A message from the Athletic Board

Sign-Ups for SF Junior Warriors Basketball - 2nd grade only.

In each of the last two years, STM has entered at least two teams in the SF Junior Warriors league. So far this year, we only have enough 2nd graders signed up for one co-ed team. This is a shame because it is a great introduction to the sport and the beginning of CYO basketball in 3rd Grade.

The league is on Saturdays and starts second week of January with a one-hour practice session followed by a game.

Please email Mercedes Echon at  stmjuniorsports@gmail.com ASAP if your son or daughter would like to play STM junior basketball, and also, if you would like to volunteer coach.  The deadline was extended by the league to this Friday, December 16th.

Thanks.

Field Trip to Elkus Ranch

We are going on a field trip to Elkus Ranch, south of Half Moon Bay, on Tuesday, January 31st.  We have five chaperons. Remember all chaperons must have a clear background check and have gone to the shield the vulnerable website. It might take over two weeks to clear.
*** You may not chaperon the fieldtrip without a clear background check. ***

https://www.stthomasmoreschool.org/shield-the-vulnerable.html

Tuesday, December 20th 

Please bring in your favorite board game on Tuesday, December 20th. We will be playing games together after recess.

Recycled book party in 2nd grade- Monday, December 19th

Let's share the love of reading with each other. 

Please bring in a used wrapped book to school by Friday, December 17th.  

On Monday, December 19th, students will be participating in the wrapped book exchange.

Don't forget to write From:... on the book.

Do not write TO:... (As it will be a random choosing.)

Merry Christmas and Happy Reading!

If you are leaving school early and still want to participate in the book exchange than there will be a book waiting for your return. :)

Homework from December 5th to December 19th

Monday, December 5th

Field Trip to Nutcracker Today. Please discuss with your parents what your favorite part of the show was. No Written homework! (2nd place penny award from Ms. Wilkinson)

Superkids Spelling test level 5 Unit 2 Week 2 test on this Wednesday.

Tuesday, December 6th

No Written homework if you attended Sunday’s Mass.

If you did not go to mass, write one paragraph about your favorite and least favorite subject in school. Underline the nouns in green and verbs in red. And/Or

Read your library book for 15 minutes and draw a picture of your favorite part.

Log on to mathletics for 15 minutes.

Wednesday, December 7th

Superkids-Backpack pages 27 & 28

Math- 12-3

Star of the week compliments due Friday.

Superkids Spelling test level 5 Unit 2 Week 3 test on this Tuesday the 13th!

Thursday, December 8th

Superkids- Backpack pages 29 & 30

Homework - 12th-19th

Monday, December 12

Superkids- Backpack pages 31 & 32

Math- 12-4

Star of the week compliments due Thursday.

Tuesday, December 13

Superkids- Backpack pages 33 & 34

Science- Create-an- Animal handout Spend some time on this assignment. I will be using this as one way to assess what you learned about animals for your report card.  

Wednesday, December 14

Science- Create-a- Plant handout

Spend some time on this assignment. I will be using this as one way to assess what you learned about plants for your report card.  

Superkids- End of Unit 2 Online Progress Test in class on Friday, January 6th.

Last Spelling test of 2nd quarter will be the last two spelling lists in Unit 2
Superkids Spelling test level 5 Unit 2 Week 3 test on Friday, January 6th. AND
Superkids Spelling test level 5 Unit 2 Week 4 test on Friday, January 6th.


Thursday, December 15th
See you at the Christmas Show!

No More Homework for 2016! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! See you in 2017!

Don’t forget to bring in supplies for the Gingerbread house making on Monday! Also please bring in a wrapped book tomorrow!

Need supplies for Gingerbread houses on Monday December, 19th

We will be making gingerbread houses on Monday, December 19th. Please sign up below/comment if you can help bring in supplies. Please write what you are bringing and how much. Thanks! Merry Christmas!

1. Graham crackers (I think we need 15 boxes.) Maybe a few people could sign up for this one.
Emily- 1 box
Isabelle 3 boxes
Darius- 3 boxes
Emma- 3 boxes
Paolo- 2 boxes
Brayden- 2 boxes
James-  boxes

2. white frosting (homemade or store bought) Maybe a few people could sign up for this one.
Emma- 4 cans
Eli- 6 cans
Benny- lots
Ms. Wilkinson 2 cans

3. gum drops ( Emily)

4. peppermints- Dominic

5. assorted sprinkles ( Brian) & Ms. Wilkinson

6 miniature marshmallows ( Kaitlyn)

7. chocolate chips ( Daniela)

8. licorice (Abigail )

9. aluminum foil- Sofia

10. other various candies and food items to decorate with- Elizabeth- M&Ms ( No peanuts) & Skittles

11. plastic knifes to spread the frosting (Sara and Collin)

Dec 4th Presentation Mass for candidates for Communion and Confirmation

Dec 4th Presentation Mass for candidates for Communion and Confirmation

Please have your child meet me in the pews in front of the altar at 9:50. Mass will be at 10:00.  We will sit together as a class. After mass, your child will be released to you. 

This mass is a Presentation Mass for candidates for  2nd grade Communion and 7th grade Confirmation. We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating with you. 

Thanks,

Ms. Wilkinson

Don't forget to bring your brown bag lunch to our field trip to the Nut Cracker tomorrow. Backpacks are not needed.  We look forward to seeing your performance Sage B. and Chiara!

Homework Week of November 28th

Monday, November 28th

No Written Homework! I am engaged! Spread kindness and have fun with loved ones tonight.

Tuesday, November 29th

Superkids-Backpack pages 23 & 24

Math- 12-1  

Star of the week compliments due Friday.

Act of Contrition Prayer- test on Friday. You must be able to recite it in front of the class.

Wednesday, November 30th

Superkids-Backpack pages 25 & 26

Math- 12-2

Spelling test on Tuesday. Level 5 Unit 2 Week 2 Spelling list ( All spelling lists and backpack pages are on the parent portal of Superkids. )

Thursday, December 1st

Superkids- Read pages 42–64 in Frog and Toad handout lesson 14 & 15

Turn in Frog and Toad book and packet tomorrow!

Make sure it is all complete and neat.

Star of the week compliments due Friday.

Act of Contrition Prayer test tomorrow!

First communion is May 13th, 10am.

First communion is changed to May 13th. 

Superkids Extra Work/ Challenge

Superkids Extra Work/ Challenge

Do you have extra time to extend your child’s learning? If so, here are some ideas of how your child can extend their Superkids knowledge. (Have your child turn in their extra work when it is completed and corrected by you and earn raffle tickets for our prize box. Students can also use the special teacher stamps to stamp their extra work each morning.)

Ideas from What's New magazine 1...

Make up an unusual flavor of ice cream.
Have your child create their own flavor of ice cream. What ingredients are in the ice cream? Compare and contrast the new flavor to other flavors tasted before.

Write a paragraph
Both the baby hedgehogs and the monkey in the article have found something new to comfort them. Have your child write about what comforts them. 

Write about trying something new

Have your child write about a time they tried something new. Was it hard? How long did it take before they were good at it?

Write about a contest

Alize wins skateboard contests. Have you entered a contest? Did you win or loose? Describe how you felt.

Create a crazy critter

Have your child draw or construct an imaginary unusual animal. The animal should have a surprising ability or appearance. When appropriate, students can also write about what their critter eats, its habitat, and its behavior.

Research the South American rain forests on the Internet

Have your child research why it is important to save the rain forests and write about what kids can do to help preserve the environment. (Many plants and animals only live there; many medicines come from plants found in the rain forests. Kids can recycle, conserve water, and use less electricity.)

Invent a new word

Have your child make up their own wacky new word and write a definition for that word.

Write about an invention they can’t live without

Ask your child to write about one invention they can’t live without. Why is this invention important to them?

Own a robot

If your child owned their own robot, what would they want it to do? Have your child write

about the special things their robots can do.

Research an invention

Instruct your child to pick one of DA Vinci’s inventions. Them them to use the Internet or the library to research the invention and write about it. How would it work? Would it be useful today?

Interview Leonardo DA Vinci

Ask your child to pretend they are reporters interviewing Leonardo DA Vinci. What questions would they ask about his inventions? How do they think he would answer? Tell your child to write about their questions and answers down and act out interviews with you playing Leonardo DA Vinci.

Draw an invention

Instruct your child to draw their own invention and write about what it does. Is it useful or just for fun? How much would it cost in a store? Label your invention.

Research invention contests

Have your child search the Internet under the words, kids, inventions, and contest. What kind of contests can kids enter? Tell your child to write about the contest they’d like to enter and why they chose it.

Invent a game

Take a game your child already knows and instruct your child to add their own twist to the game by changing the rules. Another option: students can create their own entirely new game.

Sequencing directions

Have your child write a set of directions for getting dressed in the morning and number their steps.

The first day of school

Have students write about how they felt on the first day of second grade. Were they nervous? How did they fell when the day was over? Did they feel better and more confident? How do they feel now? Full of confidence, we bet. Discuss the evolution of their emotions and tell them to remember how their feelings change whenever they face a new or scary situation.

Make a list of what they are good at

As suggested in Ouch! Have students make a list of the things they are good at. For those who struggle for ideas, brainstorm some suggestions. They may be good at sports, art, or math. They may be friendly, helpful, and kind. Instruct your child to make a list as long as they can and then it share.

Be the advice columnist

Pick a letter from the advice column Ouch! Have your child write a new solution to the problem written in the letter.

Ideas from It's Tricky magazine 2...

Science
Have a discussion about tornadoes and waterspouts and what causes them. For a fun experiment, make a tornado in a jar by filling a mayonnaise sized jar /4 full with water. Add a teaspoon of liquid soap and a teaspoon of vinegar to the water. Add food coloring if desired. Tighten the lid and shake it so it mixes well, then swirl the jar quickly in a circular motion to form a vorte or small tornado.

Research corn- based products
Many things are made of corn. Have your child use the Internet to research the large number of uses for corn in making other products.

Research the Titan flower
Have your child search the Internet to learn more about the flower. He or She write 3-4 facts that they learned though the research and illustrate their findings.

Research King Tutankhamen
Use the Internet to research the famous King Tutankhamen of Egypt and his life as a child kind or other facts about Egypt. Have your child write about four facts they discovered in their research.

If you were king or queen...
King Tutankhamen became king when he was nine years old. Have your child imagine being king or queen. Draw a picture of what their life would be like as king or queen and write about what they would do everyday.

Art
Make origami cranes with your class. There are many sites online with easy to follow directions.

Research an endangered animal
Provide your child with a list of endangered species. Have them pick an animal to research and write about, explaining why it is endangered and how humans work to protect it.

Make a puppet
Make a crane puppet out of colored paper and attach it to a craft stick. Have your child pretend they are scientists feeding a baby crane with their puppets.

Interview a friend
Have your child ask a friend about a time he learned something difficult. What tricks could he share what helped him get better at it?

Draw a picture of new learning
Have your child draw a picture of something they have recently learned to do that was tricky and write about it.

Make a healthy snack recipe collection
Have your child make a list of healthy snacks they can eat every day. They can illustrate their favorite ideas and compile them into a book.

Magic can be a fun way for students to perform in front to the class. Below are some books that can help turn scholars into magicians.
Kids Make Magic: The Complete Guide to Becoming an Amazing Magician by Ron Burgess
Magic Tricks by Cynthia Kingel and Robert Noyed

Create a bug
Have your child create their own bug or other creature that has an amazing way to protect itself. They can draw a picture of it, or make it out of modeling clay or pipe cleaners. Have your child write a few sentences to describe what their bug does that is so unusual.

Make a bug list
Have your child make a list of all the busy they can think of and illustrate their three favorites.

Learn everything you can!
Have your child pick the insect that was the most interesting to them. Encourage students to learn more by looking up the insect in books or on the Internet. Have them prepare a short report and share their findings with the class.

Creative writing: Lava Street
Have students imagine what ti would be like to live on a street with real water and lava. Would they like living on that street? What wouldn't they like? Write about the experience of living on Lava Street.

Homework weeks of November 14th & 21st

Homework week of November 14th & 21st

Monday, November 14th

Superkids- Backpack pages 19 & 20

Superkids- Spelling Test on Thursday Unit 2 lesson 1

Math- 5-7

Star of the week compliments due on Friday.

Music- Practice the songs Joy to the World ( whole school) Santa Claus is coming to town ( 2nd grade) all week at home.

Tuesday, November 15th

Superkids- Backpack pages 21 & 22

Math- 5-1 & 5-2 (Reviews)

Wednesday, November 16th

Start reading Frog and Toad. Keep the book and reading packet in a safe place. You will be reading it from now until December 2nd. (Frog and Toad book and Reading packet are due on Friday, December 2nd.)

Superkids- Read pages 4–17 In Frog and Toad Book. Do handout 11 Loyal Friends.  

Math- Topic 5 Reteaching

Thursday, November 17th

Superkids- Read pages 18–29 in  Frog and Toad. Do handout lesson 12.

Monday, November 21

Superkids- Read pages  30–41 in Frog and Toad. Do  handout lesson 13.

Tuesday, November 22

No homework! Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for the break and for teaching you. ;)

Halloween Photos and more photos on STM Homepage

Here are some Halloween photos.

2nd Grade Thanksgiving Day Party- Tuesday, November 22nd

Please respond below/comment if you would like to bring in one of the following. Write what you will be bringing to the class party. Please bring all food at arrival. You must bring in enough food for 30 students. All food should be washed, cut, and easy to serve. Only one item from each category will be allowed. Also only parents who signed up on this blog ahead of time may bring in treats for the party. Thank you for your cooperation. Happy Thanksgiving!

Fruit or a Fruit Salad

1.  Elizabeth will bring in fruit salad with tangerines, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Please let me know if anyone is allergic to any of these. - 

Vegetables or a Vegetable Salad

1.  ?
2. (Salad prongs too if need be.)
3. * America is not a melting pot, but rather a mixed salad with all our unique and great characteristics. Two big words to go over are: Assimilation and Acculturation. Assimilation is a two-way process, and the majority culture is changed as well as the minority culture. Acculturation occurs when the minority culture changes but is still able to retain unique cultural markers of language, food and customs.

Sweet Treat

1. Rafael will be bringing cupcakes.

Salty Treat

1. Mateo will be bringing pretzels. 

Drinks

1. I'll bring juice! (CapriSun) -Brayden

Plates

1. Brian

Homework Week of November 7th

Superkids website has been updated. It is now set to Unit 2. All backpack pages and spelling lists for Unit 2 are online for you to see and print. 

5 Things that came up at Parent Teacher Conferences
1. Please email Mel and I if you lost your mass card.
2. The mass card can be signed by any priest at any church. (We do want you to go to Saint Thomas More for mass, but understand it may be more convenient to go elsewhere a few times.)
3. I can not only see when your child logs on to Superkids, Razkids, and mathletics, but I can see for how long and what their results were.
4. Razkids levels go up the more your child reads and answers questions correctly.
5. Here are some websites to use for extra challenge.
Readworks and Trueflix username: stmoore password flix
I enjoyed meeting all of you and learning more about your child. Thanks for the positive feedback. I truly appreciate it!

Friday, November 11th is a holiday.
Saint Thomas More will be volunteering at Saint Vincent De Paul.  If you have extra time, please have your child make Thanksgiving Day Art that I can bring with me and put up on the walls. Thanks!

Homework Week of November 7th- November 11th 

Monday, November 6th
This is a important week in history. Please talk to your child about the election and Veteran's Day. You can watch the news together, read the newspaper together, and have family led discussions. Also please talk to your child about Veteran's Day. Why is it a holiday? What veterans do you have in your family? What sacrifices did they make? What are some different ways we can thank veterans?

Social Studies- To help guide the conversation, please read the political parties and Constitution packet with your child. There are multiple choice and short answer questions as well. All sentences should be complete and have correct spelling. The packet is due on Thursday. ( I found the packet on Readworks. Feel free to download more articles and lessons from the website. )


Star of the Week compliments due Thursday.

Math- 5-4

Tuesday, November 7th
Social Studies- Continue to work on packet

Math- 5-5

Wednesday, November 8th
Social Studies- packet due tomorrow
Write a thank you letter or a card to a Veteran. It can be anyone that has fought for this country or another country. Give the letter or card to the Veteran. Your parents can also hold on to it until you see him or her.

Math- 5-6

Thursday, November 9th
No homework. Have a good weekend.

Homework week of October 24th & October 31st

Homework week of October 24th & week of October 31st

(Halloween and Conference Week)

Monday, October 24th

Social Studies- Make a Family Tree. Use the rough draft you made in class to help you.  Your family tree should date back to your grandparents. If you can go farther or want to include more extended relatives, please do so. If your family and you do not know the name of a relative, make it up. No one will know. :) Please draw or attach a picture of each person in your family tree. Also there is a regular sized white paper in the red folder for you to use, but if you want to use your own paper and make it bigger you can.

Discuss the family tree with your parents. Are there any traditions that are passed down in your family tree like the same middle name, or the same professions? Practice reading and discussing your family tree at home. You will be presenting them on Thursday. Turn in your Family Tree on Thursday.

Math-4-3

Tuesday, October 25th

Social Studies-  Continue making your Family tree.

Math-4-4

Superkids- Put words into ABC order. Use the handout.

Wednesday, October 26th

Social Studies- Continue making your Family tree. Family tree due tomorrow!

Math- worksheet (?)

Star of the week compliments

Thursday, October 27th

No homework. Have a nice weekend.

Week of Monday October 31st- November 4th - No written homework.

Read your library book each night for 30 minutes. Practice reading out loud and with expression to a parent, older sibling, etc.. Login to mathletics each night for 20 minutes. Please practice math facts to 20 without “fingers.”

Dear Parents,

Please bring any questions you may have, pros and cons of your child’s school experience, and their signed report cards with you. I look forward to speaking with you!

Love,

Ms. Wilkinson