Welcome to Mrs. Giordano and Mrs. Smith’s

2009/2010 First Grade Class!

“We’re Not Just Monkeying Around!”

                                                               

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to first grade!  We are very excited about the new school year and are looking forward to working with all of you.  Please be sure to read the Parent/Student Handbook for Wake County Policies and Procedures.  The purpose of this newsletter is to answer many frequently asked questions and to clarify classroom procedures to allow for a smooth transition into first grade.  We will go into detail and I will answer any other questions you may have at our PTA Open House.

 

Daily Communication Folders: These folders will go home with your child every day and will need to return to school everyday. The purpose of this folder is for sending home daily information or communication to and from school. Check the folder daily for any possible communications, including daily behavior status. Your child will be responsible for turning in the folder every morning.  You certainly should help your first grader to remember to turn in the folder but please do not turn it in for him/her.

 

Class News and Homework: Every week, on Friday, homework and weekly information will be emailed to an email address you will have provided to me.  Any practice pages or supplies will be in the communication folder. All homework is due by the following Friday. Any Class News or important information regarding our classroom and school activities will be noted in the email.  Unless you tell me differently, I will assume everyone has web access and I will not send home a copy in the Daily Communication Folder.  Homework and notes should always be put in the folder to be turned in.    

 

Classroom Management:  We will expect every child to follow school and classroom rules.  In our classroom, there will be positive reinforcement for making good choices, and consequences for making inappropriate choices.  Every child has good days and bad days.  We do not project or foresee any major occurrences in 1st grade.  Nevertheless, when an issue does arise, your support is vital to your child’s success. 

The behavior system will work as follows:                                    

A chart will be in your child’s homework/communication folder. Every day, the chart will be marked with a fun stamp or a sad face, according to the behavior your child has displayed for the day.  Any necessary comments will be recorded there also. You will need to check your child’s folder every day and initial that day.  As well, I will check the folder every morning for communication from you.

 

Parent-Teacher Communication:

It is very important that parents and teachers keep open communication throughout the school year.  You may contact me at school by calling 662-2300 and leaving a message.  Or, you may email me at jgiordano@wcpss.net However, please understand that I am extremely busy teaching your child during the school day, and I have many meetings, etc, when the school day ends.  Mrs. Smith or I will always try to get back to you the same day, but if not, please know one of us will contact you ASAP. General communications would best be through email or notes in your child’s Homework/Communication folder.  However, please do not email me to tell me if your child is going home a different way than usual.  I may not read my email until later that afternoon (See Classroom Departure on next page for details).  Thanks!

 

Classroom Volunteers:  We will welcome all volunteers to the classroom.  Moreover, we really do want and NEED your participation.  Nevertheless, we like to get to know the class before we start having volunteers for Workstations.  Therefore, once we have determined the class is prepared and our schedule is set, we will let you know and will ask you to let us know when you can come in.  Please note that siblings may not come in with you to volunteer in the classroom.  Lunch Bunch volunteers can start the second week of school. Thank you for understanding.

 

Classroom Arrival:  Please encourage your child to remember classroom and school procedures by reminding them in the morning to turn in homework, notes, etc in their Communication Folder.  After the first day of school, please, please, please, do not walk your child to the classroom, unless of course, you really need to see me or need to help your child carry something.

 

Classroom Departure:  Once you have told us your child’s means of transportation in the afternoon that is how your child will go home.  If for any reason this changes, you must let us know by sending a detailed note to school or by calling the office.  Make sure the following information is in the note:

Ø       Your child’s name;

Ø       The name of the child and/or adult your child will be riding with if going to car pool (If your child goes home with another child in the school that child must also have a note);

Ø       The bus number if he or she will be going by bus (If your child goes home with another child in the school that child must also have a note, and approval depends upon seats available);

Ø       Your signature and current date.

If you forget to send in a note or something changes during the school day, call the office immediately and inform them of the change of route home.  They will contact us and your child will get home safely.  Remember; please do not email me to tell me of a change of route home.  I may not read my Email until that afternoon.

 

Friday Work Folders:  Every Friday a folder with your child's schoolwork will come home.  This will give you 3 days to go through the folder and discuss the work product with your child. Please sign and return the folder to school the following Monday. You may want to go over some of the work your child struggled with. A “P” at the top means that the work was for independent Practice, and a “T” means we did it Together as a class or small group. Only leveled grades of 1, 2, 3, or 4 will appear on an assessment.  At times, comments may be written on the page to let you know if extra help was given or if extra practice may be needed.

 

Snacks:  Every morning or afternoon, depending on our lunchtime, we will have a snack in the classroom.  Due to food allergies, each parent is responsible for supplying their child with their own snack, and we do not allow students to share.  Please remember this is a snack and only send in a small, healthy item.  Please do not send in candy for snack. 

 

Special Snacks:  Wake County policy states that celebrations of birthdays and holidays are not permitted. Due to this policy, we will be taking one day a month to recognize those birthdays.  Parents may get together to provide a ‘Special Snack’ on this day only.  We cannot allow them on the actual birthdays or days other than the day assigned.  Please keep in mind and respect the fact that many people do not recognize birthdays and holidays.  I will provide a student list of birthdays at the beginning of the year with dates of the special snacks, and parent contact information, so the parents of those children can coordinate a snack.  If you do not wish to be on the parent contact list, please let me know immediately.

 

Thank you for reading this lengthy newsletter.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.  We are looking forward to a great school year!

 

Sincerely,

Mrs. Jennifer Giordano, NBCT

Mrs. Barbara Smith, Teaching Assistant