A Busy But Exciting End of Our Year!

We have so many fun things happening in our classroom and around our school between now and the end of our year! Here is a list of the many different events coming up between now and June:

May 6th-10th Teacher Appreciation Week: Thank you to the many parent volunteers who are doing so much to make Teacher Appreciation week so special! We are very grateful for your gratitude :)

May 8th- Wellness Walk 1:30-2:30: Feel free to join our class for this whole-school event! We will meet outside of our classroom before walking as a school down Gifford Farm Rd. and back. Please be sure to send your child to school with appropriate walking shoes!

May 10th- Bike to School Day: All SMS Students are invited to bike, walk, skateboard or roller blade to school to promote heart healthy and earth friendly habits! If you live far from school or on a busy street, feel free to drive to the park to use the paths as a safe alternative!

May 16th-Early Release and Maker/ArtFest 5:00-7:00: All SMS students will have a piece of artwork on display that they've created in Art Class with Mrs. Dow and many other students, staff, and family members will have other items they've created at home! This is a great event to attend as a family, you will be blown away by these creations!

May 21st- Field Trip to SEE Science Center (Manchester, NH): Permission Slips were sent home for this field trip on Monday. Please return the signed permission slip along with $9 for each of your giraffes (along with an additional $9 for each parent chaperoning) and any bagged lunch order forms by Monday, May 6th.

May 22d- Field Trip to Exeter High School: Kindergarten will be heading to the high school to enjoy a play put on by EHS Students. This trip will not require chaperones, and permission slips will be due back to school by 5/10. In lieu of purchasing tickets, each student is also asked to send in one canned good on or before the date of this trip to go towards the EHS food drive.

June 3rd- Grand Luncheon: We invite all grandparents and special adults to join us for the Grand Luncheon at our school! More information about this special event will be coming home soon.

June 7th- Field Day and Kindergarten Graduation: In the morning between 9:00-11:30, we will be participating in field day at SMS! We will be playing lots of different games outside with our classmates enjoying our last day of Kindergarten. Afterwards, families are welcome to join us for a whole kindergarten picnic lunch from 11:30-12:30 out on the lawn, and afterwards we will head into our classrooms for a special slideshow and to receive our kindergarten diplomas. After we enjoy our treats, you are welcome to bring your child home. If it rains that day, we will spend the morning in our classroom and you will be welcome to join us for the slideshow and ceremony in our classrooms at 12:30

June 11th-12th- Kindergarten Screening: We will be holding kindergarten screening for all incoming kindergartners on these two dates. If you have a child who is headed to SMS next year for K, please see the front office to receive your registration forms.

We will update this list as necessary! 

One More Reminder for End of Year Events

Happy Memorial Day, Giraffe Families! We are in the final push for the end of the school year. Here is one more reminder of important dates we have coming up during our last few weeks together:

May 30th and 31st- Can't Stop The Seedling: Students will put on the dress rehearsal of our play during the school day on May 30th and will perform our play for families on May 31st starting at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria. The giraffes will be playing the part of The Pollinators, so they are wearing red, yellow, or orange shirts with blue jeans or black pants. Play gear should be worn to school on the 30th for our dress rehearsal but students are allowed to bring a change of clothes if they would like to change after our morning performance. Antennae will be provided :) (Note: the seeds from each classroom should wear black) 

June 2nd- Volunteer Appreciation Day and 1-2-3 Fun Run: All parent volunteers are welcome to join us for a "Thank You" breakfast at 8 am in the library and Celebration in the Gym at 8:45 am so we can thank you for all that you do for our classroom and school! That afternoon, teachers, parents, and students are welcome to run or walk 1,2, or 3 miles around SMS and Stratham Hill Park at 5:30 pm. Following the run, there will be a BBQ, Dunk Tank, Snow Cones, and a Dance Party! 

June 5th- Grand Luncheon: Grandparents and friends of SMS students are invited to join us for our annual Grand Luncheon. Second Grade Lunch will be from 12:15-12:50 and recess will be from 12:50-1:10. 

June 9th- Field Day: bring your sneakers, because June 9th will be field day! Please bring a change of clothes with you, as we will have some water games and we will also be outside, rain or shine. This year's Field Day Theme is "Where's Waldo?"

June 12th- Field Trip to Great Bay Discovery Center: we will be going on our annual field trip to Great Bay Discovery Center. We will arrive at Great Bay at 9:00 am to spend the morning there. We as we ask chaperons to meet us at the Discovery Center on Depot Rd. (NOTE: 2R will be going with 2H  and 2S that day-- 2D and 2A will go on June 5th)

June 14th- National Parks Day: The giraffes will be transforming our classroom into Acadia National Park and we will be traveling from classroom to classroom to explore four more National Parks around the U.S! More information will be coming home about volunteering in the classroom to help us make our various projects and displays for this day. **Note: if you are able, please send in a brown paper grocery bag so we can make our Park Ranger Vests! 

June 19th- End of Year Picnic at Stratham Hill Park: All second grade classrooms will be hiking through the trails from SMS to Stratham Hill Park for an end-of-the-year picnic. Families and Friends are welcome to join us! We will arrive at the park around 10:00 am and we will leave at 1:30 pm. Families are welcome to join us for any of that time!

June 20th- Last Day of School: While it is bittersweet to see these amazing children off to third grade, I am so proud of the growth they've made, and I'm also hoping they might come back for a visit from time to time in the years to come :) In the meantime, we will enjoy all the fun we have in store for these last few weeks of second grade!

A Busy but Exciting End of The Year!

Hello, Families!

We have lots of upcoming dates for the end of our school year, so please mark your calendars for these special upcoming events. If there are any further dates that need to be shared or any changes to these dates, I will be sure to let you know as soon as possible! 

May 5th- PTO Spring Social:  A great night out for parents at the Portsmouth Harbor Events and Conference Center from 7-11 pm with music, dinner, and a live and silent auction! Purchase tickets online here for $30 or purchase for $35 at the door.

May 10th- Wellness Walk: We will have an all-school wellness walk up Gifford Farm Road at 1:30 pm. 

May 12th- Bike to School Day: Students can walk, bike, scooter, skateboard, or roller blade to school! Want to avoid riding on a busy road? Families are welcome to park at Stratham Hill Park and ride the trails from there! 

May 17th- Early Release Day: students will be dismissed at 12:50 pm. 

May 18th- MakerFest and Art Show: Everyone is welcome to join us for our second annual MakerFest and our first EVER Art Show in the Cafeteria from 3:30-6:30 pm. Projects can be brought in that morning by students or can be dropped off by parents after 1:30 pm. The MakerFest and Art Show will run through Friday morning.

May 24th- Sidewalk Shel-ebration! Families are welcome to join us at 9 am as we head outside (weather permitting) to publish our poems on the sidewalk. We will also be reciting a few of our poems from our class poetry book as well as a poem by Shel Silverstein.

May 30th and 31st- Can't Stop The Seedling: Students will put on the dress rehearsal of our play during the school day on May 30th and will perform our play for families on May 31st starting at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria. The giraffes will be playing the part of The Pollinators, so they are welcome to dress up as their favorite bees, birds, and butterflies! More information will be coming home about the play over the next few days.

June 2nd- Volunteer Appreciation Day and 1-2-3 Fun Run: All parent volunteers are welcome to join us for a "Thank You" breakfast at 8 am  in the library and Celebration in the Gym at 8:45 am so we can thank you for all that you do for our classroom and school! That afternoon, teachers, parents, and students are welcome to run or walk 1,2, or 3 miles around SMS and Stratham Hill Park at 5:30 pm. Following the run, there will be a BBQ, Dunk Tank, Snow Cones, and a Dance Party! 

June 5th- Grand Luncheon: Grandparents and friends of SMS students are invited to join us for our annual Grand Luncheon. Second Grade Lunch will be from 12:15-12:50 and recess will be from 12:50-1:10. 

June 9th- Field Day: bring your sneakers, because June 9th will be field day! Please bring a change of clothes with you, as we will have some water games and we will also be outside, rain or shine. This year's Field Day Theme is "Where's Waldo?"

June 12th- Field Trip to Great Bay Discovery Center: we will be going on our annual field trip to Great Bay Discovery Center. We will arrive at Great Bay at 9:00 am to spend the morning there. We as we ask chaperons to meet us at the Discovery Center on Depot Rd. (NOTE: 2R will be going with 2H  and 2S that day-- 2D and 2A will go on June 5th)

June 19th- End of Year Picnic at Stratham Hill Park: All second grade classrooms will be hiking through the trails from SMS to Stratham Hill Park for an end-of-the-year picnic. Families and Friends are welcome to join us! We will arrive at the park around 10:00 am and we will leave at 1:30 pm. Families are welcome to join us for any of that time!

June 20th- Last Day of School: While it is bittersweet to see these amazing children off to third grade, I am so proud of the growth they've made, and I'm also hoping they might come back for a visit from time to time in the years to come :) In the meantime, we will enjoy all the fun we have in store for these last few weeks of second grade!

Important Dates for The End of The Year

Hello, Families!

We have lots of upcoming dates for the end of our school year, so please mark your calendars for these special upcoming events:

May 11th- Wellness Walk:The walk will begin at 1:30 pm. Both students and community members will walk from the school, to the intersection of Gifford Farm Road and Long Hill Road, and back to the school (the road will be closed off to traffic during the walk for safety). If you wish to join us, we will meet in the bus loop at 1:25 pm prior to our walk

May 13th- PTO Spring Fundraiser:  A great night out for parents at the Portsmouth Harbor Events and Conference Center from 7-11 pm with music, dinner, and a live and silent auction! Purchase tickets online through the Family Directory for $30 or purchase for $35 at the door

May 14th- SMS Student Garden Build Day and Celebration: Sign up to help build the garden Saturday morning from 8:30 am -12:30 pm. We will celebrate the garden and reveal the name that afternoon from 3-5 pm

May 18th- Early Release Day: students will be dismissed at 12:50 pm. We will also visit our national parks this day!

May 19th- MakerFest and Art Show: Everyone is welcome to join us for our second annual MakerFest and our first EVER Art Show in the Cafeteria from 3:30-6:30 pm. Projects can be brought in that morning by students or can be dropped off by parents after 1:30 pm. The MakerFest and Art Show will run through Friday morning.

May 24th- Sidewalk Shel-ebration! Families are welcome to join us at 12:45 pm as we head outside (weather permitting) to publish our poems on the sidewalk. We will also be reciting a few of our poems from our class poetry book as well as a poem by Shel Silverstein.

June 1st and 2nd- Pirate Play: Students will put on the dress rehearsal of our play during the school day on June 1st and will perform our play for families on June 2nd starting at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria. Boys will be wearing black t-shirts, girls will wear white, and all students will wear jean shorts, pants, or skirts. All the giraffes will be decked out in blue bandanas!

June 3rd-  Volunteer Appreciation Day: Join us at 8 am for breakfast in the library and at 8:45 in the gym for a whole school meeting so we can show you how much we appreciate all that you do for our school! The 123 Fun Run will also be that afternoon starting at 5:30 pm!

June 6th- Grand Luncheon: Grandparents and friends of SMS students are invited to join us for our annual Grand Luncheon. Second Grade Lunch will be from 11:40-12:15 and recess will be from 12:15-12:45. Grandparents are welcome to join us prior to lunch in our classroom at 11:25 for a special poem and to read with their grandchildren. 

June 7th- Field Trip to Great Bay Discovery Center: we will be going on our annual field trip to Great Bay Discovery Center. We will arrive at Great Bay at 9:00 am to spend the morning there. We as we ask chaperons to meet us at the Discovery Center on Depot Rd. (NOTE: 2R will be going with 2H that day-- 2D, 2S and 2A will go on Friday, June 10th)

June 9th- Field Day: bring your sneakers, because June 9th will be field day! Please bring a change of clothes with you, as we will have some water games and we will also be outside, rain or shine. This year's theme is Color Wars, and second grade's color is RED! So, wear as much red clothing as possible!

June 15th- End of Year Picnic at Stratham Hill Park: All second grade classrooms will be hiking through the trails from SMS to Stratham Hill Park for an end-of-the-year picnic. Families and Friends are welcome to join us! We will arrive at the park around 10:00 am and we will leave at 1:30 pm. Families are welcome to join us for any of that time!

June 17th- Last Day of School: It has been discovered that the cause of ocean levels rising is not due to global warming, but rather to the fact that the school year must come to an end for Ms. Riley. While it is bittersweet to see these amazing children off to third grade, I am so proud of the growth they've made, and I'm also hoping they might come back for a visit from time to time in the years to come :) In the meantime, we will enjoy all the fun we have in store for these last few weeks of second grade!

Reminders for This Week

Hello, Families!

I hope you all enjoyed the snow day on Friday. On Thursday our daily question asked if we thought we'd have a snow day before February vacation and 13 of the 19 people who answered said no! I think we were all quite surprised when 10 inches of snow fell the next day!

• Report cards will now be sent home on Monday, and as a reminder, we will make up our orange day related arts at the end of the school year (Monday will be a red day, which means we will have P.E.) A few of the related arts teachers had some issues putting in the correct grades through Gradebook, so for the time being, all necessary changes have been made by hand and they will be fixed in Gradebook once they find the issue.
• Our 100th Day has been pushed back to Tuesday, so please be sure to send in your letters when we return on Monday! 
• Wednesday is an early release day, which means we will be getting out of school at 12:50 pm. We will still have lunch and snack at school. 
• Friday is our Valentine's Day celebration! All of you are welcome to join us in our classroom at 1:00 pm as we hand out valentines, have a few snacks, and share some poems we've been practicing. Thank you to all of you who are sending in supplies and thank you, as always, to Caroline for helping me put it all together! 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, I hope to see many of you at the end of the week!

Gifts Galore!

Happy Holidays to all of our Families and Friends! Here is a glimpse at the letters and gifts we made for our loved ones:

Calendars

Poinsettia Paintings

Shaving Cream Ornaments (our favorite!)

Hey, who is that up there??

We also wrote about what we would wish for if we were chosen to receive the first gift of the holidays, just like the boy in The Polar Express. Here are a few of the things we would wish for: 

Happy Holidays from The Giraffe Class! 

Important Dates for November

Hello, Families!

November is a bit of a crazy month in terms of our school schedule, so here are some reminders of our upcoming events:

November 5th: Early Release Day (12:50 pm dismissal) for Parent Teacher Conferences

November 6th: Professional Development Day-- no school for students!

November 11th: Veteran's Day--no school

November 18th: Early Release Day (12:50 pm dismissal) for Parent Teacher Conferences

November 25th-27th: Thanksgiving Break--no school

If you need to check your time for Parent-Teacher Conferences, click here!