Hello Room 207 Families!

I am <span style="text-decoration: underline">very</span> excited for this new school year! I am sure that your child’s experiences in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade will be a year filled with learning and fun! I hope that the following information is helpful as we start the 2009 school year.

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Communication</span></strong>

Each student has received a Ray School folder.  All important papers will be sent home in this folder every night.  I will put our “News from 207” weekly bulletin in the students’ folders at the beginning of every week, and a monthly calendar will be stapled to the inside of the folder.

The folders will be checked every day at school.  I will be checking for completed homework assignments, a parent signature (or initials) on the monthly calendar, and any notes that you may have written for me or someone else at Ray.

I will be sending important notes home to you in this folder, <span style="text-decoration: underline">so please check it <strong>every night</strong></span>.  This folder is an essential part of our communication so it must return to school every morning.

I can be contacted through email at <a href="mailto:aolefsky@hotmail.com">aolefsky@hotmail.com</a>, <a href="mailto:amolefsky@cps.edu">amolefsky@cps.edu</a>.<a href="http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/"></a>

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Homework</span></strong>

Once we get into our routines, the students will receive homework every night Monday - Thursday.  There may be homework over the weekend, but that is not likely.  The students will have math homework every night (usually a “Home Link”) and language arts homework.  The language arts homework may be a reading contract, a reading response log, or phonics homework.  You will be notified of the language arts homework through our weekly bulletin.

The monthly calendar should be signed or initialed every night <span style="text-decoration: underline">after</span> your student has finished all of that night’s homework and you have reviewed it together.

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Specials Schedule</span></strong>

The students will have Spanish with Mr. Walter on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:00-11:45 in Room 215.  On Mondays we have computer at 11:00 and music at 1:15.  On Tuesdays we have library at 1:15 and gym at 2:10.

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Lunch Money</span></strong>

The application for free and reduced lunch is being sent home today.  <span style="text-decoration: underline">PLEASE</span> complete the form (even if your child eats lunch from home!) and return it in your student’s Ray School folder as soon as possible

<span style="text-decoration: underline"> </span>

<span style="text-decoration: underline">Please send all lunch money for the entire week on Monday</span>.  Lunch costs $1.85 per day ($9.25 per week) and reduced lunch is 40¢ per day ($2 per week).  All money that is brought to school should be clearly labeled in a bag or envelope.  Even if your student only wants hot lunch on one day in the middle of the week, he/she should still bring in his/her money on Monday.

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">School Fees</span></strong>

This year the school fee for all students is <strong>$85.00. </strong>This fee does not include field trips. The fees should be paid by October 10<sup>th</sup>.  Please let me know if you are interested in paying in installments.

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Snacks</span></strong>

Please consider contributing to the daily snack stash we keep in the classroom for our afternoon recess (1:55-2:10.) There must be enough food to share with the entire class.

I look forward to meeting you at the Open House on September 23<sup>rd</sup> and working with you this year.  Please don’t hesitate to drop me a note or email with your comments, questions, or concerns!