Second Grade, Ms. DeVaney-Wilkes, (Ms. D.)
Ms. DeVaney-Wilkes, (Ms. D.)

Years Experience: 44 years
Years at Holy Cross: 36
Special Award: 2014 NCEA Distinguished Teacher of the Year
"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."
~ Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Welcome!
My name is Suzanne DeVaney-Wilkes, but I'm better known as Ms. D. at Holy Cross. In my family, I'm also known as Grandma Suzy. I have three awesome grandsons, Xander (8 yrs.), Rowan (5 yrs.), and Baby Theo, born on April 3, 2023, and one amazing granddaughter, Sophie (3 yrs.). God is good!
This is my forty-fourth year of teaching, my thirty-sixth at Holy Cross. I can hardly believe how quickly time has passed! Most of my career has been spent teaching second grade. It's such an incredible year of academic, social, emotional, spiritual, and physical growth. I still have fond memories of being a second grader myself in Mrs. Edlund's class at The Madeleine School in Northeast Portland. My hope is that your child will feel the same way I did, and still do, about this special year of elementary school.
We all know that it takes many hands to make the work light! I am thrilled to have Mrs. Jen Washburn as our part time instructional aide. She works each day till 12:45 p.m. Also joining the second grade team is Miss Sierra Faoro. She is a student at the University of Portland and will be completing her Student Teaching experience in order to fulfill the requirements to become a certified teacher. Miss Faoro worked as an aide at Holy Cross during the 2022-2023 school year so many of the students know her already. Plus, she is a Holy Cross graduate herself! What a blessing for all of us at Holy Cross!
Students need a safe, respectful, and faith-filled classroom environment where they can feel comfortable and confident in their learning. Effective classroom management directly enhances the learning environment. Students who consistently demonstrate behaviors that reflect the Schoolwide Learning Expectations (SLEs) become Busy Bee Self-Managers. The children really take these expectations to heart and do their best to become Busy Bees!
Second graders who have been baptized have the opportunity to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist during the school year. Please contact Andrea Swanson, the parish Director of Religious Education, if you are interested in having your child participate in the parish program. This is an important mission of the parish. We hope to deepen the children's knowledge of Catholicism and put their faith into action. The children come with open minds and hearts in order to more fully participate in the Church, the Body of Christ. Even though I am no longer directly involved in teaching the Sunday sacramental preparation classes, I will offer support by planning with Mrs. Swanson and teaching lessons about these Sacraments in the classroom.
It's wonderful to be part of the Holy Cross community. It feels like a home away from home. There's no place I'd rather be!

Important Dates
September 5 ~ First Day of School
September 11 ~ 2nd grade Back-to-School Night at 6:00 p.m. in the classroom
October 13 ~ Statewide Teacher In-service Day ~ No School for the students
The Second Grade Buzz Newsletter
The Second Grade Buzz Newsletter ~ Click to read the latest classroom news!
Back-to-School Information 2023-2024
Click here to read the digital version of important 2nd grade information.
2nd Grade Goals - Click for kid-friendly versions of math and language arts goals.


Scholastic Book Orders
Book orders are optional each month.
Use this link to place your Scholastic Book Order online. The class code is L448K.
Book orders are due on October 12.
Faith Formation
Learning about and having the opportunity to fully participate in the wonderful sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist make second grade an extra special year!
First Communion at Holy Cross Parish will take place during the regular weekend Masses on May 7th and May 14th. There will be a celebration for all the first communicants after Mass on May 7th.
First Holy Communion Photo Gallery for 2023
Blessings to Lucy who received her First Holy Communion on April 30th at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.
Photo taken by Lucy's big sister, Clara!
Congratulations to 2nd graders Anabeth, Amy, Bennett, Luca, Sebastian, Josephine, Clara, and Hazel, and Harlow and 5th grader Mia, as well as Holy Cross parishioner Michael who received their First Holy Communion on May 7th!
Blessings to Faith, Ryland, and David who celebrated their First Communion day on May 14th!



Holy Cross Religious Education
If you have any questions, please email Andrea Swanson at aswanson@archdpdx.org. Thank you!
Andrea Swanson
Director of Religious Education
Holy Cross Parish, North Portland
(503) 206-8069

Service Projects
- The second grade works with the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry with whatever they may need.
- We also provide service to the parish by making various projects and writing notes to the homebound.