POTLUCK THIS WEDNESDAY
We look forward to seeing many of you at our end-of-year potluck on Wednesday. The potluck will be held on Wednesday evening from 5:30-7:00 on the rooftop playground (or Learning Lab in case of bad weather). Cafe Lab is catering this event. High heels are not allowed on the rooftop because of the ground surface so please plan accordingly. There are some benches to sit on or you are welcome to bring a picnic blanket. We hope to see you there!
It's been awhile since we had a potluck and we haven't had one outside. Please carefully supervise younger siblings as the equipment (especially the climbing wall) was designed for first and second grader bodies in mind. Also, children and families should remain on the roof for the duration of the potluck. The other playgrounds in the building will be closed. Children should also be reminded to not run around in the hallways. We have the same expectations for them at the Potluck as we do during the school day. We want to safely celebrate the end of the year together. Thanks for your cooperation in making this a special event for all of us!
PICNIC FRIDAY
Picnic Day is planned for this Friday, weather permitting. This will be our last official Picnic Day since we have a special grade level event planned for Friday, June 5th. It has been lovely to have parents and grandparents join us.
Last week, Mrs. Olander introduced multiplication using arrays. An array is an arrangement of objects into rows and columns as in the image to the left. The dots are arranged into an array - in 5 rows with 4 dots in each (or in 4 columns). From this we can say that 5 x 4 = 20 dots altogether. We introduce multiplication in second grade and much of it is conceptual, using manipulatives and numbers stories. For example, we may show the children an egg carton with 2 rows of 6 eggs each (2 x 6 = 12 eggs). In third grade, children will learn and practice multiplication facts to build automaticity just as they have been working on addition and subtraction facts in the first and second grades.
FINAL KINDNESS MISSION
For our final kindness mission with our Kindergarten Buddies in Ms. Stowe-Grant's class we are planning a fundraising event for the Ronald McDonald House at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital. The Ronald McDonald Houses
provide a supportive residence for families while their child is being treated at a nearby hospital. Offering comfortable, private rooms where families can get a good night’s rest knowing their child is close by, our Houses give them the opportunity to connect with others going through similar experiences. In this ‘home away from home,’ parents can exchange stories over a cup of coffee in the kitchen while siblings bond with new friends in the play room. Volunteers arrive daily, offering their smiles, cleaning and cooking talents. Laundry and computer facilities provide accessibility and convenience. The folks who work at the House are always there, providing comfort and care to families during their greatest time of need.
For our fundraising event, we will have an in-school walk-a-thon to Promontory Point and back. This fundraising portion will be very low-key. On Thursday June 4th, we will walk with our buddies to The Point, enjoy a picnic lunch and walk back to school - a total of about 1.5 miles! More details will be coming soon about the fundraising piece of this activity and the walk. Before our walk-a-thon, we will visit the Ronald McDonald House on June 1st and make welcome cards for new families.
Parents are welcome to join us for the walk-a-thon to The Point on the June 4th. I will let you know the exact time soon, but it is likely between 11:00-1:00. Just let us know if you are interested!
EVERNOTE PROTFOLIO
We are updating your child's portfolio and many writing samples were added last week. Look for poetry folders to come home on Friday. We will be adding more work samples over the next week so keep checking!
PIONEERS
The children are completely engaged in our pioneer study and always ask when they can write more in their Pioneer Journal. We hope to have the journals on display at our potluck. Last week, we began the first of several rotations to other second grade classrooms. Our class visited Ms. Gillespie's room and made butter and slam-johns (pancakes) like the pioneers. This week, they will visit Mr. Wilson who will teach them about the games that pioneer children played. If you get a chance to stop up in our hallway, be sure to see the recreation of a covered wagon in the Learning Lab. We will be visiting it soon! If children have not already brought a pioneer costume to wear at school, they should do so by Wednesday so they can have their pioneer portrait taken. Costumes will be left at school until we are finished with our Oregon Trail study. On Thursday, the children will experience a "one-room school house" in Ms. Marinho's classroom and dress as pioneer school children. Stay tuned...
We look forward to welcoming Ms. Atiya back tomorrow after her trip to Atlanta. Enjoy the rest of your week.