ABC’s of First Grade

Absence: If your child is absent, please make sure to send in an official doctor’s note to be an excused absence. If your child will be leaving early for an appointment, please let us know in the planner what time he/she will be checked out.

Arrival and Dismissal: Students should arrive after 8:30 a.m. They will report to the hallway outside of the classroom each morning. School begins promptly at 9:00. Dismissal will begin at 3:15 p.m. from the car loop circle. All students should be picked up no later than 3:40. If your child is a car rider, you will need to be in the lane closest to the school. The outermost lane is reserved for Kindergarten only!

Behavior Expectations: See the attached sheet.

Birthdays: If you wish to bring in a treat for the class for your child’s birthday, please let us know in advance. Birthday treats will be handed out during recess or on a day that you volunteered for Fun Friday.

Breakfast: A school breakfast is served every morning from 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. The cost of breakfast is $.70.

Communication: A weekly newsletter from us goes home every Monday. Parent/teacher communication will be done through “blue home-school folders.” Please read monthly calendar for events in the classroom and resource schedule.

Conferences: Parent/teacher conferences are held before and after school at a scheduled time. Both Mrs. Mack and Mrs. Alvarado will be present for each scheduled conference. We will hold a conference with each parent in the start of the 3rd nine-week period.

Daily Schedule: Look at the schedule posted outside of the classroom.

Emergency information: If for any reason your emergency numbers change during the year, please inform the office and us ASAP so you can be located quickly if an emergency occurs.

Early Dismissal: Early release days are every other Wednesday. Students will be dismissed at 2:00. Due to professional development on these days, we will be unavailable for conferencing.

Field trips: If you would like to chaperone, please remember that younger children will not be allowed to attend and that you must drive your own car. Please send permission slips back ASAP. Field trips must be paid with CASH. All chaperones must attend the volunteer orientation.

Grading: Students in First Grade will receive grades of E, S+, S, S-, and U. They earn grades in Communications (Reading/Writing), Mathematics, and Social Growth and Development (Behavior).

Homework: Homework will be sent home on Monday. Your child is asked to complete this work by him/herself, under your supervision, and return it on Friday. Homework is counted as a percentage of your child’s academic grade. Homework that is turned in a day late will have points taken off.

Information folder: Please make sure you fill out all items in the folder and return them to school as quickly as possible.

Illness: If your child is sick, please keep him/her home. If your child becomes ill at school, you will be contacted and expected to pick him/her up promptly from the clinic.

Junk: Sometimes your household “junk” can be used in the classroom. We collect toys and treats for our “treasure box.” Occasionally we will need extra household items such as toilet paper rolls, baby food jars, soda bottles, or other items for projects and experiments.

Keeping in touch: Communication is very important. You can contact us through notes in the daily folder or leave a message on our voicemail: 992-6390 Ext. 109. We check home-school folders each morning, therefore this is the best way for us to get your message before our day begins.

Keeping up: First Grade is going to be a year of lots of new learning, projects, and fun! We highly recommend making it a priority to review our monthly calendar of events on the front of the home-school folder. Also, take time to review your child’s homework assignments and graded assessments, so that you are always aware of your child’s progress.

Lunch: Your child may bring a lunch or buy a school lunch. Lunch is $1.30. Milk may be purchased separately for $.40. Please send any money in a baggie marked with name, lunch number, and amount. Send checks on Monday if you are planning to deposit money into your child’s account. Your child’s lunch number must be on the check (these numbers will be given to you). Our class will go to lunch each day from ______.

Math: The First Grade mathematics curriculum, Math Investigations, provides students with mathematical experiences that help them develop number sense and a positive attitude towards mathematics that will continue through their school career and their lives. We employ a hands-on problem solving approach.

Medicine: All medicine must be kept and administered in the main office. Children are not allowed to carry medication with them.

Necessary School Supplies: Please make sure your child has the school supplies they need as indicated on the school supply list. Please be reminded not to label your child’s school supplies.

Outside: Our class will have 30 minutes of playground time each day. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for play and weather.

Parental Involvement: Your support of school activities makes your child feel important and sends the message that you value school. We are always happy to have your help in/out of the classroom and for special activities.

PTA – Please join our PTA! Our PTA supports many events, buys books, and provides money for miscellaneous items throughout the year. You do not need to join for each child. If you would like to sponsor a family for our class, please let me know. The cost of PTA is only $5!

Parties: There will be special events throughout the school year. The room parents usually organize these events and coordinate volunteers and donations. All are welcome to participate in the festivities.

Questions:

Resources: Students will participate in resources Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from ______. Students are fortunate enough to participate in Art, Music, Media, Science, Character Education, P.E., and Technology.

Report cards: Report cards are issued every nine weeks. These reports reflect the progress your child has made towards our First Grade academic objectives and uses a grading system that reflects the developmental nature of First Grade learning.

Scholastic: Scholastic book orders are a great way to build your home library with quality children’s books at reduced prices. For every dollar you spend, our class receives points towards the purchase of books for our classroom library. All scholastic orders need to be made out to Scholastic in the form of a check or money order.

Transportation: We must know how your child is getting home on the first day of school! Please make sure you fill out this important information about how they will get home each day. If your child is a bus rider, we need to know the bus number and the stop number. Please notify us in writing if your child is going home a different way than he/she normally does. This is a MUST! Do not leave a phone message; we cannot ensure that we will receive it in time!

Uniforms: Uniforms are white or navy shirts and kaki or navy bottoms. Opt out forms are available.

Volunteers: Volunteers are greatly appreciated both in and out of the classroom. If you are interested in volunteering, please look over the various volunteer roles that are available and sign up on the “Volunteer Sheet”.

Wish List: There are extra items that we could use in the classroom. These are items that the class will be using throughout the year. Our wish list of desired classroom items is on the sign-in table. Thank you for your support!

X-Etc: Fun Friday is a weekly celebration. Parents are asked to sign up to provide a small snack and drink for the class on the day they volunteered for. This is also a great time to celebrate your child’s birthday. Look for the sign up sheet.

Please label all of your child’s personal belongings with his/her first and last name. Lunch boxes, jackets, sweaters tend to be very difficult to find if lost.

Your role as a partner in education: Help your child become responsible. Ask questions. Look in your child’s daily planner for important papers and sign the home-school folder daily. Look over your child’s homework. Read the newsletter and the Chets Creek Connection. Read to your child and listen as they read to you.

ZZZZ’s: Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give to your child. It will help them to be alert and ready to learn each day.

J We look forward to another great year with your participation and support!