Bergstedt

Miraculous May

     Greetings Parents,

Another amazing year is drawing to an end.  It has been a joy and pleasure working with you and your children.  This is a fantastic group of children and I will miss them very much!                                                      

We have "boarded" our jet, left Japan and have landed in the "Down Under"!   The children are so excited about learning more about this country. "Japan Day" was such a hit, that we are planning on having "Australia Day" on May 14th!  We currently have a guest speaker lined up and several other activities planned.  Here are a couple of interesting web sites that your child might enjoy  visiting:

Animals of Australia and Australia Downunder

Our caterpillars just arrived today, so we can get excited watching the transformation to butterflies during the next few weeks as well.

Congratulations to Zachary, our Character Winner for the word Accomplishment.  He is very deserving!

Special Thanks To:

• Chandler's mom, Ian's mom, Carter's mom, and Daniel's mom for sending in special "brain food" during the CRCT testing (and anyone else I forgot)
• All parents who sent in your children well rested and prepared for the testing
• Thanks to all who participated in the many Relay for Life activities.  Thus far, $8,552 has been raised!!!
• Thanks for those who have sent in completed enrollment forms. Please make sure that all forms have been signed before sending them back. Please note the request to put three stamps on the envelope as we use this to send home the end of the year information and report card.

Upcoming Dates:

May 5: "Drumming Up Stories"-Performing Arts program here at Mt. Bethel featuring interactive stories from around the world

May 9: All library books due

May 11: Mother's Day (The children are working very hard on a "special" project  especially for you!)

May 12: Reader's Theater(various teachers will present favorite stories.)

May 14: Australia Day (morning)

Representative from Cobb County Library will present information regarding their Summer Reading Program (afternoon)

May 22: "Going Buggy" and class party (lunch)

May 21-24: Reading is Hot , Hot, Hot (More information will follow)

Field Day (8:00-10:30)  Wear class tee shirt, sunscreen, and a water bottle

May 20: Yearbook  Signing (Outdoor Classroom, 1:10-2:00)

May 22: All supplies will be sent home-bring a large bag in case everything doesn't fit into your book bag

May 23: Last Day of School (Do not bring backpacks, or lunch bags.)

Be on the lookout for a summer reading list.

Thank you for your cooperation all year, and for sharing your remarkable children with me.  I love them all!

Mrs. Bergstedt

ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!!!

Spring News

WELCOME TO SPRING

It is hard to believe that we are in the last nine weeks of second grade. The children have grown so much in so many ways. It is such a pleasure to be a part of their success.

Congratulations

Our latest Character Ed winners are Kaiya for Tolerance, and Grace for commitment.

Many Thanks

Our latest mystery readers have been Carter's mom, John's mom, and Daniel's dad.

I greatly appreciate Ian's mom and her helpers for a wonderful art lesson during grade level planning.  Rebecca went to a lot of trouble putting together material for the class to make quilts.

Looking Ahead

The Book Fair is taking place in the Media Center this week. It will be open for parents and students on Thursday evening.

April 2  There is a Sports Party at the YMCA from 2:45-4:45.  Kindergarten Registration is also on this date.

This Thursday, April 3, Second Grade Students will be performing during the P.T.A. meeting.  Please have your child wear their class shirts, blue jeans, and sneakers.  We will meet in the Music room between 6:15 and 6:30 that evening.

April 7-11 is Spring Break!  I hope everyone has a fantastic time and returns refreshed and rested.

April 18  A performance of "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie"  will be at school at 12:45.  This is brought to us through our Cultural Arts Committee.

April 22 is the annual staff kickball game sponsored by Relay For Life.  The time is from 2:30-3:30.  I hope to see many of you there.

April 23 - 25 will be second grade CRCT testing.  Please be ready to test by 8:00 on those days.  Remember, the best preparation is a good night sleep, a good breakfast, and a positive attitude.

April 25  The Spring Thing, I hope you have your tickets already!

After all of these events we have only four weeks of school left!

Thank you for your cooperation, and thank you for sharing your children with me.

Gail Bergstedt

February Fun

                                                           

I was pleasantly overwhelmed by your generosity and creativity during Teacher Appreciation Week.  Thank you very much for the cards, fruit, and spa items.   I am looking forward to relaxing in luxury.

Special Thanks

• to all who helped during Teacher Appreciation Week
• to Ian's mom and Daniel's mom for staying with the class while I attended the teacher's luncheon
• to Daniel's mom and Zachary's dad for being our mystery readers
• to all the moms and dads who attended the 21st Technology demonstration
• to Ian's mom and Ethan's mom for being the "Parent Volunteers" on Wednesday; Ian's mom presented a facinating art project!

Congratulations

• to Chandler, who won the Characrter trait of Reisilence

Please Note Date Change

The date noted in the school calendar for the annual Kickball Game has been changed to April 22 after school.  More news to follow.

Dates To Remember

• February 15 - Six Flags reading logs due.  Six hours of reading for a free admission to Six Flags!
• February 18 - President's Day Holiday
• February 19 - Teacher Workday, no school for children
• February  29 - Class reading log due
• March 3 - 7 Read Across America in celebration of Dr. Seuss
• March 3 - Field trip to the Fox Theater to see Charlotte's Web. We will be wearing our Sunday best that day.  More news to follow.
• March 4 - Early Release (12:20 dismissal)
• March 5 - School Picture Day
• March 7 - Performing Arts Ballet at Cobb Civic Center.  This field trip was already paid for and permission slips have been signed - you did this in August.  The students will wear their class T-shirts on this occassion.

Curriculum Update

• Math - finished counting change and presently reviewing telling time, fractions next
• Completed science unit on space
• Returning to our social studies unit on Japan

As always, thank you for your generosity, cooperation, and for sharing your wonderful children with me.

Gail Bergstedt

Newsletter

Happy New Year!  It is such a pleasure to be back in the classroom with the greatest class!  I am looking forward to meeting with each of you during conferences next week.  You will be receiving your child's report card at that time.  Don't forget school will be ending early Tuesday - Friday, and the following Monday due to conferences.

Many Thanks

Ian's mom presented a fun art lesson on January 9 while I was at grade level planning.  Carter's mom and Daniel's mom were there for additional support.  Thank you for your time and effort!

Carter's mom and Danielle's mom have been our mystery readers so far this week.

Congratulations

Reilly was chosen to represent our class in the character education theme,  compassion.

Upcoming Events

Monday, January 21, is the National Holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and there is no school.

Wednesday, January 23 will be the 100th day of school.  We will be enjoying some fun activities which coincide with this occasion.

Important Notice - There will be a SmartBoard demonstration in room 505 on Thursday, January 31, at 8:15, and all of you are invited.  The children will help me show you the many ways of using this amazing equipment.  This new 21st Century Technology was provided to us through SPLOST funds, and, Mt. Bethel is one of six schools piloting this program.  We are thrilled!

Our visit by High Touch, High Tech will be on Monday, February 4, at 9:30.  This presentation reinforces our science unit about space.

As always, I thank you for your cooperation and support.

Gail Bergstedt

December is here!

                                                                

I am so very happy to be back with my wonderful class.  It was important to be with my daughter when she needed to be surrounded by family, and the class was in good hands.  However, presently, we are in a normal, settled routine, and all is well.  Thank you all for your kind thoughts and patience.

CONGRATULATIONS

Our Kaiya was the first place winner in the Creative Reuse contest.  I hope you had a chance to see the "train" on display in the main hall last month.

The Character Ed winners have been Will for responsibility, and Nayoung for citizenship.

I hope all the participants in the Fun Run had a great time!

MANY THANKS

I appreciate all the parents who helped make the Fall Festival a successful and fun learning activity for the class.  Also, thank you, Carter's mom, for attending the Touch the Earth field trip.  I heard all about the amazing things the children saw and experienced at Will's Park.

Our wonderful room moms made last Friday a very special day for me.  The children brought cards and flowers, and a delicious snack was enjoyed by the class in honor of my birthday.

Thank you to any child who donated change towards the school's collection for United Way.

The children are looking forward to the fantastic Cultural Celebration display our amazing PTA will provide next week.  I appreciate any parent who may be a part of that committee.

During this time of year our hearts go out to those not as fortunate as we are.  Thank you to those of you who have already contributed to Mt. Bethel's Caring and Sharing drive.

Our first Mystery Reader this month was Will's mother.  She was also Art mom during grade level planning, assisted by Daniel B.'s and Ethan's mom.   I really appreciate the parent volunteers for staying with the class on Friday will I attend the faculty Holiday Brunch.

Thank you for remembering the donation for High Touch - High Tech, and for returning the November reading logs.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Beginning next Monday the Cobb County Fire and Emergency Representives will present four lessons on Fire Safety to the second graders.  The children will have a homework assignment which is to count the number of smoke detectors in their homes, and to make sure they are in working order.

Our class winter party will be December 20, from 12:00 to 1:00.

As always, thanks for your cooperation, and, for sharing your child with me!

Mrs. Bergstedt

Autumn News

EXCITING NEWS

In case you didn't hear, I am officially a grandmother!  Baby Alexander arrived, October 8, just a little earlier than expected.  Although my daughter was alone during delivery, her husband was on a cell phone while in Iraq offering encouragement.  Alexander is a healthy 6lb.4oz., 181/2", and so far, very contented baby.  The family is now complete, as dad has a leave of 18 days before he returns as a helicopter pilot in Iraq.

Wow!  21st Century Technology will be up and running by the end of the month.  Mounted Smartboard, student responce system, DVD/VCR, and more will truely enhance student learning in our classroom!

SPECIAL THANKS

Carter's mom and Danielle's mom have been recent mystery readers.

The mom's of Ian, Carter, and Daniel were parent volunteers, staying with the class while I attended a workshop regarding technology.

All of you who have returned permission to attend the field trip on November 8.

REQUEST

We have science on Tuesday, October 23.  Please look for newspaper, or magazine pictures depicting evidance of energy for our  Science Enrichment teacher, Mrs. Walleshouser'

DATES

Please pick up your Gift Wrap order in our classroom (505) next week from 7:15-7:45 or 2:15-2:45.

October 22 Report Cards

October 22-26 Red Ribbon Week

October 29-November 2 Book Fair in the Media Center

October 30 Chick-Fil-A night (across the street from school)

November 5 and 6 Teacher Workday/Student Holiday

November 8 Touch the Earth Field Trip - Wear your class shirt!

This class is The Best!  Thank you for sharing your children with me, and as always, I appreciate your cooperation.

Most Sincerely,

Gail Bergstedt

October News

October News

Thank You

Gabriel's mom was the first mystery reader in October.

                        Ian's mom and Daniel (2)' s mom volunteered in the classroom during grade level planning for the month.  Ian's mom presented a wonderful art lesson.

                        The amazing Mount Bethel Foundation gave financial support to our Science Lab which supports our curriculum.

                        Upcoming Events

                        October 9 Picture Retake - original package must be returned

                        October 12 is a regular scheduled school day - not a teacher workday

                        October 15 at 9:00 an additional time to be trained as a classroom volunteer.  Even if you were previously trained you are asked to attend a training session this year.

                         October 16 Informal class picture taken at 9:40

Curriculum

                       The High Touch-High Tech program "Gas Blast" continued our study of matter in a fun way.

                       The class is doing a fabulous job with two digit addition with regrouping.

                       We used "Scholastic Keys" in the computer lab to publish an original poem.

As always, thank you for your cooperation, and sharing your wonderful children with me.  This is a terrific class, and each day goes by very quickly!

Mrs. Bergstedt

It's Fall!

Welcome Parents!

In Appreciation

Everyone is thankful to Ian's mom for putting together the convenient class directory.

Thanks to Carter's mom we have a schedule for Mystery Readers.  Daniel's dad and John's mom have joined us in the Media Center on Tuesday mornings so far.

Danielle's mom is scheduling parents to help in the computer lab on Thursdays.  I'd like to thank Ian's mom, Gabriel's mom, and Ethan's mom for helping out so far.

Congratulations

Chandler, Zachary, and Carter have had the joy of taking home Axel, our class mascot, for the weekend.  Several classmates are looking forward to their turn.

Our second character ed student has been chosen.  Matthew was the winner this month in the categaory "integrity."

Events

Our date for High-Touch, High Tech, "Gas Blast" is October 3.  As we are scheduled to begin at 7:55 that morning, please be sure to be on time for school that day.  This is also the day for the YMCA Sports Party.

There are many gifted and talented students within this class.  I encourage all of my wonderful students to enter the Reflection contest.  The entries are due October 4.

Curriculum

Language Arts:  Reading skills include identifying the main idea of a story, and, making self to text and text to text connections.  Writer's Workshop has the children thinking about interesting "leads" such as "Telling/Thinking" and "Questioning" sentences to make the beginning of a story exciting.

Math:  You are aware of our Math Blast Folders already.  For the first couple of weeks we are concentrating on addition only. So far this year we have studies skip counting, odd and even numbers, a variety of graphs, rounding to the nearest ten, and strategies for learning addition facts.

We are busy, and, the class is enthusiastic!  Thank you for sharing your delightful children with me, and, as always, I appreciate your cooperation!

Gail Bergstedt

Classroom News September 6

SPECIAL THANKS

                          Thank you for donating dry erase markers for our sister school

                           Thank you, also,for completing the class survey and donating to

                           our class treasury.  Ian and Carter's moms will be working on a schedule for all of you

                           who volunteered.

                            Thank you for remembering the spelling test on Thursday, and returning your home-

                            work on Friday.

                          Thank you for sending in your child's reading recond for August and totaling the

                           minutes they read that month.

CONGRATULATIONS

                          We have a class mascot this year.  Axel, named in memory of my boxer, is a Webkinz

                          who will spend the weekend in everybody's home sometime this year.  Nahyoung was

                          the first one in the class chosen for this honor.

CURRICULUM NEWS

                            Math - place value and addition

                             Language Arts lots of time reading individually and writing

                            Social Studies - community and mapping skills

                            Science - matter

UPCOMING EVENTS

                             Sally Foster gift wrap orders due Friday, September 7.

                             Night in The Parking Lot, Friday, September 7.

                             East Cobb Parade, Saturday, September 15, 10 AM.

                             Early Release, Wednesday, September 19.  School dismissed at 12:20 Spanish and 

                             Chess will meet.

                              Reading Calendars for the month of September.

                              Reflections Entries Deadline October 4

Thank you for sharing your children with me.  This is a wonderful class, and we are going to have the best year ever!

Mrs. Bergstedt

A Great Beginning To The 2007-08 School Year

                                                   

It was such a pleasure meeting you during Meet and Greet, and the evening of Open House.  Many thanks to all of the families who took my "wish list" and have donated so many items to our class.  The children are especially thankful for the playground equipment!   Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

The past few days have been filled with meeting new friends, and getting to know old classmates again.  The children are learning the second grade routine and expectations.  They are doing an amazing job, and I think this is going to be a fabulous year for all of us.

There may be some information that you will find helpful.

•   Homework packets go home on Monday and should not be returned until Friday
•   Media Center is on Tuesday, please remind your student to return their books
•   Behavior folders go home on Thursday, to be returned on Friday
•   Look for the results of your child's STAR test, this will help guide the choice of books for independent reading, and encourage success on Accelerated Reading tests
•   The class has been introduced to Drops In The Bucket and Daily Language Review.  These assignments are done independently, however, we review them together as children learn from their mistakes.
•   I have met with our room mothers.  Please watch for a survey regarding volunteering in the classroom, and a class directory.
•   Information will be coming soon about being trained as a parent substitute.

CONGRATULATIONS

The character ed. word for August was RESPECT.  The class chose Sarah as the person who best represents that character trait.  We are proud of Sarah, and pleased she was honored by her peers.