Welcome to Grade 2/3!

(A Parents Guide)

Fleetwood Bawden Elementary

2016/2017
Mr. Dawson Kennedy

dawson.kennedy@lethsd.ab.ca

About the Teacher

Dear Parents,
I am excited to be back at Fleetwood Bawden for
another great school year. I look forward to seeing
each child grow and learn this year as we tackle Grade
2 and 3 together!
For those who dont know me, I love music, travelling,
and the outdoors. In January of 2016 I got married to my
beautiful wife, Carleen, who is finishing her schooling at
the University of Lethbridge to become a Registered
Nurse. We spent this summer on a road trip to California,
camping along the Oregon coast. As much fun as that
was, Im glad to be back in Canada and cant wait to
get going with the new school year!
I am looking forward to seeing students from last year and getting to know each
new student in my class. I believe that every child is a gift and has a variety of
unique qualities and characteristics. It is my goal to seek out these unique
features and to give each child the best opportunity to grow and learn. Please
dont hesitate to contact me.

Thanks,
Dawson Kennedy
Email: dawson.kennedy@lethsd.ab.ca
Fleetwood Bawden Main Office: (403) 327-5818

Coming Up in the Classroom

The first weeks are spent getting to know your child and having them learn the
routines and expectations of the classroom. We will review/introduce many
grade 2/3 skills for the first couple of weeks, and then we will move on to learn
new concepts as we build on previous skills.

Homework
Throughout the year, work that should have been completed in class may be
sent home as homework. Please check in with your child to ensure that his/her
work is getting completed. Also, students will be responsible for studying weekly
spelling words and completing short weekly math assignments at home. I am
very thankful for parent support as you encourage your child to take
responsibility for their learning outside of the school.
Your child will bring home a take-home folder and agenda every day and is
expected to return it to school the following morning. These will be sent home
sometime this week. Sometimes, the folder will be empty if there are no
newsletters or worksheets to go home, however, it is still very important for your
child to get into the routine of remembering to bring his/her folder and agenda
daily. Work that your child does not finish during class time will be found in this
folder, as well as completed work. Please check the folder and agenda daily
for important information, and initial the agenda message.

Parent Communication
I am currently in the process of updating a website for our classroom in order to
create easier communication between parents and myself and to have one
central place where parents can find important information.
Our class website is
fbkennedy.weebly.com
Our school website is
fb.lethsd.ab.ca
I will also send a weekly newsletter home with information on whats happening
in and around the classroom. This letter will be posted outside the classroom and
sent via email unless other arrangements are made. If you have any questions or
comments for me, please email me rather than writing an agenda message, as
it ensures I receive your message right away. If you do not have regular access
to email, please let me know so we can establish the best way to communicate.
If you need to call me at the school, please do so outside of classroom hours.

Fresh Grade

Last year I tested a new communication tool called FreshGrade, an app that
allows for collaboration between teachers, students, and parents. This secure
environment allows me to post pictures, videos, and updates that are directly
visible to parents and students. This year, I am excited to use this tool to
communicate classroom activities and celebrations. You can download the
app and/or view online portfolios through a web browser. I will be sending out
an email with information on how to sign up in the coming weeks! See
www.freshgrade.com for more details.

Classroom Management
Trust Licences Each student will have their own trust license card for the
whole year. On these cards they earn stickers for proving that they are a
trustworthy student/peer, and that they display classroom citizenship skills. These
stickers are for when the student displays character qualities or acts of kindness
that go above and beyond the general classroom expectations. Every time
they complete their card they get a special note to take home to parents
describing and celebrating the students character. I am excited to use this
system as a positive reinforcement for good behaviour.
Think Sheets If students are being disruptive in class, or are putting down other
students, they will be given a warning. If the behavior continues, a second
warning will be given, and the child will be asked to have a conversation with
me outside of the classroom. If the behavior continues again, the student will fill
out a think sheet to take home, to get signed by a parent, and to be returned
the next day. In-school consequences will vary depending on the offense.
Although my focus is largely on positive management, the Think Sheet system is
sometimes needed in order for classroom learning to be successful and to
ensure proper communication between parents and teacher.
(Please see the Fleetwood Bawden Parent/Student handbook for more
information on school discipline policies.)
Hard Hat Starting a few weeks into September, one student will be chosen as
our Hard Worker of the Week. This student will be honoured by the class on
Friday and given a special hard hat to wear home for the weekend. Please
ensure that the hard hat is returned the following Monday!

Daily Five
Students will be introduced to the Daily Five language arts model. As a part of
their balanced language arts program, students will be encouraged to develop
important literacy skills through the five skill groups: Read to Self, Read to
Someone, Listen to Reading, Word Work, and Work on Writing. Students will be
taught the expectations for each of these five skills then work in small groups
and with the teacher. This progressive daily activity will allow students to
demonstrate growth and independence in all aspects of literacy.

Social Studies
In order to enrich your childs learning opportunities this year, students will be
taking social studies with Mrs. Weitz. During this time, I will be teaching her class
science. We are excited to commit more resources into each of the programs
and ensure a unique learning experience for students!

Raz-Kids & Mathletics

Regular reading practice will enable your child to achieve greater overall
success in school. Our hope is that the RAZ-Kids program will motivate and
encourage your child to do extra daily reading. Students are required to read a
minimum of 10 minutes during weekday evenings. Please listen to your child
read at least a couple of times a week to ensure they are able to read the
chosen material independently. Tools will be given to your child to help them
pick books that suit their specific learning needs. In addition to RAZ-Kids, the
public library offers your child a variety of books to choose from. Your child will
also make weekly trips to the school library to sign out reading materials.
Fleetwood-Bawden has purchased subscriptions to Mathletics and RAZ-Kids. A
membership for each student has been purchased. Instructions and access
codes will be sent home within the first couple weeks of school.
Both programs are amazing and I am very excited to see the results of these
programs with your children. As a staff we are thrilled with these initiatives.
I have access to all the student accounts and can see all of their activity. You
do not need to fill anything out for RAZ-Kids or Mathletics as I receive all reports
and activities on-line in weekly reports. Your students activity and consistent
participation in these programs will be monitored.
RAZ KIDS: (https://www.raz-kids.com)
The comprehension quizzes are one of the many reasons RAZ-Kids is such a
great resource. Please have your child take the online quizzes for each book
they read. If it is a challenge for you to gain access to a computer with internet
access, please let me know and we will set up an alternate plan.
MATHLETICS: (http://ca.mathletics.com)
Throughout the year your child may sign in and work on Mathletics at home and
in class. The system will not let students progress in the program until they
complete all assigned work.

Keep an eye on the website for other great learning links throughout the year!

Grade 2 and 3 Home Reading

Im really looking forward to our home reading program this year. I find that as
students are learning to read and explore books, extra motivation is a must. I am
running a popcorn party incentive program this year. Each child will have their
name displayed in the classroom. For each book they read, your child can earn
a sticker. Every 5 stickers, your child will be entered to win a small prize!
Reading minutes will be recorded on a monthly reading log at home (I will
attach a reading log in your childs take home folder at the beginning of each
month).
If the entire class can fill up their sticker chart by June, then we will have a class
popcorn party/fun day to celebrate their amazing reading accomplishments!

PLEASE: Remember to record your childs reading time on a daily

basis and leave the completed and signed forms in your childs takehome folder (these will be collected at the end of the month starting
in September).

Reading goals are as follows:

Grade 2 10 mins/day, 5 days/week = 200 mins/month
Grade 3 15 mins/day, 5 days/week = 300 mins/month

Spelling/Word Work
In our weekly word work, students will be able to practice their spelling words
through a variety of activities. On Friday, students are formally assessed on their
words. There is also a weekly bonus word that is chosen based on the phonics
lesson focus of that week, or picked from a class book we are reading together.
Keep an eye on the newsletter for the weekly bonus word!
You will find attached the yearly spelling lists. Please keep this copy on hand so
students can practice words at home. Students will NOT be writing their weekly
words in their agenda this year.

Library
The students will exchange their library books every Tuesday. At the beginning of
the year, students will keep their library books in the classroom. As the year
progresses, students who demonstrate responsibility will be able to take their
books home for the week. As students move toward bringing books home
weekly, please remind your child every Monday evening to put their library
books in their backpack. These books can be used for weekly home reading.

Star Student
Our class has dedicated a bulletin board to spotlight your child this year. This is
an opportunity to honor each student in a special way.
The star student will bring home an ALL ABOUT ME poster on the Friday before
their week to decorate and fill in over the weekend. Students may also bring a
few additional pictures to be posted on the board.

Star Student Guidelines:

Monday
Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
Friday

Poster - Student will bring in their ALL ABOUT ME poster

to share and put up on the Star Student board.
Estimation Jar - Student will bring in the class estimation
jar filled with an item of their choice. Examples might
be marbles, macaroni, clothing pins, buttons, crackers,
etc. It does not have to be edible. The rest of the class
will estimate the number of objects, count the actual
number, find sums and differences, and make equal
groups. Please tape the number (less than 100) onto
the inside bottom of the lid.
Show and Share - Students may bring one or two small
items to school that help us get to know them better.
Examples might be trophies, crafts, stuffed toy, etc.
Please do not send any breakable/irreplaceable items
to school.
Friendly Letter day Students in the classroom will write
the star student a special letter to go home at the end
of their Star Student week.
My Favourite Book As a great way to wrap up their
special week, the star student will bring their favourite
at-home/public library picture book to school to share
with the class during morning reading time.

Star Student Schedule

Sept. 26 30
Oct. 3 7
Oct. 24 28
Oct. 31 Nov. 4
Nov. 14 18
Nov. 28 Dec. 2
Dec. 5 Dec. 9
Dec. 12 16
Jan. 16 20
Jan. 23 27
Jan 30 Feb. 3
Feb. 6 10
Feb. 13 16*
March 6 10
March 13 16*
March 20 24
March 27 31
April 3 7
April 10-14*
May 1 5
May 8 12
May 15 18*
May 29 June 2

Abagail Reid
Brett Smith
Cohen Broderson
Cole Jeremias
Daisy Baer-Prince
Dawson McCaskill
Elijah Prince
Elizabeth Baker
Holly Beaton
Javier Thomas
Leanne Woo
Lexx Frykberg
Lilli Gauthier
Macarthur Soenen
Mallory Martin
Neil Spanke
Rebecca Moore
Rhys Boehmer
Ryely Jeanveau
Rylan Singer
Talaya Owens
Xavier Smith
Xoie Florence

Birthdays
On your childs birthday you are welcome to send HEALTHY birthday treats for
the class. (No junk food please!) Finger foods are preferred. Please include
necessary napkins, utensils, cups, and or plates. *NUT ALLERGY ALERT: Please
avoid any foods with nuts or traces of nuts. Thanks!
Hurt feelings can occur if students hand out invites for birthday parties that do
not include the whole class. Please give me the invitations so I can discretely
place them in a childs folder to go home. Otherwise, personal phone calls are
also encouraged for birthday invitations. Thank you for your consideration!

Parent Volunteers/Field Trips

Please keep an eye on the weekly newsletter for information about volunteering
and field trips. We will be continuing with Scientists in Schools along with other
volunteer opportunities in the classroom. Please contact me for more
information!

Thanks
Thank you for taking the time to browse this information. Please keep this hand
book in a safe place for your reference throughout the year. I will post a copy of
the handbook on the classroom website! If changes need to be made to the
schedules listed within I will send out updated information.