Welcome Letter

Welcome to 2 nd Grade!  

I am so excited about the year ahead of us! It is my goal to make learning  fun and provide various ways for students to learn, process, and apply the material  covered. Important school and class policies will be covered in this packet. Please  return the family questionnaire by next week or tomorrow if possible. If you have  any questions, please contact me via email [email protected] or by  phone 778-8141. I am available for conferences after school and can arrange  meetings during the day. Thank you for your support and for sending your child to  St. Mary’s Catholic School. We are going to have a great year!  

Your child will be part of a Christian community that will work together to  grow in faith, blessed by the opportunity to share their faith with others. They  will be encouraged to share what they learn with their families.  

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16  

Monday-Website  

Every week on Monday morning the Second grade website will be ready to  find information regarding homework for the week, objectives that will be taught  during the week, and information about upcoming events. Math Homework for the  week will be included in the Take Home folder and will be due on Thursday of that  week. Homework will be a part of their final grade. If there is any homework issued throughout the week (i.e. assignments that weren’t completed during class time) it will be in their take home folder and updated on the website.

Recess:  

Students will have outdoor recess daily, with the exception of extreme  weather. It is important that students stay well hydrated. Please send a  plastic filled  water bottle to school with your child daily. Please do not send the heavy metal ones; when they fall, the noise is deafening!  Water will be provided for children to  keep their water bottles filled. As the weather cools, please send students to  school with appropriate outerwear.  

Rules: 

We will recite the following rules daily and students will be asked to  identify and exhibit behaviors that exemplify each rule.  

1. Keep all body parts to yourself.  

2. Work diligently on the assignment.  

3. Show respect to all students and staff. 

4. Listen when someone else is talking.  

5. Follow directions quickly.  

Behavior:  

Students will be given opportunities to practice following the rules and  reflect on their behavior. For positive reinforcement, students will earn play  money which they can use throughout the year during class sales.  If a student has a sticker for great behavior every day that week, then on Friday they will be able to pick from the treasure box.

In the event that a student doesn’t follow the rules, they will receive a  warning and opportunity to redirect their behavior. Parents will be notified in  their take home folder and via email communication. A consequence may be loss of portion of free play recess.  

This year (beginning 2024-25) 2nd grade will be utilizing the “Merit/Demerit” system via RenWeb. Behavior that emulates the virtues we instill in our students can receive “Merits.” This is for conduct, behavior, and actions that go above and beyond normal expectations.

“Demerits” will be issued to students that fail to follow class directives (Student Handbook), rules, or conduct expected of them. One-Four (1-4) demerits can be issued for infractions that fail to meet expectations. Depending on the severity of the infraction one to four demerits can be issued.

If 4 demerits are accumulated, a detention will be issued. Each time a Merit/Demerit is issued, an automatic notification will be sent to the parent/guardian registered in RenWeb. After attempts have been made to allow for correction of the negative conduct (i.e. verbal warnings, demerits, detention) a teacher requested-conference with the parent/guardian may occur. 

Students can have the opportunity to remove a demerit if/when they have earned 4 merits. In other words, one demerit can be erased when 4 merits have been earned through positive behavior that goes above and beyond normal expectations. 

Take Home Folder:  

Students have a  red take home folder that should be returned to school daily.  Inside the folder is the calendar with school events and an opportunity for you to look for notes from me.  Most days will have a word or two about how your child’s day was from me or a  sticker which means great behavior.  

Dress code:  

● Boys are to wear blue and white striped shirts (Mass shirt) or light blue polo  shirt with school logo daily. On Mass days, Thursdays and Holy Days of  Obligation, boys must wear mass shirts, pants, belts and ties.  

● Girls may wear light blue polo shirt with school logo and navy skorts or navy  jumper with school logo and white shirt. On Mass days and Holy  Days of Obligation, girls must wear their jumper with the school logo and white  shirt.  

● Spirit Days vary throughout the school year. Keep an eye out for reminders in the weekly Newsletters as well as reminders in take home folders. Spirit Day dress is as follows: gray  St. Mary’s Catholic School t-shirt, properly fitted blue jeans with a navy,  black, or brown belt, and school shoes. Capris and walking shorts are also  allowed.  

● Only school sweaters and school-emblem fleece jackets can be worn inside  the classroom and church during Mass. Each child has a hook in the  classroom to hang up winter coats or rain jackets. During cold weather,  winter coats and other non-school jackets will be placed under the pews  during Mass. 

Field Trips: More information will be provided throughout the year when opportunities arise.

Parents will be needed to provide transportation for field trips when we can  have them, which will be in the spring semester. Parents must be in compliance  with the Diocesan requirements when volunteering at St. Mary’s. All volunteers  within the Catholic Church are required to complete an application that will be kept  on file with the Diocese and attend an EIM workshop every three years. More  information can be found at www.austindiocese.org . The link directing you to the  correct section of the website is eAppsDB.  

Sacraments:  

During religion class, we will prepare for the sacraments of First  Reconciliation and First Communion. The church office must have a copy of the  child’s birth certificate and Baptism certificate. If you attend a parish other than  St. Mary’s, your child has a choice of receiving these sacraments at your home  parish or at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Those who receive their sacraments at St.  Mary’s will join with children from the parish Religious Education program. There  will be classes /meetings for parents and children to attend throughout the semester, and dates will be provided for you when they come available.  

If you choose for your child to receive sacraments at St. Mary’s and are a

member of another parish, please ask your pastor to write a letter giving  permission for your child to receive sacraments at St. Mary’s. If you choose for  your child to receive sacraments at your home parish, please contact the director  of Religious Education to learn parish requirements for Catholic school students.  

Drop off and dismissal:  

Students may be dropped off in the cafeteria beginning at 7:00 a.m. before  school. They will be supervised until 7:40 when they will be released to their  classrooms. All students should be prepared for the day by 8:00 to join the school  in the Pledge of Allegiance and opening prayer. It is extremely important that  your child is in the classroom by 8:00.  

We will dismiss at 3:20 after closing prayer. You are more than welcome to pick up your child from the classroom, if that is more convenient, otherwise, if they are a car rider, they will be escorted to your vehicle once you have checked in through the Pikmykid app.

Curriculum:  

Students will receive instruction in the following classes: math, language  arts, religion, science, social studies, music, art, physical education, and Spanish.  The TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) are the objectives that will be  taught for the academic subjects of math, language arts, social studies, and  science. 

The following is the weighted grading criteria for 2nd grade:

40% - Tests/Quizzes

20% - Classwork

20% - Homework

20% - Participation

Students are also enrolled iXL to practice second grade  math concepts and to use if they forget book pages for homework or to guide them through extra practice on concepts we learn in the classroom. Students’  usernames and passwords will be sent home soon, so students can access their  accounts from home. If you have internet access at home, please encourage your  child to log in to iXL regularly.  

The standards for Religion are provided by the Diocese.  Our religion curriculum comes from the Diocese of Austin directly and is instructed through our textbook: Spirit of Truth.

Accelerated Reading  

We utilize the Accelerated Reading program to help students improve in  their reading skills. Students will take a computerized test to assess their reading  level and identify areas for improvement. With this information, students will  create goals for each grading period and will read to accomplish their goal.  Students will read books that are on their level, and then take a test to show  comprehension. The program will track their progress, keeping a record of the  books they’ve read and their success on the tests. Students are expected to read  daily.

Thank you again for your support. We make a partnership for your child’s  learning. Please contact me with any questions or concerns.  

BIRTHDAYS:

-Mrs. Ochoa (Stacey)