SEESAW
The Seesaw Learning Journals have been set up and work has been added to each child's journal. Parents are welcome to comment (with text or a voice recording) and/or "like" the work. You will only have access to your child's journal, but the children will be able to see each other's work and any comments that have been posted. At times, we will post things that all parents will be able to see. Teachers will moderate and approve all comments so don't worry if your comment doesn't appear immediately. We will also spend time teaching the children about how to comment on another child's work. We want comments to be appropriate and encouraging.
The instructions to set up your parent account were included in the Parent Night packet. We have included a link in the email for this newsletter to help you sign up. Please let Ms. Harrison know if you need assistance or have any questions. This is our first year using Seesaw and we would appreciate your feedback. Let us know what you think and how it's going!
Our iPads are being set up and apps organized. They should be back in the classroom early this week. Once they are ready, we will introduce Seesaw to the children and they will begin to take charge of their own posts. It would be great if each child could open his/her journal and see a comment from you! Thank you.
APPLE PICKING FIELD TRIP
Next Monday, September 28th, our class will take its annual field trip to an apple orchard. We will begin our apple study this week. We will study the life cycle of the apple tree, learn about pollination, have an apple taste test and get ready for our field trip to the orchard on Monday. All the available seats for parent chaperones on the bus have been filled but you are welcome to drive if you'd like to join us. Please let me know. Sebastian's dad, Mark, is driving so if you need a ride, please let him know. Specific details and directions will be included in next week's newsletter. Here is some general information to help you plan and make sure your child is prepared for the orchard:
- Please pack a snack, lunch and water bottle securely in a paper or plastic bag (labeled with your child’s name) so it can be disposed of easily. Also, there are wasps at the orchard so we ask that children only bring water. Wasps are attracted to sweet juices and soda. No plastic storage containers please. All of your child’s lunch should be disposable. We will eat outside in the orchard at a picnic table or on the grass. Children should also bring a snack to eat on the bus. Snacks/lunches must be peanut/tree-nut free.
- Be sure to have your child dress for a day outdoors. Gym shoes are the most appropriate footwear. Sunscreen should be applied before school. Your child should also bring a manageable backpack to carry his/her lunch and belongings. At the end of the day, the backpack will hold all the apples your second grader picks! Backpacks with wheels are not recommended.
- The children may bring books to read, notebooks for drawing, Mad-libs, strings for the cat's cradle game, etc. We ask that toys, Pokemon cards, electronic devices, etc. be left at home. Thank you!
WE NEED LILIES ON THURSDAY!
As an important activity for our apple study, we will be discussing the importance of the apple tree's flowers or blossoms. We want the children to examine and observe the parts of a flower up close and see the pollen that is so important in the fertilization process. Because of their size, lilies are the perfect flower for this lesson. We need of about 12-15 large lilies brought in this Thursday. These can usually be found at your local grocery store. Please email Ms. Harrison if you can help.
WHOOPING CRANES
Last week, we introduced the class to Operation Migration and their work to save the endangered whooping cranes. Our second graders will track Class of 2015 birds as they begin their first migration south to Florida. The current Class of 2015 is learning to migrate following ultralight aircraft. It's a small cohort with only six chicks, five females and one male. We will also follow their progress with daily and weekly updates from Operation Migration and Journey North.
The migration is delayed until farmers along the route can harvest and clear their crops to make room for ultralight landings and whooping cranes pens. We will let you know when Operation Migration sets a new departure date. Stay tuned and if you get a chance, check out the live crane cam. Early in the mornings after sunrise, you might catch a glimpse of a training session and later in the day you may see the birds in their wet and dry pens.
On the brink of extinction, a flock of only 15 wild migratory whooping cranes remained in the early 1940s. Since 2001, with ultralight aircraft leading the way, a new wild flock of migratory whooping cranes is being reintroduced to the eastern U.S., once part of their historic range. The goal is 25 breeding pairs from 125 birds in Wisconsin by 2020. The new flock has had limited success in nesting, and the fragile migratory population still has a rocky road ahead. Thanks to the efforts of Operation Migration there are now about 100 wild adult Whooping cranes in the new flock migrating in eastern North America. Each year, new crane chicks are raised in captivity, trained to migrate with the ultra lights, and added to the new eastern flock. This year's new flock members are called the "Hatch Year 2015" birds, or the Class of 2015. These birds hatched in the spring of 2014 and have been training in White River Marsh, Wisconsin all summer.
Below is the beautiful video that we shared with the kids on Thursday that describes Operation Migration's mission. We are excited to get underway!
On Friday, your child brought home the September issue of the 2nd Grade Reading Club and online orders are due September 25th (no checks or cash please). With Scholastic Reading Club:
- Every book you buy earns FREE Books for our classroom library
- You can choose from handpicked, grade- and reading-level-specific books for your child
- You'll find the best values on a variety of formats
These fliers will be sent home about once a month. Feel free to order books for siblings or as gifts. You are welcome explore and order from other grade level fliers or categories to find books at a just right level/interest for your child. We have also added some items to the scholastic wish list so we can build our classroom library and replace lost or damaged books. Thanks for your support. Ordering is, of course, always optional. Let us know if you have any questions.
Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub
One-Time Class Activation Code: L7MMV
PRETZEL DAY
Each Thursday throughout the year, your child can bring $1.25 to our class to order a delicious pretzel that will be delivered before lunch. Change will be given if your child doesn't have the exact amount. Orders will be take first thing in the morning. The money earned throughout the year supports the German Exchange Program. We will have our first Pretzel Day this week.
THANK YOU
Thank you so much for the generous snack and lunch donations. We are set for now and will let you know when we start to run low again.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
Look for an email later today or tomorrow that includes an online sign up for Parent/Teacher Conferences.
Enjoy the week ahead!