The Toucan Squawk, Oct. 29 - Nov. 2

Halloween is finally here...and the kiddos are VERY excited! We'll be having our parade at 8:15. Students in K - 2 are invited to wearing their Halloween costumes, but it's definietly not a requirement. Afterwards, we'll be having our Halloween-themed center rotations in the classroom. You are welcome to stay. The students will be making spider cupcakes and estimating and measuring our classroom pumpkin from Apple Annie's, along with other centers. The students will still have time for their lunch in the cafeteria (or in the classroom if they bring a home lunch). We'll also have time for a movie (at least part of one) and for the students to enjoy their cupcakes. It's sure to be a fun morning!

The homework has changed- but only for this week. My apologies I didn't mention it prior to sending it home yesterday. There was a mix-up with the copies, and the words that were copied were the same ones from last week. So, I'll be sending home a page each day for this week. Each page is due the next school day. Friday, as usual, will be the day for rewarding of homework nickels, shopping, and Freetime for those who have earned it. Also, because of the mix-up with the spelling words, we won't be having a spelling test on Friday. We'll move on to the next set of words next Monday as usual.

The spider reports came out fantastic! The students worked so hard on them. I'll be sending them home within the next couple weeks with the grading rubric. This grade will go into writing- for the structure of how their paragraph was written, and for science- for the content.

As a reminder, here is the rubric grading system. This is how the kids will be graded for their writing projects:

4- 97 % or higher
3- 85 % or higher
2- 70 % or higher
1- 50 % or higher


News

Oct. 31                  Half-day early release at 11:30, teacher in-service Halloween Parade, 8:15 
                               AM, around the school.  Activities in the classroom afterwards

Nov. 12                 Veteran's Day, no school
Nov. 16                 Progress reports go home
Nov. 21 - 23         Thanksgiving holiday, no school
Nov. 28                 Half-day early release at 11:30, teacher in-service

Birthdays

Oct. 24 Isaiah

Nov. 21 Mason
Nov. 23 Kaylee

Thank you for all you do!

Elizabeth Townsend

PDS
Second Grade

515-2970

elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us

Grades

The grading key was not included on the grade report.  It was supposed to be, but unfortunately the system didn't include it.

The 4, 3, 2, 1, grading can be thought of more like percentages rather than A, B, C, D, F.  Here is what they stand for:

4- 97 % or higher
3- 85 % or higher
2- 70 % or higher
1- 50 % or higher

I hope that helps ease some confusion. If not, please feel free to contact me.


Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
515-2970
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us

The Toucan Squawk, Oct. 22 - 26

Hello families!  I hope everyone has had a great week so far.  The kids are still SO excited about the Scholastic Book Fair this week.  It ends on Friday.  I've gotten a few books for the kids to enjoy, and some of them are AR testables so that's always a good thing.  BIG thank you to the John family for purchasing the book "Math Attack" for our classroom.  I read it aloud to the class this afternoon and they really liked it.  Thanks again for thinking of us!
 
We've been working on mental math this week.  It's been super helpful for the kiddos who were struggling with double digit addition and subtraction at the beginning of the year.  The students have also been working EXTRA hard on their candy corn book reports (beginning, middle, and end of a story of their choice) and their spider research reports (partner work research on student choice:  Black Widow, Tarantula, or Wolf Spider).  The kids are almost finished, so I'll be posting pictures of their great reports this week or next.  This report, since it was based on actual research, will be going home after Halloween with a scored rubric.  Even though the reports were researched with a partner, the students will be receiving their own grade for their final report.

Our Halloween parade is next Wednesday!  Students in grades K - 2 are invited to wear their costumes, however this is only a suggestion.  A couple reminders for the kiddos and their costumes:

• Masks, weapons, and other items which need to be carried (pitchfork, broom, etc) are not allowed.  These items will be taken, and left in the office for parents to pick up.
• Inappropriate costumes are not allowed.  Students who arrive wearing something that is too short or otherwise too revealing will be asked to change.

News

 

Oct. 31 Half-day early release at 11:30, teacher in-service Halloween Parade, 8:15 AM, around the school. Activities in the classroom afterwards

Nov. 12 Veteran's Day, no school
Nov. 16 Progress reports go home
Nov. 21 - 23 Thanksgiving holiday, no school
Nov. 28 Half-day early release at 11:30, teacher in-service

Birthdays

Oct. 24      Isaiah

Nov. 21     Mason
Nov. 23     Kaylee

Thank you for all you do!

 

Elizabeth Townsend

PDS
Second Grade

515-2970

elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us

 

Toucan Squawk, Oct. 15 - 19

Your child is coming home with their grade report in an envelope.  Please look it over this weekend.  Feel free to contact me to set up a conference if necessary.  They also have their AR report for Oct. 1 - Oct. 19.  We will be starting a new AR goal system next week.  I'll be sending home information about it then.  It's going to be much easier for me, and for you, to figure out how many AR tests your child will need to be taking every week to reach their weekly AR goal.  I've been using percentages and points, and it hasn't been very kid-friendly.

If your child is or was enrolled in Title I, they went home yesterday with their Title I progress report.  It is a blue paper with a white paper attached to the back.  Look that over as well and feel free to contact Mrs. Wilkinson, the Title I teacher.

Your child also went home with a tshirt order form.  The form is due no later than October 24th, next Friday.  Please make your check out to Dust Devil PTO.

The field trip to Apple Annie's went absolutely fantastic!!  Thank you to everyone who volunteered to be chaperones- it was a GREAT help to have extra adults present to assist.  The kids had a really great time choosing their pumpkins.  We decorated them back at school with stickers, and I think they came out pretty awesome.  I took pictures of the kids with their pumpkins at the farm, and with the stickers back at school.

Wednesday the 31st is a half-day for students, but that morning we will have our Halloween parade grades K - 2!  We will also do some fun activities in the classroom afterwards.  It's such a fun time for the kiddos.  Please look out for more information to go home this coming week!

News
Oct. 31             Half-day early release at 11:30, teacher in-service
                         Halloween Parade, 8:15 AM, around the school.  Activities in the classroom after

Nov. 12            Veteran's Day, no school
Nov. 16             Progress reports go home
Nov. 21 - 23     Thanksgiving holiday, no school
Nov. 28             Half-day early release at 11:30, teacher in-service


Birthdays
Oct. 24           Isaiah

Nov. 21          Mason
Nov. 23          Kaylee



Thank you for all you do!

Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
515-2970
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us

As a reminder...                               October 15, 2012        

Our field trip to Apple Annie's is tomorrow!  We will be leaving PdS approximately 8:15, and returning approximately 1:45.  Once your child gets to school, they may come into the classroom to prepare for our quick departure.  We'll have little time to take attendance and for the kiddos to go to the bathroom before leaving, so they are welcome to come inside as soon as they get to school.  The students are coming home today with their toucan shirt.  They are welcome to wear their class shirt tomorrow.  Please be sure your student wears long jeans and sneakers. They are invited to bring a jacket or sweater to tie around their waist, as the weather may be cooler once we get to the farm. Students also need to bring a bottle of water and a sack lunch- something that does not need to be heated.  If you are chaperoning, there is an $8.00 fee for adults.  We may run out of room on the bus.  You are welcome to still come with us, but you may need to drive your own vehicle.

Apple Annie's

Our field trip to Apple Annie's is next Tuesday the 16th. We will be leaving PdS approximately 8:15, and returning approximately 1:45. Once your child gets to school, they may come into the classroom to prepare for our quick departure. We'll have little time to take attendance and for the kiddos to go to the bathroom before leaving, so they are welcome to come inside as soon as they get to school. I'll be handing out their tshirts on Monday, and finally taking pictures of everyone wearing theirs. Students are welcome to wear their shirt on Tuesday. Please be sure your student wears jeans and sneakers. They are invited to bring a jacket or sweater to tie around their waist, as the weather may be cooler once we get to the farm. Students also need to bring a bottle of water and a sack lunch. If you are chaperoning, there is an $8.00 fee for adults.


News
Oct. 19 Report Cards go home.
Oct. 31 Teacher in-service, 1/2 day early release at 11:30

Birthdays
Oct. 24 Isaiah

Thank you for all you do!

Elizabeth Townsend
PDS
Second Grade
elizabeth.townsend@svps.k12.az.us