Mrs. Klupchak’s Handbook: A Pledge of Hope

1. Mrs. Klupchak’s Second Grade Class Handbook 2017-2018

2. A Pledge of Hope I am a kid at hope. I am talented, smart, and capable of success. I have dreams for the future, and I will climb to reach those goals and dreams everyday. All children are capable of success. NO EXCEPTIONS!

3. Contact Information There are several ways that I will communicate with you. I will be using a Daily Behavior Calendar/Take Home Folder, Remind, e-mail, newsletters, report cards, and conferences to keep you informed of your child’s behavior and class activities. I encourage you to contact me any time using one of the methods listed below. *This year, usingRemindto help keep you informed about classroom activities and assignments. Remind is an app that works both on your smartphone as well as on your computer. You will receive quick updates and reminders in a text or email. All in a private and secure environment. Directions will follow on the next page. **E-mail: michelle.klupchak@hsd153.org Email is the best way to get in touch with me. I will check my email at least 3 times a day – before school, lunch and after school. If you need to relay an important message or change of transportation for that day, please call the office and send in a note. They will make sure your child and I are notified. ***Our district website: www.hsd153.org, go to Willow School then to Teacher pages and click on my name. There will be calendar updates, newsletters, our daily schedule and this document. Daily Communication Your child will have a daily take home folder. In it your student will place any work we do in class. It will also include important notes that should be read daily. Please be sure to initial each day so I know you saw it. It will contain your child’s behavior calendar. Please send notes for me in this folder as well as money for lunch, field trips in an envelope.* Please label the money envelope with your child’s name, the purpose of the money, our room number (43) and my name (Mrs. Klupchak). Please check DAILY!

4. CURRICULUM Reading/Writing/Spelling/Language Arts This year, the second grade team will be using the curriculum series, Benchmark Literacy. This series will cover our reading, writing, spelling, and language arts programs, in addition to working in our science and social studies curriculum. We will continue to do guided reading, which is a method of teaching reading skills to students in small group settings. It helps students get more individual face time with their teacher, and it helps the teacher tailor the lessons taught to each individual student for more appropriate learning. Math Math in Focus is a gradual release program meaning: Whole group , small groups or partners, individual work. It teaches critical thinking, allows the kids to apply knowledge and helps them find different ways to find answers to problems. Homework Homework will be sent in the daily take home folder. While the students will not receive a large amount of work, it is important to complete what is sent home so the skills taught daily can be reinforced. Please be sure all homework is returned in a timely manner. All students will receive an assignment notebook. Each day we will record any homework or reminders in this notebook. The types of homework sent home regularly are listed below. Math in Focus There will be workbook pages assigned. I always encourage practicing Math facts nightly! Reading: I highly encourage that students read with you at least once a day. The most important thing students at this age can do is read, read, read! Whether students are doing the reading, being read to, or you are reading together, it is such an important part of a child’s day. It can become a wonderful nightly ritual for the family! A reading log will be sent home at the beginning of each month.

7. Lunch Lunch recess 10:40-10:55 Eat lunch 10:55-11:15 Homewood School District #153 has a computerized cafeteria management system. Everyone is encouraged to use this service provided for them. It works as follows: *Each month a menu will be posted on the district’s website. A complete lunch costs $2.90 and milk is $.30 and juice is $.50 *You can add money to your child’s account online or send a check/cash to school with your child’s name and grade in their take home folder. *Money cannot be credited during lunch hours. *Families that receive free or reduced meals will automatically have an account set up for the school year. Parent Participation During the school year the students will be taking part in many unique classroom activities, celebrations, and field trips. Parents are welcome to attend these events and to send needed supplies/treats if possible. Your participation will encourage your child to keep up their hard work in school!

8. Snack Every day a short amount of time will be set aside for the students to have a snack. Please send a healthy snack, fruit, crackers, granola bars etc. If they do not order a drink from school, they will be responsible for bringing their own drink. I believe in modeling healthy habits and STRONGLY encourage parents to send students with a healthy snack. *Due to food allergies, the children will not be allowed to share snack with one another. Snack Reminder Please send a healthy snack and drink each day. We cannot provide a snack for your child! Please put it in a separatebag marked Snack with your child’s name. This will help make things a lot easier at snack time! Thank You!

9. Special Classes P.E. - Each child needs to have a pair of gym shoes to be kept at school. Print your child’s name on each shoe with permanent marker. On days that students have P.E. girls must wear short or pants (under a dress is fine) and all children need to have socks with them. An extra pair of socks can be left at school if child wears sandals often. Library- The students will be visiting the library weekly and can check out two books at a time. Our class goes to library on Monday. Books should be returned to school on the Friday before. Schedule Monday Art 9:30-10:30 Gym 2:00-2:30 Tuesday Gym 10:00-10:30 Library 1:00-1:30 Wednesday Gym 1:00-1:30 Computer Lab 1:30-2:30 Thursday Gym 10:00-10:30. Music 1:30-2:00 Friday Music 2:00-2:30 We arrive and dismiss at Door G.

10. Willow Way I share Willow’s belief that all children need to be responsible for their own behavior and it should be modeled for them in a positive, supportive environment. Willow’s motto is “Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Caring”. Room 43 will follow the same motto as an expectation for all students. Willow Wows Willow Wows are rewards that can be given out to students from any staff/school worker at Willow. Students collect these rewards throughout the year and store them at school. Students can accumulate them for special prizes! Wildcat Wows Wildcat Wows are special certificates that students can earn as a class. Classes can earn Wildcat Wows by modeling good behavior as a class in the hall, lunchroom, at assemblies, etc. Wildcat Wows will be displayed in the room and collected for the class to go to special events. Room 43 will also be working towards an ice cream social, pizza party, and pajama party!