Learning To Go Mr. Avery's Class on the Web 

We’ve arrived! Congratulations to students and families alike on a most successful school year. It never ceases to amaze me how much growth these young learners undertake from August to June. As I mentioned at our spring show, our success depended in large part on the partnership between home and school. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your efforts in helping these new scholars be all they can be.

Thank you too for your kind and generous gifts! I will use them to recharge my batteries and my classroom as I continue my own journey.

Some reminders:

1. All homework is done!

2. I will be teaching grade two next year. The administration has made the decision to split this year’s classes up for the sake of balance, so I know I will not be looping (I didn’t want you to be surprised when report cards come home with next year’s teacher)!

3. If you have been contacted by the school’s reading program to receive summer reading books, I urge you to take advantage of this free program and to respond. It is essential that kids keep up reading skills or they are prone to lose what they have learned, a sad fact we have seen time and again.

4. It’s a good idea for all students to have a plan to keep reading this summer! I know the public library has offerings, and they have books at every student’s level. In addition, RAZ Kids will be available for only part of the summer. Please take advantage until our subscription runs out.

5. To encourage students to maintain and extend writing skills, I will be sending home a summer writing journal with directions next week as well.

6. Please look around for any reading books that belong to my classroom or to the school and return them before Thursday.

Thank you to all of you who volunteered for Field Day! The rain held off and the kids had a great time! Check out the pictures below.

Finally, please accept my best wishes for a joyful summer vacation and continued success in grade two!

Sincerely,

Ken Avery

               

Fingers crossed for good weather this Thursday for our Field Day rain date! Please remember these important reminders:

1. All students in our class are to wear GREY SHIRTS that day (this identifies them quickly for reasons of safety and for recording their achievements). 2. All sunscreen must be applied at home, not at school. 3. Well-fitting hats (e.g. baseball caps vs. big sun hats) are welcome. 4. Dress students for comfort: they will be very physically active and hot, and a few games involve water so expect a little wetness. 5. Sneakers are a must–no flip-flops. 6. Water bottles with names on them are a good idea! Thanks for your help: these preparations make a big difference!

You’re invited! Our Spring Concert/End-of-Year Celebration will be held Wednesday, June 11, 9:30-10:15 in our Cafeteria. Similar to our Winter bash, we will be performing on the stage for family and friends, and we will remain after for photo opportunities and congratulations!

Some end of year info:

1. This week is the last spelling quiz. It will be on Thursday, not Friday.

2. Reading homework ends this week.

3. Math homework and fact quizzes are done!

4. The plants we have been raising will come home at the end of this week. You can continue observing them; plant them; or do as you wish!

5. Our mealworms have finally reached the pupa stage! We will observe them for one last week. These will NOT come home…they are an invasive species not native to our local environment (and I hear your collective sigh of relief). <“)

6. Though I do not know my class assignment next year, I will be teaching grade two. The administration has made the decision to split this year’s classes up for the sake of balance, so I know I will not be looping (I didn’t want you to be surprised when report cards come home with next year’s teacher)!

7. If you have been contacted by the reading program to receive summer reading books, I urge you to take advantage of this free program and to respond. It is essential that kids keep up reading skills or they are prone to lose what they have learned, a sad fact we have seen time and again.

8. It’s a good idea for all students to have a plan to keep reading this summer! I know the public library has offerings, and they have books at every student’s level. In addition, RAZ Kids will be available for only part of the summer. Please take advantage until our subscription runs out.

9. To encourage students to maintain and extend writing skills, I will be sending home a summer writing journal with directions next week as well.

We’re almost there!

 

Field Day is coming this Thursday, June 5 (Rain date: Thursday, June 12)! This is a wonderful event at Floral run by our Phys Ed teachers that focuses on teamwork, sportsmanship, and personal achievement. Students will remember this day well into next year! To increase the safety and success of this event, we are looking for more parent volunteers, as Mrs. McCubrey noted in her latest communication. All volunteers MUST have a current CORI check with the district; stop into the front office with a valid ID at your earliest opportunity if you do not. To sign up for helping out on Field Day: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/904094FACA622A13-field

In preparation for Field Day, please note the following: 1. All students in our class are to wear GREY SHIRTS that day (this identifies them quickly for reasons of safety and for recording their achievements). 2. All sunscreen must be applied at home, not at school. 3. Well-fitting hats (e.g. baseball caps vs. big sun hats) are welcome. 4. Dress students for comfort: they will be very physically active and hot, and a few games involve water so expect a little wetness. 5. Sneakers are a must–no flip-flops. Thanks for your help: these preparations make a big difference!

Tomorrow’s override vote has important consequences. Please know how much your vote matters, and come out to vote on the 3rd!

Note: because there is no school this Friday, math fact and spelling quizzes will be given this Thursday.

You’re invited! Our Spring Concert/End-of-Year Celebration will be held Wednesday, June 11, 9:30-10:15 in our Cafeteria. Similar to our Winter bash, we will be performing on the stage for family and friends, and we will remain after for photo opportunities and congratulations!

 Did you see? Our collection of poems was sent home with each student on Friday. I hope you enjoy this impressive volume. I am very proud of these young writers!

This week, students will be assessed in several areas for the end of the year. There is a final math test and separate assessments for our report card, DRA reading tests, and a district writing assessment (personal narrative). In addition, we will take short quizzes on social studies (mapping) and science (compare/contrast life cycles of plants and living creatures). As I record assessments, I will send them home. To tell if a student paper is a test versus classwork, look for a number score at the top (e.g. 6/7 means 6 continents correctly identified our of 7 on a social studies test). DRAs are not sent home but are passed on to next year’s teacher; however, student reading levels are noted on the final report card.

Homework reminder: This is the last week of math homework and math facts practice/quizzes. Next week is the last week of reading homework and spelling quizzes.