Parent-Teacher
Communication
If you need to contact me, my e-mail address at OLA is ebsmith@olaschool.net. If you need immediate attention, please call the school at 704-531-0067.
Homework
Beginning in September, students will be given homework. Homework assignments will be attached to the weekly newsletter. Homework will be given Monday through Thursday and will be due the next day. Most written assignments will be completed in a homework journal and checked daily. Phonics worksheets may be sent home as homework.
Math Home Links are sent home for students to practice a concept taught in class. I do not list Home Links on the homework assignment calendar because I want to assure that the concept taught in class and the homework practice is closely linked. If a Home Link is sent home, it is due the next school day.
Students are expected to read for 20-30 minutes each day and complete a daily reading log. Parents are to sign the reading log to verify that their child has read.
I suggest that parents listen to their child read aloud for 10 minutes and then allow their child to read silently for 10 minutes.
Remember, reading aloud to your second grader for 10-15 minutes each day will have a great impact on your child’s developing skill as a reader.
Special
Projects
Special Projects will be assigned through out the school year and will be sent home with a separate set of instructions and designated due date.
Spelling
Tests
Spelling tests will be given on Friday morning. The spelling words for the next week will be sent home Friday afternoon in your child’s communication folder.
Friday
Folders
Friday folders will be sent home on Friday afternoon with student work that has been checked and does not need to be returned to the school.
Communication
Folders
Communication folders will be sent home daily. Reading logs, A Student Thinking and Planning Sheet (an as needed behavior report), homework, and papers to be returned to school are sent home in the folder. Students will bring the folder each day with completed homework. In general any information between OLA and a student’s home will be included in the communication folder.
Weekly
Classroom Newsletter
In addition to the hard copy that will be sent home weekly, the newsletter will be posted on the OLA web-site, 2nd grade link.
Thursday
Envelopes
Thursday Envelopes are sent home every Thursday. The information in the envelope includes our school newsletter, PTO information and general school updates. Please read all the contents and return the envelope signed on Friday (or the next school day).
Snacks
and Water Bottles
Students may bring a healthy snack every day. Nutritious snacks are good brain food and are generally neater to eat. You may send in a water bottle with a pull out top. Students will be asked to leave the water bottles on the classroom counter. Students may drink and refill water bottles, during appropriate times, through out the school day. I will send home water bottles on Friday to be cleaned.
Birthdays
Parents may send in a special snack or desert to celebrate their child’s birthday. Please send in treats that are individually sized (cookies or small cupcakes). These snacks will be shared at snack time or lunch. Please let me know in advance if you will be celebrating in this way.
It is school policy that birthday party invitations are to be sent from home, even if everyone in the class is being invited. Thank you for honoring this policy.
School
Discipline Policy
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School Discipline Policy is stated in the handbook on page 16. Some discipline situations are beyond the scope of the classroom teacher and will be handled by the school administration.
Classroom
Working Relationship
Building a strong relationship with each student in my care is an important part of my work as a teacher. Communicating clear expectations is an important step in this process. During the first few weeks of school, I will define classroom rules, expectations, and procedures. Students will know what is expected of them in second grade.
When a student meets or exceeds expectations he will be given an award card signed recognizing his success.
When a school rule is broken, or when a student has not responded to warnings, the student will meet with a teacher. After discussion, the student will be asked to complete A Student Thinking and Planning Sheet. Any action, to be taken by the student, will be noted. This will be sent home to be signed by a parent and returned the next day. If it is not returned, I will call the parent to follow-up.
This is a problem-solving tool used to process and consequence behavior problems at school. It is meant to allow a student the opportunity to make a correction, rather than be punished. It is also, my way of keeping parents informed about their child’s behavior at school.
As a teacher, I respectfully ask for your trust as I work to nurture the academic, social, and emotional growth of your child.
Ellen Smith August 2007
