Before School Starts!

Welcome to the blog for Bethlehem Lutheran's 2nd grade class!  I am excited to be using this website as a way to communicate with you this year, keeping you in the know about upcoming events, as well as sharing what we are doing throughout the school year with you. Below are a few things to be ready for before school starts.

About Mrs. Picker:
The bio at the bottom of this page has some general information about me and how I came to teach at Bethlehem.  Please take some time to peruse it and get to know me!  I'm happy to answer any questions you have about me!

Supplies:
All school supplies are taken care of through your registration fee.  Below are the only supplies that the second graders need to bring (if you haven't given them to me already):

• water bottle with pop-up lid
• backpack
• 2 large boxes of Kleenex
• 3 large containers of sanitizing surface wipes
• gym shoes with non-marking soles—Velcro or slip-on preferred (these will stay at school throughout the year)
• child-sized headphones (no ear buds, please)

First day:
Our first day of school is Tuesday, August 27.  It is a half day, so dismissal is at 11:15 AM.  Please review our drop-off and pick-up procedures (at the bottom of this post) to help it run more smoothly.  We will not be having lunch at school that day, unless your child goes to Eagles' Nest, so please keep that in mind when planning.  They are welcome to bring a healthy snack for our first recess, however.

The first day of school starts with chapel.  I'd like to invite you to stay and worship with us on our first day, if you are able!  It is truly a wonderful thing to hear so many children singing and worshiping together with their teachers and classmates!

Pick-Up:
2nd grade lines up on the curb for pick-up line, closest to the crosswalk.  Students who go to Eagles' Nest will do so before the rest of the class heads outside.  Students with older siblings will go with their older sibling to that grade's line; those with younger siblings will pick up their sibling and sit with them in our line.  Thank you in advance for your patience in pick-up line this first week as we all get the hang of the procedure!

Volunteering:
We still have some open volunteer opportunities in our class.  Check out the pink sign up sheet on the desk outside of our classroom this week!

Our greatest need is for lunch parents--11:15-12:00 on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.  You take the kids out to recess, come in and monitor them in the classroom, reminding them to clean up at about 11:55.  It's fun, and I have some procedures in place to make it as easy as possible.  Please let me know if you are able to give the kids a break from me.  ;)

A volunteer packet need to be filled out by each volunteer each year, regardless of how many times you are volunteering during the year.  I have packets available in the classroom.  You read the packet, fill out and return the first few pages, and you're ready to go!  Please let me know if you would like a packet sent home with your student.  Once the packet is turned in, you'll receive an email with an online Sexual Abuse Awareness Training.  It takes about an hour and must be completed before volunteering in the classroom.  (This training is good for two years, so you may be up to date on it still.)

Important Schedule Information:
Below is the list of specials for this year.  Please send your child with appropriate shoes and a water bottle on P.E. days.  All specials (except art) are in the afternoon, so we won't have them on early dismissal days.

• Monday:  Spanish
• Tuesday:  Reading buddies
                  Library
                  Technology
                  Spanish
• Wednesday: P.E.
• Thursday:  P.E.
• Friday:  Art

I'm looking forward to a great year with these fabulous 2nd graders!

Mrs. Picker