August 2019
Dear Families,
Welcome to second grade at Memorial-Spaulding! I look forward to working with your children, and you, to make this an exciting year. Before school begins, I want to give you some information you may find helpful prior to the first day.
1. Time: Children are allowed to enter school and go to their classrooms when the bell rings at 8:20. School begins promptly at 8:30. We will start morning meeting shortly after the 2nd bell rings. Before this time, parents should say goodbye outside and let us get going on the important work we do everyday, starting with morning work. Dismissal is at 3:00, except on Tuesdays when dismissal is at 12:30. The first day of school, Tuesday September 3rd, is a 12:30 dismissal. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
2. Snack: Please send a small nutritious snack. Popular choices are yogurt, fruits and vegetables, cheese and crackers, pretzels, and a drink.
3. Recess: Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather, including boots, hats, gloves, etc.
4. Dismissal: At dismissal, we will be coming out the front door of the building and will move off to the left. Please pick your child up there and do not wait directly in front of the main doors. Thank you! Please be sure to complete the dismissal form online. It is important for me to know where your child is going after school. Also, for the first few weeks of school, please speak with me directly at pick up so I can check your child off on my dismissal checklist. This helps to keep the whole class safe during a very chaotic time at the beginning of the year. If there are any changes, please send a note in to be sure I receive it, as email could be down or I could be absent. Also, I will not send your child with anyone else, unless I have a note or we have a pre-arranged plan.
5. Surveys: Parent and dismissal surveys…Please go to my website at:
Mrs. DeKing Room 250and look at the Back to School section. There are surveys for you as the parent to complete about your child (with one part for you and your child) and most importantly, a dismissal survey so I know how your child gets home each day. Please take a few minutes to complete them by Sunday, September 1st. Any questions, please email me.
6. Open House:Open House will be held late September in the morning. More details to follow.
7. Contact information: As the school year starts and throughout the year, you may need to contact me for various reasons. You can do this in a number of ways. You can send a note in with your child and have them put it in the box (Notes for Mrs. DeKing) when they arrive. You can email me at [ mailto: megan_deking@newton.k12.ma.us. I check email at times during the day and will reply within 24 hours. You can also call the school and leave a message and I will return it when I am done teaching. Email tends to be the easiest for parents and myself. Don't hesitate to contact me with questions, comments, or concerns.
8. I have a blog that is updated almost weekly so please take a look at that and sign up on that page to follow our blog and to receive updated blogs when posted. Here is the site: Classroom Blog
The school website is available for curriculum information and school info...the blog will keep you updated about weekly happenings more consistently.
One of my goals for this year is to have the class work together cooperatively, support each other, share, and learn to help each other. You do not need to purchase supplies this year for your child…the team has purchased classroom supplies and we only ask for you to turn in $25 cash. Please see the notice on my website, under Back to School, from our second grade team regarding purchasing and donations. Thanks!
Students will receive paperwork and they are responsible for carrying it to and from school. They will receive a red folder from me at the beginning of the year. The folder will also be used for sending notices to you and for you to send important notes back to me.
As the summer comes to a close, please continue to encourage your child to read nightly or listen to you read. Also, practicing addition and subtraction facts will help them in math. Sit down and try to write about what you've been doing all summer to help your child with their writing and get ideas flowing.
On the first day of school, please send in a snack and don't forget lunch is not served on Tuesdays. Please place any important notes in the "Notes for Mrs. DeKing" box. There will be various activities around the room for your child to get started with as your family leaves. Most importantly, come over to me and introduce yourself and your child. Also, make sure you tell me how your child will be getting home on the first day. I love the first day of school and meeting each of my new students!
I look forward to meeting you and working with your child this year.
Sincerely,
Megan DeKing
