August 21, 2015
Dear Parents,
I am very excited to begin this new school year with your child in my class. We have spent this week learning
about each other and second grade. The children and I have talked about routines and rules for our classroom and
began our studies.
I enjoyed meeting many of you Tuesday night at the Lowell Back to School Social. You may see your child’s
classroom again and learn about second grade by attending Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 3rd.
Volunteer sign-up sheets and conference sign-up sheets will be posted again that evening outside of the classroom.
As mentioned, Second Grade Curriculum Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 3rd from 6:30-8:00. You
will learn about the second grade curriculum and classroom routines and expectations that evening. You will also
receive a complete classroom schedule at Curriculum Night. Until that time, I have added a table at the end of this
newsletter containing the special classes your child attends with the days and times they attend the classes. If you
have any questions or concerns prior to Curriculum Night, please call, email (Cynthia.Mielke@cusd200.org) or write
me a note.
This letter should have arrived home in a special “Take Home Envelope.” We have ordered special envelopes that
are intended to last the entire school year. Your child’s work and notices from the office will come home in this
envelope on Fridays. The envelope should be returned to school on Monday after you have reviewed the contents
and signed the envelope.
Your child will bring a homework folder home Monday through Thursday. The folder will have a weekly homework
log and a calendar of events. Daily reading and math fact practice are expected. Assigned homework is extra
practice or a review of skills learned in the classroom. Unfinished work from the classroom may also be sent home
in the homework folder. Parents may answer questions, review completed homework and sign the homework log. If
it was necessary to assist your child in order to complete the homework, please indicate that you helped your child
by writing a note on the homework page. Occasionally, there will be special projects assigned. These long term
projects will come home with specific letters of instruction. As stated on the homework folder, daily reading is
encouraged!
Just a reminder, our class will have a regular morning snack break. If you would like your child to have a snack,
please send it in their backpack. An easy and healthy snack could include fruit, vegetables, cheese, or pretzels.
Please do not send beverages (except water bottles), chips, junk food or anything requiring utensils. We will have a
snack time each day, and it is the responsibility of the child to make sure they have a snack if they would like one.
The children may also bring water bottles to school.
This week in reading, the children began enjoying a variety of books about Miss Nelson and Miss Viola Swamp.
We talked about the elements or parts of fiction books. The children talked about the events in each story. They
identified their favorite event in Miss Nelson is Missing. We also discussed characters and compared and
contrasted Miss Nelson and Miss Swamp. The children then read Miss Nelson is Back and compared and contrasted
the two stories. Next week the children will learn to select books that are the right reading level for independent
reading as I introduce Daily 5 reading expectations to them.
The class wrote expository paragraphs about themselves. We discussed what the children already knew about
writing expository paragraphs before beginning our writing. The children remembered to include topic and closing
sentences, fact and detail sentences. They also remembered that sentences started with capital letters and ended
with punctuation marks. You can view your child’s paragraph in their writing journals the evening of Curriculum
Night.
In math we reviewed different ways to make the sum/total 10. The children were then introduced to Math
Mountains. Look for a parent letter explaining Math Mountains next week along with math mountain cards for
practice at home. I will speak more about our math series on curriculum night. I will also try to explain new
vocabulary and strategies in my weekly newsletters. Our first math unit works on addition and subtraction within
20. The children will learn addition and subtraction strategies as well as problem types using addition and
subtraction. This week we learned two card games (Make Ten and Snap) that will help us practice our addition
facts.
I will be sending paper copies of my newsletter for the next three weeks. I will then post my newsletters on the
Lowell School website. If you provide me with your email address, I will also send it to you electronically each
Friday. Paper copies of my newsletter will be available for families without internet access.
Finally, we are happy to have Mrs. Adkins with us as a classroom aide.
Sincerely,
Ms. Mielke
2Mi Specials
Gym
Art
Music
Library
M-F
M
T
TH
1:20-1:40
11:15-12
11:35-12
11:25-11:55
P.S. Please consider joining the Lowell School PTA. PTA supports our school community in many ways. They provide
funds for field trips and cultural arts programs. PTA also organizes many school activities such as Discovery Day,
Jamboree, Raz Kids, Green Club, Chess Club and Beautification Day.
P.P.S. I will be talking about the D200 wellness policy on Curriculum Night. Until then, please remember that
birthdays are to be celebrated with non-edible items.