ABC's of First Grade
You Absences: If you know your child is going to be absent, please let me know as soon as possible, whether it is due to a trip or sickness. There are forms in the office you can fill out for educational trips. Please be sure to fill it out before your child misses school. If you are sick or have an appointment, you can send an e-mail to myself ([email protected]) as well as copy our secretary to the email ([email protected]) If you are unable to e-mail, a note the following day upon your child's return with reason for absence is expected. If you are going on an educational trip, please be sure to fill out the educational opportunity form and turn it into the office 5 days prior to your departure.
Birthday Celebrations: We love to celebrate birthdays with our classmates. However, MPTS rules state that you cannot bring in any outside food. If you would like to celebrate with the class, please contact [email protected] (our cafeteria manager) to order a cookie cake, ice cream, or cupcakes to be served and eaten in the lunch room during our scheduled lunch time. You can also fill out the following form and send it in to be delivered to Pam. Birthday treat order form
Breakfast: Your child can eat breakfast at school each morning before 9:15. Your child should report directly to the cafeteria upon arriving at school if they wish to eat breakfast. Do not come to the classroom first.
Communication: A successful year will be the result of great communication between teachers, parents, and students. The best way for you to see what is going on in class is through my website. I update this every week, so be sure to save it as a favorite and check it every Monday night for the latest information on our sharks! The best way for you to reach me is through my e-mail, [email protected]. If this does not work for you, simply let me know and I can send home hard copies of the website, print any class e-mails, and make phone calls when necessary.
Conferences: Every parent is required to come for a conference to discuss their child's adjustment and progress in school. These will be held in October. I will send home a schedule of availability as the time gets closer. Please be sure to fill out the form and return it promptly to be sure we can accommodate everyone's schedule. There will be time slots available before, during, and after school hours. Please be sure to be on time and have a list of questions you may want to ask because our 30 minutes will fly by and we want to be sure to get everything covered. This year we will begin a different kind of conference, conferences will begin to be students led. This is part of our Leader in Me program. More information to come...
Dress Code: Please be sure that your child follows our dress code. This means NO flip fops (sneakers are always best!) Shirt straps should always be at least three fingers wide, and shorts must be as long as the end of the fingertips. If there is an issue with the dress code students will be sent to the office for a change of clothes.
Field Trips: Our school participates in a program that allows you to pay for your child 's field trips online. However, you will still need to send in the permission slip form. Please be sure to check it out when the time arises: http://osp.osmsinc.com/cms. *If you would like to come on a field trip please let me know before sending in money for your child and yourself. This way I can be sure that we will have room for you before you pay.
Folders: Your child will bring home a communication folder every day, even weekends! This will have all correspondence from me including notes, corrected work, assignments, project directions, field trip notices, and office/school information. If you have a note to send to me it will also go in this folder. I will teach your child what to do with the contents of their folder at school and you need to do the same by making it their responsibility to show the folder to you every day and have them pack it in their book bag each night.
Grading: No letter grades are used in 1st grade. After a child has been assesses and exhibits a skill or behavior we use the following codes:
3 - consistently meets expectations, 2 - inconsistently meets expectations, 1 - does not yet meet expectations, and N/A - not graded this term. I will use tests, class assignments, and classroom observations to determine how your child is performing. You can help your child by reviewing all corrected work that comes home, reviewing questions they missed, and practicing problems by inserting different numbers.
Homework: There will not be nightly paper and pencil homework in first grade. Your child will be expected to read every night which will be reflected on the reading log. There will be additional sight word review activities, fluency reading assignments, monthly class projects, and an occasional assignment during the week. You need to check your child's homework folder daily to be sure you know what is expected for the next day.
Lanyards: Lanyards will not be allowed in our class.
Lunch: You are more than welcome to come eat with your child in the cafeteria. They may choose 1 friend to eat with them. Please be mindful of when our class leaves the cafeteria so your child does not linger behind. Our lunch time is at 11:40AM.
PTA: Please join the PTA and get involved with what is going on in our school. There are many opportunities to volunteer and show your child that you too value what is going on here.
Report Cards: Report cards come home every 6 weeks. Please be sure to discuss the grades and comments with your child. This is an opportunity to look for growth experiences for your child in academics as well as behavior. You keep the report card and only sign and return the envelope.
Scholastic Books: I will be sending Scholastic Book order forms home every month. If you wish to purchase any book you can do so by following the link on my website to pay for them online (code NRFXG) or send in a check or money order made out to Scholastic Books with your order form. The books will come to the class and I will send them home with your child. This is a great way to earn books for our classroom library.
Snack: Students are allowed to have snack during our afternoon recess. Please be sure to send in a small healthy snack, fruit, crackers, granola bar, etc. The snack needs to be sent in a disposable bag with the student's name written on it that can be discarded on the playground. Please no plastic containers or reusable water bottles.
Student Alerts: Student alerts are another way of communication about behavior in class. Before I issue any kind of alert there are warnings, and a time out. This does not in any way go on your student's academic record. These are for you and I. However, after 3 student alerts a student may receive an office referral. 3 student alerts or office referrals mean the student is on a silver level for the quarter and unable to attend gold level events and field trips.
Supplies: Please bring your child's supplies with you to Open House and leave them on their desk. This will help me get them organized and put in their proper place before the first day of school AND your child won't have to worry with carrying them in to school.
T-Shirts: Our class orders t-shirts (just like Kindergarten). The order form will be ready for you within the first week of school. Please be sure to send cash only, as this money goes directly to the company we purchase from and not through the office.
Transportation: It is a school policy to send a note anytime your child's transportation changes. It is important to me as well as your child that we have documentation of how they are getting home each day. I cannot rely on your first grader to tell me how they are getting home. If you forget to send a note in their homework folder you can e-mail [email protected] or call the office (980 343 5522) before 3:00 and they will notify me. DO NOT send me an e-mail because I may not get the message until after dismissal.
Visitors: The Myers Park Staff welcomes you to visit and is delighted to have you involved in your child's education. Please be sure to contact me to set up a time to visit. You need to sign in at the office and obtain a name tag. We ask in advance that you be considerate of our lessons and realize this is not an opportune time for a conference.
Birthday Celebrations: We love to celebrate birthdays with our classmates. However, MPTS rules state that you cannot bring in any outside food. If you would like to celebrate with the class, please contact [email protected] (our cafeteria manager) to order a cookie cake, ice cream, or cupcakes to be served and eaten in the lunch room during our scheduled lunch time. You can also fill out the following form and send it in to be delivered to Pam. Birthday treat order form
Breakfast: Your child can eat breakfast at school each morning before 9:15. Your child should report directly to the cafeteria upon arriving at school if they wish to eat breakfast. Do not come to the classroom first.
Communication: A successful year will be the result of great communication between teachers, parents, and students. The best way for you to see what is going on in class is through my website. I update this every week, so be sure to save it as a favorite and check it every Monday night for the latest information on our sharks! The best way for you to reach me is through my e-mail, [email protected]. If this does not work for you, simply let me know and I can send home hard copies of the website, print any class e-mails, and make phone calls when necessary.
Conferences: Every parent is required to come for a conference to discuss their child's adjustment and progress in school. These will be held in October. I will send home a schedule of availability as the time gets closer. Please be sure to fill out the form and return it promptly to be sure we can accommodate everyone's schedule. There will be time slots available before, during, and after school hours. Please be sure to be on time and have a list of questions you may want to ask because our 30 minutes will fly by and we want to be sure to get everything covered. This year we will begin a different kind of conference, conferences will begin to be students led. This is part of our Leader in Me program. More information to come...
Dress Code: Please be sure that your child follows our dress code. This means NO flip fops (sneakers are always best!) Shirt straps should always be at least three fingers wide, and shorts must be as long as the end of the fingertips. If there is an issue with the dress code students will be sent to the office for a change of clothes.
Field Trips: Our school participates in a program that allows you to pay for your child 's field trips online. However, you will still need to send in the permission slip form. Please be sure to check it out when the time arises: http://osp.osmsinc.com/cms. *If you would like to come on a field trip please let me know before sending in money for your child and yourself. This way I can be sure that we will have room for you before you pay.
Folders: Your child will bring home a communication folder every day, even weekends! This will have all correspondence from me including notes, corrected work, assignments, project directions, field trip notices, and office/school information. If you have a note to send to me it will also go in this folder. I will teach your child what to do with the contents of their folder at school and you need to do the same by making it their responsibility to show the folder to you every day and have them pack it in their book bag each night.
Grading: No letter grades are used in 1st grade. After a child has been assesses and exhibits a skill or behavior we use the following codes:
3 - consistently meets expectations, 2 - inconsistently meets expectations, 1 - does not yet meet expectations, and N/A - not graded this term. I will use tests, class assignments, and classroom observations to determine how your child is performing. You can help your child by reviewing all corrected work that comes home, reviewing questions they missed, and practicing problems by inserting different numbers.
Homework: There will not be nightly paper and pencil homework in first grade. Your child will be expected to read every night which will be reflected on the reading log. There will be additional sight word review activities, fluency reading assignments, monthly class projects, and an occasional assignment during the week. You need to check your child's homework folder daily to be sure you know what is expected for the next day.
Lanyards: Lanyards will not be allowed in our class.
Lunch: You are more than welcome to come eat with your child in the cafeteria. They may choose 1 friend to eat with them. Please be mindful of when our class leaves the cafeteria so your child does not linger behind. Our lunch time is at 11:40AM.
PTA: Please join the PTA and get involved with what is going on in our school. There are many opportunities to volunteer and show your child that you too value what is going on here.
Report Cards: Report cards come home every 6 weeks. Please be sure to discuss the grades and comments with your child. This is an opportunity to look for growth experiences for your child in academics as well as behavior. You keep the report card and only sign and return the envelope.
Scholastic Books: I will be sending Scholastic Book order forms home every month. If you wish to purchase any book you can do so by following the link on my website to pay for them online (code NRFXG) or send in a check or money order made out to Scholastic Books with your order form. The books will come to the class and I will send them home with your child. This is a great way to earn books for our classroom library.
Snack: Students are allowed to have snack during our afternoon recess. Please be sure to send in a small healthy snack, fruit, crackers, granola bar, etc. The snack needs to be sent in a disposable bag with the student's name written on it that can be discarded on the playground. Please no plastic containers or reusable water bottles.
Student Alerts: Student alerts are another way of communication about behavior in class. Before I issue any kind of alert there are warnings, and a time out. This does not in any way go on your student's academic record. These are for you and I. However, after 3 student alerts a student may receive an office referral. 3 student alerts or office referrals mean the student is on a silver level for the quarter and unable to attend gold level events and field trips.
Supplies: Please bring your child's supplies with you to Open House and leave them on their desk. This will help me get them organized and put in their proper place before the first day of school AND your child won't have to worry with carrying them in to school.
T-Shirts: Our class orders t-shirts (just like Kindergarten). The order form will be ready for you within the first week of school. Please be sure to send cash only, as this money goes directly to the company we purchase from and not through the office.
Transportation: It is a school policy to send a note anytime your child's transportation changes. It is important to me as well as your child that we have documentation of how they are getting home each day. I cannot rely on your first grader to tell me how they are getting home. If you forget to send a note in their homework folder you can e-mail [email protected] or call the office (980 343 5522) before 3:00 and they will notify me. DO NOT send me an e-mail because I may not get the message until after dismissal.
Visitors: The Myers Park Staff welcomes you to visit and is delighted to have you involved in your child's education. Please be sure to contact me to set up a time to visit. You need to sign in at the office and obtain a name tag. We ask in advance that you be considerate of our lessons and realize this is not an opportune time for a conference.