Specht Elementary School Second Grade Orientation 2016-2017 Welcome Specht Elementary School Second Grade Orientation 2016-2017

School Day Students arriving before the tardy bell will report to gym. The Pledges begin promptly at 7:40. Instruction begins promptly following announcements and students are considered tardy at 7:40 a.m. Dismissal is at 2:50 p.m.

Agendas Agendas are used for home-school communication, which includes behavior, homework assignments, notes, reminders, and other important information. Using the agenda is mandatory. The cost is $3 and can be purchased in the cafeteria. Please bring the agenda to school on Tuesday. Please sign the agenda nightly.

Homework Homework will be assigned Monday – Thursday. (M,W- math; T,Th-ELA). Students are also required to read for 20 uninterrupted minutes each night. Please remember homework is the student’s responsibility. You can do your part by providing a routine time/place to complete assignments, checking over work, and signing the agenda. Your signature in the agenda is verification that you have reviewed your child’s homework and ensured its accuracy, and have viewed any behavior concerns for the day.

TxConnect You may access your child’s grades by registering for TxConnect on Comal ISD’s webpage. http://www.comalisd.org/Parent_Connection/

Report Cards Report Cards will be sent home at the end of every 9-week grading period. Progress reports are sent home in between report cards.

Grades Students will receive numerical grades rather than a checklist. Graded papers will be sent home in your child’s take home folder. Please keep all graded work at home unless otherwise indicated by teacher.

Library Second grade students may check out two books. Library books should be kept in your child’s backpack. They may keep their books for two weeks. Students who do not have their library books to return will not be allowed to check out new books.

Absences A written excuse must accompany your child upon returning to school following an absence. Written excuses will not be accepted after three days from the absence. It will then be marked as unexcused. Arrival after 10:00 a.m. or leaving before 10:00 a.m. is considered a full day absence. Make up work will be given upon the student’s return.

Pick Up and After School Transportation You may not drop your child off before 7:00 a.m. Preferred drop off time is 7:15 or later. You may drop your child off through the express line. If you wish to walk your child into the building, you must enter the school from the Overlook Pkwy entrance and park your car. Please do not use the handicap spaces to drop your child off. Contact the office if your child is going home a different way than usual. Please do not rely on emailing me as I don’t always get to my email by the end of the day. You must have your yellow card to pick up your child through the express or walker line. Children will not be released without a yellow card.

Water Bottles and Snacks Water bottles with sports top are permitted in class. No juice, soda, or Gatorade, etc. Please send a healthy, non- messy snack with your child, as we allow the students to have a snack during the day. Do not send snacks that require a spoon or a fork.

Allergies All allergies, food or other, must be reported to your child’s teacher. See Nurse Ward to notify her of any allergies as well.

Visitors Check in at the office to receive a visitor’s badge. You must have your driver’s license with you to receive a badge. You must have a background check on file before volunteering in the school or on field trips. Background checks may be filled out on the district’s website.

Second Grade Newsletter Newsletters will be sent weekly via email. These newsletters will keep you informed about what we are studying in class and other important news.

Celebrating Birthdays at SES! If you elect to bring a treat (must be store bought), please be sure to have it delivered before lunch. Treats will be distributed immediately following lunch and eaten outside.

All Star Fridays All Star Fridays will be held every other Friday. If All Star lands on a Friday holiday, it will be held on Thursday. We encourage parents to join us, in particular when your child is being celebrated. Each teacher will award a Shining Star to those students who exemplify good character. Not all students will necessarily be awarded a Shining Star award in the course of the year.

Conference Time Teacher conference time is from 8:30-9:20, with the exception of Tuesdays. You can also reach us via e-mail. It’s the most efficient form of communication.

Reminders: Free and reduced lunch applications can be filled out in the cafeteria. If your express card needs to be corrected, please bring it to the front office before leaving today. Walkers will be dismissed from the teacher’s lounge. As you are facing the front of the school, the teacher’s lounge is the first exterior door to the left of the front entrance. Remember, you must have your yellow card to pick up your child.

Bus Riders If your child is a bus rider, you must visit the transportation table in the foyer to verify the address for pickup.

Things to do: *Please sign in and fill out the first day transportation sheet. *Complete the pink Special Program form. *Complete the student information sheet (blue sheet). *Complete Movie Release form. *Please remember to sign up for REMIND so that you can get reminders about important dates and events. *See our class wish list  *Visit the cafeteria to purchase agendas and all PTA related items.

THANK YOU!!!