2026-2027 School Year
Welcome to 2nd grade! We look forward to a year filled with faith centered learning, new challenges, and fun experiences. This handbook explains our classroom routines, expectations, and partnership with families.
Classroom Teacher
Ms. Mimi Smith — msmith@smcsnc.org
Instructional Assistant
Mrs. Linda Sweeney — lsweeney@smcsnc.org
School Office
910-452-2800
Secretary
Ms. Amy Russell — secretary@smcsnc.org
Nurse
Ms. Joy Robinson — nurse@smcsnc.org
Class Website
bit.ly/smcssmith
School policy takes precedence if a classroom statement conflicts with the St. Mark Catholic School handbook.
Strong home–school communication helps us support your child. Email is the best contact method for regular classroom questions.
Classroom questions: Email Ms. Smith at msmith@smcsnc.org. Add Mrs. Sweeney at lsweeney@smcsnc.org if desired.
Notes: Send a written note in your child’s Homework Folder.
Website messages: Use the school website faculty page.
Phone messages: Call the school office at 910-452-2800.
Class information: Newsletters, homework charts, and other classroom information are posted at bit.ly/smcssmith.
Pickup, carpool, or transportation changes: Email secretary@smcsnc.org as soon as possible. Please do not rely on a note sent only to the classroom teachers.
Absences: Notify msmith@smcsnc.org, lsweeney@smcsnc.org, secretary@smcsnc.org, and nurse@smcsnc.org, or use the School Absence Form on the website.
Forms: Student Handbook acknowledgments, field-trip permission forms, and other required forms will be completed through Magnus Health using the app or website.
7:40–7:45
Students arrive and report to the gym.
7:45
Students are dismissed from the gym to their homeroom classrooms.
8:00
The school day officially begins.
After 8:00
A parent or guardian must sign in a tardy student at the school office. The student receives a tardy slip before coming to class.
The schedule provides a general picture of our day. Lesson needs, school events, assemblies, testing, and other circumstances may require day-to-day changes.
7:40 — Arrival / Morning Work
Usually Simple Solutions Reading or Math/ Announcements / Morning Meeting / Xtramath (10 min. math fact session)
8:30 — Math
9:30 — Bathroom, Snack, Morning Break (5-10 minute mini-recess)
10:00— Specials:
Monday - P.E.
Tuesday - Spanish
Thursday - Library
Friday - Music
10:40 — Bathroom
10:50 — Correct Morning Work Simple Solutions
11:00 — ELA (English Language Arts)
12:35 — Lunch
1:00 — Recess
1:25 — Bathroom
1:35 — Handwriting
1:50 — Science or Social Studies
2:20 — Religion
2:45 — Pack Up
2:55 — Quiet Dismissal (Silent Reading or Paper Homework)
7:40 — Arrival / Morning Work
8:15 — School Mass
9:30 — Bathroom, Snack, Morning Break (5-10 minute mini-recess)
10:00 — Math
10:50 — Bathroom
11:00 — Handwriting
11:20 — Art
12:04 — Lunch
12:24 — Recess
12:44 — Bathroom
1:00 — English Language Arts
2:00 — Science or Social Studies
2:25 — Religion
2:45 — Pack Up
2:55 — Quiet Dismissal (Silent Reading or Paper Homework)
Students should arrive on time in a neat uniform and follow school grooming expectations on Mass days. 2nd Graders take turns to serve as gift-bearers at school Mass throughout the year. We practice during morning arrival and morning work and usually leave the school for Mass at ~8:15 AM.
Our classroom community thrives when expectations are clear, consistent, and respectful.
Speak kindly and listen actively when others are talking.
Raise your hand or use the appropriate signal when you need the teacher’s attention.
Use the voice level requested for the activity.
Remain in your assigned learning area unless the teacher gives another direction.
Use our classroom hand signals for quick communication: Stop, Yes, No, Restroom, Sit/Stand, Wait, Tissue, Water, Bandage, Pencil, and Book.
Participate in brain breaks and other movement activities as directed.
Water bottles are stored in the designated Hydration Station. Students may get water during designated times and may use the water signal when they need an additional drink.
Students have three scheduled group restroom breaks each day and may also ask during snack, recess, or transitions. During instruction, students use the restroom signal and wait for permission unless it is an emergency. Before leaving the classroom, students sign out with their name tag. Medical plans and individual needs will always be followed.
Give your best effort.
Use time wisely. After finishing classwork, complete early-finisher work, begin homework when permitted, or read quietly.
Keep your workspace clean and organized.
Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
Use classroom materials and playground equipment safely.
Include others in games and group work.
Sit properly in your assigned place.
Eat without playing with food.
Talk quietly to nearby classmates.
Remain seated unless you have permission to get up.
Do not share food because of allergies and dietary restrictions.
Clean your area and dispose of trash.
Wash or sanitize your hands as directed.
Enter and leave the playground quietly and in line.
Remain in designated areas.
Do not engage in rough play, tackling, or play fighting.
Use playground equipment safely.
Chasing games are allowed only when everyone has agreed to play. Stop chasing immediately when someone asks to stop.
Homework is usually assigned Monday through Thursday in English Language Arts and Math. Specials teachers may also assign work. Projects, makeup work, or unfinished classwork may occasionally be sent home on other days.
Homework is designed to take approximately 20 minutes on a typical school night, not including reading or optional Reading Bingo. If your child has worked steadily for 20 minutes and is not finished, you may stop and write a note on the homework chart. Homework should not become a prolonged source of frustration.
I strongly recommend 20 minutes of reading each day. The optional Reading Bingo Challenge is recognized monthly, and students who reach Bingo Blackout earn a prize.
When homework is missing, the student completes a missing-homework slip and checks the reason, such as left at school, left at home, or forgotten. A parent or guardian must sign the slip. The student completes the assignment and returns both the work and signed slip on the next school day.
English Language Arts: Spelling, reading, phonics, writing, or word work.
Math: Online practice through IXL or XtraMath, workbook pages, or other assigned practice.
Religion: Complete assigned activities and study for tests when needed.
Projects: Directions and due dates will be sent home as needed.
After a student returns, we prepare a What You Missed slip and briefly review it with the student. Students are responsible for identifying the work they need to complete and taking the correct books and materials home.
Students receive one school day for each day absent to complete missed assignments. The teacher may adjust the return schedule when circumstances require additional time.
We cannot promise a complete work packet in advance or during an absence. When our schedule, lesson plans, and available time permit, we may provide work ahead or time on a case by case basis. Lesson plans and schedules are flexible and may change, so the work may not align perfectly with what happens in class. Families may contact us if an absence will be extended.
Homework Folder: Contains assignments, classwork, and notices. Families should check it regularly.
Manila Friday Folder: Contains weekly work. Please return it empty on Monday.
Blue Work in Progress Folder: Holds ongoing assignments and remains in the student’s desk.
Red Personal Projects Folder: Holds ongoing artistic, writing, or other personal projects and remains in the student’s desk.
Sending money: Place it in a sealed envelope or resealable bag labeled with your child’s name, the amount, and its purpose.
Evidence of learning may include spelling checks, quizzes, unit tests, classwork, projects, notebook entries, teacher observations, and writing rubrics.
English Language Arts, Math, and Religion may include weekly or unit tests.
Science and Social Studies may be graded through projects, notebooks, tests, and observations.
Writing is graded with a rubric.
Students complete i-Ready benchmark testing three times during the school year.
Report cards are issued four times during the school year.
Report cards for second grade rely on skill sets and Mastery, Satisfactory, Progressing, or Academic Concern rather than number grades.
Students should not attend school when they have a fever or when fever-reducing medicine is being used to keep a fever down. Please follow the school illness policy and contact the nurse with questions.
All medication must be handled through the school nurse. Students may not carry medication or administer it themselves. Prescription medication must be provided to the nurse with a note from the child’s doctor. Required forms and procedures must be completed before medication can be given at school. Contact Ms. Joy Robinson at nurse@smcsnc.org for instructions.
Snack: Send a small, healthy snack each day.
Water bottles: Spill-proof, labeled, containers are preferred.
Allergies: Notify both the classroom teacher and nurse. Keep safe snacks at school if needed. Families will be notified if the classroom must follow a nut-free or other allergy-specific rule.
Birthdays are usually celebrated once each month with a combined celebration and treats for the children whose birthdays fall in that month. August birthdays are celebrated in August. June and July birthdays are celebrated in May. Celebrations and treats will be coordinated through the room parents and classroom team, with allergy needs considered.
Follow school guidelines for uniforms, outerwear, and grooming. Students should be especially neat and prepared on Mass days.
Label and send an oversized T-shirt for your child to wear as an art smock.
Toys and trading cards are not allowed as a general rule except on announced reward days. Students may bring a clearly labeled playground ball if it is soft and unlikely to cause injury. The student remains responsible for the ball. If afterschool care or afterschool plans allows for toys or things not allowed in class, the toy must stay in backpacks and not be shown to classmates or taken out in the classroom or at recess.
Please label coats, sweaters, lunchboxes, water bottles, art smocks, headphones, playground balls, and other personal items. Staff will help locate missing belongings when possible, but instructional time cannot be used for extended searches.
Some supplies, especially headphones, may need to be replaced during the year. We maintain shared classroom supplies, but a family may be asked to replace an item that is lost, deliberately damaged or repeatedly misused, such as scissors or extra crayons. Families will be notified when a replacement is needed.
Art
Mrs. Sawyer — csawyer@smcsnc.org
Music
Ms. Delo — ldelo@smcsnc.org
Spanish
Mrs. Hernandez — rhernandez@smcsnc.org
Library
Mrs. Waibel — lwaibel@smcsnc.org
P.E.
Mrs. Schafer — kschafer@smcsnc.org
School Counselor
Ms. Reid — schoolcounselor@smcsnc.org
Student Support Department
Mrs. McCaul - emccaul@smcsnc.org
Student Support Department
Mrs. McWilliams - cmcwilliams@smcsnc.org
Second-grade students preparing for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion receive preparation at school. Parents and guardians of children receiving the sacraments should attend the meetings and workshops provided through the parish Faith Formation program.
Program contact: Miss Anne Doyle — children@stmarkcc.net
We welcome family participation in our classroom and school community. Families may help by:
Volunteering for classroom activities or field trips.
Attending parent–teacher conferences.
Supporting learning and reading at home.
Participating in school events and fundraisers.
All St. Mark volunteers must complete the school’s current Safe Environment requirements, including training that prepares adults to recognize and report child maltreatment. Safe Environment training is available through Catholic churches in the Diocese of Raleigh and is valid for one year.
New volunteers must complete a Reference Form and register for the required online Safe Environment webinar. All volunteers must submit a background check and receive clearance before volunteering. The school will provide current instructions.
Field-trip volunteers are arranged in advance according to the number of adults needed. Volunteers follow the teacher’s assigned duties and may not bring younger siblings on the trip.
Our classroom behavior system is built around R.O.A.R. and reflects our Catholic virtues:
R — Respect yourself, others, and our school.
O — Offer kindness and help to those in need.
A — Act responsibly according to Scripture and Catholic teaching.
R — Reflect on your choices and learn from them.
All students begin each day on Ready to Learn.
Clips may move up for positive choices and down when correction is needed.
Most clip-downs include an opportunity to move back up after the student improves the behavior.
The goal is to notice and celebrate positive behavior. Clips move up much more often than they move down.
The student’s final clip-chart level is recorded on the homework chart.
Serious behavior is handled directly rather than represented by several clip movements. Safety incidents, bullying, or repeated disruption may require immediate family or administrative contact regardless of clip position.
Classroom supports, school plans, and individual accommodations will be followed. Responses may be adapted to meet a student’s needs.
Positive Recognition
Outstanding
Great Day
Good Day
Daily Starting Point
Ready to Learn
Reflection and Correction Levels
Think About It
Teacher Choice
Parent Contact and/or Principal Visit
The class earns R.O.A.R. coins for consistently showing respect, kindness, responsibility, and reflection. Coins may occasionally be removed when the class as a whole does not meet a clearly taught shared expectation. Coins will not be removed because of the actions of only one or two students.
When the class earns 20 coins, students receive a whole-class reward. Possible rewards include a movie, pajama day, toy or stuffed-animal day, or another announced class reward.
Verbal praise and encouragement.
Class rewards for R.O.A.R. milestones.
Individual recognition for Outstanding days, such as a positive note home or a small prize.
Outstanding slips may be sent home to celebrate especially positive behavior.
The response will depend on the behavior, its effect on others, and the student’s needs. Possible responses include:
A verbal reminder or redirection.
Time to reflect, practice an expectation, and solve the problem.
A logical loss of privilege.
An appropriate repair, such as an apology note.
A reflection sheet completed independently or with support. Reflection sheets must be signed by a parent or guardian and returned to school.
Family communication by homework chart, email, or telephone.
A meeting with the principal for serious or repeated concerns.
The homework chart records the student’s daily clip-chart level. Students may bring home an Outstanding slip for positive behavior or a reflection slip that requires a signature and return. For a serious issue, Ms. Smith may call or email. Repeated concerns or patterns may require a family conference or check-in. School conduct referrals may be documented through the school system and communicated with the family and administration.
Students will help create the classroom rules during the first weeks of school. This helps children understand the expectations, discuss what they look like in daily situations, and take responsibility for the classroom community. We look forward to a wonderful school year together!