Voice Mail:
206-252-8338
E-Mail:
dtrudnowski@seattleschools.org
Dear Second Grade Students and Families,
My name is Mrs. Diane Trudnowski, and I teach the
second grade in Pod C, room C-2. You may call me Mrs.
Trudnowski, but lots of the students call me "Mrs. T.", which
is okay, too. I know that I have a long last name that
can sometimes be hard to pronounce. I love teaching the
second grade because the students are so eager to learn and this
makes my job a lot of fun! Let me tell you a little bit about
myself...
Some of my favorite things are
Hershey's chocolate bars,
collecting memorabilia about the late Princess Diana,
watching "American Idol", and
Seattle Mariners baseball. I listen to
every game on the radio or watch the games on television.
My husband and I are frequently at the ballpark
to watch the Mariners' games in person. Two highlights
of my teaching career were when members of the Seattle
Mariners team visited Maple for an assembly in May, 2002,
and when Mariners broadcast announcer, Rick Rizzs, visited my class in
January, 2002.
Mariners announcer, Rick Rizzs.
Meeting Princess Diana's brother, Earl Charles Spencer, May 2005.
With my baseball buddy, the Mariner Moose.
My "American Idol" buddy, Fourth Grade teacher at Maple, Ms. Woods.
I enjoy updating our class website (almost daily) and keeping
my students and parents informed about the "goings-on" at
Maple! It has been a labor of love setting up a computer lab/
publishing center at the back of our classroom area. Over a
two-year period, I was able to locate/dig-up/get
donated 21 computers for the second graders. The students
use these computers on a daily basis, and one of their favorite
things to do at school is to publish their stories, poems, projects,
and letters using the computers. In addition, I won a grant that
allowed me to purchase an incredible comb-binding machine
(and all of its accessories) for my students to "finish off" their
beautiful work. I am so proud of my students and their abilities!
They continue to amaze me every single day.
Another highlight of my teaching career happened in November
of 2006, when I was presented with the Seattle Seahawks/Symetra
Financial "Heroes In The Classroom" Award at a surprise
school assembly! I got to meet my favorite Seahawks football
player at the assembly, Defensive End #98 Grant Wistrom!
In February, 2004, I was appointed to Scholastic Books'
National Teacher Advisory Board. Being appointed to
serve on this board was a huge honor. I went to New York City
to meet with the other 23 teachers selected to serve from all
across the United States. We had very informative, intense,
and exciting meetings with the Scholastic Books' staff. They
were extremely interested in what is happening in today's
elementary classrooms with regards to books and reading. I
served as a member of this board until March of 2005. During
this time I completed many "homework assignments" for
Scholastic (previewing new books, giving them tips about
upcoming book order forms, etc.). I also made many new friends.
You can view photos from my trip to New York
at the NY Trip-
Scholastic link.
My husband Tom is a frequent volunteer at Maple - you will
get to know his smiling face around school! We have been
married for twenty-one years. Tom likes to join our class on
field trips, loves to help out at class parties, and gives me
lots of help when it comes to technology. You may
call him "Mr. T." if you would like.
I have been teaching elementary school since 1985,
and received my degree from the University of Washington (Go HUSKIES!).
During August of 2006, Mr. T. and I visited two major league
baseball parks in Texas (Houston Astros and Texas Rangers).
Be sure to take a look at the Baseball and Mrs. T. link to see photos from
all of the ballparks that we have visited so far. My goal
is to someday visit all of the major league ballparks in
both the American and National leagues (I only have 17 to go!)
Thank you for visiting our second grade class website. I hope
that you come back often to see what's new!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Trudnowski
(Mrs. T. as a fifth grader.) (Mrs. T. as a grown-up.)
Voice Mail: 206-252-8338
P.S. Did you know that I went to Kindergarten at the "old" Maple
Elementary School (which was located just a few blocks east of the
current Maple Elementary)?!!
"Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone...
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in your own."
As quoted by Princess Diana - from her favorite poem called "Ye Wearie Wayfarer"
by Adam Lindsay Gordon.
In memory of our friend, Bob Ferris. Click on the flag or the candle to learn more
about Bob.
"Perhaps we're too embarrassed to change or too frightened of the consequences of showing
that we actually care. But why not risk it anyway? Begin today. Carry out a random act of seemingly
senseless kindness, with no expectation or reward. Safe in the knowledge that one day, someone
somewhere might do the same for you." ~Princess Diana
Original items on this page are Copyright 2009 Diane Trudnowski.
"America" graphic courtesy of "Original Country ClipArt By
Lisa" .
Duck with bat and baseball graphic courtesy of Graphics By Grandma
George.
FAN(S) VISITING!
