Dear Parents,

I am so excited to be teaching first grade this year! I am even more excited that our school is growing so big that we had to split the grades up! God is good, our school is amazing, and word about both of those things is spreading!

Over the past few years here at St. Clare I have learned quite a bit about myself. I have learned that teaching is not a J-O-B, it is a calling. I feel completely blessed to be a part of these children’s lives each year and I can assure you that I learn just as much from them as they do from me! I would like to take this time to thank you for entrusting me with your child on a daily basis, and as a Mother of 3, I understand how difficult that can be.

A little about me: I graduated from Missouri Baptist University with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. I am married to Joe and we have 3 kids. Madilynn will be in 4th grade this year, Landen will be in 2nd grade, and Evalynn will be in Pre-K!!! Where has the time gone??? I turn 30 on September 18th….ummm WHY????? (Haha!) We have some exciting things going on in our lives right now. Our house is under contract, and we hope to buy land and begin building within the next year or so. In my spare time I love to be outside, I love sunshine, I love to shop, and most importantly I love to spend time with my family.
My favorite food: ALL VEGGIES!!
My favorite color: Sage green
My biggest fear: vomit 
My favorite bible verse: “Seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all of your heart.”–Jeremiah 29:12
My favorite quote: “If you want to know what a man is like, take a look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” J.K. Rowling

My contact info:
School Number: 636-629-0413
E-mail:
Plan Periods: M-1240-140/ T-110-140/ W-NONE/ Th-1235-125/ F-1240-110

Here are a few things about our classroom and/or school that I would like to explain in DEPTH:

  1. Take home RED folders: This is your child’s folder. It is basically GOLDEN! This folder will contain your child’s daily behavior chart, class newsletters, homework, graded work, etc… This folder is to be returned EVERY SINGLE DAY. One side of the folder has work/notes that need to be returned to school the next day, the other side of the folder is “keep.” In our busy lives, this folder is our communication line, and is a great way to instill responsibility for your child to turn it in daily. (Ms. Hoffman also sends home a WEEKLY folder, BUT our classroom folder is DAILY.)
  2. Happy Camper: We have a new Happy Camper every week. Please see schedule for your child’s assigned week. Being the Happy Camper has perks: a trip to the treasure box and he/she may bring one small item for show and tell during that week. Your child will also receive a poster to complete and decorate prior to their week. This poster will be displayed for all to see, so please take your time on them. Any pictures that are attached will be returned home un-harmed .
  3. Classroom Behavior: We use “Mrs. Baxter’s Camp Accountability Chart” every week. Your child is held accountable for the way that he/she behaves throughout the school day. The charts are sent home in the RED folder, and are marked daily with how well your child behaved. Each day your child starts on “Ready for Camp.” Throughout the day, your child can move up/down the chart in correlation with positive/negative behaviors. Students who make it OFF THE CHART (aka extremely good behavior) will receive a trip to the treasure box for that day. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to communicate with me through this chart.
  4. Birthdays: When your child has a birthday, you are more than welcome to send in a snack. We currently have 13 students. Snacks can be homemade or store bought. Invitations cannot be passed out from the teacher UNLESS ALL students are invited or at least ALL the same GENDER. We are a small school, and we do not want anyone to be excluded. Please see the handbook for questions regarding this rule.
  5. Safe touch: In order to be a room parent, drive to and from and participate in field trips, or be involved in ANY school functions, EVERY parent and grandparent is required to attend the “Safe Touch: Protecting God’s Children” meeting. This year it is being held in the school cafeteria on Tuesday, August 25th at 6pm. You must pre-register for this class online before attending. Please see Ms. Hoffman for details. The class is free because we want to do anything we can to keep our kiddos safe!
  6. Attendance:PLEASE BE ON TIME!!! I cannot express this enough. The school day is from 7:50-3PM. Students may enter the classroom upon the 7:40 bell, and are considered tardy after the 7:50 bell. Students who arrive before 7:40 are required to go to Before Care in the cafeteria with Ms. Pat. All visitors are required to check in at the office prior to entering the classroom. If your child is tardy to class you will be notified, and if necessary will be asked to attend a meeting with myself and Ms. Hoffman. Please be ON TIME, it saves all involved from less stress in the mornings.
    Handbook:
    1st-2nd tardies: Verbal Warning

3rd-4th tardies: written notification will be sent to the parent. A parental signature is required on the notice.

5th tardy: both parents are required to attend a conference.

6th tardy: A meeting will be held with the parents, pastor, and principal to determine the future enrollment status of the student.

  1. Church attendance: 1st grade will attend mass M-F at 8am (Which is yet another reason to be on time! 7:51 is late, and makes the rest of the class late.) Mass begins promptly at 8am in the morning. We will also attend Benediction on Thursday afternoons at 2:40.
  2. Before and After Care: Before care is offered from 630am to 740am daily. After care is offered from 3pm to 6pm is needed. The fee for before and after care is $.50 for every 15 minutes ($2.00 per hour). If your child arrives to school BEFORE The 7:50 morning bell they will be sent to before care. If someone is not here to pick your child up at the 3pm bell at dismissal, your child will be sent to aftercare. You will be billed accordingly.
  3. Sick Child:Your child must be fever and vomit free for 24 hours before returning to the classroom. If a child is ill, a written excuse is required upon return. If your child is sick/ill please keep him/her home to prevent germs from spreading.
  4. Absence: When a child is absent from school it is the responsibility of the parent and child to get the missed assignments. The students is given one day per absence to make up the work. If possible, work can be sent home with an older sibling if you notify the office.
  5. Newsletters: I send home weekly newsletters on the first day of every week. There is IMPORTANT information in these letters, including spelling words for the week, upcoming important dates, test information, and classroom events. Please read them! THE NEWSLETTERS ARE TO REMAIN IN THE FRONT COVER OF THE RED FOLDER EACH WEEK BECAUSE OF THE USE OF SPELLING WORDS IN THE CLASSROOM.
  6. Homework: WE WILL HAVE HOMEWORK. No, it will not be excessive, however it is necessary. Homework instills responsibility and core values that will be carried on throughout the upper grades. Most homework will include work that is not completed during classtime, extra skills that I, as the teacher, feel is necessary for the development of your child, and weekly reader folders.
  7. Weekly Readers: Weekly readers are sent home each week beginning the first full school week of the year. In this folder your child will have the following: the book to read with you, and possible worksheets to go along with reading and comprehension skills that we are working on in class. The student receives the folder on the first day of the school week, and is to return it on Thursdays with all work completed. More information about this will come soon!
  8. Dress Code:

Shirts: solid white/solid light blue with collar or turtleneck. (Long sleeve solid white t-shirt can be worn under shirts in cold weather) ALL SHIRTS ARE TO BE TUCKED IN UPON ENTERING THE SCHOOL BUILDING IN THE MORNING, AND ARE TO REMAIN TUCKED IN THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY.

Pants/Skirts/Dresses: solid navy blue/ OR solid black. Pants, shorts, capris, and skorts (skirts with shorts underneath) Shorts, skirts and dresses must have ATLEAST at 5 inch inseam. A BELT IS REQUIRED WHEN THERE ARE LOOPS PRESENT.
**** IMPORTANT NOTE****: NO SHORTS AFTER OCT 31-MAR 31

SKIRTS, DRESSES, AND SKORTS MUST BE WORN WITH LEGGINGS AS OF NOV 1-MAR 31

Shoes: must be tennis shoes (non-marking) or boots (no backless or strappy shoes) Socks must be white.

NO DANGLING OR HOOP EARRINGS ARE PERMITTED FOR SAFETY REASONS

NO NAILPOLISH OR MAKEUP OF ANY KIND

JEWELRY IS PERMITTED AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT BECOME A DISTRACTION

Sweaters/Sweatshirt: must be solid white/navy blue/gray in color. Sweatshirts with the school name or logo may be worn. (No Nike/under armor/ Adidas/ reebok/ Fila etc… symbols should be shown.)

Violation of any of these policies will result in: (Handbook)

1st infraction: Verbal Warning
2nd-4th infraction: Written notification will be sent to the parents, a parental signature will be required on the notice.

5th-6th infraction: mandatory parent conference

7th infraction: the student’s enrollment may be terminated
***Rules are rules for a reason. Some may seem more excessive than others, however if we all follow the rules, things go much more smoothly. We are a great school with great kids, who stand out in our community. We are raising and teaching kids to be responsible leaders. Be a positive role model!

  1. Classroom awards: I am a lover of positive reinforcement. We have a “desk fairy” that visits us and awards pixie sticks to clean desks. Kindness tickets are given out for trips to the treasure box. Clipping off of the chart earns a trip to the treasure box. Bringing back homework assignments, and folders are assessed daily, however there are special occasions where we have rewards for those that are always responsible. Weekly readers that are returned completed on Thursdays get to pick a prize out of the “BUG CATCHER.” We also have “whispering willow” trees that start on our desk every day, if your tree is still there at the end of the day for a whispering voice you earn “camp cash” to spend on rewards.
  2. Treasure Box: we have a class treasure box. Please feel free to donate treasure box items throughout the year. (pencils, erasers, stickers, play-doh, mcd’s toys, etc…)

I will be sending more information home as it comes up! Any questions? Please do not hesitate to ask! Thank you for your involvement and support.

Mrs.Baxter