Dear Parents,

I feel so fortunate to have spent the last five years of my teaching career at Forest Trail.  Meeting and getting to know the wonderful staff, supportive parents, and students has been so heartwarming for me.  I felt right at home when I moved to Austin.  Thank you so much for that and all the time you have spent congratulating me and checking on my emotions these past few months as this last day of school for both me and your child approached.  Saying that all you have done for me makes me feel special in an understatement.

Teaching is a fabulous profession.  Watching little children grow intellectually and socially is exciting.  Having a hand in it is a precious thing.  But, however expertly a teacher imparts wisdom or guides a child, he or she does not have the most powerful impact on your child.

Having a person of integrity, hopefully a parent, in a child's life is the best way to assure that the child will grow to become a person of integrity himself.  More than reading to a child, more than attending every practice, game or music event in a child's early years, just letting your child observe you navigate daily events and relationships honestly without hate is the best thing you can do for you child.

I love it when I hear kids say, "My mom would kill me if I did that."  It lets me know they already know where the boundaries are.  They know how they have to behave to stay on the path you have already laid out for them.


When one of our sons was entering medical school, my husband and I attended a parent orientation.  Doctors from the faculty spoke about the rigors of the program, the high quality of education the students would receive, and so on.  The final speaker talked about the emotional needs of these already highly motivated, highly succcessful students, giving us ways we could support them over the next four years.

He concluded by saying something like this.  "Love your child.  They're doing this all for you."  I cry every time I remember that moment.

It's been a pleasure to love your child this year.  I hope to hear all the news about them in the years to come.  Feel free to contact me at mries51@yahoo.com  or 1125 Elder Circle Austin, Texas 78733.

Hopefully I'll run into you occasionally at HEB!

Until then,

Mary Ries

It's hard to believe but the final quarter of 2010-11 has begun!  Second graders still have many activities ahead of them.  Our focus in science will be on plants and the sandy shore.  Second graders continue to work in the garden.  Last week all classes planted potatoes and will do whatever other assigned chores Mrs. Paull and her garden helpers have in mind for us. 

Lucy and Ethel, our new chickens, have led us down the road to understanding more about birds, the incredible, edible egg and the care of these domestic animals.  In April we will be visiting Westcave Preserve experiencing the beauty of the plants and wildlife on the Pedernales and the natural stalactite and stalagmite formations there.   We will celebrate all we learn about plants with a Garden Party on April 15.  Students will get a chance to taste foods from every part of plants; roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. 


In May the focus will be on MARE and a unit of study on the sandy shore ecosystem.  Students will rotate among the classrooms learning about sea turtles, oil spills, erosion, beach safety, and hermit crabs.  We'll also have a visit from teachers from the Texas State Aquarium and Mr. Lucado will revisit Forest trail with his amazing display of seashells.  Later in May, each second grade classroom will create its own company and develop a product to manufacture and sell.  Along with the first graders an Economics Fair will take place where students will market their wares and hopefully make a profit.


In math students will practice measuring lengths with yards and meters, find perimeters and areas of shapes, and explore capacity.  We will also review making combinations of coins and bills to $5, making change and extend place value concepts to 5-digit numbers.  Students will continue to practice 2 and 3 digit addition and subtraction, write number models and stories to reflect their understanding and begin practicing multiplication facts.  We will also spend time reviewing and strengthening skills in preparation for 3rd grade.


The themes of the last two rheading units are responsibility and celebrations and traditions.  Fiction and nonfiction stories will explore how second graders can exhibit responsibility and how customs and.traditions enrich our lives.  Teachers will finish the year with a novel study of their choice - something the boys and girls love.  

WHEW!

It's hard to believe that we're in the final quarter of second grade.  This school year is zooming by.  April will be full of activity.  Ms. Mueller's drama class is presenting a play on Wednesday, April 6.  Several second graders will be showing off their acting skills.  They've been practicing vigilantly and we can't wait to see their performance.

Next week all classes will take a field trip to Westcave Preserve, a pristine nature sight off Hamilton Pool Road.  The students will have lessons about water conservation, hike on nature trails, learn about native plants and animals, and explore a cave.  Mrs. Jackson's, Mrs. Hurst's and Mrs. Gable's classes will take the trip on Wednesday, April 13; Mrs. Ries's and Ms. Mueller's classes on Thursday, April 14. 

Please read the following information to make sure your child has a great experience. On Friday April 15, parents are planning a Garden Party for each class.  Fruits and vegetables we eat from different parts of plants; roots, stems, flowers, leaves, will be set out for students to taste.  It's a great way to learn more about plants, the food we eat, and where it all comes from.

We can't wait for both of these events!

Every teacher will tell you that a student who comes to school emotionally and physically well prepared always has a better school experience.  The following excerpt from an article by Mimi Doe offers 10 tips to help both your student and his/her teacher have a productive day at school.

1.  Create a smooth takeoff each day.  Give your child a hug before she ventures out the door and you head to work.  Look her in the eye and tell her how proud you are of her.  Your child's self-confidence and security will help her do well both in school and in life.

2.  Prepare for a happy landing at the end of the day when you reconvene.  Create a predictable ritual such a 10-15 minutes listening to your child talk about his day - before you check phone messages, read the mail, or begin dinner.  That way you are fully present to listen, and your child has a touchstone he can count on between school and home.

3.  Fill your child's lunchbox with healthy snacks and lunches.  Have dinner at a reasonable hour and a healthy breakfast.  A well-balanced diet maximizes your child's learning potential.

4.  Include calm, peaceful times in your children's afternoons and evenings.  Maintain a schedule that allows them to go to school rested, and if they are sick, have a system in place so they are able to stay home.

5.  Remember it's your child's homework, not yours.  Create a specific homework space that's clutter-free and quiet.  Encourage editing and double-checking work.  Check over their work and help them correct any careless mistakes.  Let the teacher know if your child has trouble with the assignment. 

6.  Fill your child's life with a love for learning by showing him your own curiousity about the world, respecting his questions, and encouraging his efforts.

7.  Fill your home with books to read, books simply to look at, and books that provide answers to life's many questions.  The public or school library is an excellent source.

8.  Be a partner with your child's teacher.  When you need to speak to him or her in reference to a specific issue with your child, do it privately, not in front of your child.  Make a point never to criticize your child's teacher in front of your child.

9.  Set up a system where routine items are easily located - such as backpacks, shoes, signed notices.  Create a central calendar for upcoming events to avoid the unexpected.

10.  Tuck a "love note"  in your child's lunch bag to let her know how special she is.  Knowing they are loved makes it easier for children to be kind to others.