The ABC’s of information
for First Grade

Arrival
Children are to come straight to the classroom at 8:40 each morning. Any student arriving after 8:50 should stop by the office and check in. They are considered tardy if arriving beyond 8:50.

Attendance
It is important that your child attends school every day. We do so many activities that cannot be done at home. 

Book orders
Throughout the school year I will send home the Scholastic Book order forms. Book orders can be made two ways. You can send in the form with a check made out to Scholastic Books or now you can order on-line. Ordering on-line still benefits our class but allows you to pay by credit card. Information about on-line ordering will come home with the first book order.

Discipline
Rarely do I find that we need to discipline in first grade but just in case we have a policy in place. Each child has a pocket on the white board with a green, yellow and red paper marker. Each student starts the day out with their green smiley marker showing. In the event that an inappropriate behavior is displayed the green marker will be changed to yellow. We will talk about the problem and hopefully it will be resolved. If further inappropriate classroom behavior is displayed the child’s marker will be exchanged with red. If this happens I will be sure to contact the parent with either a phone call or a note. Every child will record the color of their behavior on their daily calendar which you will find each night in their Take Home Folder. If necessary I will make comments on the calendar regarding the day.

Dismissal
All children (bus riders, SACC, walkers, parent pick-up/office) are dismissed at 3:55. Bus riders and walkers will be dismissed from the side doors near the second grade hallway. I will drop children going to SACC off in the gym at dismissal. If you are picking your child up they will come to the office after school, please wait for them in the front hallway by the office.

Early Dismissal
Every Wednesday students will be dismissed at 2:55 pm. SACC is available after school to families who register ahead of time. I will send your child home their usual way unless I have a note stating other arrangements.

Friday…Reading Buddy Day!
Friday afternoons we will meet with our fifth grade reading buddies. Each first grader will be paired up with a fifth grader from Mrs. Kirk’s class. The first grader’s are encouraged to read to their fifth grade buddy and the fifth graders will read to the first graders. Occasionally we do projects and have treats with our buddies.

Gym
In first grade we go to gym twice a week. Please be sure your child wears or brings tennis shoes on our scheduled gym days.

Homelinks/homework
Our Everyday Math series has a home component called Homelinks. Homelinks are assigned most nights of the week. They are an extension of the math lesson taught during the school day. Homelinks are meant to be done at home with parental guidance. This is a great time for your child to show you something they have learned and know how to do themselves. Homelinks are due the next day after being assigned.

Information
Important first grade information can be found in the curriculum packet, each Monday in my parent note and on the school web site under teacher web pages.

Lunch/Recess
First grade will have lunch at (to be announced).  Immediately following the kids will go outside, weather permitting, for recess. The kids will go out most days of the year. Please be sure to send in outdoor clothing as the weather changes. Extreme cold and rain are about the only reason’s the kids won’t go out. If they are kept indoors they will come back to the classroom after lunch and play games, draw, do puzzles, etc. Noon aids are supervising in each case.

Money
If you are sending in lunch money be sure to put it in an envelope marked with you child’s name and mine.

Newsletter
I will send home a weekly note, usually on Monday, to let you know what has been happening in the classroom and to make you aware of upcoming events. I try to print the note on bright colored paper so it is easy for you to spot in your child’s Take Home Folder. The provided Take Home Folder should be sent back and forth to school each day. I will have the kids place notes and assignments in this folder at the end of the day and they should bring it back in the morning. Take Home Folders are to be kept in your child’s mailbox during the school day.

Parents
You are the most influential person in your child’s life. Working together we can make first grade a great experience. Parent’s, teacher’s, student’s and school’s make  great teamsJ

Questions
Please don’t every hesitate to contact me with questions. Send a note, an email or a phone call and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Snack
We will take a snack break everyday. You may send in a healthy snack with your child, no cookies, chips, chocolates or candies. Try to send in a napkin and utensils if necessary.

Specials
In first grade we go to all the special classes; Art, Music, Gym, Spanish, Library and Computers.

Tying
It is important for first grader’s to know how to tie their own shoes. Please work on tying every night.