Welcome, Families!

Grade 1/2 Combo

Welcome to Our Adventure!

Mrs. S

2026-2027 School Year

Meet Mrs. S

Originally from Egypt — been in the States for ten years!

Married to Mr. S, who works for a company in the Bay Area.

Proud mom of Steven (graduated UC Santa Cruz, Computer Engineering — now working in San Jose), Simon (Sophomore at San Diego State University, Mechanical Engineering), and a sweet pet dog named Scott!

My Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Helwan University in Egypt.

Worked at the Egyptian Stock Market for a couple of years.

TESOL Certification:

Diploma in TESOL Level 7 from the British Council.

This diploma helps me teach English engagingly for young children. It also, gives me the ability to design lessons tailored to each child’s level and provide a supportive learning environment that boosts confidence in using English.

Early Childhood Education:

Associate Teacher Certificate in Early Childhood Education from Diablo Valley College, CA.

Teaching Experience:

I have extensive experience teaching international curricula for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school in the U.S. and overseas! 🌸

Experience & Service

Experience

Over the years, I have taught kindergarten and elementary students in other countries in the Middle East.

My journey in education continued when I moved to California, where I have taught Pre-school, TK and Kindergarten and elementary classes in different schools in the Bay Area.

Service

Beyond the classroom, I am a member of the Children’s Ministry, offering Sunday School lessons through The Mighty Warrior Church Zoom meetings for children ages 5–8.

I am a member of the Rock Church in Danville, serving within the Arabic Ministry where we help the community of Arabic language speakers meet the Lord.

I am deeply committed to providing a nurturing and developmentally appropriate educational experience for your children. I am looking forward to a wonderful year of learning and growth together.

Our Classroom Vision

Belonging: Every student is seen, valued, and welcomed in our classroom community.

Respect & Responsibility: We care for one another, our space, and our learning.

Faith, Kindness & Growth: Rooted in biblical truth, we grow together in character and learning every day.

YVCS Grade 1/2 Combo Class Course Overview

Welcome to our Grade 1/2 classroom!

First and second grade are important years of growth. Students are building the academic skills, learning habits, independence, and confidence that will support them throughout elementary school and beyond.

Because this is a combination classroom, students will sometimes learn together as one class and sometimes work in smaller grade-level or skill-based groups. Instruction will be differentiated so that students can receive the support or challenge they need while still enjoying the community and benefits of learning together.

Our goal is not simply to complete assignments or finish textbooks. We want students to understand what they are learning, become confident learners, develop strong foundational skills, and grow academically, socially, and spiritually.

Bible (Deep Roots Curriculum)

The Bible is an important part of our classroom and will be integrated into our daily learning and classroom community.

Students will learn Bible stories and Scripture while also discussing how biblical truths apply to everyday life.

Areas of Focus

Throughout the year, students will learn about:

- God and His creation

- God's love for us

- Jesus and His teachings

- Prayer

- Character Traits

- Making wise choices

- Bible stories and characters

- Scripture memory

Our goal is not simply for students to know Bible stories, but to understand how God's Word can shape the way they think, speak, treat others, and make choices.

English Language Arts (Abeka Curriculum)

Reading and writing are at the heart of our classroom.

Students will work on becoming accurate, fluent readers who understand what they read and can communicate their ideas clearly through speaking and writing.

What We Will Work On

Throughout the year, students will develop skills in:

- Phonics and decoding

- Sight words

- Reading comprehension

- Fiction and nonfiction

- Main idea and supporting details

- Cursive handwriting

- Capitalization and punctuation

- Spelling

- Opinion writing

- Phonetic awareness

- Reading fluency

- Vocabulary

- Story elements

- Sequencing and retelling

- Sentence structure

- Grammar

- Narrative, informative, and opinion writing

Our Reading Goal

We want students to become more than children who can simply say the words on a page.

We want them to become readers who understand, think question, make connections, and enjoy reading.

Math (Singapore Math Curriculum)

Math instruction will focus on developing both understanding foundational facts and practicing with fluency. Students should understand why a mathematical strategy works, while also becoming increasingly accurate and efficient with foundational skills.

What We Will Work On

Depending on grade level and student readiness, topics will include:

- Number sense

- Counting and number patterns

- Place value

- Comparing numbers

- Addition and subtraction

- Addition/subtraction strategies

- Fact fluency

- Word problems

- Mental math

- Skip counting

- Measurement

- Time

- Money

- Data and graphs

- Shapes and geometry

- Fractions

- Patterns

- Intro to multiplication (if ready)

Math Facts: Building Fluency

Building addition and subtraction fact fluency is an important goal. We will practice regularly at school, and occasional practice at home may be recommended when a student needs extra reinforcement. Mastery matters more than speed.

Science (Mystery Science and BJU Curriculum)

Science in our classroom will encourage students to observe, wonder, investigate, ask questions, and discover how God's world works.

Students will participate in age-appropriate investigations, demonstrations, discussions, observations, reading, writing, and hands-on activities.

Areas of Study May Include

- Living things

- Plants and animals

- Habitats

- Life cycles

- Earth's materials

- Weather and seasons

- Patterns in the sky

- Matter and materials

- Light and sound

- Forces and motion

- Engineering and design

- Caring for our environment

Whenever possible, science will be something students experience, not simply something they read about.

Our goal is to develop curiosity and help students learn to think like young scientists:

I notice. I wonder. I predict. I investigate. I discover.

Social Studies (Abeka and BJU Curriculum)

Social Studies helps students understand their place in their classroom, community, country, and world.

Students will explore history, geography, citizenship, communities, cultures, and the responsibilities we share as members of a community.

Areas of Study May Include

- Families and communities

- Rules and responsibilities

- Good citizenship

- Community helpers

- Past and present

- Important historical people and events

- Maps and globes

- Land and water

- California and the United States

- National symbols

- Holidays and traditions

- Needs and wants

- Basic economics

- Different cultures and communities

Students will learn that history is more than remembering dates and names. It is the story of people, places, choices, and events that help us understand the world around us.

How We Learn

Whole Group Lessons: Mini-lessons bring the class together for shared learning, read-alouds, and direct instruction.

Small Group Instruction: Targeted teaching based on readiness — Grade 1 and Grade 2 groups receive focused, differentiated support.

Learning Centers: Students rotate through literacy, math, science, and creative centers to practice skills independently and collaboratively.

Partner Work: Peer learning and discussion deepen understanding and build communication skills.

Independent Practice: Students apply new skills on their own, building confidence and self-regulation.

Hands-On Projects: Inquiry-based and creative projects connect learning to real-world experiences.

Enrichment: Students who are ready are challenged with extension activities to grow further.

Classroom Expectations:

Our classroom is a place where students should feel safe, respected, challenged, and encouraged.

We will practice three simple expectations:

We treat one another as valued members of our classroom community.

We respect our classmates, teachers, learning time, materials, and classroom.

We take responsibility for our work, our choices, our belongings, and our classroom.

Mistakes are part of learning. Students will be encouraged to try, ask questions, persevere, and learn from mistakes rather than being afraid of them.

We Belong Here

We Respect It

We Take Care of It

We belong here.

We respect it.

We take care of it.

Homework & Home Practice

Homewalist

🗓 Monthly Homework Menu

Students will receive a monthly homework menu and choose 2 assignments from each subject. Work may be completed on separate paper or in a notebook designated for monthly homework and is due at the end of the month.

📖 Reading Every Night:

10 minutes of reading nightly is required.

📁 Friday Folders

Friday Folders will come home with completed classwork and materials to prepare for the following week, including the Bible Verse and Spelling List. Completing the weekly practice sheets is optional, but practicing the material is strongly recommended to prepare for assessments.

⭐ Weekly Assessments

Students and parents are responsible for preparing for weekly Bible Verse, Spelling, Phonics, and Math assessments. We practice daily in class, and students should review at home as needed.

✏️ Second Semester Journaling:

Beginning second semester: Grade 1: at least 3 days/week • Grade 2: 5 days/week

🔬 Special Projects

Occasionally, students may receive a Science or Social Studies project. A separate note with instructions and due dates will be sent home when a project is assigned.

Our goal: meaningful practice • family flexibility • growing independence & responsibility !

Assessment & Student Growth

Student progress will be monitored through a combination of:

• Classroom observations

• Daily work

• Reading assessments

• Writing samples

• Math assessments

• Projects

• Class participation

• NWA assessments

• Informal checks for understanding

Assessment helps us answer an important question:

What does this student understand, and what should we teach next?

Grades and assessments are important, but growth, effort, understanding, and developing independence are also essential parts of learning.

Behavoir and Positive Community

ClassDojo – Positive Choices

Students earn Dojo points for kindness, responsibility, participation, teamwork, and following classroom expectations.

Dojo points help us recognize and celebrate positive choices and growth.

Parents can stay connected and see their child’s positive progress through ClassDojo.

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Sticker Chart – Academic Achievement

Each student will have an individual sticker chart.

Stickers are earned for academic effort, completed work, improvement, and doing their personal best.

When a student fills their sticker chart, they earn a visit to the Treasure Box!

What Students Need Each Day

Please ensure your child comes to school each day prepared with the following:

• Reusable water bottle: Labelled with your child’s name.

• Lunch bag: Please pack a healthy snack and a healthy lunch each day to help your child stay energized and ready to learn.

• Comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes: School-appropriate and suitable for active learning and outdoor play.

• Homework Folder: Please return the folder with completed homework on Monday.

• Library/Reading Book: Once your child has finished reading the book, please return it to the library so they can check out a new one.

• Backpack: Please check your child’s backpack regularly for important papers, notes, and school communication.

Birthdays, Toys, Food & Dress Code

A few practical policies to keep in mind:

Birthdays: Store-bought treats welcome — please notify Mrs. S in advance (Last Friday of the month is perfect to celebrate)

Toys & Personal Items: Please leave toys and collectibles at home

Food & Allergies: Nut-aware classroom; healthy snacks encouraged

Dress Code: Follow YVCS uniform policy; closed-toe shoes for PE days

Attendance, Tardies & Dismissal

Attendance Matters: Regular attendance is essential for your child’s learning. Please notify the school by 8:30 AM if your child will be absent.

Tardies: Students arriving after 8:45 AM are marked tardy and must sign in at the office for a tardy slip before going to class. K–5th grade students must be accompanied by a parent. Three tardies count as one absence.

Dismissal: Students will only be released to authorized individuals listed in FACTS. If someone new is picking up your child, please call/email the office in advance.

Specials & Enrichment

Chapel:

Weekly worship and faith community time together as a school, connecting our learning to biblical values and prayer.

Physical Education:

Developing coordination, teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy habits through structured movement and fun activities.

Music:

Exploring rhythm, melody, singing, and musical expression in a joyful, creative environment.

Building creativity and fine motor skills through age-appropriate projects, color, and artistic exploration.

Developing a love of reading through book selection, research skills, and storytime with our school librarian.

Classroom Enrichment:

Hands-on centers, project-based learning, and extension activities that deepen curiosity and celebrate each learner.

Art:

Library:

Field Trips & Chaperones

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Chaperone Expectations:

• Chaperones MUST sign and comply with all Chaperone Regulations

• Background checks must be completed and on file before the trip

• Chaperones supervise their assigned group — please stay with your group at all times

• Cell phone use is limited; your focus is on the students

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This Year’s Field Trips:

• Lindsay Wildlife Education Center

• Black Diamond Mines

• Lawrence Hall of Science

• Additional trips will be announced once confirmed

How Parents can Help?

Volunteering: We welcome classroom volunteers! Help with centers, read-alouds, special projects, and field trips. Watch for sign-up opportunities throughout the year.

Reading Support: The single best thing you can do at home is read together daily. Listen to your child read, ask questions, and visit the library often.

Field Trips: Chaperones and drivers make our field trips possible! Since we have a large class, parent drivers are especially important and greatly appreciated. If you are interested in helping as a chaperone or driver, please complete all required paperwork with the school office ahead of time so you are ready for any upcoming field trips.

Communication: Please check the weekly folder, and reach out early if concerns arise. Partnership between home and school makes all the difference.

Independence at Home: Encourage your child to pack their own bag, remember their responsibilities, and talk about their school day — these habits build confidence!

Communication

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E-mail is our primary form of communication — please check it regularly for updates, newsletters, and important notices.

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The FACTS Family App is used for school-wide announcements, grades, attendance, and direct messaging — download it and keep notifications on.

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ClassDojo will be used for classroom updates, reminders, photos, and positive behavior feedback. Please accept your child’s invitation and keep notifications on.

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Individual meetings can be scheduled by reaching out via email — we welcome conversations about your child's progress and wellbeing.

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Families will receive regular updates through weekly folders, monthly newsletters, and progress reports throughout the year.

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Some Classroom Pictures

Some Classroom Pictures

Some Classroom Pictures

Some Classroom Pictures

Our Goal for the Year

By the end of the year, our hope is that every student leaves this classroom having grown not only academically, but also in confidence, independence, curiosity, responsibility, kindness, and faith.

We want students to be able to look back at their work and say:

“I couldn't do this before.

I practiced.

I learned.

And now I can.”

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That is what our Hard Work Wall represents, and that is what we will celebrate throughout the year.

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Welcome to Our Territory!

We are so glad you are part of our Grade 1/2 adventure! 🌟

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This classroom is a place where every child is known, valued, and celebrated. Together — families and teachers — we make the greatest team.

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Thank you for trusting us with your child. We cannot wait to grow, learn, and explore together this year.

Here we go! Let the adventure begin! 🎒

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— Mrs. S.