Ms. Selimos' Grade 2 2015 / 2016 Timetable

GRANT ROAD SCHOOL                                                     Gr. 2  Ms. S. Selimos                TIMETABLE 2015-16                                                      Room #4
9:00 - 9:30	ARTS ED. Ms. Yim	ELA	ELA	ELA	ELA Spelling Test
9:30 - 10:00	ARTS ED. Ms. Waldron	MATH	ELA	*ELA	MATH
10:00 - 10:30	ELA New Spelling Words	MATH	ARTS ED. Ms. Waldron	*ELA	MATH
RECESS
10:45 – 11:15	ELA	HEALTH	ELA	MATH	ARTS ED. Ms. Waldron
11:15 - 11:45	ELA	FRENCH	ELA	MATH	PHYSICAL EDUCATION Mr. C. Chernoff
NOON HOUR
12:45 - 1:15	MATH	PHYSICAL EDUCATION Mr. C. Chernoff	MATH	LIBRARY EXCHANGE	*ELA
1:15 - 1:45	MATH	SOCIAL/ SCIENCE	MATH	ARTS ED. Ms. Yim	/ *ELA
1:45 - 2:15	MATH	SOCIAL/ SCIENCE	ELA	PHYSICAL EDUCATION Mr. C. Chernoff	*ELA
RECESS
2:30 - 3:00	HEALTH	LEARNING BUDDIES with Mrs. R. Hammett     Grade 4	TEAM          SC/SST	TEAM SC/SST	HEALTH
3:00 - 3:30	FRENCH	ELA	TEAM SC/SST	TEAM SC/SST	FRENCH

LRT Support with Ms. Phillis ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Tymiak

PREP TIME:  Arts Ed. with Ms. Jen Yim & Ms. Melanie Waldron

PREP TIME:  Physical Education with Mr. Curtis Chernoff

HEALTH SWITCH:  Mrs. Corinne Pankewich teaches my class health.

FRENCH SWITCH:  I teach Mrs. Pankewich’s Core French.

Gr. 4 Learning Buddies with Mrs. Rebecca Hammett

Ms. Selimos' Grade 2 - Room 4 Parent Information

Grant Road School

“Be the best you can be!”

Grade 2 – Room 4

Teacher:  Ms. Selimos       E.A.:  Mrs. Daniels        Intern:  Miss K. Dundas

2015-2016

        

   J  HELLO PARENTS & STUDENTS OF GRADE 2, ROOM 4.  J

I would like to welcome you and your child to our classroom.  I am looking forward to working with your child this 2015 / 2016 school year. There are 24 students in the class; 10 girls & 14 boys.

This year Arts Education will be taught by Mrs. Yim-Rodier and Ms. Melanie Waldron, Physical Education will be taught by vice-principal, Mr. Chernoff, and Health will be taught by Mrs. Pankewich.

I encourage water bottles in the classroom; ONLY WATER.  They are to take the LABELED bottle home at the end of the week for washing.  I DO permit healthy snacking in the classroom throughout the day (fresh vegetables, fruit, crackers, cheese, yogurt, etc. NUT FREE PLEASE.

                           Homework

        Studying for spelling tests and an at-home reading program will be the only regular homework for your child.  At times there will also be math homework to help solidify concepts already taught in the classroom.  Periodically we may do work that requires some extra help from home.  There will be a note in the agenda at these times.

        There will be weekly spelling tests starting the week of September 7th.  Spelling lists will be sent home on Day 1s.  We will have our spelling tests on Day 5s.  See monthly calendar in print and online, as well with these and other important dates. 

EACH DAY 5 your child will write the Spelling Test of the Week.  Their words will be available for you to view in their agendas.  (On Sept. 9^th they will receive their FIRST Spelling List).  They will receive NEW LISTS on Day 1s.  Their first TEST will be on Tues., Sept. 15^th.

More information about the at-home reading program will be sent to you shortly.

Students are given ample time in class to complete their daily work.  If they are unable to complete their work in class, they may be asked to stay in at recess or take it home to finish.

Look in your child’s agenda pocket OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS for the following:

RELEASE FORM:  news media, allergy alert, gaming devices/cell phone contract, lunchroom form, monthly calendar, etc.  (Complete & return to school a.s.a.p.)

September Scholastic Book Orders will be due by­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ FRIDAY, SEPT. 11^th. Make cheques to:  Scholastics Canada Books

We will be making paper-mâché turkeys in mid to late Sept.  Please send one paper towel tube to school in the next week or so.  I am also collecting small styro-foam meat trays. Please send a blue erasable pen & 1 large ziplock bag for language arts.

Please explore our class website which includes:  monthly calendars, educational links, newsletters and much more.  I have already plugged in this year’s Spelling Test dates, Star of Week presentation dates (TBA), Reading Log dates, bowling trips, P.D. Days and much more.

Website address:  http://grantroad.rbe.sk.ca/ NEXT, click CLASSROOMS. Find Grade 2 Selimos & click under CLASS WEB PAGE.  You will find an online calendar, my BLOG http://msselimos.blogspot.ca/, newsletters, sites about each subject area and much more.   

You and your child will be invited to a BBQ (6 to 7 p.m.) and MEET THE TEACHER EVENING (5:30 to 6:30) on THURSDAY, SEPT. 17^th. Details will follow at a later date. 

Term I report cards will be distributed on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20^TH.

Please let me know by means of agenda if your child has any allergies I need to be made aware of immediately.

                               Self-Regulation

          We learn about and practice self-regulation in our classroom.  It has been shown that some students focus more easily if they use strategies like deep breathing, body breaks, and positive self-talk, or tools such as wiggle seats, noise reducing headphones, alternate seating, and things to chew on.  We will learn, practice and use many strategies and tools throughout the year.  Students are encouraged to figure out which tools work best for themselves and make good choices accordingly.

                     Parental Involvement

        How can you help your child reach their potential?

-         Help your child use the agenda on a daily basis.

-         Help your child read 15-20 minutes each day.

-         Encourage a positive attitude toward school and classmates.

-          If you have any questions during the year, please feel free to contact me through the agenda or by email at soula.selimos@rbe.sk.ca

I would also like to know the best way for me and other parents from the class to get a hold of you.  Please return the attached form with your preferred method of contact (phone, cellular, email). 

                       RETURN THE FOLLOWING  TO SCHOOL PLEASE:

Parent Helpers

          If you would like to join the class on a fieldtrip or help out in the classroom, Regina Public Schools requires you to complete a Police Information Check.  You will need to bring your Driver’s License to the office and get a letter from Ms. Campbell before going to the police station. There is no cost to you when the check is done for volunteering purposes.  If you have already had a check done AND have volunteered within the past year, you DO NOT need to have another PIC completed.  Thank you in advance for offering to help out!

YES, _____________________________________________ would like to volunteer in Ms. Selimos’ classroom.

__________ YES, I have had a recent criminal record check.

__________ NO, I do not have a recent criminal record check, but I will complete the criminal record check paperwork for volunteering.

Please state the times available for volunteering:  days of week, a.m. or p.m. etc.  If there is a particular activity you are interested in (reading, math, visual arts, trips, cooking, hobby sharing), please state this below:

_________________________________________________________________

PARENTS; THE AGENDA IS AN EXCELLENT MEANS OF COMMUNICATION!  PLEASE CHECK YOUR CHILD’S AGENDA EACH DAY & INITIAL IN THE BOX MARKED “HOME”. 

PLEASE FILL IN THE INSIDE COVER PAGE of the agenda WITH ADDRESS, PHONE # CONTACTS, ETC.

Finally, are you interested in receiving photos of your child and weekly newsletters by means of email this year?  If yes, please clearly PRINT your email address below or send me an email at:  soula.selimos@rbe.sk.ca stating your full name, your child’s name and the emails you would like used.

EMAIL:

“Be the best you can be!”  

          J Ms. Soula Selimos J

Welcome Back to School from Ms. Selimos & Mrs. Pankewich

Hello Parents and Students,

We are looking forward to working with your children this Grade 2 school year.  See you on Tuesday, September 1st at 8:53 a.m.

We are adding a few items to our Grade 2 supply list.  We are asking that you send your child to school with one  BLUE ERASABLE PEN for language arts and 1 extra large zip lock bag for storing reading log/daily reading exchange books.  

Cheers,

Ms. Selimos & Mrs. Pankewich

June 15th, 2015 week with Ms. Selimos

Hello Parents and Students,

We enjoyed our field trip to the MacKenzie Art Gallery for David Thauberger’s Exhibit, “Road Trips and Other Diversions,” last Thursday.  The boys and girls explored the exhibits with tour guides, created 3-D paper houses in the gallery and colourful prints in the art room.

On Monday, we worked on Father’s Day footprint creations.  The kids LOVED this activity.  There were a few ticklish students as we painted their feet using a brush.  Haha!  Thank you to Imogen’s mom for helping!  Happy Father’s Day to: our dads, uncles, and grandpas.  We know you will enjoy the mini books we made!

Zeeshan was our handsome Star of the Week!  He is from Pakistan and speaks Urdu.  He has an older brother, Fozan, whom Ms. Selimos taught last year.  His favourite colour is red and loves to eat chicken legs!   He enjoys riding his bike and playing soccer.

Thursday morning was SO MUCH FUN at Golden Mile Bowling.  Thank you VERY MUCH to Sonakshi’s and Keithan’s moms, and Lukas’s dad for joining us. The children bowled, danced, drank their juice or pop and enjoyed nibbling on some candy. 

This coming Tuesday, June 23^rd, Sonakshi and her family will be providing the class with PIZZA for lunch!  I will be providing SPRITE and Keithan’s family is providing ICE CREAM. Thank you!  We will make FLOATS!  YUMMY!!!!  Please have your child stay at school for lunch.  Send snacks (fruit, veggies, cheese, etc.) to supplement his/her lunch. 

REMINDERS: 

«DYLAN & SAURAVI ARE STARS OF WEEK«

Mon. 22^nd (Day 4) PLAY DAY – DRESS FOR THE WEATHER…            

sunscreen, sunglasses, mosquito repellant, hat

Tues. 23^rd (Day 5)      Last Spelling Test of 2/3 and PIZZA PARTY / ICE CREAM FLOATS at lunch time.

Wed. 24th (Day 1)       Ice cream celebration with Learning Buddies (Mrs. Pritchard’s Gr.4 class) 

      

Thurs. 25^th (Day 2)  Last day of school for students  with 2:30 dismissal and REPORT CARDS distributed.Send your child to school with ONE BOARD GAME and a drink.  

I cannot believe the school year is coming to an end!  I CAN NOT believe I have been teaching for 25 years!!!!

It has been an absolute pleasure to work with your children! I love them all!  I hope you have enjoyed the web site, weekly agenda notes, open communication, emailed photos and the UNBELIEVABLE academic and social growth your children have experienced this year. Thank you for all your support as parents!  I could not have done it without you!

Have a wonderful summer!

Yours in teaching,

                                                Ms. Selimos

June 8th 2015 week with Ms. Selimos

    Greetings Parents and Students,

I hope everyone has been enjoying this incredible weather!

For science, we did a class experiment about gravity.  A few of the students stood on chairs, holding a grape in one hand and a marble in the other hand.  Each child predicted which would land first when dropped.  Try this GRAVITY EXPERIMENT at home with your child. NOTE:  Gravity pulls the objects down to earth at the same speed.  Interestingly, most kids predicted the marble would land first.  

On Wednesday, the children had a blast at the Teddy Bear Clinic, where they rotated through 5 stations:  vital signs, x-rays, casting, stitches and bandages, needles and I.V.s.  The interactive, hands-on stations were well run by 3rd year nursing students.  The children and the teddy bears experienced routine assessments (height, weight, temperature, listening with a stethoscope), mock x-rays and casting/bandaging, lab work/immunizations, sutures and health promotion aspects such as hand washing, nutrition, and safety.

Our adorable Star of the Week was Mackenna.  She is an only child who loves spending time with her parents and her pets.  She has a cat named Squeaks, a fish named Mr. Bones and she had a dog named, Boo.  Her favourite colour is black and her favourite food is hot dogs.  She enjoys being part of Brownies and riding on her dad’s motorcycle.   She enjoys the family trip to South Dakota each year in the summer.

This week we also learned about diabetes with the other Grade 2 class.  We will be participating in a school – wide walk on Monday, June 15th at 2:30.  Children are asked to wear green on Monday.  Please join us and send a small donation if you would like.  Here are some excellent diabetes links for you to watch with your child:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFsRaXR5dXA

https://vimeo.com/9768817

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypXyl-gY8LI

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0M4oxBtnXo

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8iFbduZF14

 

The children and I have been learning multiplication facts (0 to 5 tables).   New vocabulary this week included:  factors (the numbers you multiply).  Reviewed vocabulary included:  arrays, product, groups of, sets of.   Try some of the following multiplication games at home:

http://www.mathplayground.com/ASB_MeteorMultiplication.html 
Multiplication game - meteors
http://www.mathplayground.com/ASB_PenguinJumpMultiplication.html
  Multiplication game- penguins
http://www.mathplayground.com/ASB_TugTeamMultiplication.html
  Multiplication game –tractor tug of war


We are looking forward to the MacKenzie Art Gallery trip this afternoon. 
 Have a GREAT DAY parents.  

Remember, there is no school for students tomorrow.  

Have a TERRIFIC weekend!

Ms. Selimos    

June 4th, 2015 BROWNS COULEE ADVENTURE

Hello Parents and Students,

We had a perfect day for their PHENOMINAL Browns Coulee Day Trip on Thursday, June 4th! 

We began with a “safety” activity in the classroom, where we each created “shoe” rubbings of our runners dated with our names.  Ms. Selimos kept those, in case were lost in the forest and needed to be rescued.

Many thanks to the 9 parent volunteers and to Lori Milligan, from the Outdoor Ed. Department, who helped to make this science adventure such a success!  The boys and girls exited the bus quietly and took in the view with their eyes and noses, as we took a few group pictures with parents.  Lori showed the class various plants; blue bearded tongue, regular and irregular flowers,    the sage plant, which is a natural mosquito repellant and more.  

Various students took turns caring for the male and female “tick jars”.  The class collected about 13 ticks throughout the day, with the male tick jar in the lead!

Tomorrow morning I would like to tally and graph how many ticks parents found on their children Thursday evening.  The female ticks have a “necklace” stripe on them and the males have “suspenders” on them.

Another interesting activity involved THATCHER ANTS.  Lori carefully disturbed a hill of these thatcher ants by poking at them.  When they are threatened they release an acid scent that smells and tastes like vinegar!  The children each had a sniff!  Did you know that these ants are edible?   YES!!!!!!!!!   Imogen, Roan and Hunter were very brave and ATE SOME!

Pond dipping was a blast, as we collected tadpoles, frogs, water mites, mosquito larva, beetles, water spiders, dragon fly larva, fishing spiders, snails, minnows and more.  We looked for buffalo snot (jelly lichen) which tastes like noodles, pussy toe plants, which taste like bubble gum and violets, which are edible. 

We broke for lunch and enjoyed the creek, sunshine and chatting with parents and classmates.  We did some stone skipping along the creek.  We continued with another hike, after lunch, looking at various plants, lichen and saw many willow trees with lichen.  These are thus called, diamond willow trees.

Next, Lori read a book called: Fairy Houses.  Following the story, the children had their own opportunity to create their own “fairy houses”.  After photos were taken of their creations, we hiked to a beaver lodge and finally climbed a very steep hill, making our way back to the bus.

We had many tired boys and girls and parents too, on the bus ride home.  “Merci beaucoup”, to our bus driver, for getting us to and from Grant Road School safely. 

  Many thanks to the BROWN FAMILY for providing us with this wonderful opportunity to explore their farm land and coulee!!!  We really appreciated the amazing day! 

Ms Selimos J

June 1st 2015 week with Selimos

Greetings Parents and Students,

We began the school week on Monday with multiplication strategies (new Grade 2 mini-unit).  The children have been exposed to vocabulary including:  multiplication, product (answer when multiplying), groups of, sets, arrays,  “times”.  This week we have worked on creating sets using 0, 1, 2 and 5. 

Please continue to encourage your child to use Raz_kids for reading.  As well, see the following multiplications sites:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BchpGkLvTy8   multiplication song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCJug1WlYJs  10 times table rock song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igoGDE5hLjw  2s to 10s times tables

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu3JSnRaaV0   multiplication tricks using your hands

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzXcI49jdV0  1 to 12s songs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBTGKiVgWcA  Multiplying by 9s HAND TRICK

Corbin was our awesome Star of the Week.  He is an only child who was born in Regina.  He has 2 pets; a cat named Tink, from the Humane Society and a male German shepherd named Rider.  He is a HUGE Rider fan.  He enjoys traveling and has been to Cuba, Mexico, Disneyworld, Banff and more.  His favourite colour is red and he loves to eat steak.  Thanks for the yummy cupcakes for the classroom on Tuesday!

Creative writing assignments this week included poetry responses and inventions.  The children created a SUNNY KEEP COOL MACHINE.  They drew their inventions, wrote about them and then presented to their classmates.   Writing traits focus was about naming/telling parts to plan sentences.  For this activity, the children were to think about what happens at a BAKE SALE.  They completed a chart with the following columns:  What to Buy/What to Do/ Who is There.

Our latest science theme is: Forces and Motion.  Vocabulary include:  push, pull, speed, motion, movement, force, position (over, under, behind, beside, in front of, etc.), friction.  Check out some of these short videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOcY37oGhj8  A Push or a Pull Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRNXvAbwS7M   Very short motion song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZlqas0tixo  Push and Pull song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcoYeNbyqvw  Force and Motion song based on Grinch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKmhS4qLj_s   The Motion Song

University of Regina, EYES (Educating Youth Engineering Science) students, Kelsey and Taylor visited our classroom on Wednesday afternoon.  The children were introduced to the terms “engineers” and “scientists” through drama.  Next, the children became “doctors” performing exploratory surgery on  little doll bodies, using magnets and toothpicks to find keys that Taylor “accidentally” swallowed. 

We are a good hour away from departing the school to head to BROWNS COULEE.  Pics to follow.

Wishing everyone an awesome June month!

Ms. Selimos J