Week 35

Welcome to the Grade 2 Newsletter

Important Dates

• May 9 - April/May Birthday Lunch (12:10-12-50)
• May 21 - Student-Led Conferences

Student-Led Conferences

May 21 is not a regular school day, as students will come in for their conference only. We hope all parents can attend and we look forward to a positive day celebrating growth. Don't forget to sign up in skyward.

The purpose of student-led conferences is to open the eyes of students to their own learning and to help them take personal responsibility for their progress. In the traditional parent-teacher conference, students are “third parties” to assessment, hearing about their progress through the teachers and parents. Teachers and parents do play a vital role in assessment but students must also take an active role in this area to maximize their potential for success.

In preparing for a student-led conference, students see how their strengths, weaknesses and behavior can affect them as learners, thus allowing them to take more responsibility for, and control over, their achievement in school. Student-led conferences are an experience that can improve the communication patterns of both students and parents. In a student-led conference, students learn how to reflect on their learning, evaluate their progress and communicate this information to their parents.  Parents learn how to listen to their students, how to encourage growth and how to best help their student with specific challenges.

TIPS FOR PARENTS

• Be on time. 
• Express positive interest and anticipation about the upcoming conference.
• Listen and respond to the student (not the teacher).
• Express pride in growth and progress.
• Ask questions (see below for samples).
• Be positive, offering to help in areas where improvement is needed.
• Recognise that students need to develop independence in communicating progress – the teacher will be there to facilitate and answer specific questions but will not take charge of the conference. 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS TO ASK DURING THE CONFERENCE

• Can you explain this to me?
• How did you come up with this idea?
• How have you grown in this area?
• How can you improve in this area?
• How can we help you at home?
• What was important to you about this?
• If you could do this work over again, how would you change it?
• What future goals do you have as a student?

Swimming

Remember that this week our students have started swimming during the one hour class. As a reminder each classes swimming days are:

• Sunday - 2R
• Wednesday - 2K
• Thursday - 2S

Students will need to wear their full PE uniform in all 30 minute classes for the remainder of the year, including shorts, t-shirt, and sneakers.

From the library - Important dates

• May 8-10 Used book sale, starting at 2 pm on May 8
• May 15 Last day for check out
• May 22 Last day for classes; All books are due
• May 29 Summer check out starts

What’s Going on This Week in Grade 2

Readers’ Workshop

Our readers are enjoying reading poetry. Students will learn that many poems contain images- words that give us pictures in our minds. The more practice reading poems will help our little readers become aware of these internal mind pictures. Students will choose poems that they like and illustrate the image they see, or if they see several images they will divide the poem up and create a picture book. Our readers will work independently and with a partner to create their own picture book.

Writers’ Workshop

Students will be writing poetry along with reading a lot of it. We will be concentrating on how students can give their poems music by paying attention to where poets put words and where poets don't put words. Poets try a few different ways of breaking up their lines, reading the poem aloud after each try, until the poem is written in a way that sounds just right. Students will also be thinking about a big idea, a big feeling, and then find the small moment, image, or object that holds that big feeling, that big idea.

Math

This week we will continue our Module 8: Time, Shapes, and Fractions as Equal Parts of Shapes. During this unit we will focus on Topic A: Attributes of Geometric Shapes and on Topic D: Applications of Fractions to Tell Time. These next 5 days we will learn how to describe, build, and identify two-dimensional shapes based on their attributes (number of sides and angles). We will also use these attributes to draw different polygons including triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, and hexagons. Students will also learn to draw and identify different quadrilaterals including rectangles, rhombuses, parallelograms, and trapezoids.

Students can use a lot of extra practice drawing square angles using the corner of an index card or other object that already has a square corner. Students should also be able to utilize different strategies for drawing parallel lines.

Please refer to the Unit 8 Parent Newsletter for more details about this unit.

Mathletics Focus Lessons: Count Sides and Corners (corners here mean angles)

Social Studies

This week we will continue our new Social Studies Unit titled: We Live In Urban and Rural Communities. We will be learning about what is a community and how our wants and needs affect the facilities available in a community. Students will explore the difference between goods and services to help them understand the different kinds of facilities are available in a community.

Essential Questions:

• What is a community?
• How do communities meet our needs?
• Why do people choose to live where they do?

Circles

Focus: review all the core values and display them especially when working with others, in the classroom, at school, at home, and in the community.

Week 34

Welcome to the Grade 2 Newsletter

Important Dates

• April 29 - Swimming during 1 hour PE class starts
• April 29 - Talent Show Rehearsal (3:15-5:15)
• April 30 - Talent Show
• May 1 - Labor Day Holiday
• May 9 - April/May Birthday Lunch (12:10-12-50)

Swimming

Remember that this week our students have started swimming during the one hour class. As a reminder each classes swimming days are:

• Sunday - 2R
• Wednesday - 2K
• Thursday - 2S

Students will need to wear their full PE uniform in all 30 minute classes for the remainder of the year, including shorts, t-shirt, and sneakers.

ES Talent Show This Monday!

Tickets are on sale in Ms. Dolly's Room before school and during lunch/recess.

Sunday, April 29th is the mandatory rehearsal in the CAC Theatre from 3:15 - 5:15. All students must have a way to go home; the late bus service is not available. Students will be dismissed from the CAC Theatre at 5:15.

All Choir students will attend the Choir rehearsal on Sunday, April 29th, then come directly to the CAC Theatre for the remainder of the rehearsal.

The Talent Show will be for ALL ACTS beginning at 5:30 - 7:30 on April 30th. The Show will end by 8pm. ALL ACTS must come to the Theatre at 5pm, performance ready.

ES Talent Show - April 30th, 2018

Tickets - 30LE per seat

• Performances: 5:30-6:15
• Intermission: 6:15-6:30
• Performances: 6:30-7:15
• Show ends 7:30pm.

Thank you for your continued support. Please contact Ms. Dolly for any further clarifications or questions.

ES Talent Show Team

From the library - Used Book Sale, May 8 to 10

End of year dates for students from the library

• May 8-10 Used book sale
• May 15 Last day for check out
• May 22 Last day for classes; All books are due
• May 29 Summer check out starts
• May 8 to 10 Used Book Sale

We are getting ready for our annual used book sale, this year from May 8 to 10. We welcome donations of used books for all ages in saleable condition. This is a good time for departing families to dispose of books before packing. We will soon have a donation box at the front gate.

Core Value Books

The core value for April is COURAGE. We will be sending home the core value book about courage: Drum Dream Girl. Please read it with your child, then return it to school for the next student to take home.

• What is the definition of courage? The core value definition of courage is “be brave in words and actions.”  What would your students add to this? What does this mean to them?
• Discuss with your kids how courage... 
• Is used by adults in the workplace, 
• Is used by students outside of school, 
• Applies to school situations, 
• Benefits when mastered, 
• Consequences of not possessing it. 

What’s Going on This Week in Grade 2

Readers’ Workshop

Our readers are enjoying reading poetry. Students will learn that many poems contain images- words that give us pictures in our minds. The more practice reading poems will help our little readers become aware of these internal mind pictures. Students will choose poems that they like and illustrate the image they see, or if they see several images they will divide the poem up and create a picture book. Our readers will work independently and with a partner to create their own picture book.

Writers’ Workshop

Students will be writing poetry along with reading a lot of it. We will be concentrating on how students can give their poems music by paying attention to where poets put words and where poets don't put words. Poets try a few different ways of breaking up their lines, reading the poem aloud after each try, until the poem is written in a way that sounds just right. Students will also be thinking about a big idea, a big feeling, and then find the small moment, image, or object that holds that big feeling, that big idea.

Math

This week the Module 7 assessment will be sent home to review strengths and challenges with your child. Please, don't forget to check your child's folder, sign the assessment and send it back to school by the end of this week.

This week we will start Module 8: Time, Shapes, and Fractions as Equal Parts of Shapes. During this unit we will focus on Topic A: Attributes of Geometric Shapes and on Topic D: Applications of Fractions to Tell Time. These next 5 days we will learn how to describe, build, and identify two-dimensional shapes based on their attributes (number of sides and angles). We will also use these attributes to draw different polygons including triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, and hexagons. Students will also learn to draw and identify different quadrilaterals including rectangles, rhombuses, parallelograms, and trapezoids.

Students can use a lot of extra practice drawing square angles using the corner of an index card or other object that already has a square corner. Students should also be able to utilize different strategies for drawing parallel lines.

Please refer to the Unit 8 Parent Newsletter for more details about this unit.

Mathletics Focus Lessons: Count Sides and Corners (corners here mean angles)

Social Studies

This week we will be starting a new Social Studies Unit titled: We Live In Urban and Rural Communities. We will be learning about what is a community and how our wants and needs affect the facilities available in a community. Students will explore the difference between goods and services to help them understand the different kinds of facilities are available in a community.

Essential Questions:

What is a community?
How do communities meet our needs?
Why do people choose to live where they do?

Circles

Focus: displaying courage especially when working with others, in the classroom, at school, at home, and in the community.

Week 33

Welcome to the Grade 2 Newsletter

Important Dates

• April 22 - Race to Clean Air at 3:30 (regular After School Activities)
• April 29 - Swimming during 1 hour PE class starts
• April 30 - Talent Show
• May 8 to 10 - Used book sale
• May 15 - Last day for check out books from library
• May 22 - Last day for library classes; All books are due at the library
• May 29 - Summer check out starts

Egypt Festival

A very special thank you to our Egypt Culture department for their work in bringing us a successful and fun 2018 Egypt Festival. Thank you to parent volunteers for making of this such as an exciting day for all our students.

ES Dismissal - Important message to ES parents

We had two students who left campus without parental permission with a nanny. We have taken steps to ensure this does not happen again and ask for your cooperation in following our handbook guidelines for all Elementary students PreK to Grade 5. Our handbook states, that any change in the usual pattern of dismissal for your child at the end of the school day should be verified by a note or email from the parent or guardian to the classroom teacher. We have added that we need to receive this information before 12 p.m. which will give us the time to make sure all necessary personnel is informed before 2:30 p.m. each day. We appreciate CAC’s security as they have increased vigilance in making sure our students go home safely and with the person/s permitted. Ms. Samah will continue to be at the dismissal gate from 3:00 and Ms. Nadia from 4:00 for our after school activity dismissal time.

How to give permission?

• Write to the classroom teacher informing the dismissal plan change.
• Name the person you are giving permission to and the date/s.
• In the case of a change in driver or nanny, full names and photos are needed.

What will happen if no permission has been given?If we do not have a written record of a change in dismissal, security will not let the student leave campus. The student will be sent to the office. To avoid disappointment, please make sure to arrange the change in dismissal plans ahead of time.

Our student's safety is a school/home priority and we thank you for your understanding, support and welcome your feedback.

Swimming

On Sunday, April 29th students in KG - Grade 5 will begin swimming in PE in their 1 hour lesson, each week, for the remainder of the school year. Please make sure that your child is fully prepared for swimming with the following PE swimming uniform:

• An appropriate swimsuit
• OWN pair of properly fitted goggles (not shared with siblings)
• Suitably sized towel
• Long hair tied back off the face or a swim cap (girls and boys)
• No jewelry, including rubber and string bands and watches
• Easy to take on and off clothes and shoes (crocs are ideal)

As a reminder each classes swimming days are:

• Sunday - 2R
• Wednesday - 2K
• Thursday - 2S

Students will need to wear their full PE uniform in all 30 minute classes for the remainder of the year, including shorts, t-shirt, and sneakers.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your support,
Mr. Phil Greene
Mr. Mark Mayfield

ES PE Department

Talent Show Update

Our ES Talent Show date has been moved to April 30th. We are supporting our wonderful PTO with this change of date. Thank you all for your flexibility.

Please find below important dates and information regarding this year’s ES Talent Show:

Sunday, April 29th is the mandatory rehearsal in the CAC Theatre from 3:15 - 5:15. All students must have a way to go home; the late bus service is not available. Students will be dismissed from the CAC Theatre at 5:15.

All Choir students will attend the Choir rehearsal on Sunday, April 29th, then come directly to the CAC Theatre for the remainder of the rehearsal.

The Talent Show will be for ALL ACTS beginning at 5:30 - 7:30 on April 30th. The Show will end by 8pm. ALL ACTS must come to the Theatre at 5pm, performance ready.

ES Talent Show - April 30th, 2018

Tickets - 30LE per seat

• Performances: 5:30-6:15
• Intermission: 6:15-6:30
• Performances: 6:30-7:15
• Show ends 7:30pm.

Thank you for your continued support. Please contact Ms. Dolly for any further clarifications or questions.

ES Talent Show Team

From the library - Used Book Sale, May 8 to 10

We are getting ready for our annual used book sale, this year from May 8 to 10. We welcome donations of used books for all ages in saleable condition. This is a good time for departing families to dispose of books before packing. We will soon have a donation box at the front gate.

Core Value Books

The core value for April is COURAGE. We will be sending home the core value book about courage: Drum Dream Girl. Please read it with your child, then return it to school for the next student to take home.

• What is the definition of courage? The core value definition of courage is “be brave in words and actions.”  What would your students add to this? What does this mean to them?
• Discuss with your kids how courage... 
• Is used by adults in the workplace, 
• Is used by students outside of school, 
• Applies to school situations, 
• Benefits when mastered, 
• Consequences of not possessing it. 

What’s Going on This Week in Grade 2

Readers’ Workshop

We had a successful Reading Celebration last Thursday. Grade 2 students shared one of the topics they researched during the previous weeks in order to become experts. They shared all their knowledge in a poster with Grade 1. Our students were able to present about their topics, answer questions and reflect on their learning as they use the informational features that we have been studying in our last unit of study. Here you can see some examples:

This week we will start our poetry unit. Students will be reading a variety of different poems and will discuss what they have observed about a specific poem. They will talk about the feelings, words, and phrases that caught their attention. Students will be introduced to smilies, metaphors, and alliteration as they immerse themselves further into our poetry. Students will learn that poetry is another way to express one's feelings.

Writers’ Workshop

This week students will not only be reading poems but they will also be writing them. They will be learning that poets don't see things with regular eyes, but that they sometimes look at things from different angles or think about what things resemble. This helps poets write about the world in different, unusual ways. Students will also be introduced to how they can give their poems music by paying attention to where they put words and where they don't put words. They will be encouraged to try a few different ways of breaking up their lines by reading their poems aloud after each try, until the poem is written in a way that sounds just right to them.

Math

This week we will continue learning how to display measurement data into tables and line plots. Students ended the last week collecting data as they measure to the nearest inch or centimeter. Now they will organize that data into tables and finally put it in a line plot. Students will learn how to label their horizontal axis and interpret the information in a line plot. This will help them draw conclusions based on the measurement data presented in graph. At the end of this week students will be assessed in Module 7. Next week they will be bringing home the assessment with a reflection on their progress.

Some of the objectives are:

• Choose the best unit (e.g., inch, foot, yard) to measure a given object.
• Estimate the length of a given item by using a mental benchmark; then measure the item by using inches, feet, or yards.
• Measure a line by using both centimeters and inches. Compare the measurements and relate the difference to the sizes of the length units.
• Measure and compare two lengths and use addition or subtraction to determine the difference.

Key understandings of Module 7:

• I can use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract.
• I can measure and estimate lengths in standard units.
• I can relate addition and subtraction to length.
• I can represent and interpret data.

*Don’t forget to check out Eureka Math.

*Tips for parents: Module 7, Topic D, Topic E and Topic F.

Science

This week we will be wrapping up our Science project for our unit on Force, Motion and Simple Machines. Students will be trying their machines and creating a video about their end of unit project to show what they have learned about being a scientist and about simple machines. Their goal is to put together a video presentation showing the steps they took to build their compound machine, reflecting about them as scientists. Here you have a sample of their work in their compound machines during last week:

Essential Questions:

• How do objects move?
• How does force and motion help me understand the world around me?

Some suggested discussions you can have at home:

Discuss how simple machines help us in everyday living using unit vocabulary:

• direction, slide, back/forth, pulley, movement, push/pull force, gravity simple machine - any of the basic mechanical devices for applying a force, such as an inclined plane, wedge, or lever, wheel and axle, pulley
• Force - energy that moves something
• Effort x distance = work
• Discuss motion and forces.

Circles

Focus: displaying courage especially when working with others, in the classroom, at school, at home, and in the community.

Week 32

Welcome to the Grade 2 Newsletter

Important Dates

• April 19 - Egypt Festival
• April 22 - Race to Clean Air at 3:30 (no After School Activities)
• April 29 - Swimming during 1 hour PE class starts
• April 30 - Talent Show
• May 8 to 10 - Used book sale

Egypt Festival

Dear Parents,

Mark your calendar for our annual Egypt Festival on Thursday, April 19, 2018. Parents are invited to join us as we celebrate our host country, Egypt through music, dancing, food and grade level activities connected to the Egyptian Culture themes.

To add to the spirit of the day we invite you to wear a galabeya or perhaps clothes that reflect Egypt. You can purchase a galabeya on the 17th from 2:00 - 5:00 and on the 18th and 19th from 7:30-5:00 p.m. Our morning assembly will open the festivities for the day in the theatre and you are welcome to join us from 7:55 AM - 8:45 AM.

Our Egyptian lunch is for all elementary students, parents, teachers and staff and will be held during lunch/recess times between 11:00 - 11:30 for PreK,  12:00 - 12:30 for Kg, Grade 1 & 2, 12:30 - 1:00 for Grade 3,4 & 5 in the ES Hall. You will sample a variety of Egyptian dishes including freshly baked baladi bread (from our very own mud brick oven). Find here the full schedule.

The bread will be on sale for PreK - 12 students during their recess. A loaf costs two pounds and last year our students loved the fresh bread for morning snack.

The school will be covering the cost of the lunch and all entertainment. Students have pre paid 40 LE for their grade-level activity at the beginning of the year.

Parents are an important part of our Egypt Festival. We would love you to come and enjoy the Hassaballa morning welcome, opening ceremony, learn crafts from our vendors, the Tanoura closing ceremony, and we would appreciate your support by volunteering at either lunchtime or bread selling. Please sign up to help us if you can. Parent helpers.

We are looking forward to you joining us to celebrate our host country, Egypt and thank you for your support.

The Arabic and Egyptian Culture Department

Talent Show Update

Our ES Talent Show date has been moved to April 30th. We are supporting our wonderful PTO with this change of date. Thank you all for your flexibility.

Please find below important dates and information regarding this year’s ES Talent Show:

April 15th and 16th Acts will perform for the ES Talent Show team. They will come during their lunch/recess time to the Drama Room. Any Act that is not performance-ready will not participate in this year’s Talent Show.

Sunday, April 29th is the mandatory rehearsal in the CAC Theatre from 3:15 - 5:15. All students must have a way to go home; the late bus service is not available. Students will be dismissed from the CAC Theatre at 5:15.

All Choir students will attend the Choir rehearsal on Sunday, April 29th, then come directly to the CAC Theatre for the remainder of the rehearsal.

The Talent Show will be for ALL ACTS beginning at 5:30 - 7:30 on April 30th. The Show will end by 8pm. ALL ACTS must come to the Theatre at 5pm, performance ready.

ES Talent Show - April 30th, 2018
Tickets - 30LE per seat

• Performances: 5:30-6:15
• Intermission: 6:15-6:30
• Performances: 6:30-7:15
• Show ends 7:30pm.

Thank you for your continued support. Please contact Ms. Dolly for any further clarifications or questions.

ES Talent Show Team

From the library - Used Book Sale, May 8 to 10

We are getting ready for our annual used book sale, this year from May 8 to 10. We welcome donations of used books for all ages in saleable condition. This is a good time for departing families to dispose of books before packing. We will soon have a donation box at the front gate.

Cairo Challenge Series - Long Jump

Next Tuesday March 27 Grade 2 students will have the Long Jump for CCS during lunch time. Don't forget to remind your child.

Core Value Books

The core value for April is COURAGE. We will be sending home the core value book about courage: Drum Dream Girl. Please read it with your child, then return it to school for the next student to take home.

• What is the definition of courage? The core value definition of courage is “be brave in words and actions.”  What would your students add to this? What does this mean to them?
• Discuss with your kids how courage... 
• Is used by adults in the workplace, 
• Is used by students outside of school, 
• Applies to school situations, 
• Benefits when mastered, 
• Consequences of not possessing it. 

What’s Going on This Week in Grade 2

Readers’ Workshop

Grade 2 will end our 5th unit Reading About Science Topics to Become Experts with a reading celebration on Thursday. Grade 2 students will share their expertise with Grade 1. Our students are digging deeper in one of the topics they have researched during the last weeks, and they will create a poster with some of the knowledge they have learned during these lessons. They will show their posters and share their learning with Grade 1 students. Grade 2 students will be ready to answer all kind of questions demonstrating that they have truly become experts in their own topic of interest.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:

• How do readers read non-fiction differently from fiction? 
• How can I read non-fiction books to become an expert on a topic? 

Some suggested discussions to do at home:
Discuss non-fiction features and how these features help us as readers understand even more about a topic. Also, determine the main idea and supporting details of any think non-fiction such as articles, pamphlets, and books.

Writers’ Workshop

We will be continuing our new unit titled, Lab Reports and Science Books. This week the students will start Bend III where they will plan and draft information books. Students will use non-fictions features to help them express their knowledge. They will use features such as table of contents, illustrations, captions, and labels. They will be teaching others about their chosen topic by authoring a non-fiction book. They will be using the write process to write, illustrate, and publish their expert books.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:

• How do I find out information about a topic?
• Why do I need to revise my writing?
• How do I present my findings to the world?

Some suggested activities you can do at home:
Brainstorming topics your child knows a lot about would be most helpful. Help your child think about what information books could they write while incorporate what they have learned about force and motion. Topics that include how things move or work are most helpful. For example, the book I will model for students will be about cleaning and the most effective cleaning tools you can use. In the past students found it helpful to write books about cooking, riding a bike or horse and physical games they play.

Math

Module 7 presents an opportunity for students to practice addition and subtraction strategies within 100 and problem-solving skills as they learn to work with various types of units within the contexts of length, money, and data. Students represent categorical and measurement data using picture graphs, bar graphs, and line plots. They revisit measuring and estimating length from Module 2, though now using both metric and customary units. Students build upon this understanding by drawing both picture and bar graphs. First, they record category counts in a table, solving problems based on the information in the table. Next, they draw picture graphs in which each picture represents one object. Finally, they represent the same data set in the form of a bar graph where one axis names the categories and the other shows a single-unit count scale.

Some of the objectives are:

• Choose the best unit (e.g., inch, foot, yard) to measure a given object.
• Estimate the length of a given item by using a mental benchmark; then measure the item by using inches, feet, or yards.
• Measure a line by using both centimeters and inches. Compare the measurements and relate the difference to the sizes of the length units.
• Measure and compare two lengths and use addition or subtraction to determine the difference.

Key understandings of Module 7:

• I can use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract.
• I can measure and estimate lengths in standard units.
• I can relate addition and subtraction to length.
• I can represent and interpret data.

*Don’t forget to check out Eureka Math.

*Tips for parents: Module 7, Topic D, Topic E and Topic F.

Science

This week we will start our end of unit project where our students will be creating a compound machine that is made out of at least 3 simple machines. Grade 2 students will be planning and sketching their machines and they will start building and reflecting on their machine about things that worked well and things to improve while trying some different solutions. Students are encouraged to keep researching at home. How does a simple machine help us to do a work easier? Check out our Grade 2 Science site for more information.

Essential Questions:

• How do objects move?
• How does force and motion help me understand the world around me?

Some suggested discussions you can have at home:

Discuss how simple machines help us in everyday living using unit vocabulary:

• direction, slide, back/forth, pulley, movement, push/pull force, gravity simple machine - any of the basic mechanical devices for applying a force, such as an inclined plane, wedge, or lever, wheel and axle, pulley
• Force - energy that moves something
• Effort x distance = work
• Discuss motion and forces.

Circles

Focus: displaying courage especially when working with others, in the classroom, at school, at home, and in the community.

Week 30

Welcome to the Grade 2 Newsletter

Important Dates

• March 27 - Cairo Challenge Series - Long Jump
• March 28 - Principal’s coffee (2 - 3pm) 
• March 28 - Grades 2 & 3 Music Concert (5:30-6:30)
• March 29 - February/March Birthday Lunch 
• March 30 - April 9 - Spring break
• April 10 - School resumes
• April 10 - Annual ES Book Parade Assembly. 
• April 19 - Egypt Festival
• April 30 - Talent Show

Service Learning

Part of our mission is that  we want our students to positively contribute to their community. Having a positive purpose in life means understanding, believing in and serving something greater than yourself and deliberately engaging in activities for the benefits of others.

Thank you to our Grade 2 team and students for hosting Man Ahyaha on Tuesday for our first service learning activity. Watch the following video for a sneak peak of the experience. We can't wait for our next experience with Man Ahyaha!!!

Egypt Festival is coming………. on April 19!!!

More Information coming next blog

Talent Show Date revised to April 30

Due to a request to support our PTO gala our ES talent show date has been moved to 5:00 PM on April 30 and our rehearsal will be on Sunday 29, from 3:15 to 5:15 PM. More details to come.

After School Activities

Starting this week, grades 1-5 students will be going independently to their ASA classes. KG students wait in their classes to be picked up for their ASA teacher.

From the library

Mark your calendars! The annual ES Book Parade Assembly is on April 10, the day we get back from the April break. This year, the ES Library Council has declared the theme to be GRAPHIC NOVELS! Stay tuned for more details.

Cairo Challenge Series - Long Jump

Next Tuesday March 27 Grade 2 students will have the Long Jump for CCS during lunch time. Don't forget to remind your child.

Core Value Books

The core value for March is PERSEVERANCE. We will be sending home the core value book about perseverance: Emmanuel’s Dream. Please read it with your child, then return it to school for the next student to take home.

What is the definition of perseverance? The core value definition of perseverance is “never give up and work toward a goal.” What would your students add to this? What does this mean to them?

Discuss with your kids how perseverance...

• Is used by adults in the workplace, 
• Is used by students outside of school, 
• Applies to school situations, 
• Benefits when mastered, 
• consequences of not possessing it. 

What’s Going on This Week in Grade 2

Readers’ Workshop

Grade 2 continues to work in our 5th unit Reading About Science Topics to Become Experts. In the first bend, we will focus on reading as scientists to build up a base of knowledge on a topic by reading deeply about the topic. Readers will choose what they want to learn about, read about it, and integrate ideas from the science unit forces and motion. Students will learn to analyze text in parts in relation to the whole by using non-fiction features. Readers of nonfiction texts will learn to use all the sentences on the page to think about what’s most important—the big, main idea of that section. We often say our main idea not just as a word but instead as a phrase and back up this idea with details.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:

• How do readers read non-fiction differently from fiction? 
• How can I read non-fiction books to become an expert on a topic? 

Some suggested discussions to do at home:
Discuss non-fiction features and how these features help us as readers understand even more about a topic. Also, determine the main idea and supporting details of any think non-fiction such as articles, pamphlets, and books.

Writers’ Workshop

We will be continuing our new unit titled, Lab Reports and Science Books. This week the students will start Bend III where they will plan and draft information books. Students will use non-fictions features to help them express their knowledge. They will use features such as table of contents, illustrations, captions, and labels. They will be teaching others about their chosen topic by authoring a non-fiction book. They will be using the write process to write, illustrate, and publish their expert books.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:

• How do I find out information about a topic?
• Why do I need to revise my writing?
• How do I present my findings to the world?

Some suggested activities you can do at home:
Brainstorming topics your child knows a lot about would be most helpful. Help your child think about what information books could they write while incorporate what they have learned about force and motion. Topics that include how things move or work are most helpful. For example, the book I will model for students will be about cleaning and the most effective cleaning tools you can use. In the past students found it helpful to write books about cooking, riding a bike or horse and physical games they play.

Math

Module 7 presents an opportunity for students to practice addition and subtraction strategies within 100 and problem-solving skills as they learn to work with various types of units within the contexts of length, money, and data. Students represent categorical and measurement data using picture graphs, bar graphs, and line plots. They revisit measuring and estimating length from Module 2, though now using both metric and customary units. Students build upon this understanding by drawing both picture and bar graphs. First, they record category counts in a table, solving problems based on the information in the table. Next, they draw picture graphs in which each picture represents one object. Finally, they represent the same data set in the form of a bar graph where one axis names the categories and the other shows a single-unit count scale.

Some of the objectives are:

• Choose the best unit (e.g., inch, foot, yard) to measure a given object.
• Estimate the length of a given item by using a mental benchmark; then measure the item by using inches, feet, or yards.
• Measure a line by using both centimeters and inches. Compare the measurements and relate the difference to the sizes of the length units.
• Measure and compare two lengths and use addition or subtraction to determine the difference.

Key understandings of Module 7:

• I can use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract.
• I can measure and estimate lengths in standard units.
• I can relate addition and subtraction to length.
• I can represent and interpret data.

*Don’t forget to check out Eureka Math.

*Tips for parents: Module 7, Topic D, Topic E and Topic F.

Science

This week we will explore Screws and Wedges and we will review all the simple machines, since after Spring break we will be starting our end of unit project. How does a screw help us to do a work easier? Check out our Grade 2 Science site for more information.

Essential Questions:

• How do objects move?
• How does force and motion help me understand the world around me?

Some suggested discussions you can have at home:

Discuss how simple machines help us in everyday living using unit vocabulary:

• direction, slide, back/forth, pulley, movement, push/pull force, gravity simple machine - any of the basic mechanical devices for applying a force, such as an inclined plane, wedge, or lever, wheel and axle, pulley
• Force - energy that moves something
• Effort x distance = work
• Discuss motion and forces.

Circles

Focus: displaying perseverance especially when working with others, in the classroom, at school, at home, and in the community.

Week 29

Welcome to the Grade 2 Newsletter

Important Dates

• March 18 - Session 3 ASA starts 
• March 18, 19 and 20 - Talent show auditions during lunch time 
• March 20 - Founder’s day, CAC 72nd birthday (Assembly at 2:30 in ES lawn) 
• March 27 - Cairo Challenge Series - Long Jump
• March 28 - Principal’s coffee (2 - 3pm) 
• March 29 - February/March Birthday Lunch 
• March 30 - April 9 - Spring break
• April 10 - School resumes
• April 10 - Annual ES Book Parade Assembly. 

Celebrate our 72 Founder’s Day by saying “thank you” to CAC

Dear parents we would like to invite you to write a thank you card to CAC. We will display them outside our ES cafeteria. We would also like to invite you to our Founder’s Day Assembly on March 20th at 2:30 in the ES lawn. You can find all the information about the Founder’s Day in this link.

From the library

Mark your calendars! The annual ES Book Parade Assembly is on April 10, the day we get back from the April break. This year, the ES Library Council has declared the theme to be GRAPHIC NOVELS! Stay tuned for more details.

Cairo Challenge Series - Long Jump

Next Tuesday March 27 Grade 2 students will have the Long Jump for CCS during lunch time. Don't forget to remind your child.

Core Value Books
The core value for March is PERSEVERANCE. We will be sending home the core value book about perseverance: Emmanuel’s Dream. Please read it with your child, then return it to school for the next student to take home.

What is the definition of perseverance? The core value definition of perseverance is “never give up and work toward a goal.” What would your students add to this? What does this mean to them?

Discuss with your kids how perseverance...

• Is used by adults in the workplace, 
• Is used by students outside of school, 
• Applies to school situations, 
• Benefits when mastered, 
• consequences of not possessing it. 

ES Talent Show - CAC Theater (May 3rd, 2018)

It is time to prepare for our annual ES Talent show! If your child is interested in participating in this amazing performance of talent, please join me for a mandatory Parent Meeting, Wednesday, March 7th from 10:40 - 11 in the ES Drama Room. If you are unable to make this meeting, you are welcome to drop in during Parent-Teacher Conferences, March 13th and 14th. (Please find the Purpose of our ES Talent Show here.)

Here is the timeline for this year’s Talent Show:

• March 18, 19, 20 : Auditions during Lunch. 
• Call-backs (only if necessary) during Lunch/Recess March 25 & 26. 
• Acts posted March 29th on the Drama News Board. 
• Sign-up to rehearse in the Drama Room during Lunch/Recess with Ms. Dolly last 2 weeks of April. 
• All Acts Rehearsal in the Theater; Wednesday, May 2nd from 3:15-5. 

ES Talent Show program, May 3rd, 2018

• 5:30pm - 6:15pm - Grades PreK - 2 Talent Show 
• 6:15pm-6:45pm - Intermission 
• 6:45pm-7:30pm - Grades 3-5 Talent Show 
• 8pm: Show ends 

After School Activities

This week ASA activities are back!!! Schedules of confirmed activities were sent on Wednesday March 14. ASA Website.

The 2nd annual Egyptian schools Championship - March 22/23 (Montaza Gardens - Alexandria)

Calling all students, parents, teachers & staff.
Please register in this link.
Questions to Ms. Ereeny (egergess@cacegypt.org)

What’s Going on This Week in Grade 2

Readers’ Workshop

Grade 2 continues to work in our 5th unit Reading About Science Topics to Become Experts. In the first bend, we will focus on reading as scientists to build up a base of knowledge on a topic by reading deeply about the topic. Readers will choose what they want to learn about, read about it, and integrate ideas from the science unit forces and motion. Students will learn to analyze text in parts in relation to the whole by using non-fiction features. Readers of nonfiction texts will learn to use all the sentences on the page to think about what’s most important—the big, main idea of that section. We often say our main idea not just as a word but instead as a phrase and back up this idea with details.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:

• How do readers read non-fiction differently from fiction? 
• How can I read non-fiction books to become an expert on a topic? 

Some suggested discussions to do at home:
Discuss non-fiction features and how these features help us as readers understand even more about a topic. Also, determine the main idea and supporting details of any think non-fiction such as articles, pamphlets, and books.

Writers’ Workshop

This week students continue to learn about how to write lab reports. We will explore how to write conclusions using student mentor texts. Students will learn that a conclusion states whether their hypothesis is right or wrong and will have possible explanations using ideas from other experiments or resources, Students will be encouraged to use phrases such as, maybe because to help them expand on why their hypothesis was right or wrong. Finally students might come up with new investigations based on new questions they might have from their results. Check out the example below.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:

• How do I find out information about a topic?
• Why do I need to revise my writing?
• How do I present my findings to the world?

Some suggested activities to do at home:
Explore other forms of procedural writing such as recipes. Point out how the list of ingredients are written in bullet form to make it easier for the reader to notice. Look at the steps and talk about what would happen if you did step 4 before step 3. Talk about the details needed to make each step clear for the reader. Maybe students can write their own recipes.

Math

Module 7 presents an opportunity for students to practice addition and subtraction strategies within 100 and problem-solving skills as they learn to work with various types of units within the contexts of length, money, and data. Students represent categorical and measurement data using picture graphs, bar graphs, and line plots. They revisit measuring and estimating length from Module 2, though now using both metric and customary units. Students build upon this understanding by drawing both picture and bar graphs. First, they record category counts in a table, solving problems based on the information in the table. Next, they draw picture graphs in which each picture represents one object. Finally, they represent the same data set in the form of a bar graph where one axis names the categories and the other shows a single-unit count scale.

Some of the objectives are:

• Choose the best unit (e.g., inch, foot, yard) to measure a given object.
• Estimate the length of a given item by using a mental benchmark; then measure the item by using inches, feet, or yards.
• Measure a line by using both centimeters and inches. Compare the measurements and relate the difference to the sizes of the length units.
• Measure and compare two lengths and use addition or subtraction to determine the difference.

Key understandings of Module 7:

• I can use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract.
• I can measure and estimate lengths in standard units.
• I can relate addition and subtraction to length.
• I can represent and interpret data.

*Don’t forget to check out Eureka Math.

*Tips for parents: Module 7, Topic D, Topic E and Topic F.

Science

This week we will explore Wheel and Axles. How does a wheel help us to do a work easier? Check out this BrainPOP movie (username: cacegypt, password: cacegypt) to learn more about wheels and axles.

Essential Questions:

• How do objects move?
• How does force and motion help me understand the world around me?

Some suggested discussions you can have at home:
Discuss how simple machines help us in everyday living using unit vocabulary:

Students exploring simple machines

• direction, slide, back/forth, pulley, movement, push/pull force, gravity simple machine - any of the basic mechanical devices for applying a force, such as an inclined plane, wedge, or lever, wheel and axle, pulley
• Force - energy that moves something
• Effort x distance = work
• Discuss motion and forces.

Circles

Focus: displaying perseverance especially when working with others, in the classroom, at school, at home, and in the community.

Week 28

Welcome to the Grade 2 Newsletter

Important Dates

• March 12 - Shelter in Place Drill
• March 13 - ES Fundraising House Event (more info in this link)
• March 13/14 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
• March 15 - Movie Night 3:10- 4:15 (find here all the information)
• March 18 - May 17 - ASA Session 3
• March 30 - April 9 - Spring break

Field Trip

Students exploring simple machines in farming to irrigate fields

Last week we had a great field trip!!! The Grade 2 team wanted to thank:

• All our chaperones from our 3 classrooms.
• Mr. Tharwat and Ms. Basma for a great and well organized trip.
• All the students in Grade 2 for showing the core values wherever they go.
• All the parents for their support and having all the kids ready for our trip.

Core Value Books

The core value for March is PERSEVERANCE. We will be sending home the core value book about perseverance: Emmanuel’s Dream. Please read it with your child, then return it to school for the next student to take home.
What is the definition of perseverance? The core value definition of perseverance is “never give up and work toward a goal.” What would your students add to this? What does this mean to them?

Discuss with your kids how perseverance...

• Is used by adults in the workplace, 
• Is used by students outside of school, 
• Applies to school situations, 
• Benefits when mastered, 
• consequences of not possessing it.

Shelter Drill

We will be having a drill on March 12 to practice shelter procedures. Teachers will discuss this as “shelter practice” with students in age-appropriate ways, but you may also want to also talk to your child about the subject. Last year, we shared this article with helpful suggestions for talking to children about safety procedures and practices. One of the things addressed is the impact of the terminology we use. Staff members will be going over this in advance, as we work together to ensure that students feel safe, protected, and aware of what to do in different situations. Read this article to find out how to talk to your kid in these kind of situations.

The drill will be held at 12:00 pm, so if you are on campus, we ask that you follow instructions when asked to go to a safe place. Everyone who is outside will be moved to the ES Hall.

ES Talent Show - CAC Theater (May 3rd, 2018)

It is time to prepare for our annual ES Talent show! If your child is interested in participating in this amazing performance of talent, please join me for a mandatory Parent Meeting, Wednesday, March 7th from 10:40 - 11 in the ES Drama Room. If you are unable to make this meeting, you are welcome to drop in during Parent-Teacher Conferences, March 13th and 14th. (Please find the Purpose of our ES Talent Show here.)

Here is the timeline for this year’s Talent Show:

• March 18, 19, 20 : Auditions during Lunch.
• Call-backs (only if necessary) during Lunch/Recess March 25 & 26.
• Acts posted March 29th on the Drama News Board.
• Sign-up to rehearse in the Drama Room during Lunch/Recess with Ms. Dolly last 2 weeks of April. 
• All Acts Rehearsal in the Theater; Wednesday, May 2nd from 3:15-5. 

ES Talent Show program, May 3rd, 2018

• 5:30pm - 6:15pm - Grades PreK - 2 Talent Show
• 6:15pm-6:45pm - Intermission
• 6:45pm-7:30pm - Grades 3-5 Talent Show
• 8pm: Show ends

After School Activities

This week, there are no after school activities. The sign up for the new activities begins on Sunday March 4 at 4 pm. List of activities and Sign up form will be posted on the ASA Website. The sign up will be open for 1 week until March 10.

The 2nd annual Egyptian schools Championship - March 22/23 (Montaza Gardens - Alexandria)
Calling all students, parents, teachers & staff.

Please register in this link.
Questions to Ms. Ereeny (egergess@cacegypt.org)

What’s Going on This Week in Grade 2

Readers’ Workshop

Grade 2 continues to work in our 5th unit Reading About Science Topics to Become Experts. In the first bend, we will focus on reading as scientists to build up a base of knowledge on a topic by reading deeply about the topic. Readers will choose what they want to learn about, read about it, and integrate ideas from the science unit forces and motion. Students will learn to analyze text in parts in relation to the whole by using non-fiction features. Readers of nonfiction texts will learn to use all the sentences on the page to think about what’s most important—the big, main idea of that section. We often say our main idea not just as a word but instead as a phrase and back up this idea with details.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:

• How do readers read non-fiction differently from fiction?
• How can I read non-fiction books to become an expert on a topic?

Some suggested discussions to do at home:
Discuss non-fiction features and how these features help us as readers understand even more about a topic. Also, determine the main idea and supporting details of any think non-fiction such as articles, pamphlets, and books.

Writers’ Workshop

This unit is integrated with our science unit forces and motion. students will learn to write lab reports and science books. In the first bend, we will learn to write as scientists do. When scientists conduct experiments to learn about the world, they have a certain way they usually write - they use a lab report format. They record what they expect to happen in an experiment, and they record what they actually do in the experiment, then they record how things go and what they learn. Students enjoy this unit as it is hands on and they become scientists as they explore simple machines and forces and motion. We are building catapults this week and writing lab reports about, sketching, trying, wondering and writing hypothesis will be only the beginning. Students will build a catapult, they will write accurate descriptions of the process and unexpected issues they find. Finally they will write their results and draw conclusions, ending with wonders that may lead them to new lab reports.

The students will focus on the following essential questions:

• How do I find out information about a topic?
• Why do I need to revise my writing?
• How do I present my findings to the world?

Math - Module 5: Addition and Subtraction Within 1,000 with Word Problems up to 100

This week we will end our Module 5 and the students will be assessed. Next week they will take their assessments home after review with a reflection. Please, have a conversation with your child about their learning progress in this unit, strengths, areas of confidence and challenges.

In Module 5, students build upon their mastery of renaming place value units and extend their work with conceptual understanding of the addition and subtraction algorithms to numbers within 1,000, always with the option of modeling with materials or drawings. Throughout the module, students continue to focus on strengthening and deepening conceptual understanding and fluency. This week we will do the Mid-module assessment and go over it to complete our two stars and a wish.

Some of the objectives are:

• Use math drawings to represent additions with up to two compositions and relate drawings to the addition algorithm. 
• Choose and explain solution strategies and record with a written addition method. 

Essential Questions

• How can strategies help me to quickly add and subtract?
• How do I explain my mathematical thinking and why is that important?

Key understandings of Module 5:

• I can add and subtract numbers from 0 to 1000 using different strategies based on place value and regrouping.
• I can mentally add or subtract 10 and 100 from any number from 100 to 900
• I can explain why various addition or subtraction strategies work using numbers, drawings, or objects.

*Don’t forget to check out Eureka Math.

*Tips for parents: Module 5, Lessons 19-20

Science

This week we will explore pulleys. How does a pulley help us to do a work easier? Check out this BrainPOP movie (username: cacegypt, password: cacegypt) to learn more about pulleys.

Essential Questions:

• How do objects move?
• How does force and motion help me understand the world around me?

Some suggested discussions you can have at home: Discuss how simple machines help us in everyday living using unit vocabulary:

• direction, slide, back/forth, pulley, movement, push/pull force, gravity simple machine - any of the basic mechanical devices for applying a force, such as an inclined plane, wedge, or lever, wheel and axle, pulley
• Force - energy that moves something
• Effort x distance = work
• Discuss motion and forces.

Circles

Focus: displaying perseverance especially when working with others, in the classroom, at school, at home, and in the community.

Counseling Corner

Dear CAC Parents,
In guidance we are discussing strong emotions, how they make our bodies feel and calming down strategies. It is important for kids to understand that everyone gets upset but that we are still responsible for our behaviors.

We discussed the concept of “flipping our lids” and how to calm down when our emotions take over our thinking. We are sharing calming down strategies and practicing different ways to calm ourselves down when upset. Grade 2 students will make a calm down jar that they can use as another strategy for calming down strong emotions.
Please share with your children strategies that you use when you have a strong emotion.

Best Wishes,
Ms. Purpura