Tuesday, September 8th, 2015Dear Parents,

Welcome to da Vinci public school! I am very excited to be your child’s Grade 2 teacher this year! Grade 2 is an exciting year! It is a time of energy, laughter, learning and continuing to build independence. Over the next few weeks I will be spending a lot of time getting to know your child and how I can best support their learning in our classroom. Our focus will be on building a positive classroom environment where everyone feels safe and included. We will also be getting to know our classroom rules and routines, which will be important to ensure everyone has a successful year.

Over the next year we will be participating in learning activities that foster your child’s self-esteem, confidence, creativity and problem-solving, as we cover the expectations of the Ontario curriculum for Grade Two. I am greatly looking forward to working with all of the Grade Two families this year! Please take some time to read over this information package and feel free to contact me through your child’s agenda or by e-mail if you have any questions. Please allow 24 hours for a response. The survey at the end of this package can be filled out and sent back in your child’s mailbag. Please look for our reading program newsletter, which will be handed out on curriculum night.

I look forward to working with you and your child this year in helping to make their year in Grade Two fabulous!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Casselman & Ms. Leddy (Room 204) *Please note Mrs. Casselman will return October 19th, 2015*

School Informationda Vinci Public School 61 Williamson Drive East Ajax, ON L1T 0A9 (905) 686-2772 School Hours: Morning classes: 9:00am – 11:45amLunch: 11:45am – 12:45mAfternoon classes: 12:45pm – 3:30pm

For your information, there is supervision 15 minutes prior to the beginning of school. Students should not be dropped off earlier than this time unless they are attending a supervised activity. At the end of the day, the students will be dismissed from our classroom. It is important that they know who will be picking them up or who they are to go home with (and where to meet them). There will not be a teacher on duty to make sure all the children are picked up after school. Indoor and Outdoor ShoesIt is essential that each student have a pair of outdoor running shoes as well as indoor running shoes that they keep at school. Both pairs should be closed toed (no flip flops) and be comfortable and suitable for physical activity inside the classroom, the gym and outside on the yard. It is also important that your child be able to quickly and easily put these shoes on independently. Parent-Teacher CommunicationAs we will be working together to ensure your child has a successful year, it is important for us to be able to communicate effectively. Notes in your child’s agenda or an email are probably the easiest and fastest way. However, if you would like to speak in person or by phone, please call the school and leave a message. I will do my best to get back to you as soon as I can. If you would like to contact me via email, my address is:casselman_karen@durham.edu.on.ca Please use this e-mail upon Mrs. Casselman’s return on October 19th, 2015, until then a note in the agenda will be the best form of communication.

Parent Communication ContinuedAgendas are a VERY important part of our classroom routine. These books will be travelling back and forth with your child in their mailbag each and every day. They will often contain important information about homework, special trips, school events, notes from me, etc.

Please read and sign your child’s agenda each night so I know that you know what’s going on in the classroom. I may also be using the agenda to communicate with you on occasion. You can also use it as a means of communicating short messages to me. Ask your child to put it back in their backpack every evening inside their mailbag to ensure it makes it to school the next morning. The agendas are a great way to help teach your child to take responsibility for their own learning.

Another important communication tool will be our classroom website! This will be updated weekly and will inform you of all the wonderful things we are learning at school! It will also give you tips on how to support your child’s learning at home, as well as provide information on homework, important upcoming dates and more! Gym DaysThe students in grades 1-8 work on a 5 day cycle. The cycle days are marked on the Durham District School Board calendar that will be sent home. The students will have Gym or DPA every day. It is important that the students are dressed in comfortable clothing and that they have proper indoor and outdoor running shoes. HELP! If you are able to send in any of the following items for the classroom, it would be GREATLY appreciated. We are always looking for donations. • Disinfectant wipes• Paper towel• Paper cups• Art and Craft supplies (ie. yarn, glitter, markers, glue sticks, beads, pom poms)• Baby wipes• Extra books, comics or children’s magazines for our classroom library• Boxes of Kleenex• Lined paper• Graph paper• Stickers• Pencils• Erasers• Glue sticks

SnacksI will be doing my best this year to promote healthy eating at school. Studies show that children who eat a nutritious breakfast and lunch as well as healthy snacks throughout the day, perform better in school. Please read this section carefully and take note of our class snack and lunch guidelines.

• Snack time takes place in our classroom just before morning and afternoon recess. I am asking that children bring healthy, low-sugar snacks to start the day. Please do not send candy or junk food (i.e., lollipops, chocolate bars, gummies, chips etc.) to school with your child.

• In an effort to reduce waste, please send your child’s snacks, drinks and lunches in environmentally friendly containers that they can re-use each day. Any uneaten food, wrappers, etc. will be ‘boomeranged’ back home in your child’s lunch bag. No garbage or food is to be thrown out in the classroom waste basket.

• Please send your child to school with a re-useable water bottle to keep in their backpack. Juice will not be permitted at snack time. It can be very sticky to clean up and attracts bees, ants and other unwanted bugs into the classroom. Juice will be permitted at lunchtime for those staying at school.

• Please do NOT send snacks that contain any nuts.• Please do NOT send in home-baked goods or treats for your child’s

birthday. If you wish to send in a surprise to celebrate their special day, please speak with me in advance and I can suggest some fun, alternative ideas.

• Please see the attached snack list provided by the Durham Region Health Department for some suggested snacks.

Information Form

Please take the time to complete this form and return it to me as soon as possible. This information is kept in a file for my use only.

Student Name:_______________________________________________________________Birthday: _____________________________________________________________ Address:______________________________________________________________Home phone number:___________________________________________________ Mom’s name:______________________________ Cell #:______________________Dad’s name:______________________________ Cell #:_______________________Parent email address:___________________________________________________

Child lives with (please check):Both parents____ Mom____ Dad____ Other____

Provide additional custody information here if necessary._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Siblings in the school: _____________________________ Teacher:_________________________

_____________________________ Teacher:_________________________

_____________________________ Teacher:_________________________

In an emergency, please contact:

1)________ ___ phone #_____________ _______

2)________ _______________ phone #_____________ _______

Back To School Survey for Parents

Please respond to the following questions about your child.Describe your child's strengths. (Including academic, social and athletic strengths) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does your child enjoy doing outside of school? (ie. Extra- curricular activities) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Describe your child’s highest areas of need and where you would like to see the most improvement._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ My child has access to a computer at home? Yes | No My child has access to the internet at home? Yes | No My child has access to electronic devices? Yes | No (ie. iPod, iPad, Playbook etc.) I read with my child: (please circle one)

everyday 3-4 times/week once/week rarely

My child be staying for lunch: (please circle one)

Always Sometimes Never Please list any additional information about your child, including any allergies or health concerns that I, as your child’s teacher, should be aware of. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________