Background:

Hi, my name is Clarice Mandala and I love teaching second grade at St. Peter’s! This is my fourth year at St. Peter’s. Before that I substitute taught for ten years for the Archdiocese of San Francisco and taught full-time for fourteen years in San Jose and San Francisco.  I am a native Californian, born and raised in San Jose.  I received my bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from San Jose State University.  One interesting piece of information is that my mom was born and raised in the Mission District in San Francisco, lived on Florida Street, and made her First Holy Communion at St. Peter’s!

Class Schedule:

Click on the “class schedule” link in the yellow box to the right.

Communication:

I highly value communication with the parents.  When a question or concern arises, please feel free to contact me either by sending a note to school with your child or by calling the school office after 3:15 pm.  The school telephone number is (415) 647-8662.

Homework:

Homework is given to reinforce skills that have been taught in class. On Monday through Thursday nights, your child will have approximately thirty minutes of homework which usually includes reading, spelling, and mathematics. Also, if your child does not finish class work in the time allotted during the day, it will need to be completed for homework.

Grading Policies:

The grading policy is the school policy.  Grades given on tests are: O meaning outstanding, S meaning successful, and N meaning needs improvement. For all other work I use a “star/happy face”, “OK”, and “Careful!” which correspond to the O, S, N grading system.

Report Cards: 

Report cards are given out quarterly, four times a year.  If your child is having difficulty with a subject or behavior, a progress report will be sent home halfway through the quarter so that you and your child will be informed of the difficulty and be able to work in conjunction with the teacher to improve the grade or behavior.

Discipline:

Your child is expected to take responsibility for his/her behavior. Self- respect, and respect for classmates, teachers, and all faculty is essential. If your child should misbehave consistently, and consequences are having no impact on improving his/her behavior, then you will be contacted for a conference.  Further information regarding discipline procedures are outlined in the St. Peter’s Handbook.

Religion Program: 

Second graders are expected to know certain prayers.  They are practiced in class but it is also expected that they practice them at home as well.  Your child should know: The Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Morning Offering, Grace before and after Meals, Mass Responses, Act of Contrition, Guardian Angel Prayer, and Prayer in Troubled Times.

During the second grade year, your child will have the opportunity to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist.  In order to receive these sacraments, your child must be baptized in the Catholic Church and attend monthly meetings with his/her parents.  More information will be given as the school year progresses.

Conclusion:

I am confident that as we work together, your child will have academic success, grow in his/her Catholic faith, and enjoy second grade at St. Peter’s!