If your child is absent, please call the school (732-0441) so we will not be worried about your child’s safety. A note stating the reason for the absence must be brought to school the first day your child comes back to avoid an unexcused absence.
Your child will bring home an agenda book every night. Any questions can be written in the agenda book. I will check it every morning. Please initial the agenda book nightly so I know you receive any notes I may write there as well. Your child will color in a smiley face daily in this agenda book to show how his or her behavior was.
Our class will have two 30-minute art lessons each cycle with Miss Long. They will be on Days 2 and 3.
If you would like to send a small birthday treat with your child on or near his/her birthday (or ½ birthday for summer birthdays), please feel free to do so. These treats will be eaten during our snack time. Birthdays are recognized during our calendar routine as well. Please do not send birthday party invitations to be distributed at school unless all children receive an invitation.
I will send home book order forms for you and your child to look over every month. For every book that is ordered, a number of bonus points are earned. I am then able to use these points to purchase books for our classroom. Book clubs offer books at reduced prices. It's a great way to build your child's home library!
Parent and Teacher conferences are held in November.
Communicationis important. Feel free to contact me whenever you have a question, comment, or concern. You can reach me by phone (732-0441 ext. 5112), by email (), or by note.
Disciplineis simple. We work hard as a class to make the classroom a positive and safe place for all.
We will be discussing rules on the first day of school and will continue discussing them throughout the year. I will be handling any behavior issues on an individual basis; however, in order to help your child monitor his or her own behavior, we will be using a colored behavior system. Everyone starts the day on green and can move up and down the chart as behavior improves or worsens during the day.
Ifa child is physically aggressive (hitting, kicking, spitting, etc.), a loss of recess is immediately taken and a behavior referral will be sent to the principal’s office. If there are repetitive behavior problems, bullying-like behaviors, or physical behaviors, I will contact you immediately to resolve the problem together.
Early Dismissal Inservice Dayswill take place on 9/12, 10/10, 12/12, 1/16, 2/12, 3/12. On Early Dismissal days, students eat lunch and then are dismissed to the busses at 1:20 PM. Please check the weekly newsletters for any changes in these dates!
My school email address is . I check email daily. If you email me and I do not respond within 24 hours, assume that I did not receive the message through our filtering system. Please try contacting me in another way at that time.
Please complete and return the emergency card promptly. If your home or work phone number change, please inform the office and me.
Information about field trips will come home in the folder and will be detailed in the field trip permission slip and weekly newsletter.
Your child will bring home an orange folder daily. This folder is used to send home daily reports, newsletters, homework, and other important information. Please use this folder to send in notes, homework, lunch money, or any other important papers. It will be checked every morning. Please check your child’s backpack and folder daily!
Our class will have a 30 minute gym class twice each cycle on Days1 and 4. The children are asked to wear athletic shoes on gym days. Our gym teacher is Mrs. Smith.
Students will have homework in 1st Grade. Homework assignments will vary and will be sent home in the folder. Homework will also be listed in your child’s agenda book. If no official homework is sent home, please have your child read for at least 15 minutes. Unless otherwise noted, please return the homework the following day. *Please remember that the purpose for your child’s homework is to practice skills from school. It also forms a positive routine that should continue through your child’s career. If homework is not completed, your child will lose some recess time in order to finish it.
Independence is a goal for students because it builds self-esteem and self-confidence. 1st Graders are very capable of doing many things on their own, and I encourage them to do as much as they can for themselves in the classroom. Please work on the following self-help skills at home with your child: zipping, tying, dressing, etc.
Writing takes place every day in 1st Grade. One way we accomplish this is through writing stories in our journals. We will also be writing in math and science notebooks. Writingis an essential component of 1st grade literacy and is strongly tied to reading development. Although your child will not be bringing home daily writing samples, he or she will be writing in a variety of forms every day!
Keep updatedby reading the classroom newsletter every week and checking the orange folder and agenda book every day for other notes and information. You can also check our class website for pictures and descriptions of activities that we do! The website will be updated 1-2 times per month.
Our class will visit the library once every other cycle on Day 5. Our librarian is Mrs. Andrejack. Our librarian assistant is Mrs. Sudak. Your child will check out a book when we visit the library and return it within the following week. If your child forgets to return the book, they will not be allowed to check out a new book until it is returned. 1st graders do receive fines for not returning library books on time.
Our class eats lunchat 11:20. If lunch money is sent to school, please put it in a lunch envelope labeled with your child’s PIN number. I will not be able to accept cash as lunch money unless it is in a labeled envelope.
The 1st Grade math curriculum provides students with mathematical experiences that help them develop number sense and a positive attitude towards mathematics that will continue throughout their school career and lives. Our math resources come from the My Math program. This program is supplemented with a variety of other activities including math centers and a math journal to show our math thinking.
The children will have music class twice each cycle with Ms. Michael - Cooney. Music will be on Days 5 and 6.
A weekly newsletter will be sent home on Fridays to keep you informed about what is happening in our class. When filling out the family questionnaire, please let me know if you would like an electronic or hard copy of the newsletter.
Open Housewill be held in May. It will be a time for your child to show you all the wonderful things he or she has learned in 1st grade!
I love parent volunteers and will offer opportunities for you to come into our class to help out. Please remember, if you are going to come to help out in our room, you must fill out the volunteer clearance forms.
Please label all of your child’s personal belongings with his or her first and last name (coat, lunch box, book bag, paint shirt, etc,) Please do not allow your child to bring in toys, pencils, crayons, glue, or scissors. I will supply all necessary items for your child. I do encourage you to allow your child to keep a set of pencils, crayons, glue, and scissors at home to use for homework and skills practice.
Questions?Please feel free to call, email, or send a note.
- 732-0441 ext. 5111
Reading is an essential part of the 1st grade curriculum. Your child will be reading every day in a variety of ways. Your child will be participating in a mixture of whole group reading, small group reading and literacy activities on a daily basis.
1st Graders have recesseach day. If work is not completed, your child will need to stay in to finish that before going to recess.
1st Grade report cards will be sent home EVERY quarter.If I have any concerns about your child’s progress, I will contact you before the report card is sent home.
We have a full schedulein 1st grade! Please make sure your child is at school on time, and only have him or her leave early if it is necessary. Students must be in their classrooms by 8:50. Dismissal begins at 3:20.
The focus of the 1st Grade sciencecurriculum is on developing an awareness of the world in which we live. Science concepts and skills will be explored utilizing a literacy based, hands-on approach.
Your child can bring a small snack to eat in the afternoon.
The 1st Grade social studies curriculum focuses on the students and how they relate to others in their families, classroom, school, and community. Social Studies concepts and skills will be explored utilizing a literacy based, hands-on approach.
If your child has any changes in their transportation please let me know in writing prior to, or the day of, the transportation change. Calling the office is the best method for letting me know about last minute transportation changes. Please remember that students are not allowed to ride an alternate bus unless the transportation coordinator approves the change.
Uh Oh! Your child will be learning lots of new skills and responsibilities this year. My expectations are high, but they’re also realistic. Don’t worry! I expect us all to make mistakes and learn from them. If your child becomes frustrated while practicing a skill at home, don’t worry! Put it away for a few minutes and try again later! I never want school or homework time to become a time of frustration for your child.
Family vacations are wonderful opportunities for your family; however, please be sure to let us know that you are planning on taking a vacation (during school time) and fill out an Educational Field Trip form, available in the school office.
Volunteers and visitors must register in the office and pick up a badge.
Check out our website! I will post pictures and descriptions of activities 1-2 times per month.
Parents and family members may eXit and enter via the main school entry.
We love eXtra materials! If you ever have extra craft supplies, games, or other random materials lying around, we may use it here before you throw it away!
Your ideas…and suggestions are welcome!
Zzzzzzz - Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give your child.