August 18, 2020
Dear 2nd Grade Families:
I would like to welcome you and your child to 2nd grade! I’m excited to be your child’s teacher this year! I hope you all had an enjoyable summer and found creative ways to have fun. Although this school year is starting off on a platform that is still new to all of us, it will still be rewarding, challenging, and fun. Like the previous years, you will see significant growth in your child’s learning and development. My goal is to instill a love of learning and encourage a positive environment in which all children succeed in meeting the state standards. Through cooperation, effort, and hard work, I am confident this goal will be achieved.
Some things to ask your child about the first day of school:
*Students they met, including any friends from last year’s class
*What they learned about their teacher and classmates
*Our Google classroom and Zoom procedures
*Activities we completed today
*Anything else your child wants to share!
Behavior Policy:
I believe that positive reinforcement of good behavior is the best way to maintain a healthy classroom environment. Every day is a fresh start as school, and students have the opportunity to earn rewards for great behavior. Some rewards for great behavior include: verbal praise, notes home, raffle tickets, classroom coupons, and other fun things throughout the year. Sometimes, when a student struggles to make good choices, a warning is needed. A warning is not a bad thing, and students will always have a chance to practice making smarter choices. If a student requires more than one reminder, however, there will be additional consequences. We will explain our behavior policies in more detail during Back to School Night. Please ask your child each day how the day was, and celebrate the great days!
Contacting Us:
E-mail is the best way to contact me this year. I check my e-mail at various times throughout the day when I’m not working with the students, and will get back to you within 48 hours. Because of the nature of the school day, we do not have access to our classroom voicemail systems. You may also write us a message on the “Stream” (homepage) of our Google Classroom page. This will be our home platform for students to access messages from us, find assignments and links to Zoom meetings. Please also visit the LCM website, join the LCM Parents Facebook page, follow Mrs.Morgan (formerly Ms. Stephens) on Instagram and most importantly, check the Google Classroom “Stream” daily. All of these are great ways to keep up-to-date on what’s happening at LCM and in Room B-10!
First Weeks of School:
Second grade is a fun and exciting time for students. They are now familiar with being at school for a full day, can recognize many students and staff on campus, and probably know the layout of the school like the back of their hand. Although they will be comfortable with all of that, they will still be meeting a new teacher, new classmates, and learning procedures and expectations of our “virtual classroom”.
Importance of ‘Getting Ready for School’:
I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for your child to establish a routine of getting ready for school. Even though they are learning from home, they should still make sure to get dressed, eat breakfast, and brush their teeth before the start of school. This will help form great work habits and helpful routines, especially when we return to the classroom.
Parking Lot Procedures:
Most of you are probably familiar with the after-school pickup at LCM, but there are a few things that are important to remember:
*If you walk to pick up your child after school, please wait for your child near the Kinder gate. .
*If you and your child have designated a “meeting spot”, PLEASE make sure your child knows where it is and when to meet you.
*Only students who are being picked up by car may exit through the main gate/breezeway. Once past the gate, students must sit in a specific area designated by the first letter of their last name.
*If your child goes to KOC after school, he/she will be responsible for walking to KOC immediately following the 3:10pm dismissal.
We will walk students out to the front gate each day, but it is essential that your child knows exactly where he/she will meet you. This will help to eliminate the stress of the crowds, and pick up will be much easier. Thank you for discussing pick up with your child.
Healthy Snack:
Please remember to pack a healthy snack every day for your child, along with a lunch. Also, please make sure to include water so students stay hydrated. If your child has a reusable water bottle, he/she will be able to fill it throughout the day.
Parent Volunteers:
There will be opportunities for parents to volunteer for our classroom this year! A sign-up sheet of volunteer opportunities, along with descriptions, will be available in the coming weeks.
I’m so excited to work with all of you this year! We will enjoy a year of learning, thinking, and creating. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an e-mail . I will “see” you all at Back to School Night!
With gratitude,
Michelle Martin
[email protected]
760-290-2121 ext. 3110