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Second grade offers a fully integrated curriculum covering all the required Virginia SOLs -- and then some! The second grade teachers plan and implement the curriculum together -- often bringing all three classes together as a little family of learners. We work together, garden together, create together, travel together, and make learning fun together!
For the first time in 2014, PHSSA second graders were offered free swim classes as part of a larger program that has been in place in RPS for several years now. This program occurs in August before the rest of the schools are even back in session. While in the late summer months, we also harvest our Native American "Three Sisters" garden planted by the previous year's second grade class. Everyone gets a taste of squash and beans -- then we finish off with an Old-Fashioned Corn Boil. We follow that up by planting a winter crops of kale, cabbage, and broccoli. Make sure you have traveling shoes for second grade! We make frequent trips to our outdoor classrooms, both on the "campus" of the school and at Forest Hill Park. We look forward to Fridays and our Environmental Education program and to art, music, and PE. Speaking of arts, second grade loves to paint, draw, dance, and sing our way through all subjects! We also love to investigate and get our hands dirty. We are scientists, artists, writers, mathematicians, meteorologists, and performers! And that is just a glimpse! Who knows what new things will be on the horizon? Second grade will be integrating more technology into our curriculum as well in the coming year. PHSSA recently added an additional Computer Lab in our Media Center. We also utilize PCs and iPads in the classroom as part of our learning station rotations. We heartily welcome all to our second grade family -- be ready for anything! For more information on what's happening in Second Grade at PHSSA please visit our grade level website here.
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August 2015 | The Three Sisters harvest
Volunteer Opportunities:
Forest Hill Park Trips -- Fridays 2017-2018 Fall Field Trips: More info to come! |
SECOND GRADE TEACHERS
Stephanie Grines (smerida@rvaschools.net) -- Mrs. Grines attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she received a B.I.S in Liberal Studies for Elementary Education and a Master’s of Teaching. Mrs. Grines joined the PHSSA family as a long-term substitute in 2017 and now will be a permanent member of our team. She is looking forward to empowering her students and learning from them. In addition to teaching, her passions include photography and traveling.
Elizabeth Marunde (emartin2@rvaschools.net) -- Mrs. Marunde holds a B.A. in English with a concentration in World Literature, and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction: Elementary Education for Diverse Young Learners from George Mason University. Mrs. Marunde is eager to instill a sense of value in each of her students and to perpetuate her career as a life-long co-learner and explorer.
Shae McGrath (slamere@rvaschools.net) -- Mrs. McGrath is excited to share her passion of teaching through creativity and exploration. She attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she received a B.S. in Mass Communications with a concentration in Creative Advertising and Design. After working in graphic design, she decided to go back to school where she got her Masters of Arts in Teaching from Mary Baldwin College through an integrated and inquiry based teaching program.
Theresa Morris (tmorris@rvaschools.net) -- Mrs. Morris received her B.A. from Randolph-Macon College with a major in Sociology. She completed University of Richmond’s Teacher Licensure Program. This is her fourth year at PHSSA and her third year teaching first grade. She is currently the Lead Teacher for First Grade. In her spare time she enjoys extreme couponing, reading a good book and traveling with her family.