December 13, 2024

 

The Mendoza Message 

for 

December 13, 2024

We had such a fun 70th Day of School. The students loved seeing all of the 2nd grade teachers dressed in our “70s” attire.  They also enjoyed the classroom decorations and music that we had.

This week is Spirit Week.  Here is what the children can wear if they wish to participate:

Monday-Wear a fun hat or headband

Tuesday-Wear your favorite team gear

Wednesday-Wear your silliest socks

Thursday-Wear your Lawton gear or blue/white

Friday-Pajama Day

On Friday, December 20th, the Second Grade classes will have our Winter/Snow Party from 9:30-10:30 am. All of the 2nd grade children will be doing crafts and games in the Lunchroom.  Afterwards, the children will go back to their classroom for a snack.  Please click here to the Sign-Up Genius and see how you can help out. There are still a number of slots available.

Again, we know this is going to be a very busy time of year.  If you are planning to leave early for vacation or doctor appointments, please inform the office staff and myself.

The weather has been interesting this past week. We went with temperatures in the 40s to temperatures around 18-degrees (without wind chill).  The children were very cold on Wednesday.  But of course, it will be warm again over the weekend and at the beginning of the week.  Yet, it looks like the temperatures will drop again at the end of the week. 

So, please listen to the weather reports daily.  Therefore, you can make sure your child is dressed properly for the weather-your child may need to layer their clothing.  Also, please remember to send winter gear (boots, snow pants, winter coat, hat, gloves/mittens, scarf) daily.  Wearing winter gear will keep your child dry and warm. Remember, since the children’s backpacks cannot hold all of your child’s winter gear, I suggest another bag for winter gear (like a reusable grocery bag or something like the blue IKEA bag).  Also, remember to please label all of your child’s winter items.    Labeling them with your child’s initials is just fine.

If it is left in the classroom, I can make sure they will get it back.  Another thing, please check daily that your child brought everything home.  

Again, I would suggest a ziplock baggie with dry, clean clothing that will be kept in your child’s backpack.  In the ziplock baggie should have a top, bottom, socks, underwear and a plastic bag for wet clothing.  Your child may come inside from a recess wet.  This way your child will have dry clothing to put on. 

If something did not make it home, please check Lost and Found, Lunchroom and the Bus (for those who take the bus) right away.  The quicker you notice it is missing, the quicker it will make it back home. And labeling your child’s items will make it easier to find too. FYI, when I was out, I came back to a classroom with a number of jackets in the classroom with no name inside.  So please check daily, and label your child’s items. 

Please look at the Lawton Lost and Found.  It is starting to get filled up.

If you would like to volunteer in the building during school hours you will need to complete this background check:  Complete Volunteer Background Check 24-25

Completing the background check allows you to be with children during the school day, class parties, and to chaperone field trips.  If you think you might be helping out at any time during the year, please fill it out now.  Don’t want to wait until the last minute.

Again, here is the QR Code to the Amazon “Wish List”, since I have added some items.

Remember, please charge the laptop to 100%, so it is ready for use in the classroom for Monday. 

My blog is at https://mendozaclassroom.blogspot.com/),

And my web page is at (https://mendozaclassroom.wixsite.com/mendozaclassroom).

Information from Lawton:

TRAILS Unit 1 Update: Self Awareness

This week our school goal was to identify helpful and unhelpful thoughts based on how they make us feel or act. The thought, “I can’t do it,” is an example of an unhelpful thought. We learned how we can squash unhelpful thoughts when they pop up every day!  When our thoughts aren’t helping us, we can practice bossing them back with helpful thoughts such as, ‘I can do this!’ or ‘it’s going to be okay,’ or, ‘It won’t be all bad, I’ll get through it!’ We can also think about things for which we are thankful or things we really like!”

Learn more about the Unit 1 Lesson on Self Awareness Here: K-2 TRAILS Unit 1 Family Resources.

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Free Academic Support and Enrichment Classes for ALL AAPS STUDENTS with Varsity Tutors!  

The Ann Arbor Public Schools has partnered with Varsity Tutors for Schools! All AAPS students now have access to the Varsity Tutors learning resources around the clock and on demand such as  live classes, chat tutoring, fun enrichment classes, and more.  

Everything your student needs to get started can be found HERE. 

• Academic Support - Personalized Learning Courses & Homework Help

• College Preparation - Essay writing, SAT prep and practice 

• Interest-based classes - Chess, Coding, Drawing, Online Content Creation

Check out the Varsity Tutor link in Clever!

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Students & Families - Technology Virtual Help Desk

Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM

Call:  734-997-1222

Open a ticket: family_techsupport@aaps.k12.mi.us

Schedule an In-Person Appointment: call the Student & Family Help Desk

Ayuda en Español at 734-997-1246

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What we are doing in the classroom:

ELA: We have been finishing up our Book Clubs.

Math:  We finished Unit 4.  Next week we will be doing some review of math concepts before break.  We will start Unit 5 in January.

Social Studies: We started our Economic Unit.  We have been learning about wants and needs, scarcity, and opportunity cost.

Word Study: We have been working on learning how to write words with open and closed syllables, and words spell word with r-controlled vowels (ar, or and ore)

Dates to Remember:

12/16-12/20: Spirit Week (read above)

12/18: All School Assembly @ 10:0am (Highlighting First Grade)

12/19: Field Trip to Downtown AADL Library from 12:15-2:00pm

12/20: 2nd Grade Winter Party in the Lunchroom from 9:30-10:30 am

12/21-1/5/2025: Winter Break- NO SCHOOL

1/6/2025: School Resumes

1/23/25: All School Assembly @ 10:0am (Highlighting Second Grade)