowed.)
*You may send in a healthy snack for your child beginning the first full day of school.
*Snacks are meant to give your child energy and does not replace breakfast.
*Morning Snack at morning recess.
*Healthy snacks include pre-sliced and peeled fruits (bananas are the exception) and veggies (no dip); crackers, cheese, Granola bars, and pretzels.
*Candied fruit snacks (Fruit by the Foot, Gummies...), cookies, popcorn, and candy are for lunch-time treats.
*Students should be able to open their own snacks and lunch items without adult support.
*Snack needing forks, spoons, or knives are not allowed (for example, fruit cups with syrup).
Students must take their water bottles home daily for cleaning.
Student Planners
*Student planners are used to relay information from school to home and from home to school.
*Planners are checked daily and need a parent signature each night.
*Students are expected to write daily homework assignments in their planners.
If you have any questions (or cannot read your child’s handwriting), you may visit the Piñon Valley website to access your child’s classroom homework/information.
*Go to Piñon Valley Elementary Website: www.pve.cmsd12.org
*Click on the MENU tab then the STAFF tab
*Click on Blackburn, Ann-Kevé or Zakrajsek, Susan
(*Click on my website which takes you to our class page.
*Homework can be found in the News and Homework Tab
Tardy Policy
The school day begins promptly at 7:50 A.M. daily. Your child will be counted as tardy when he/she arrives in the classroom after 7:55 A.M.
After (3) unexcused absences in any one quarter, parents will be called by the classroom teacher; if a child exceeds five unexcused absences in any one quarter, the office will be notified, a meeting will be arranged and an absence or tardy plan may be developed with the principal. You will be contacted to discuss the importance of getting your child to school on time and develop a plan of action.
Absence Policy
Work missed from any absences must be made up. For each day a child is absent, two days are given to complete and turn in the missing work. Assignments will be given to the student upon returning to school. Assignments will not be given in advance of a planned absence without prior notice.
Illness
You are encouraged to keep your child at home if they are sick. Refer to district guidelines for further instruction.
PVE Website:
* View instructional videos to access Lexia, Redbird, Reading Street, and My Math (ConnectEd)
Birthday Invitations/”Treats”:
Should you want to send in a celebratory “treat” for your child to share with classmates on his/her birthday, primary grades (1st and 2nd) request you send items such as a special pencil, eraser etc. Due to allergy related issues that have become more common, we will not pass out food/consumable treats to students. We cannot provide email addresses or home addresses for students in any class. Should you send in invitations to be passed out, an invitation must be given to each child in the class and will be put in the students’ Friday Folders. Plan in advance. Please do not send invitations needing to be sent home the same day. Should you invite a child from another class, every child in that class should receive an invitation, or we cannot send that invitation home.
Scholastic Books
You will receive paper flyers from Scholastic Books from your child’s classroom teacher several times a year. Ordering is completed and paid for online by the parents. The teacher will approve submission of all orders to be sent on the deadline. Do not send in cash, checks, or money orders to school with the paper order form. A flyer with further instructions will be sent home.