September 2013

Dear Parents, We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you and your child to the Grade Two French Immersion program here at Corsair Public School. We look forward to sharing an exciting and memorable year with your child. This year will differ dramatically from your experience in the Grade One French Immersion program. This year your child will have two teachers, Mme Coelho-Freeman on French days and Ms. Pulak on English days, as the program moves from 90% French to 50% French and 50% English. Your child will now be expected to learn, grow and achieve in a dual language program. At Corsair, we run on a ten day cycle, this cycle will indicate to you which days your child has French and which days they have English. It will also inform you on which days your child has Health and Physical Education, Music, Drama/Dance, Library and Computers. The teacher your child reports to on the first day of school, Day 1, will be known as your childs homeroom teacher.

Mme Coelho-Freemans Homeroom: French Days: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 Ms. Pulaks Homeroom: French Days: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 English Days: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 English Days: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10

We will provide you with a monthly calendar that indicates the Day Cycle as well as other important dates and events. French and English Subject Areas The subject areas that will be taught in French by Mme Coelho-Freeman are: French (Oral, Reading & Writing), Social Studies, 2 units in Science and Visual Arts The subject areas that will be taught in English by Ms. Pulak are: English (Oral, Reading & Writing), Math, 2 units in Science Other subjects that are taught in French and English by Planning Time teachers are as follows: FRENCH Music with Mme Stratton Drama/Dance with Mme Horne ENGLISH Health and Phys. Ed. with Mrs. Rodrigues Computers with Miss Li

Newsletters At the beginning of each month, a newsletter will be sent home detailing the curriculum being covered in class.

Agendas This year all students will be using an agenda to record important dates and homework assignments. These agendas will also serve as a communication tool between home and school. Homework Students in Grade Two are expected to complete 20 minutes of homework each night as per the guidelines set out by the Peel Board of Education as well as the Corsair School Code. Homework does not necessarily mean paper and pencil activities. Homework can include but is not limited to: Extra practice worksheets, work that has not been completed in class, projects, oral practice (ie. practicing vocabulary, reciting poems, stories, songs, etc.) and most importantly reading. With that being said, the major focus for homework during the Grade Two year and especially in the first term is going to be on reading and reading comprehension. Your child is expected to read in both French and English each night. Once your child has finished reading their English book/text, please engage in a conversation with them about what he/she has read by asking them questions about the story (ie. What happened? Who were the characters?) or by having them retell the story to you in their own words. It is through these conversations and activities that you will be able to ensure that your child has understood what he/she has just read. With the French book/text, your child is expected to read the book aloud at least 3 times. We will begin with very simple readers. The purpose of these books is to help consolidate their French pronunciation, fluency and to build their French vocabulary. Items Needed for School This year the students have been provided with scissors, rulers, glue, pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners and pencil crayons. These items must remain in the classroom and are shared between both classes. The following items may be provided from home for your childs own personal use. It is helpful if these items remain in your childs backpack or at school. Please label each pencil and item provided: 2-3 sharpened pencils an eraser a glue stick a package of pencil crayons (12 pack or 24 pack). We also ask that each student bring the following items to school as soon as possible: 1. a homework bag please purchase a cloth/plastic zippered pouch for your child to bring their homework and agenda to and from school in. These can be found at the dollar store for $1 - $2. 2. a manageable backpack / school bag (please be sure your child can carry their backpack upstairs) 3. a box of facial tissues to stay at school 4. a pair of indoor / gym shoes (which your child can put on quickly without help since they will be changing their shoes approximately 6 or more times a day) We only have room for one pair of indoor shoes. They must be appropriate running shoes for gym with non-marking soles. 5. a lunch bag / box containing a healthy lunch - Once again we will be running a Balanced School Day program where the children will have two twenty minute periods to eat their lunch and snacks. (Sorry, we do not have the facilities to microwave lunches.)

6. a re-usable water bottle - We ask that all students bring in a refillable water bottle each day. We have a sink in both classrooms where the students will be able to refill their water bottles throughout the day as needed. 7. a colouring / activity book for indoor recesses due to inclement weather Thank you for your cooperation in providing your child with all the necessary materials for a good start in the Grade Two program. Our grade two team is looking forward to a fabulous fun-filled school year with plenty of learning and excitement! We cant wait to meet and get to know each and every one of our students and their families. Heres to a great start to a wonderful year!

Sincerely, Mme Coelho-Freeman & Ms. Pulak