Fire Safety Program

Students enjoyed a program by the Grapevine Fire Department yesterday about fire safety. They sang songs, danced, learned how to be safe at home and what to do in case of a fire. Thanks to the firefighters from the City of Grapevine for a great program.

Play Dough Process Part 2

The great Play Dough Improvement engineering unit is coming to an end. You can see that many teams did, indeed, improve their play dough. Mark your calendar for November 14th to attend our Family STEM Night and experience first-hand the play dough making process.

Report Cards

Dear Parents,

Report cards for Mrs. Marin's homeroom were not passed out because we were running late due to a Fire Safety program we had at school today.  Report cards will be sent home with your child tomorrow 10/24/2013.  Sorry for the inconvenience. 

Play-dough Process

Yesterday was each team's first attempt at improving the play-dough process. Teams discussed the order that the materials were mixed together and attempted to improve the quality of the play-dough. We evaluated the quality of each team's play-dough and chose one process that we will all use today. Some of the students are even experimenting with the process at home. We are always excited when what we are learning at school gets carried home. Could this be the beginning of the end of "nothin'" or "I don't know" when you ask the question, "What did you do at school today?" We sure hope so! Check out some pictures each team took to document their work.

CogAT Rescheduled

Due to computer issues with the testing site, CogAT testing has been rescheduled for Monday, October 28 through Wednesday, October 30.

CogAT Testing

CogAT Testing will be Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Please be sure that your child is at school each of those days.  If at all possible, please do not plan doctor or dentist appointments for those days. Breakfast will be served at school as usual, but if your child does not eat at school, they need to have a healthy breakfast at home.

Halloween Safety

Check out this newsletter from Julie Lindley, the GCISD Director of Nursing.  This newsletter contains some important reminders and tips for how to enjoy a healthy and safe Halloween.

Kona Ice!!!

Hoy tuvimos el placer de tener a la compañía Kona Ice visitar a la escuela. En ciencias estamos hablado de la materia y lo los cambios que le pueden ocurrir cuando se enfría o calienta.  Los empleados de Kona Ice les explicaron a los alumnos sobre las temperaturas necesarias para mantener el hielo como sólido y lo que le hacen a el hielo para poder convertirlo en raspa o hielo molido. También les explicaron lo que le puede pasar al hielo si los congeladores no están funcionando bien. Los empleados de Kona Ice les dio a cada alumno una raspa y ellos pudieron ver lo que le pasa a la raspa si no se lo comen rápidamente. Fue un día muy divertido y informativo.  

Today we had the pleasure of having Kona Ice visit our students. For the past several weeks we have been learning about matter and the effects that heating and cooling have on matter. The employees of Kona Ice let our students take a tour inside their truck and explained how they keep the ice cool even during the summer. Kona Ice donated snow cones to all of the students and they got to experience first hand what happens to your snow cone if heat is added!  We had a fun and informative day!!! 

Libros en español para nuestro salón / Spanish Books for our classroom

Estamos extremamente cerca de llegar a nuestra meta para poder recibir libros para nuestro salón.  Favor de visitar a este sitio para ver como usted puede ayudar.

We are so close to reaching our goal that will help us receive great Spanish books for our classroom.  Please visit the site below to see what you can do to help our classroom. 

http://www.donorschoose.org/project/spectacular-students-speaking-spanish/1021731/?verify=-2002105703&more=true

¿Como cambia la materia cuando se calienta? What happens to matter when it is heated?

Los alumnos están aprendiendo acerca de la materia y los cambios que le ocurren cuando se calienta. Hoy observaron lo que le pasa a un pedazo de chocolate cuando se calienta.  A cada alumno se les dio un pedazo de chocolate pequeño y lo pusieron en su mano.  Con su mano hicieron un puño y lo mantieneron cerrado por 5 minutos. Lo que ustedes ven es el resultado.  Los alumnos se dieron cuenta que el chocolate cambio de un sólido a un líquido cuando se calentó.  También supieron que se calentó con el calor de sus manos.  

The students are learning about the 3 states of matter and the changes that matter can go through when it is heated or cooled.  Today they learned what happens to a piece of chocolate when It is heated.  Each student got a piece of chocolate and held it in their hand with a closed fist for approximately 5 minutes.  What you see below are the results.  The students discovered that the chocolate changed from a solid to a gooey liquid when it was heated by the heat of their hands. 

Parent Meeting Agenda

Our 2nd Grade Dual Language Parent Meeting was held last Tuesday, October 1st. If you were unable to attend, a copy of the agenda was sent home in your child's Notes Home folder. If you haven't seen that, below is a copy of the notes that were covered at the meeting.  As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call or email.

New Look for our Blog!

Due to a Google issue, there is a slight new look for our blog.  All of the information that you usually see in boxes on the right side of the blog is still there -- they even have the same title.  However, each box is a separate page. Click on each title to open the page.  Here is a picture to help you navigate the new look.  As always if you have questions, please feel free to email Mrs. Marin or myself.

Progress Reports

Progress Reports went home today- 10/2/13  Please remember that work is still being turned in and graded.  If your child is missing a grade for a content area it is because they have been given the opportunity to resubmit their assignment for a better grade.  Please sign and return the progress reports by 10/4/13.  Thank you!