After reviewing the speech President Obama made to students on September , I believe it sends a positive message students would benefit from hearing, regardless of your political beliefs. Although, I do feel that it is geared more toward older students, I do not feel it is inappropriate for 2nd graders to hear.  I have chosen not to share it in the classroom, but I do encourage you to review the speech, watch it with your child, and discuss what the message means. Attached is a written copy of the speech so you may review it and decide if you feel it is appropriate. There is also a link to the website where you can review the speech.  

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has new guidance for schools and it differs 

from previous documents we received in the spring of 2009. The new guidance applies to any flu virus 

circulating during the 2009-2010 school year, not only 2009 H1N1 flu.  This guidance recommends 

that, based on current flu conditions, students and staff with flu-like illness stay home until at least 24 

hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever.  This should be determined without the use 

of fever-reducing medications.  This is a shorter time period from the previous guidance of 7 days.  

Schools are particularly being targeted for prevention measures as the largest number of cases has been 

in people between the ages of 5-24 years old.   

Recommendations for preventing the spread of flu remain the following: 

! Practicing good hand hygiene.  Students and staff members should wash their hands often 

with soap and water especially after coughing or sneezing. Hands should be washed for at least 

20 seconds.   Alcohol based hand cleaners that are at least 60% alcohol, are also effective. 

! Practicing respiratory etiquette.  The main way that the flu spreads is from person to person 

in the droplets produced by coughs and sneezes, so it's important to cover your mouth and nose 

with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your 

elbow or shoulder, not into your hands.  

! Sick students and staff should be sent home immediately.  Persons displaying signs of 

influenza should be isolated from other students and staff and that is difficult given the school 

setting. That being said, the use of masks for the infected individual is recommended.  

Although the use of a mask for caregivers is of suspicious worth, that could be something to 

explore as the season progresses.  Masks are available through our purchasing department.   

! Clean surfaces and items more likely to have frequent hand contact with cleaning agents 

that are usually used in these areas.  Additional disinfection beyond routine cleaning is not 

recommended.   

Signs and symptoms of influenza include cough, fever, sore throat and body aches; in the case of 

H1N1, vomiting and diarrhea can also occur.   

If you have questions regarding influenza or any other infectious disease, your school nurse is an 

excellent resource.  Please report all suspected cases to her immediately so she can guide you through 

the process we have in place.  I would also recommend that we remind people of the importance of 

confidentiality when it comes to health information.  

Sight-words storage box

Share this craft:

Kids will love creating this colorful collage box-and you'll love the way the cards inside help reinforce their reading skills!

This activity is appropriate for: 
pre-k - 3rd grade / 4 - 8 years

You will need:

Collage Box  

Collage materials

 Washable Liquid Tempera - Pints

Crayons, markers, or colored pencils

Scissors

Glue

Small index cards

Directions

Paint the outside of a collage box. When the paint is completely dry, decorate it with collage materials, such as foam stickers, buttons, glitter, or macaroni.

Create sight-word flash cards by writing the words on small index cards. Attached is a list of 2^nd grade words students will learn to read and write by the end of the year.

Store the flash cards inside your collage box.

Each day, choose a few flash cards from inside the box. Have your child practice reading and writing the words shown on the cards.  

Homemade sidewalk chalk

Share this craft:

Children get double the fun from this clever craft project-first they make the chalk, then they draw and color the sidewalk with it!

This activity is appropriate for: pre-k - 6th grade / 4 - 11 years

You will need:

Plaster of paris

Washable Liquid Tempera - Pints

Craft Sticks

Paper cups

Bowl

Water

Directions

Pour 1 cup of plaster of paris into your bowl. With a craft stick, stir in 2 heaping spoonfuls of washable tempera paint. Slowly stir in water until the mixture is thick and pasty. Pour the mixture into paper cups. Set aside to dry for a few hours. When your chalk is completely dry, tear away the paper cups. Your chalk is ready to use-to create sidewalk art that washes right off! Encourage children to use their sidewalk chalk to practice writing their names, sight words or fun messages. Another great way to incorporate writing into children's activities is to encourage them to make crossword puzzles in a hopscotch grid.

Attached you will find what things we will be learning throughout the year.