Messages and Information

September 29, 2020 

Hello Families!

It is hard to believe that we have made it through a month of digital learning!  The kids are doing great and I have been impressed with their stamina and ability to remain focused in the midst of our current Portland chaos.  This is a testament to the love and stability they are feeling from home.  

In "normal" years, I would be regularly posting photos of activities and other fun things we are doing in class - but as you know, this is not a normal year.  So, for the timebeing, I will maintain this space as a depository of the information I have been sending home to you in case you lose or forget something.  It is also just another spot you can check for what you need.  Please let me know if there is anything else you would like to see added here.

Thank you!

Current Newsletters/Information (most recent on top):

September 20 - News

September 13 - Family Information

September 9 - Packet Email

September 7 - Family Information

Welcome Letter, 2020-2021

Our new normal

Hello wonderful families.

I was sad to read Gov. Brown's announcement that schools would be closed through the end of the year. This is a fantastic class and I am sad that I will not get to see each of them in person for the next few months.  Ms. Johnson is sad as well, and disappointed that she will not be able to do her solo teaching. Mr. Winterbower, Maestro Omar, Ms. Johnson and Ms. Rin (Mr. Winterbower's student teacher) and I have been talking daily in various combinations.  
We want to give the 2nd graders as positive and educational of an experience as we can, while still allowing for flexibility within each household.  We also want to allow Ms. Johnson and Ms. Rin as much opportunity as possible to practice their teaching skills, even if it will not be in person.  

I will be sending our weekly plans via email every Sunday evening.  These plans may shift or change as the week progresses.  This week I will also try posting these same plans each morning so that students can have access to them without needing to access their parents email.  If it works well this week, I will continue this practice.

Also, we will try having small group meetings this week.  We don't have the details of this worked out yet, so more information will be coming soon. 

It is important that we keep communication between parents and teachers open during this time while we are trying to get all of this figured out.  Please let me know what is working and what is not.

Thank you so much.  We will make this work!  Have a great weekend.

Pi Day and extended break

Hello Families.

What a day it has been.  As you know, things are changing rapidly.  We are now on an extended spring break.  In today's Friday Folders, I have included computer access to all of the learning programs we use in school.  You will find copies of your child's Clever badge, Zearn, Raz-Kids and Lexia (if they use it) logins.  Other than the Clever badges, these are the same things I sent home in their last report cards.  It would be great if students can work on one of these programs for 15-20 minutes a day.  Of course, they are welcome to do more.  Also, please keep your kiddos reading.  If I get my act together, I might send some digital learning assignments home next week so we can try it out.  We shall see.  Also, Ms. Hilton tells me that there are some good resources on the Atkinson library web page which can be reached through the Atkinson school website or my blog.

At this point, students are due to report back to school on Wednesday, April 1 (no joke!).  However, things are changing quickly, so check emails, etc.

The office delivered a letter from the district with information on resources that will be made available during the break.  This includes information on how students can obtain meals.  This letter came after we had packed Friday Folders, so it may be stuffed in your kiddo's backpack in an unexpected place.

If your child was absent today, I will scan computer access info so you can have it for the vacation.

If you have any questions, please give me a call or send an email.

Stay well and I look forward to seeing you all on April 1.

Congratulations to Elias for memorizing 100 digits of Pi!!!!  Way to go Elias!!!!!

Spring Fever

Hello Families!

I am sorry that it has been so long since I have updated the blog.  Things have been busy around here!  I think a lot of students have a bit of spring fever.  We have been revisiting expected and unexpected social rules and school behaviors.  We have also done a bit of shuffling with some of our routines.  The end of 3rd quarter is fast approaching and I will be doing some reading and math assessments with the students to get ready for report cards.

We watched a video in class about Coronavirus and have been cleaning our desk tops each afternoon before leaving class.  Our wonderful custodians, Lutvija and Avery have been working overtime to keep things clean and sanitary around here.  Please remind your child to wash hands often and try not to touch their faces.  

Pi Day!
Pi Day is on Saturday, March 14.  We will be celebrating on Friday, March 13.  We will have a couple of Pi projects and a Pi contest.  Information about the Pi Contest came home in today's Friday Folder.  Take a look and have fun with it!

Spring Break
Spring break is coming right up!  I will not be sending homework home over spring break and hope that students can have a fun and restful break from school so they can return and finish the year with a bang!

Ms. Johnson
Speaking of spring break... Ms. Johnson will be taking over the class for planning and teaching soon after we return from spring break!  She is very excited to get to do all of the planning and problem solving with the class.  More information on this will be coming soon.

Atkinson Auction
The Atkinson auction is on Saturday, April 4.  It is a fun event and supports our school.  If you are able to attend, tickets are on sale now in the front hallway.  I hope to see you there!

Portland Youth Philharmonic
Our field trip downtown to see the PYP is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8.  I am not sure yet if we will have room for chaperones.  I will let you know soon if we can take any extra folks.  All 2nd grade classes will be attending and we will be taking school buses there and back.  We will be back to school in time for lunch.

Garden
Below our a few pictures from our last garden session.  The students dissected seeds and labeled their parts.  Our next garden session is this Friday, March 13.  We could use parent volunteers to help with the activities!  If you can sign up, please see the list outside of the classroom.  Thank you! 

OBOB Finals!

A couple of weeks ago, we gathered in the cafeteria for the Oregon Battle of the Books finals!  The two final teams did a fantastic job and worked hard.  I hope these 2nd graders will participate in OBOB next year.  It is a great way to read a variety of books in a fun way.

Seed Dispersal Experiments:

Following our work in garden on dissecting seeds, we studied seed design and dispersal.  The students built several models of different seed types and tested them outside to see which ones were best at getting out of the ZONE OF DARKNESS.  Ask your student their favorite ways that plants send forth their seeds!

That's all the news for now!  Have a great weekend and we look forward to seeing you on Monday!

Report Cards, etc.

Hello Families!

You received your child's report card in last week's Friday Folder.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  
All year we have been working on Social/Emotional Learning (aka SEL) and growth mindset with the students.  These are things such as emotional regulation, flexibility, building student skills, etc.  We will be continuing these lessons with a health perspective in the coming weeks.
In reading, we are learning to recognize literary language such as similes, metaphors, etc.
In writing, we are writing our opinions about books.  During this unit, we are practicing letter writing format and also learning how to support our opinions with evidence from the text.
In math, we are solving multi-step word problems and showing our work in a variety of ways. This has been a challenging step for many of the students, but they are working hard and getting better!

Valentine Exchange:
Tomorrow afternoon, students will be exchanging valentines with each other.  I have a rule that no one eats any candy they receive at school since I don't know each family's rules around candy eating. However, several students asked about eating their candy at after school care.  I told them they need to ask their parents this question! :)

Dragons Love Tacos:
We had a great time at the play last Friday!  Please take a look at the pictures below.

Finally, we had some choice time this afternoon.  Look at the great puzzle solvers below!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Valentine preparation, field trip, survey, etc.

Hello Families.

   It is hard to believe that it is the end of January. It has been a busy month as we have reviewed expectations, finished up units, started new units and done end of the quarter bench-marking assessments. 

   Ms. Johnson has taken on more responsibilities in the classroom and even had the opportunity to teach a few full days while I was out or substituting for Ms. Fontana.  Ms. Johnson will be taking the lead on reading and writing for the next quarter, although I will still be pulling small groups and working with individuals. 

   As you have probably noticed, we have stopped sending the weekly behavior sheets.  Please let us know if you have an individual interest in continuing to receive them and we can discuss.  

Report Cards/Work Samples:
Report cards will be coming home next week.  As I go through student work, I will be sending home past tests, writing samples, etc.  Keep a close eye on your Friday Folders for the next few weeks as there may be some real gems and/or assignments that give you a good idea of what your student is producing in class.

PPS Successful Schools Survey:
There is a sheet coming home today with information on this year's PPS Successful Schools Survey.  Please take the time to look at the information and fill out the survey.  It is very valuable information for us to know how our community feels about our school, where we are doing well, and where we have room to improve.

Dragons Love Tacos:
At the beginning of the year, everyone signed and returned the official permission slips for Dragons Love Tacos.  The trip will be NEXT FRIDAY.  We will be leaving very soon after the bell, so please be sure to be on time that day.  We will be taking a school bus and returning before lunch, so no special preparation is necessary.  I think most families have paid for this year's field trips already, but if you are not sure, please check with Sara T. in the office.  Also, if you have not paid and are planning to, here is the information as a reminder:

OMSI (Oct. 22, 2019) Click here for more details

Tickets = $6.00 per person

Trimet = $1.00 per person

PLAY (Dragons Love Tacos on February 7, 2020)

Tickets = $8.50 per person

School Bus = $3.00 per person

PYP (Portland Youth Philharmonic on April 8, 2020)

Tickets = FREE!

School Bus = $3.00 per person

Mt. Tabor (Portland Parks and Rec Geology Study, May 20, 2020)

Cost = $8.50 per student

Total Field Trip Costs Per Student = $ 30.00

Trip donations can be made on SCHOOL PAY. Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you!

Valentine's Day:
Last week, I sent home a class list for Valentine's Day.  We will be having a Valentine exchange on Friday, February 14.  I will send home another list next week in case you have misplaced yours.  Another assignment next week will be for students to make a bag or box to collect their valentines.  Students have used all kinds of things for this - decorated tissue boxes, lunch bags, etc.  Although you may send candy in your valentine treat, students will not be allowed to eat their treats until they go home.

Thank you to everyone!
Enjoy the weekend.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Wonderful Families!

Ms. Johnson and I want to thank you for your kind  cards and gifts before the holidays.  They were thoughtful and generous.  And, we especially want to thank you for the gift of your children!  We love working with, and learning from them every day.  They are a sweet bunch and we are having a great time with each and every one of them!  

Dragons Love Tacos

On Friday, February 7 we are going downtown to see the OCT play, Dragons Love Tacos. We will leave on school buses at 9:00 am and return to Atkinson in time for lunch.  I am able to take 3 adults on this trip.  If you are interested in joining us, please fill in this linked form OR the form in today's Friday Folder.  If I have a lot if interested parents, I will give priority to those who have not had the opportunity to accompany us on a trip.  Thank you!

Photos
Next week, we will be finishing up an "All About Me" project that is also a review of nonfiction text features.  One part of this project is a photograph of the student doing something they like.  We are planning to use school pictures for the students, but if they would rather bring a photo from home, you are welcome to send one or email me an electronic copy.  Thank you.

Behavior Forms

We are going to suspend sending home behavior forms during the new year.  The students are doing well and are on the right track.  If you feel the forms were particularly beneficial to your student, let us know and we will work to make it happen.  

Here are a few photos from the week before break...

Playing Dreidel:

Pajama/Movie Day FUN!