Hi All,

Wow! the second graders did a fantastic job in the play. I know all the parents and their fellow students really enjoyed this year's performance. Thanks so much to all the parents who helped make the show possible, especially Sandi and Jennifer and Patti, who organized the refreshments. Thanks as well, to the other second grade teachers, who rehearsed day in and day out, while I was upstairs with our third graders.

On Thursday our class is going on a field trip to the Natural History Museum. If you signed up to drive, please update your driver information in the office. It has to be renewed each trimester. On Thursday, there is also a performance from the Rio Rock Bands. Our class will be attending after we return from the museum, at 12:30.

Finally, there will be no third grade spelling homework or test this week. There will be math homework this week, so try and maintain consistent routines through the week.

Happy Holidays!
Carroll

Hello All,

This week second graders will be performing their play. Second grade families have been asked to donate toward the cost of refreshments for the parent performance on Friday. Please send in your envelope ASAP.

In addition, there are still several students who have not returned their permission slips for our field trip to the SC Natural History Museum on Thursday, December 17th. I am also a little low on drivers. Please return your forms for this trip, along with the $1.50 for the museum.

Finally, thanks again for all you do. The kids had a great time with the Red Hot and game party on Friday. We had healthy snacks and some treats. It's great, with your support, to be able to recognize the kids' efforts in academics (Red Hot) and behavior (the games).

Have a great week. If it looks rainy, please send your child in rain gear or and/or with an umbrella: it's quite a trek to the restroom from Room 24!

Take care,
Carroll

Hello,
I hope you all found this week off as restorative as I did. It was a wonderful time to take stock and take a breath before the last burst of activities for 2009. Thanks so much to our room parents, Sandi, Cynthia, and Jennifer for the fantastic feast and celebration. If you haven't already, take a look at the pictures Cynthia posted. They really reflect the tenor of the day.

This week students are bringing home information about Flat Stanley. All second graders are participating and it's optional for the third graders, although many expressed interest in doing this activity again. I'd like to encourage the third graders to send their Flat Stanleys abroad, if they are able.

In addition, all of the class will bring home permission slips for our field trip to the Museum of Natural History. This field trip is an opportunity to learn about the Ohlone Indians, and also plant and animal life in our area. We are asking for a dollar per student for this field trip, which will be on the last Thursday before Winter Vacation.

Second graders continue to work hard on their play, which they will perform for parents on December 11th at 8:20. The third graders from our class will see it the day before with the rest of the school.

Thanks for all your support, both inside and outside of the classroom. Continue to set high expectations for your children with their homework; it should be complete, timely, and well done.

Take care,
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,
Report cards were sent home on Friday. Hopefully, this has given you and your child a chance to reflect on their progress, and set goals together for the future. Please remember to send in signed report card envelopes on Monday, as they are re-used each trimester. I'd also appreciate it if you left the second sheet (report card "back") in the envelope, as that will allow me to save on time and copying next trimester.

On Friday of this week the Room Parents are planning a Thanksgiving style gathering. In addition,make sure your child has brought in his or her decorated thankful feather. Amazingly, this is our last week before Thanksgiving!

Finally, Scholastic book orders went home on Thursday and are due this Friday. You can order on line or in class the traditional way. This will be the last order before Christmas, and I'm happy to keep any gifts behind my desk until parents can pick them up.

Have a great week!
Carroll

Hello All,
First of all, thanks to Sandi Kolassa, Cynthia Jacque, and Lisa Zahraie for chaperoning our 2nd graders at Seacliff State Park to view and learn about fossils. Your extra support is much appreciated.

The class also had the good fortune to receive new dictionaries as a gift from the Aptos Rotary. The children will be writing "Thank you" notes on Monday. Also on Monday, the entire school will continue with our weekly flag ceremony, held first thing in the morning unless it rains. At these meeting we say the Pledge of Allegiance, sing a patriotic song, and discuss admirable character traits. This month's trait is pride. The students were asked to think about and share instances when they felt proud, and why. Mrs. Dorney will select some to share with the entire student body.

Finally, just a reminder that Wednesday is a holiday, but Tuesday is still a Restructured Day. This week is also the beginning of the second trimester; report cards will go home on Friday.
Have a great week!
Carroll

Hello All,

First of all, thanks so much to all the parents that worked so hard to design a great Halloween party for the class, especially Jennifer, Cynthia, and Sandi. The kids really enjoyed and appreciated the party, and the fantastic decorations.

This week the second graders will begin rehearsing the play. They will attend play practice daily while I remain in Room 24 with our third graders. Second graders will also be going on a field trip this week to Seacliff State Beach as a supplement to their study of fossils in science. On Thursday, please remember to send your second grader dressed appropriately for walking, possibly in cool weather, and with a sack lunch.

Have a great week!
Carroll

Greetings,

I hope your children had a chance to tell you about the assembly we attended on Friday: a musical performance by Shoreline Middle School's band. It was so impressive and a great reminder of the value of music in our schools.

This week will begin in a new way at Rio del Mar. We will be having a flag ceremony every Monday morning, outside on the intermediate playground. I will bring our class down today, and when Mrs. Dorney and Mr. Coffin feels the students are ready, we will have the kids independently gather and line up for classes down there. During the flag ceremony we will be discussing character traits. This month's trait is pride. We will talk about taking pride in our school and our own behavior, and taking actions of which we can be proud.

The bookend to this first flag ceremony will be the Halloween parade on Friday. The class will meet at Rm. 24 and then head down to the other playground at the usual time-- I believe it's 8:15. Each class "parades" around the basketball courts so that the rest of the school can see their costumes. Parents and younger siblings are welcome. Our class will be having its party at 9:40, after the first recess.

Have a great week. While the kids usually start escalating in their excitement as we head toward Halloween, let's remind them that we still expect their usual strong efforts. The third graders will still have their spelling test on Friday, and the second graders retaking the "Envelope Test" will do it then as well.

See you soon,
Carroll