HAPPY DECEMBER! There are only three more weeks of school left in the first semester--unbelievable! And it will be a very busy three weeks for us here at school. We will continue to learn new things right up until December 19, the last day of the semester. Even with your extra holiday activities, try to maintain a regular schedule at home, just as we do at school. We don't want anyone to shut down and quit learning before winter break actually gets here!
This is just a heads up that the annual Second Grade Bake Sale will be held on Thursday, December 11, from 2:15-3:00 p.m. Much more information will be coming home later this week, but be sure to put that date on your calendars NOW!
Also, Character Counts Day has been changed from this Wednesday, Dec. 3 to Dec. 17. Yellow tie-dyed shirts DO NOT need to be worn this Wednesday!

There are no birthdays or Star of the Week this week.

Spelling/Phonics Rule: Long i spelled i, igh, y
1. find 6. myself
2. child 7. right
3. sky 8. flight
4. bright 9. spider
5. wild 10. cry
Bonus Words:
11. blind
12. fly
13. frighten
14. arrival
15. identify

Helpers for the week:
Mon.--Ryan
Tues.--Grayce
Wed.--Katie
Thurs.--Cassie
Fri.--Rebekah

CONGRATULATIONS TO MRS. GIBBONS AND HER FAMILY ON THE BIRTH OF DEVIN JACKSON GIBBONS ON NOVEMBER 14! Devin weighed a wopping 8 lb. 12 oz. (two weeks early!) and was 22 inches long. Everyone is doing well, and Mrs. Gibbons is planning to return to school in January.
Thirteen weeks of this school year have come and gone--it's so hard to believe! Midquarter reports will be coming home in this week's Friday Folders, and will be due back to me by Wednesday, November 26. So, look for your child's green midquarter report on Friday! Please go over the grades and comments with your child, then sign and return the midquarter to me. Thanks!

Rebekah is our Star of the Week this week! :-)

Spelling/Phonics Rule: compound words
1. basketball 6. riverbank
2. someone 7. bathtub
3. weekend 8. backyard
4. something 9. driveway
5. birthday 10. bedtime
Bonus Words:
11. raindrop
12. mailbox
13. grandparent
14. rattlesnake
15. earthquake

THERE WILL BE NO SPELLING WORDS OR OTHER HOMEWORK THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 24-26!

Helpers for Nov. 17-21:
Mon.--Sam
Tues.--Alex
Wed.--Emily
Thurs.--Luke
Fri.--Joe

Nov. 24-26:
Mon.--Miguel
Tues.--Dalton
Wed.--Shelby

Check out our latest edition of "The Barking Blog" (the student-written blog), written by Luke and Tim. It will give you all the low-down on our great classroom Halloween party! I know you will also enjoy the accompanying picture that the two of them drew.
The science assessment on Chapter 9--Energy will be given on Tuesday, November 11. For those of you whom I sent home practice booklets, a review of the key concepts tonight would be very beneficial!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, REBEKAH, ON NOVEMBER 16!
Rebekah will be the Star of the Week next week. :-)

Spelling/Phonics Rule: Long o spelled o, oa, ow
1. goat 6. float
2. hold 7. toast
3. show 8. ago
4. most 9. open
5. bowl 10. told
Bonus Words:
11. toad
12. slow
13. almost
14. throat
15. hollow

Helpers for the Week:
Mon.--Humza
Tues.--James
Wed.--Bre
Thurs.--Camden
Fri.--Ellie

One of our room parents left a pair of sunglasses on a table during the Halloween party last Friday. I have them if someone would like to claim them!
By the way, our party was GREAT! The children really enjoyed themselves, and I appreciated the sugary snacks being kept to a minimum. Thanks to all of the parents who helped with the Halloween party, and a SPECIAL THANKS to Mrs. Lubertozzi for organizing everything!
This Wednesday is Character Counts Day! Please have your child wear the yellow tie-dye shirt that day. We will be meeting in family groups, and having "family" pictures taken!

There are no birthdays or Star of the Week this week.

Phonics/Spelling rule: Long e spelled ee, ea, y
1. read 6. party
2. feel 7. teeth
3. easy 8. team
4. deep 9. windy
5. seat 10. sleep
Bonus words:
11. wheel
12. leave
13. wreath
14. season
15. eagle

Helpers for the week:
Mon.--Tim
Tues.--Breanna
Wed.--Nerea
Thurs.--Nicholas
Fri.--Ava

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE! This morning the temperature is 30 degrees, and the wind chill is 20 degrees. Please remember that we take recess in the morning, so send your child prepared for the weather. When the wind chill is below 32 degrees, coats, hats and gloves are needed to guard against frost bite. We are outside for 15 minutes, and it gets really cold when you don't have the proper attire. Thank you for your help with this!
It's almost Halloween! The parade begins at 2:10 p.m. on Friday, with the classroom party to follow at about 2:30 p.m. We will be attempting to have "regular school" (yes, we need to learn some things on that day even though it's Halloween!) until 1:50 p.m. At 1:50, you are welcome to come down to the classroom and help with costume changes. Just a reminder that makeup isn't really necessary for the party, and please, NO WEAPONS OF ANY KIND ARE ALLOWED! (Even plastic ones.)

There are no birthdays or Star of the Week this week!

Spelling/Phonics Rule: Long a
1. tail 6. play
2. main 7. raise
3. wait 8. brain
4. say 9. paint
5. away 10. stay
Bonus Words:
11. today
12. tray
13. holiday
14. daily
15. raisin

Helpers for the Week:
Mon.--Ryan
Tues.--Grayce
Wed.--Katie
Thurs.--Cassie
Fri.--Rebekah

Thanks for the excellent attendance at Parent-Teacher conferences last week! I enjoyed visiting with all of you about your children's progress. You have given me a wonderful bunch of children to work with, and I know we'll continue to have a great year!
SUPER NEWS--all families have sent their $4.00 donation for our class parties! The money has been given to Mrs. Lubertozzi, Tim's mom, who is our Room Parent Coordinator. If you signed up to be a Room Parent and have not yet contacted Mrs. Lubertozzi (I know that she's tried to get in touch with all of you who signed up), please do so by calling her or emailing her at: colettelubertozzi@gmail.com
Our Halloween party is just around the corner--only 11 days away!
There are now two student blogs posted on the Willowdale website, one about our field trip to Fontenelle Forest, and the other about Jump Rope for Heart. Check out the work of four of our students!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CASSIE, ON OCTOBER 25!
Cassie is our Star of the Week this week. :-)

Spelling/Phonics Rule: Plurals
1. note 6. stories
2. notes 7. tune
3. lunch 8. tunes
4. lunches 9. switch
5. story 10. switches
Bonus Words
11. baby
12. babies
13. crumbs
14. supplies
15. centuries

Helpers for the week:
Mon.--Luke
Tues.--Joe
Wed.--Miguel
Thurs.--Dalton
Fri.--Shelby

I received midquarter reports back from every family! Thank you for helping me out with that! Also, I have already received PTO party money from 15 families. If the other eight of you could send $4.00 to school this week to cover the cost of our Halloween and Valentine parties, then I will be able to pass on the money to Mrs. Lubertozzi, our Room Parent Coordinator. Once again, thank you for your cooperation!
Just a reminder that Parent-Teacher conferences are just around the corner! They will be held on Tuesday, October 14 from 4:30-8:30 p.m., and Thursday, October 16 from 12:00-8:00 p.m. I'm looking forward to meeting with all of you to discuss your child's progress so far this year!

Emily is our Star of the Week this week! :-)

Spelling/phonics rule: Contractions
1. I'll 6. didn't
2. wasn't 7. who's
3. it's 8. she's
4. he's 9. we'll
5. I'm 10. isn't
Bonus Words:
11. hasn't
12. hadn't
13. wouldn't
14. shouldn't
15. where's

There will be NO spelling words for Oct. 13-14.

Helpers:
Mon.--James
Tues.--Bre
Wed.--Camden
Thurs.--Ellie
Fri.--Sam
Mon. the 13th--Alex
Tues. the 14th--Emily

If I did not receive your child's midquarter report back by last Friday, another copy was sent home in the Friday Folder. Please go over the midquarter with your child, then sign and return it to me this week. Thank you for your help with this!
CHARACTER COUNTS DAY IS THIS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1! PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD WEAR THE YELLOW TIE-DYED SHIRT ON WEDNESDAY! The school always looks so cool when the students are dressed in their rainbow colors! Character Counts day is the first Wednesday of every month.
Our Halloween party is just around the corner! The PTO asks that I collect $4.00 from every student to cover the cost of the Halloween and Valentine's Day parties. You may start sending the $4.00 anytime now (I have already received money from two families). I will collect the donations and give them to Mrs. Lubertozzi (Tim's mother), who has graciously volunteered to be our room parent coordinator! Once again, thanks so much for your cooperation.

Alex is our Star of the Week this week! :-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMILY, ON OCTOBER 1!

Spelling/Phonics Rule: r-controlled ar, or, ore
1. part 6. more
2. hard 7. smart
3. born 8. farm
4. horse 9. porch
5. before 10. corn
Bonus Words:
11. chore
12. score
13. cardinal
14. therefore
15. morning

Helpers for the week:
Mon.--Breanna M.
Tues.--Nerea
Wed.--Nick
Thurs.--Ava
Fri.--Humza

Midquarter reports were sent home in last week's Friday Folders. Please look these over, review them with your children, then sign and return to school sometime this week. Thanks!
Also, a note about our upcoming field trip to Fontenelle Forest was enclosed in last week's Friday Folders. Please send $8.25 to school with your child this week. This fee covers bus fare and admission to the Forest. If you are unable to pay this fee, please contact the office at 715-8280. The field trip is scheduled for Monday, September 29, from 8:50 a.m. until about noon. The children will eat lunch at school after we return from the field trip. THANK YOU to the five parents who offered their time to accompany us to the Forest. I really appreciate your help!
PICTURE DAY IS TOMORROW! (TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23.) The children will all have their pictures taken to update our Infinite Campus data system. If you wish to have copies of your child's photo, please send payment in the order envelope to school by tomorrow. Crazy Sock/Shoe Day (sponsored by the Student Council for the United Way appeal) should not interfere with smiling pretty for the camera!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALEX, ON SEPTEMBER 27!

Dalton is our Star of the Week this week! :-)

Spelling/Phonics: Unit 1 Review
1. desk 6. ask
2. sack 7. talked
3. page 8. hugging
4. size 9. when
5. stop 10. that
Bonus Words:
11. pocket
12. erase
13. straight
14. smiling
15. switch

Helpers for the Week:
Mon.--Grayce
Tues.--Katie
Wed.--Cassie
Thurs.--Rebekah
Fri.--Tim

A note regarding times for October's Parent-Teacher Conferences was stapled to the front of last Friday's Whispers. Please fill in your date preferences, and return this form to school by Friday, Sept. 19. Thanks!
Also, midquarter reports will be sent home in this week's Friday Folders. Please review this report with your child, and return it to school by Sept. 26. Thanks again! It's hard to believe that half of the first quarter has come and gone already!
If you have not yet done so, please send a plain white t-shirt to school with your child sometime this week. Parent volunteers will tie-dye these yellow for the students to wear on Character Counts Days, the first Wednesday of each month. So far I have only received 7 shirts, so if you could possibly send those shirts this week, I would really appreciate it.
One more important announcement--I could still use more parents to accompany us on our field trip to Fontenelle Forest on Monday, Sept. 29. I do have four volunteers, but more is better when it's an outdoor field trip! Let me know if this is something you're interested in doing. Once again, thank you for all of your help!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DALTON, ON SEPTEMBER 18!

Luke is our Star of the Week this week! :-)

Spelling/phonics rule: Consonant Digraphs
1. bunch 6. what
2. that 7. math
3. wish 8. them
4. patch 9. shape
5. when 10. whale
Bonus Words:
11. itch
12. chase
13. whiskers
14. switch
15. shrimp

Helpers this week:
Mon.--Joe
Tues.--Ciara
Wed.--Dalton
Thurs.--Shelby
Fri.--Ryan

The three free adult admissions to Fontenelle Forest for our field trip on September 29 have been spoken for, but I would love to have more parents accompany us if possible! The field trip is in the morning, and we will be back to school by lunchtime. If you're available on the 29th and would like to join us, please contact me by note, phone (715-8280) or email: lfauss@mpsomaha.org
Thanks for your continued help and support!
This morning the temperature was 50 degrees. Tomorrow the forecast is for 43 degrees. That is chilly! Remember, we take our recess at 10:00 a.m., so if the temperature is below 60 degrees in the morning, please send a jacket or sweatshirt to school with your child. Also, temperatures in the building fluctuate during the day, and many of the children have been complaining of being cold at times throughout the day. A jacket or sweatshirt is certainly welcomed!
Math homework began to be sent home last Thursday, and writing homework will be sent tomorrow, Sept. 9. Writing homework is due on Thursday, and math homework is due on Friday. Of course, spelling words will continue to come home on Monday. We always try to print homework on BLUE paper, to make it easier to spot amongst all the papers that come home every day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BREANNA R. AND LUKE, BOTH ON SEPTEMBER 12!
Bre is our "Star of the Week" this week.

Spelling/Phonics rule: endings -ed and -ing
1. talked 6. exciting
2. talking 7. lifted
3. dropped 8. lifting
4. dropping 9. hugged
5. excited 10. hugging
Bonus Words:
11. smiled
12. smiling
13. dragging
14. amazed
15. danced

Helpers for the week:
Mon.--Ellie
Tues.--Sam
Wed.--Alex
Thurs.--Emily
Fri.--Luke

Our Field Trip to Fontanelle Forest has been confirmed for Monday, September 29 in the morning. We will return to school in time for lunch. Plus, there's good news! Four adults will be admitted free with each classroom of students! So, the first three parents who contact me, wishing to go on the field trip with us, will not have to pay the admission fee to Fontanelle Forest. You may contact me by note, phone (715-8280) or email: lfauss@mpsomaha.org
I would love to have as many parents as possible join us for this field trip, as we do hike in the woods during part of the trip. Also, please remember, NO PRESCHOOL SIBLINGS WILL BE ALLOWED ON THIS FIELD TRIP! (Due to the length of the hike.) A note will be coming home about a week before the field trip, explaining more details about it. Pray for nice, sunny weather on September 29!

There are NO birthdays or Star of the Week this week.

Spelling/Phonics Rule: Consonant Blends
1. stop 6. ask
2. strap 7. clip
3. nest 8. stream
4. hand 9. mask
5. brave 10. twin
Bonus Words:
11. breeze
12. state
13. browse Some difficult Bonus Words this week!
14. straight
15. skeleton

Helpers for the Week:
Tues.--Humza
Wed.--James
Thurs.--Bre
Fri.--Camden
Please remind your child to bring a favorite book from home to read to the class during Helper Read time on the day (s)he is the helper!

This weekly blog is designed to give you information about upcoming events at "the Fauss House" (our classroom nickname). Please try to check this blog weekly, as I typically post a new blog each Monday!
We've had a great start to our second grade year! We have 13 girls and 10 boys in our class, and so many students are showing me that they know how to act like Kids of Character. Keep up the good work!
I'm looking forward to meeting with many of you tomorrow evening at Curriculum Night! Our presentation will begin at 7:35 p.m. in the gym. After some general information is given there, we will proceed to our classroom for more specific info. I hope that you are able to attend! Remember, Curriculum Night is for parents only.

We had two birthdays last week: Shelby on August 17, and Humza on August 19. There are no birthdays this week!
Humza is our Star of the Week this week! :-)

Spelling/Phonics Rule: Long Vowels
1. tune 6. fine
2. page 7. mice
3. nose 8. late
4. space 9. cube
5. size 10. blaze
Bonus words:
11. home
12. vote
13. erase
14. spice
15. confuse

Helpers for the week:
Mon.--Tim
Tues.--Breanna M.
Wed.--Nerea
Thurs.--Nicholas
Fri.--Ava