Week of November 9 - 13

                                                                  Helpful Highlights

LOWER SCHOOL STEAM PARADE!!!

On Friday, November 20th, Lower School will be hosting our NCCS Thanksgiving STEAM Parade! Each grade is working hard on their STEAM challenges. Parents … grab your lawn chairs and plan to line the street to watch our floats, balloons, artwork, instruments and so much MORE! Yummy pies will be served after our parade!

REPORT CARDS

We had a great first Trimester!  It has officially ended, and November 9th will be the first day of Trimester 2.  Report Cards will come home in Friday Folders on November 13th!  Please follow this checklist, after reviewing your student’s accomplishments!

• Sign the copy and return to school in blue homework folder

• Keep the original

• Keep awards

VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP

Normally, 2nd Grade takes some AWESOME Field Trips!!!  Due to COVID, we are not allowed to go on any right now; so, we decided to do the second best thing and bring them to us!!!  On December 4th, our second graders will have the opportunity to tour the Atlanta Botanical Gardens virtually.  We will get to fall down the rabbit hole and into the Garden’s Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined exhibit.  Students get to meet the main characters in this year’s show and get a behind the scenes look at how the giant plant sculptures were created.  We also get to meet a few members of the Garden’s amphibian collection and study their adaptations and behaviors with the Garden’s knowledgeable Education Team.  They will show us how they care for the animals and teach us about amphibians’ habitats, life cycles, and relationships with plants.  It goes right along with our Science unit!!!

SPELLING BEE

Each year, students in grades 1st-4th have the opportunity to compete in the ACSI Spelling Bee. The Spelling Bee encourages and develops good spelling habits and usage of words and vocabulary.  This year due to COVID, ACSI is having each school host their own spelling bee.  All materials, rules and processes will be followed as specified by ACSI.  The NCCS Lower School Spelling Bee will be hosted on our campus, on Friday, February 19, 2021.

Each class will hold two in-class spell-offs, that all students will participate in, to determine who will represent their class in the Spelling Bee.  All classroom spell-offs will begin with the easy list and continue through average and possibly difficult.  The top two spellers from each spell off will advance to the final spelling bee.  To begin preparations for your classroom spell-offs, students can study and practice the designated word list for their grade level.  We encourage them to try their best!  Second grade classroom spell-offs will be held:

Thursday, November 19th 

Thursday, December 3rd

The top 4 spellers from each class will advance and compete in the Final NCCS LS Spelling Bee on Friday, February 19, 2021.  Parents of these super spellers will be invited to attend the Spelling Bee event in the NCCS school gym.  An award ceremony will immediately follow the Spelling Bee.

God has created each student with different talents and abilities that they can use for His glory! The Spelling Bee gives students an opportunity to show their talents! If you have any questions, please email your child’s teacher. 

THANKSGIVING BREAK

There is no school Monday, November 23rd - Friday, November 27th, due to our Thanksgiving Holiday.  Enjoy the week off with your families, as we reflect on God and His goodness towards us.  We look forward to seeing everyone back in class on Monday, November 30th.  We are thankful for you and your families!

Loving Learning

Right now, we are loving learning about:

Bible - How God prepared a leader through Moses:  This week we will learn about the sign God gave to Moses in Exodus 4:1-5.  We will also be looking closely at an old hymn, “Trust and Obey,” and doing a craft with that.

Phonics / Spelling 

Spelling Focus:  Long u spelled u_e, ue, ui, ew

Grammar / Creative Writing -  We will continue Ch. 5:  Verbs.  This week we will identify the past-tense of these irregular verbs:  give, sing, tell, see, do, go.

Reading - We wrap up our second unit of Foundations & Frameworks.  A review will come home on Monday for the Performance Task (TEST) on Thursday.

Comprehension Focus:  Retelling  

• Pattern Statement:  Oral restating requires organizing one’s thoughts.

• Visual Tool:  Flow Chart

• SPECS Logs: Reader’s Response, Visual Tool, Reflection (Today, I learned…..)

• Vocabulary:  grooming, collide, soggy, tumbleweeds, canyon, souvenir, drooling, wick, whitecaps, muskrat

Math - We finish up Unit 3 learning how to solve subtraction facts by using the following strategies: doubles, going-back-through-10, and going-up-through-10.  We will also cover rectangles with squares and practice addition and subtraction facts on a fact wheel. 

Science - This week we will obtain, evaluate, and  communicate information about how weather, plants, animals, and humans cause changes to the environment.

Save the Date

November 18 - Mrs. Romine’s Birthday!!

November 19 - In-Class Spelling Bee #2

November 20 - Thanksgiving Parade

November 23 - 27 - Thanksgiving Break!

December 3 - In-Class Spelling Bee #2

December 4 - Virtual Field Trip (Atlanta Botanical Gardens)

December 16 - Candy Cane Christmas (more details to come)

December 18 - LS Christmas Program (Half-day)

December 21 - January 4 - Christmas Break!!!

Week of Nov. 2 - 6

 Helpful Highlights

LOWER SCHOOL STEAM PARADE!!!

On Friday, November 20th, Lower School will be hosting our NCCS Thanksgiving STEAM Parade! Each grade is working hard on their STEAM challenges. Parents … grab your lawn chairs and plan to line the street to watch our floats, balloons, artwork, instruments and so much MORE! Yummy pies will be served after our parade!

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS

Remember clocks “fall back” one hour on Saturday night.  Enjoy an extra hour of sleep! 

NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY & TUESDAY!

Just a reminder that November 2nd and 3rd are Professional Development Days.  Students have 2 days off!  Since it’s such a short week, there will be no Spelling Test on November 6th.  We will still offer the Bible Verse Test, as a bonus grade!  If students choose to take the test, thet get an extra grade in the gradebook for Bible.  If they choose not to, there will be no penalty and will not affect their overall grade.

VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP

Normally, 2nd Grade takes some AWESOME Field Trips!!!  Due to COVID, we are not allowed to go on any right now; so, we decided to do the second best thing and bring them to us!!!  On December 4th, our second graders will have the opportunity to tour the Atlanta Botanical Gardens virtually.  We will get to fall down the rabbit hole and into the Garden’s Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined exhibit.  Students get to meet the main characters in this year’s show and get a behind the scenes look at how the giant plant sculptures were created.  We also get to meet a few members of the Garden’s amphibian collection and study their adaptations and behaviors with the Garden’s knowledgeable Education Team.  They will show us how they care for the animals and teach us about amphibians’ habitats, life cycles, and relationships with plants.  It goes right along with our Science unit!!!

Loving Learning

Right now, we are loving learning about:

Bible - Our lesson this week focuses on Moses being afraid, and how God can calm us when we are afraid.  We will also learn about walking by faith and not by sight.

Bible - Our lesson this week focuses on Moses being afraid, and how God can calm us when we are afraid.  We will also learn about walking by faith and not by sight.

Phonics / Spelling 

Spelling Focus:  Review spellings of long vowel sounds and go over open & closed syllables.  There is no new list this week and no test.

Grammar / Creative Writing -  We will begin Ch. 5:  Verbs.  This week we will locate action words in a sentence, identify now action verbs, change verbs from present to past tense, and determine subject-verb agreement.

Reading - We continue our second unit of Foundations & Frameworks.

Comprehension Focus:  Retelling  

• Pattern Statement:  Oral restating requires organizing one’s thoughts.

• Visual Tool:  Flow Chart

• SPECS Logs: Reader’s Response, Visual Tool, Reflection (Today, I learned…..)

• Vocabulary:  grooming, collide, soggy, tumbleweeds, canyon, souvenir, drooling, wick, whitecaps, muskrat

Math - We continue Unit 3 learning how to find missing addends, and subtraction strategies, such as “counting on” and “counting back.”

Science - We will begin a new unit, in which students will obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how weather, plants, animals, and humans cause changes to the environment. Our first topic will be The Water Cycle, as it ties in with life cycles (i.e. everything goes through a natural cycle).

Save the Date

November 6 - End of Trimester 1

November 20 - Thanksgiving Parade

November 23 - 27 - Thanksgiving Break!

Week of Oct. 26 - 30

 Helpful Highlights

BOOK REPORT

WOW!!!  We are so proud of 2nd grade, for the AMAZING job they did on their Pumpkin Book Reports!  All reports will be on display on hallway bulletin boards, beside your student’s classroom.  We will post a picture on Seesaw for you to see! 

HOMECOMING WEEK:  October 26 - 30

Monday -  Movie Character Monday

Tuesday - Twin Day Tuesday

Wednesday - Wild West Wednesday

Thursday - Through the Years Thursday

Friday - Extreme Blue and White Day

VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP

Normally, 2nd Grade takes some AWESOME Field Trips!!!  Due to COVID, we are not allowed to go on any right now; so, we decided to do the second best thing and bring them to us!!!  On December 4th, our second graders will have the opportunity to tour the Atlanta Botanical Gardens virtually.  We will get to fall down the rabbit hole and into the Garden’s Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined exhibit.  Students get to meet the main characters in this year’s show and get a behind the scenes look at how the giant plant sculptures were created.  We also get to meet a few members of the Garden’s amphibian collection and study their adaptations and behaviors with the Garden’s knowledgeable Education Team.  They will show us how they care for the animals and teach us about amphibians’ habitats, life cycles, and relationships with plants.  It goes right along with our Science unit!!!

PUMPKIN DAY

Normally, we have a big Pumpkin Party each year, invite parents, and celebrate together, as we view students’ Pumpkin Book Reports.  Unfortunately, due to COVID, we have to do things differently this year; but, we still wanted to make it fun for students.  This year, we will be celebrating with the students during the normal school day.  On October 30th, we have a fun-filled day planned!  Students will be doing pumpkin-themed activities all day long, enjoying special treats, playing games, and viewing their peers' book reports.  We will be sure to post a lot on SeeSaw for parents to see!

Loving Learning

Right now, we are loving learning about:

Bible - We continue discussing the Burning Bush!  Students will define the word, “holy,” by coming up with synonyms for that word.  We will also locate Egypt, the desert, and Canaan on the map.

Phonics / Spelling 

Spelling Focus:  Long o sound spelled oa, o_e, o, & ow

Grammar / Creative Writing -  We will wrap up Ch. 4 on Nouns and review for the test.  A review will come home on Tuesday for the test on Thursday.

Reading - We continue our second unit of Foundations & Frameworks.

Comprehension Focus:  Retelling  

• Pattern Statement:  Oral restating requires organizing one’s thoughts.

• Visual Tool:  Flow Chart

• SPECS Logs: Reader’s Response, Visual Tool, Reflection (Today, I learned…..)

• Vocabulary:  grooming, collide, soggy, tumbleweeds, canyon, souvenir, drooling, wick, whitecaps, muskrat

Math - We begin Unit 3.  Students will solve an open response problem using their own fact strategies, write subtraction number stories and generate related addition and subtraction facts, as well as, generate fact families using related numbers on Fact Triangles.

Science - We have been learning about Life Cycles.  So far, we have learned about the Butterfly Life Cycle and the Frog Life Cycle.  This week, we will learn about the Life Cycle of a Chicken!

Save the Date

November 1 - Daylight Savings Time Ends (Clocks “Fall” back one hour)

November 2 - 3 - Professional Development Days (no school for students)

November 6 - End of Trimester 1

November 20 - Thanksgiving Parade

November 23 - 27 - Thanksgiving Break!

Week of 10/26-10/30

Helpful Highlights

BOOK REPORT

Be sure to put those finishing touches on your pumpkins!  Final Book Report due on Tuesday, October 20th!

NEW VIRTUAL GRANDPARENTS / GRANDFRIENDS DAY 

When:  Friday, October 23, for Lower and Middle School

What:  A Special Video Recording -  That afternoon, we will send out a heartwarming video recording from each division to their grandparents and grandfriends. Look for that to come via email and social media (Facebook and YouTube). If students are with their grandparents/friends that afternoon, they can watch it together. Or, if any grandparents live far off, they can still enjoy the message virtually.

Optional Early Dismissal:  To allow for quality time with their grandparents and grandfriends, this day will be an optional half-day for LS + MS students. Grandparents and grandfriends are welcome to pick up students early from school for a special lunch or afternoon together off campus. (Students who stay will remain in their classrooms that afternoon and eat lunch per usual; Flipside will begin at the normal time that afternoon.)  No hot lunch will be offered.  Students who stay at school will need to pack a lunch.

Lower School Optional Early Dismissal | 11:15 a.m.

Middle School Optional Early Dismissal | 11:45 a.m.

PUMPKIN DAY

Normally, we have a big Pumpkin Party each year, invite parents, and celebrate together, as we view students’ Pumpkin Book Reports.  Unfortunately, due to COVID, we have to do things differently this year; but, we still wanted to make it fun for students.  This year, we will only be celebrating with the students during the normal school day.  On October 30th, we have a fun-filled day planned!  Students will be doing pumpkin-themed activities all day long, enjoying special treats, playing games, and viewing their peers' book reports.  We will be sure to post a lot on SeeSaw for parents to see!

HOMECOMING WEEK:  October 26 - 30

Monday -  Movie Character Monday

Tuesday - Twin Day Tuesday

Wednesday - Wild West Wednesday

Thursday - Through the Years Thursday

Friday - Extreme Blue and White Day

Loving Learning

Right now, we are loving learning about:

Bible - Moses leaving Egypt and the story of the Burning Bush!

Phonics / Spelling 

Spelling Focus:  Sound of long i - spelled igh, y, i_e

 

Grammar / Creative Writing -  We wrap up Chapter 4, with our study of Nouns.  We will learn how to identify common and proper nouns, use proper capitalization (especially for names of God), and use commas in a series.

Reading - We continue our second unit of Foundations & Frameworks.

Comprehension Focus:  Retelling  

• Pattern Statement:  Oral restating requires organizing one’s thoughts.

• Visual Tool:  Flow Chart

• SPECS Logs: Reader’s Response, Visual Tool, Reflection (Today, I learned…..)

• Vocabulary:  grooming, collide, soggy, tumbleweeds, canyon, souvenir, drooling, wick, whitecaps, muskrat

Math - We will be reviewing for the Unit 2 Test, which is on Tuesday, October 20th.  

Science - We continue our study of life cycles.  This week’s focus:  The Frog Life Cycle.

Save the Date

October 20 - Pumpkin Book Report Due

October 26 - 30 - Homecoming Week 

November 1 - Daylight Savings Time Ends (Clocks “Fall” back one hour)

November 6 - End of Trimester 1

November 23 - 27 - Thanksgiving Break!

For the week of October 12th- 16th

Helpful Highlights

BOOK REPORT
The students did a great job on their Planning Page, for the Pumpkin Book Report.  Teachers have reviewed, revised, and returned the Planning Page.  Now, students can focus on the final copy.  Remember to decorate the outside of the pumpkin, because the reports will be on display in our “Pumpkin Patch,” for all to enjoy!  Final Book Report due on October 20th!

NEW VIRTUAL GRANDPARENTS / GRANDFRIENDS Day

When:  Friday, October 23, for Lower and Middle School

What:  A Special Video Recording -  That afternoon, we will send out a heartwarming video recording from each division to their grandparents and grandfriends. Look for that to come via email and social media (Facebook and YouTube). If students are with their grandparents/friends that afternoon, they can watch it together. Or, if any grandparents live far off, they can still enjoy the message virtually.

Optional Early Dismissal:  To allow for quality time with their grandparents and grandfriends, this day will be an optional half-day for LS + MS students. Grandparents and grandfriends are welcome to pick up students early from school for a special lunch or afternoon together off campus. (Students who stay will remain in their classrooms that afternoon and eat lunch per usual; Flipside will begin at the normal time that afternoon.)  No hot lunch will be offered.  Students who stay at school will need to pack a lunch.

Lower School Optional Early Dismissal | 11:15 a.m.
Middle School Optional Early Dismissal | 11:45 a.m.

HOMECOMING WEEK:  October 26 - 30

Monday -  Movie Character Monday
Tuesday - Twin Day Tuesday
Wednesday - Wild West Wednesday
Thursday - Through the Years Thursday
Friday - Extreme Blue and White Day

Loving Learning

Right now, we are loving learning about:

Bible - How God prepared a leader through Moses.  We are discussing the beginning of Moses’ life and how God had a plan for him, even before he was born!  God has a plan for each of us, too!!

Phonics / Spelling 
Spelling Focus:  sound of long e spelled ee, ea, ie, ey  

Grammar / Creative Writing -  We will begin Ch. 4, with the study of Nouns.  We will identify and categorize nouns.  Topics include:  defining singular and plural nouns, changing singular nouns to plural nouns, and changing nouns ending in ch, sh, s, x, or z to its plural by adding -es.  We will also recognize and write nouns that form plurals by changing their spelling.

Reading - We continue our second unit of Foundations & Frameworks.
Comprehension Focus:  Retelling  
Pattern Statement:  Oral restating requires organizing one’s thoughts.
Visual Tool:  Flow Chart
SPECS Logs: Reader’s Response, Visual Tool, Reflection (Today, I learned…..)
Vocabulary:  grooming, collide, soggy, tumbleweeds, canyon, souvenir, drooling, wick, whitecaps, muskrat

Math - We wrap up Unit 2.  Students will generate equivalent names for numbers and write them in name-collection boxes.  They will also skip count, add, and subtract to solve Frames-and-Arrows problems.  On Thursday, 10/15, a review will come home for the TEST on Tuesday, 10/20!

Science - We will be reviewing for the test.  The Habitats and Vertebrates Test is on Tuesday, October 13th!  Next, we will begin learning about Life Cycles!

Save the Date

October 20 - Pumpkin Book Report Due

October 26 - 30 - Homecoming Week 

November 1 - Daylight Savings Time Ends (Clocks “Fall” back one hour)

November 6 - End of Trimester 1

November 23 - 27 - Thanksgiving Break!