Welcome to 2nd Grade! Mrs. Powell Catoctin Elementary School 2014

School Climate  Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS)  Catoctin is a PBIS school. We are working as a school to be respectful, responsible, and ready. When the children are seen exhibiting these behaviors they are recognized with Cardinal Cash. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Classroom Climate Respectful:  Use polite and kind words  Stay in your personal space  Raise your hands  Work quietly  Listen to others Responsible:  Follow directions and class routines  Complete work given  Make good choices  Clean up after yourself Ready:  Have materials ready  Give your best effort  Stop, Look, and Listen Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Classroom Climate  Rewards * Wrist band * Cardinal Cash  Consequences  A discussion with the teacher to talk about alternative behaviors.  Please, review any documentation (red notes or think papers) with your child, sign, and return to school the following day.  If any child leaves a mark on another child on purpose s/he will be asked to speak with an administrator. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Toys / “Look-Alikes”  LCPS policy is no weapon of any kind may be on school property.  This does include “look-alikes”. For example: toy guns, butter knives, etc.  Please, help to enforce this policy with your child. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Planners  Thanks to all the money that was earned through Box Tops for Education, each child was provided a planner.  Planners will come home daily. Please, use this planner to write me a note and I will write any note I may have to you in it as well.  In the front of the planner you will find the Catoctin handbook. Please, take time to review this information with your child. There are changes to it from last year. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Attendance  The tardy bell rings at 7:50 a.m.  If a child arrives after this time (not by bus) s/he will have to go to the office to get a tardy pass.  If the child was in breakfast s/he will not be marked tardy.  We start the day with morning work so when a student is late they miss learning. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Remind Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Tuesday Folders  A take home folder will go home every day.  Catoctin will be sending home all paperwork on Tuesdays in this folder.  Please, take time to review the work.  Please, return the folder every day.  If you have any comments or questions about your child’s work simply write me a note in his/her agenda.  I will send all work and papers from the school in the folder.  If you have a note for me please attach it in your child’s planner.  I do not check book bags so please remind your child to check his/her folder. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Homework  Homework will start the 3rd week in September.  Your child should engage in 20 minutes of reading a night. The only way to become a better reader is to read. It is also important for parents to model reading for their children so read with them as well.  Your child should also know the basic math facts as we will be taking timed tests.  More information will follow. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Sunshine Math  Sunshine Math will be offered to 2nd grade students if there is enough parent interest.  This will be a combination of home and school work.  More information to follow. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Pathways  Catoctin is a Pathways school.  Pathways is a balanced approach to literacy.  The daily components are word study, shared reading, guided reading, centers, read aloud, independent reading, and writers’ workshop.  The sound charts are used as a reference tool. It would be great to practice these at home.  Poems, passages, and big books are used to promote fluency, sight words, and skills. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Responsive Instruction (RI)  RI will take place daily from 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.  Each student will participate in a short assessment focusing on fluency in early September  RI will focus on fluency instruction Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA)  The DRA is a reading assessment that is administered at the beginning and end of 2nd grade.  The DRA is an assessment that is used to find the child’s independent reading level.  The DRA provides essential information about the child’s decoding skills, comprehension skills, and fluency.  At conference time we will go over your child’s testing in detail. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS)  The PALS is administered at the beginning and end of 2nd grade.  The PALS provides information about the child’s knowledge of letter sounds, spelling, and instructional reading level.  We will discuss your child’s PALS at conference time as well. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

First Quarter Conferences  Please, sign up on the front table before you leave. Clarity  The Clarity parent portal is here. ALL parents will need to sign up again Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Communication  The 2nd grade team will send out a monthly newsletter to keep you informed.  Newsletters will be posted to the website in order to save paper. Please check the website each month. If you need a paper copy, please let me know.  If necessary I will send home a note specific to your child.  Notes and are the best ways to contact me for general things.  My address is If you have a question that is child specific please, me so we can set up a time to conference via phone or in person. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Visitation  All visitors must show identification at the front of the building, sign in at the office, and wear a visitor’s pass.  Volunteers are needed (please sign up)  If you would like to visit the classroom (aside from volunteer work and special events) please, contact the administration and set up a time to come in and observe.  Parents may attend lunch without notification but please follow the above procedures and meet your child in the cafeteria. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Lunch Money  Please make sure that your child has lunch money on his/her account.  If your child has a check please, have him/her tell me first thing in the morning.  Ice cream and cookies can be purchased in the cafeteria. You can put limits on these items.  Your child will have to select his/her lunch choice in the morning. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Snack/Water bottles  Students may bring in a water bottle to keep at their desk. I would prefer a bottle with a push top or straw rather than a cap.  The children may bring a small, healthy snack. No peanuts or peanut products. **This is different than last year. Cookies and potato chips are not a healthy snack and will not be allowed to be eaten during snack time. Snack time will be in the afternoon since we have such an early lunch.  Healthy Snacks- Fruits, Crackers, Belveta, Pretzels  Unhealthy Snacks- cookies, chips, fruit gummies, flavored drinks Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Birthdays  Children/Families may not bring in any type of treats (edible or nonedible) in celebration of a birthday. This is a LCPS policy. We can discuss other means of recognizing birthdays in school.  Birthday party invitations may not be distributed in school. Please, join the PTA and submit your family’s information to be included in the Catoctin Directory. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Report Cards  Please, review the brochure about the 2 nd grade report card.  Progress Indicators for Academic Subject Areas will be:  E / 4 =exceeds standards  M / 3 =meets standards  P / 2 =progressing towards standard  B / 1 =performing below standard Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Curriculum  The curriculum that is being covered will be listed in our newsletters. It is already on our website.  Each grading period’s curriculum will be posted as a link on the 2nd Grade Webpage.  The Virginia SOLs can be found on the Virginia Department of Education website. Catoctin Elementary School 2014

Grading  Please, review and talk with your child about the work.  If a child has difficulty completing an assignment due to behavior it will be sent home to be completed at home.  Graded assignments will be marked in a 1(below), 2(progressing), 3 (meets), or a 4 (exceeds).  Most tests and assessments will be held onto until the end of the quarter. Catoctin Elementary School 2014