1st Grade Mrs Watson

Welcome to the 20010-11 school year! Please read the following information carefully, as it will help you and your child prepare for a successful year in first grade.

First day procedures: School begins on Wed., Aug. 12 at 8:00. For the first two days of school, classes will end at 12:30. Starting on Aug. 16, school times Will be from 8:00-3:00 for first graders. We will line up on the Northeast side of the computer lab building. At 12:30 on the first days I will walk the children out to the area of Gramer Hall parking lot gate to be picked up (next to the Kindergarten). You must enter the gate and make eye contact with me when picking up your child. At 12:35 on the first days, I will take the children to after care if they are not picked up in a timely manner. On Aug. 23, we will start the 8:00-3:00 schedule and will follow the same procedure. First graders must be picked up by 3:15 on regular days. When lining up for the beginning of each school day, please say your good-byes in line and allow your first grader to go to the classroom by him/herself. This will build self-confidence. When you need to speak to me, please meet me in line (I try to be out early) or make an appointment before school. It is difficult for me to talk to you as we enter the classroom and give my attention to the children all at the same time!

Supply fee/supplies
I will need a check for $5.00 made out to SSPP for Weekly Reader and paper supplies. Please consult Renweb for the class supply list for those who did not order supply packets.

Rules and Discipline
Every day, your child will be recognized for cooperative behavior and completed work. We will also be working on "Discipline With A Purpose" (DWP) skills throughout the year. I have also included a copy of the First Grade Rules, Incentives and Consequences with this letter. Please make sure that you and your child sign it and return it to me as soon as possible.

Homework
Homework is assigned to reinforce concepts and skills covered in class. It also develops a sense of good work habits at home and school. Homework will be assigned Monday through Thursday. I will start assigning homework on the first full week of school. Math homework will be assigned every day except Friday.We will be going over the Math homework each day so please be sure to complete Math homework each day and send it back the next day. Spelling is assigned on Monday and is due by Friday, signed by the parents and the child. You will receive a "Let's Spell " spelling worksheet to be completed by Friday. I usually run these off double-sided but you will only do one side. You will need to help your child with the directions. Spelling words will be on Renweb each week. I usually have them up by Sunday for the next week.
Homework turn-in procedure: 1. Take homework home in the homework side of the daily folder.2. Bring homework back the following day in the folder. 3. Place homework in the gold homework basket. 4. Take folder home again containing homework assignment.
Again, parents, please check the backpack DAILY for daily work and homework. Please keep track of your child's folders! If too many homework assignments are missing, I will ask for a conference and the work skills grade on the report card will be lowered. Your child will also miss out on stickers for homework returned. Please build good work habits with your child. It will pay off tremendously in the future.

Attendance and Tardies
Good attendance is crucial for first-graders. Please make every effort to maintain good attendance as much as possible. If your child is absent, please call the office early to let us know and write an excuse when your child returns to school. It is also crucial to encourage your first-grader to BE ON TIME. Children must be in line with the class ready to go in at 8:00. After 8:00, YOUR CHILD IS LATE. If late, please go to the office and receive a pink tardy slip. At SSPP, we value supporting parents in their efforts to instill good work habits that will benefit the children all their lives. Timely work and school arrival encourages respect for the classroom, teacher, and future employers as well as instilling self-confidence. Five unexcused tardies will result in detention.

Make up work
When your child is ill, I will send his/her makeup work in the homework side of the folder, paper clipped, and marked "make-up". Please return the completed work paper clipped and marked in the same manner. Your child will turn the work into a "sick work" basket. Please complete it in a timely manner.

Daily Work Folders
Your child will have one folder that is marked "Homework" on the left inside pocket and marked "Daily" on the right inside pocket. Daily work and homework will be sent home in this folder every day. Homework and parent communications will go home in the "Homework" side of the folder. Classwork will go home in the "Daily" side of the folder. Please look over the work, encouraging all the skills and concepts learned. All papers that have a grade need to be signed by the parent. All homework needs to be signed by the parent and child. The grade will consist of a 1,2,3, or 4. After that, THE WORK IS YOURS TO KEEP. Return the EMPTY FOLDER the next day to restart the process. I will keep some of your child's work in a file. Eventually, you will receive everything because I send the work home with the report card at each quarter. See me if you are concerned about what is being covered in class.
Medical concerns: If your child is allergic to food (occasionally, we share treats), needs to sit in the front of the room for sight or hearing reasons, or has any other medical condition that I need to know about, please notify me (and the nurse) IMMEDIATELY. Don't forget, the nurse needs updated shot records on file. Please return the snack/allergy/antibacterial permission form enclosed with this packet as soon as possible.

Snack and Lunch
Lunch is late in the day, so it is important for your child to bring a snack each day, even on early dismissal days. These are eaten in the classroom just after recess. There is a limited amount of time for this
snack, so something SMALL AND NUTRITIOUS is sufficient. Please, no sugary snacks. We are stressing good nutrition. Please do not send drinks for snack time. The children are permitted to get water. Lunch is eaten in Gramer Hall and is followed by a play period. Snack and lunch may be packed in the same lunchbox with an icepack to keep food cool. Please make sure ALL CONTAINERS ARE CLEARLY MARKED WITH YOUR CHILD'S NAME. DO NOT SEND GLASS. Coolers (small) or insulated bags are helpful. Please don't forget your child's snack, even if he/she gets hot lunch.

Water bottles, sunscreen and insect repellant
Please put sunscreen and insect repellant on your child DAILY. Please send a small water bottle filled with cold water each day (no frozen bottles, due to condensation problems!). Please mark it clearly with your child's name. Instructional time is wasted if I have to put names on belongings.

Uniforms
First graders are required to be in proper uniform each day, beginning on the first day of school. Please refer to the information from the school office on this matter.

Weekly Mass Day Procedure
Each Friday at 8:30 will be our weekly all-school Mass day. That day is also an early -dismissal day (12:30) If you wish to attend Mass with your child, please be seated at the church before the children arrive. This helps with seating arrangements.

Classroom helpers
If you wish to be a classroom helper, or if you would like to be available for projects to be done at home, please notify me.You must be cleared for fingerprinting in order to work in the classroom.

Appointments
According to school policy, parents and guardians are not allowed to come directly to the classroom for their children. If your child has an appointment, please go to the school office first, sign your child out, and then he/she will be called over the intercom. I WILL NOT RELEASE A CHILD UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED. You may not come and try to pick them up first. If you are delivering a lunch or other item, please drop it off at the office and they will call for the child to come retrieve it. PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE ROOM.

Birthdays
If your child's birthday is during the school year, he/she may bring a special treat to share with the class. Please make it a nutritious snack like fruit or veggies with Ranch dressing. Jello cups or popsicles are also a good choice. If sending fruit or veggies, please pack in snack bags. This makes distribution a little easier. If the birthday is on the weekend, Friday or Monday may be selected for the celebration. Summer birthdays will be
celebrated at the end of the school year. If you require passing out invitations, this may only be done in class if ALL THE CHILDREN ARE INCLUDED, or all the boys for a boy party or all the girls for a girls party are included. This is to avoid hurt feelings. If this is not the case, hand out invitations discreetly after school.

Student of the Week
I will assign a student of the week each week until everyone has had a turn. I will send home a special sheet to be filled out on the Friday before your child's week. Your child will be highlighted during that week with special activities.

FIRST GRADE RULES AND EXPECTATIONS:

I will be able to...

1. Respect others, things and myself.

2. Contribute to the learning environment by:

A. showing good listening skills.

B. working well with others and independently.

3. Follow classroom procedures:

A. the way I get and put away my things.

B. the way I move from place to place.

INCENTIVES:

Your child will receive a sticker card. For good behavior and completed work, a sticker will be placed on the card. When 50 stickers are earned, your child receives a small prize from the treasure box. Verbal praise is also used to encourage good behavior and work habits. Extra stickers can be earned by returning homework on time and for returning parent communications on time, etc.

CONSEQUENCES:

Each child starts out the day on a green (go) light. A yellow light indicates that it is time to slow down and think about behavior that needs to change. A red light indicates that disruptive behavior must stop.

1st time a rule in broken, the child's name is moved from green to yellow. This is a warning.

2nd time a rule is broken, the child's name is placed in the red light section. No behavior or work stickers are rewarded. Parent is notified by form.

If too many forms for disruptive behaviors are sent home, I will a for a conference and the child will receive a poor grade on the report card. Excessive discipline problems such as biting, fighting, bullying, kicking, throwing sand or rocks, disrespect of adults may result in detention.

Many concerns will come up during the course of the year. As they do, I will be in touch. Your child's welfare is my main concern. If you ever have a question or concern, do not hesitate to set up an appointment with me before or after school. Before school is my best time. I am usually in the classroom by 7:00 until 4:30 PM on Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday, barring some unforeseen circumstances! I look forward to sharing first grade with you! Have a WONDERFUL YEAR! Mrs. Watson

Please print out the following and return to the teacher on the first day of school.

I have read the above beginning of the year newsletter and have discussed the first grade rules and expectations with my child.

Parent signature: ___________________________________________________ Child signature: ____________________________________________