Hello May! We are winding down our year here in 2nd grade. We still have a few things to check off our academic list so hard work is always on the menu but we are definitely sneaking in some sweet treats when we can! This week, we paused our learning to make some signs of encouragement for the 8th grade students taking a very important Algebra 1 test next week. The class had a great time getting to be creative and make their signs colorful and encouraging!

Also this week we practiced letter writing as we wrote to the first grade students to give them a peek into our classroom and some information on what to expect next year. Our class did an excellent job writing the letters and decorating envelopes for their first grade friends. These second grade students have very sweet hearts.

April 22nd was Earth Day and we made sure to learn all we could about helping our planet. Second grade students created wildflower earth bombs to plant around campus and their homes. We used earth colored construction paper, water and a blender to make this Earth Bombs and this experiment was a total hit with most of the class. The blended up construction paper became mushy and some students were very intrigued while others were very disgusted. It was an exciting time in class.

Mrs. McCarly taught the second graders the art of collage and they created the most interesting suns. Take a look at all the colors!

Second grade is truly the best! We have had two wonderful weeks of learning and fun. We started a new unit of math and the kids are really showing their intelligence with the foundations of multiplication! They are loving all the “big kid math” and have said things like “I have waited all year for this!” I am proud to say all students in the class had high scores on their last math module exam.

We have also continued our unit of study on Citizenship. We have learned many things about our country’s flag, the true meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance, the U.S. Constitution this week. We learned that our countries money is made at the U.S Mint Building. We also learned where some old and damaged money goes to die. Ask your child how farmers in New Orleans are using old money on their farms.

The Spring Musical was a true hit! The Oompa Loompas were the stars of the show, in my opinion. Thank you to Mrs. Tipton for all her hard work putting together such an amazing production. There were many moving parts and the entire SJDS student body worked together beautifully. I was so proud to see our kiddos perform.

We had a small Easter Celebration on April 1 before our Easter break. We water-colored “surprise” eggs and they turned out very nice. Students were pranked by thinking they were getting a brownie snack, but were instead given BROWN-E’s. They were displeased with this, however their real snack made up for the pranking.

This school year is quickly coming to an end. We have around 32 days of school left! I am soaking up the sweet and silly personalities as much as I can and reflecting on how much these kids have grown this year.

We are busy busy here in 2nd grade at St. James. Spring Musical is coming and we have been hard at work practicing every Wednesday. The students are anticipating the big performance. An email regarding ticket information has been sent to all parents of musical performers. Be sure to check out your ticket options.

Our class has also been hard at work water-color painting individual works of art to be used in a conglomerate framed art piece to be used in the auction fundraiser. I promise you wont want to miss the auction! There are many wonderful items up for grabs from all grade levels! Our class has also entered a framed class photograph that showcases each 2nd grade students personality. Just think: “class photo, but with 2nd grade style”.

2nd graders have just completed Module 5 of Eureka Math with flying colors. We will begin the foundations of multiplication and division soon. There is much excitement about learning to multiply and divide. We have started writing personal letters to grandparents and will also begin a new science study on plant and animal characteristics. Today, the 7th and 8th grade students visited our classroom to play a math game they created for the 2nd grade students based on what we have learned in the last module. There was a lot of competition between the groups and everyone was an incredible sportsman. Thank you to the 7th and 8th grade for making our Fun Friday F.U.N.!!

Wow! What a Winter Break! We could not have planned that any better. I know St. James second graders had lots of fun playing in the snow. We all shared all about sledding, snow angels (and a snow penguin), and some funny stories about snowball fights. The Monday we returned to school, presented itself with small amounts of snow remaining on the ground and the students were very excited to make a few snowballs and then on Tuesday we played outside in short sleeves and even started to sweat. What a weather turnaround.

This week we began Spring Musical practice with the other grade levels. This musical show will be one to remember. I am very proud of the hard work the second grade has demonstrated to learn their song parts and all their dance combinations.

Lately, in class, we have been learning how to choose the most efficient math strategy to solve addition and subtraction problems within 1,000. The kids get very excited when they have a sum or difference close to the number 1,000. We have also been studying objects in the sky, such as the moon, and we have learned much about the phases of the moon. We even made exploding moon rocks and moon dough.

This week students brainstormed what it means to be a good citizen to launch our unit study on Citizenship. Below is a list of some things the students said.

Reagan - “Helping a friend when they’ve had a bad day.”

Westin - “Picking up trash you see on the ground.”

EmmaLynn - “Helping someone when you see they need help.”

AnnaScott - “Being kind and helping others even if you are in a rush.”

Sander - “Giving a band aid to someone who is hurt.”

Colin “Building houses for homeless people.”

The information we learned about the immigration process this week included taking an oath, signing documents, and singing the National Anthem. Over the next 5 weeks will learn more about democracy and why our country’s founders chose this system of government. Ask your child what it means to them to live in the United States and also what makes a good citizen.

Happy Grandparent’s Day to all our St. James Day families.

”Grandparents are a little bit a parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend” - Unknown

Second grade has been working hard the last couple of weeks creating personal cards and paintings for their beloved grandparents. We appreciate all the grandparents in our lives.

This week, second grade also celebrated Valentine’s Day with a “Fanta Float” and valentine exchange. There was enough candy to last a lifetime and the students had a blast. Before the party, all the students participated in a compliment circle. We passed around art-hearts and complimented one another on what we love about them the most.

Next week is Winter Break here at SJDS and we dismissed today with some faint snowflakes falling. Well wishes and a restful holiday to you all!