Monday, January 21, 2013

Grade 2 is Ringing in 2013!

Happy New Year! 

The kids have been working hard on their resolutions.  Resolutions can help us be the best person we can be throughout the year.  Each student came up with four resolutions that were important to them in each of the following areas:  Personal, School, Home and Environment.  Discuss these resolutions with your child.  They would appreciate your help and support as they try to reach their individual goals.

Please Return Those Household Verification Forms!   A Household Verification form was recently mailed home (to the current address we have on file for you.)  It is very important that we have your current contact information on file.  Sometimes phone numbers, addresses and emergency contact information change during the year.  We need to be able to reach you during the school day.  It is requested that you please check the information we have for you, make changes if necessary, and return it to school with your child as soon as possible.  Your time and attention to this is greatly appreciated. 

Mark your calendars!  Our next First Friday is February 8th.  Come read with your child and celebrate their reading successes!

Share Time Reminder...  Electronic devices are not permitted during the school day and are not allowed as a share item.  Please encourage and assist your child in choosing something special and meaningful that they can share with the class.  Share time is every Friday.  If there is no school on a Friday then it will be the following week. 

Snacks are always appreciated and help us get through the morning until lunch.  Non-sugary items such as crackers, pretzels, veggie sticks, etc. are encouraged. 

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

January 25th -- No School (Record's Day)
February 1st -- No School (School Improvement Day)
February 18th -- No School (President's Day)
March 22nd -- No School (Furlough Day)
March 25-29 -- No School (Spring Break)





Sunday, December 16, 2012

Happy Holidays from Grade 2!


Holiday Greetings!  Here are a few pics from our Night Creatures unit:


Looking closely and analyzing owl pellets.

 
Hard at work dissecting an owl pellet.
Putting it all together!


Making Beautiful Crafts with Clay
Thank you, Stacey Stoudenmeyer, for coming in and doing a wonderful candle craft art project with us!

 
First Friday Thank You!
A special thank you to all of our special guests that joined us for First Friday on December 7th.  Mark your calendars for our next First Friday:  January 11, 2013
 


 
ECS Food Drive Underway!
Our annual food drive is going on until Friday, December 21st.  All food that is collected will benefit the Yaquina Food Bank.  Your support is greatly appreciated.  The elementary classroom that collects the most food wins a special prize!
 
 
Little Buddy/Big Buddy... Last Thursday, the elementary students met their "Big Buddy" and got to know them a little better. They worked together to make a cute ornament and then hung it on the senior tree in the cafeteria. Afterward, their "Big Buddy" helped them get a hot chocolate treat. They will get together again during Hobby Hour on December 19th for some special fun and activities together.
 
Hobby Hour:
Wednesday, December 19th is our annual Hobby Hour.  The elementary session is from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.  Then following at 11:15, the children will be participating in singing some traditional and favorite Christmas carols.  If you would like to volunteer or assist with this special event, please contact Debby Rariden at debby.rariden@lincoln.k12.or.us


Winter Program:
The Eddyville Charter School Elementary Winter Program will be Thursday, December 20th at 7:00 p.m.  We ask that all elementary students report to their classrooms by 6:45 p.m.  NO LATER!  The children have been working hard on some holiday tunes and are looking forward to performing for you. 

Dates to Remember:

Winter Break -- December 24th - January 4th
Return to School -- January 7, 2013
First Friday -- January 11, 2013


Sunday, October 28, 2012

It's Been an AWESOME October!

Parent/Teacher Conferences
I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of my parents for coming to conferences!  It was so nice visiting with each of you and sharing what your child has been working on.  It is such a joy and pleasure to be working with you and your child.  If at any time throughout the year you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

First Friday November 2nd
Our next First Friday reading celebration will be Friday, November 2nd.  We would like to welcome a special person in your child's life to come read with him/her.  It will be from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.  Come celebrate your child's reading accomplishments!

 
Special "Thank You" to Oregon Coast Therapy Animals
Our last First Friday reading event on October 5th had some special guests visiting with our 2nd and 3rd grade reading groups.  Special thanks to "Cooper" (Golden Retriever) and Linda Hill, "Boo" (Akita) and Myrna Lassiter, and "Able" (Golden Doodle) and Michelle Amberg for joining us and allowing our students to read to them.  They were really good listeners!  Also, thank you to all of our parents and special guests for joining us.  We enjoyed having you!




Wonderful Writers!
We have been working hard on our writing skills.  We have been learning what a topic is and details that support a topic, also called "tell-me-mores".  Also, we have been working on how to create SUPER SENTENCES that make our writing more interesting and exciting.  Lastly, we have been working on our handwriting practice -- I am seeing HUGE improvements in everyone!
 
 
 
 
Batty about Bats!
Halloween is much more than jack-o-lanterns, costumes and trick-or-treating.  It's a chance to explore and learn about interesting creatures of the night.  We just finished learning about nature's only flying mammal -- BATS!  Ask your child about some of the neat things they learned.  I wonder "WHOOOOOO" we will be learning about next...

Halloween Costumes
And speaking of Halloween, the students will be allowed to wear costumes to school on Wednesday.  Please make sure your child's attire and accessories are "appropriate" -- please no fake blood, gore, or imitation weapons.  Also, we will be having a small classroom celebration in the afternoon.  We have 21 kids in our class so if you would like to share a special treat, please provide enough for everyone. 


DATES TO REMEMBER:
November 12 -- No School (Veteran's Day observed)
November 19-23 -- No School (Thanksgiving Break)



Writers at Work!







Saturday, September 29, 2012

Innisbrook Fundraiser Underway!

The Innisbrook fundraiser is underway and students have received their packets to take home.  This is a major fundraising event for the ECS Elementary School.  Funds received will go to purchasing supplies for special activities and/or funding field trip opportunities.  The deadline for turning in orders is October 8th.  Parents can enter orders online at www.innisbrook.com.  Follow the EZ steps to enter your orders.  Our school number is 124104.  Checks received need to be made payable to Eddyville Charter School.  Keep the order worksheet for you will need it to assist with your product distribution.  Thank you for your support!
 
Read and Respond Reminder:
Your child is required to read aloud each night for a total of 20 minutes.  In addition, please make sure they write two sentences about what they read.  Please sign your child's Read and Respond form nightly.  If they lost their form, misplaced it or forgot to bring it home, have your child do this on a plain piece of paper and return it back to school. 
 
First Friday Approaching!
Our First Friday reading celebration will be this Friday, October 5th.  Please return slips to Mrs. Dougherty by October 3rd so we know who will be joining us.  If you can't make First Friday, don't worry!  There will be other opportunities each month. 

Snack Alert!
We are running low on snacks.  Snacks are a big part of our day and help us get through the morning until lunch. Snack donations are greatly appreciated. Some examples of snacks include crackers, pretzels, or other non-sugary items. 
 
Coughs on the Rise
This is a reminder that all medications, including cough drops, need to be kept in the main office.  The students are not allowed to self-administer any medications, which include cough drops.  If you feel that your child has a cough and needs to take them to feel more comfortable during the school day, please send a note with your child along with the supply of cough drops and they will be kept safe in the office for them to use as needed.  If a child is miserable due to an ongoing cough and cough drops are not relieving the symptoms, we will be calling you to please come to school, pick up your child and take them home. 

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
OCTOBER 5 -- First Friday Reading Celebration
OCTOBER 8 -- Innisbrook Fundraiser Deadline
OCTOBER 12 -- No School (Statewide In-Service)
OCTOBER 19 -- No School (School Improvement Day for Staff)
OCTOBER 24-25 -- Parent Teacher Conferences
OCTOBER 26 -- No School

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Positive Behavior Program Underway


We are on the lookout for positive behaviors!  The Elementary Staff has set up a system in which positive behaviors are rewarded for students engaging in safe, respectful, and responsible behaviors throughout various areas of the school during the entire school day.  The teachers put on an assembly for the K-5 students demonstrating behaviors and having the students identify what was wrong and right in each scenario.  We all had fun putting it together (as well as being silly!) and the students enjoyed pointing out what was wrong and correcting us. 
 
It was nice meeting many parents at Back to School Night.  If you have any comments, questions or concerns throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact me.  The best ways are either calling me at school (541-875-2942 ext. 134) or by email at kathleen.dougherty@lincoln.k12.or.us.
 
It was a busy week!  The book fair is now over and many students bought books to add to their personal libraries.  It has been fun to see them excited and actively reading their purchased books.  We also had student pictures taken.  If you did not get a chance to order pictures, a proof will be provided to you in a few weeks and you can decide what package you would like to buy. 
 
Mark your calendars for our FIRST "First Friday" on October 5th.  This is a special, monthly event which will take place on the first Friday of every month.  The purpose is to invite a special person in their lives to come and celebrate each student's reading successes in grades K-5.  A flyer will be sent home explaining this in more detail this week. 
 
A HOMEWORK FOLDER REMINDER TO PARENTS: 
 
Please check your child's homework folder on a daily basis.  On one side is "Leave at Home" where completed homework or in-class assignments are placed as well as announcements for you to read about upcoming events.  Please review and remove daily.  On the other side is "Return to School" where homework is to be completed and brought back to school.  Your support in keeping your child's homework folder organized, neat, and less cluttered would be greatly appreciated.   Thank you for your support!
 
 
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
 
OCTOBER 5 -- First Friday Reading Celebration
OCTOBER 12 -- No School (Statewide In-Service)
OCTOBER 19 -- No School (School Improvement Day for Staff)
OCTOBER 24-25 -- Parent Teacher Conferences
OCTOBER 26 -- No School


Thursday, September 13, 2012

Welcome to the 2012-2013 School Year!

Welcome to Mrs. Dougherty's Blog!  This is my 6th year of teaching at Eddyville Charter School and I am thrilled to be working with you and your child.  I am committed to keeping in contact with you throughout the year because you are the most important people in your child's life.  The blog is a great way to inform you about the happenings in our classroom, upcoming dates and events, and classroom needs.  Please feel free to contact me by email at kathleen.dougherty@lincoln.k12.or.us or call the school at 541-875-2942 ext. 134. 

We are off to a great start this school year and almost through our second week of school.  The children and I have been getting to know each other and learning how to work together to be an awesome Grade 2 classroom.  In addition, we have been learning how to problem solve social situations, learning how to work with each other and get along, as well as practicing patience and tolerance for others (this was part of our Patriot Day lesson, too).  In addition, we have established some classroom rules for the year and the students are working hard to be responsible, respectful, safe, good students. 

I am very impressed with how the kids have been developing their organization skills and coming prepared to school with the items they need and their homework complete.  Please continue to assist your child in reviewing your child's homework each night (for accuracy, completeness and understanding) and remind them to put it back into their homework folder to return to school. 

 
A few other things...

Come to the ECS Book Fair!  Check out the great selection of books on September 17th-21st from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.  Expand your home library today with some great reads for your child!

School pictures will be held on Wednesday, September 19th.  Please remember to pack your child's picture form in his/her homework folder on this day to bring to school.  Sorry, no hats will be permitted.

Snacks are a big part of our day and help us get through the morning until lunch.  Snack donations are greatly appreciated.  Some examples of snacks include crackers, pretzels, or other non-sugary items.  

Breakfast is important!  It would be greatly appreciated if you could assist your child in eating some "brain food" (breakfast) in the morning.  If there isn't time at home, please encourage your child to eat breakfast at school when they get off the bus.  It's a great way to start the day! 

To assure the safety of our students, we ask that students be dropped off at school no earlier than 7:45 a.m.

If you have any bus changes that need to be made for your child in the afternoon, it is greatly appreciated if you would call the office no later than 12:00 noon.  This will assure that your child gets where he/she needs to be without any problems. 

Looking forward to a wonderful year!

Mrs. Dougherty

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Spring Has Sprung at ECS

A very special thank you to all of my Grade 2/3 families who made it out to Parent/Teacher Conferences on April 18th and 19th.  It was nice talking with you about your child's growth and progress as well as share the neat things your child has done throughout the year.  It is a pleasure working with your child!

April is whizzing on by and we have been doing some exciting things! We have finished our Iditarod unit. Even though the week without school (due to the inclement weather) cut into our Iditarod studies, we still enjoyed learning about this special event and following our mushers. We ended our studies with a special guest presenter, Dr. Dean Bauman, honored Iditarod veterinarian, who came and presented to Grade 2/3.  He was accompanied by his wife, Mary, and dog, Keeper. 



Thank you for joining us, Doc, Mary, and Keeper!

April is Poetry Month -- we are learning about and writing different styles of poetry.  There will be a school-wide Poetry Slam on April 27th from 1:30-2:30 to share some of their works.

The 3rd graders have been State testing for Math and Reading.  The next (and final) round of testing will be May 1st-4th.  We have also been working on our State Writing Tests this past week for both 2nd and 3rd grade. 

We will be taking a field trip Monday, April 30th to the Newport Performing Arts Center.  Mrs. Dougherty's and Mr. Bedell's classes have been invited to attend a concert performed by the Salem Youth Symphony's Philharmonic Orchestra.  Reminder: please get those permission slips turned-in as soon as possible!

Music has begun and Grades K-5 are working hard, preparing for the Spring Fling concert on May 22nd.  Mark your calendars and join us for this special event.  Dinner will also be served.

Important Upcoming Dates to Remember:

There WILL BE school this Friday, April 27th.

May 18 -- No School (School Improvement Day)
May 22 -- Spring Fling
May 28 -- No School (Memorial Day)