Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- Can I have peanut butter/nuts at lunch?
- Can I send in birthday invitations to school?
- How will I know if my child is on yellow or red?
- What is the BEST way to contact you?
- What is a ROYAL READER?
- What is DEAR Time?
- Does my child need a backpack?
- What if my child has experienced a traumatic event?
- What if my child has a change in their dismissal?
- What does my child need for specialists?
- Does room 22 have a daily snack?
- Do you celebrate holidays?
- Do you celebrate birthdays in school?
- When I volunteer can I bring in a small child?
- Do you go outside for recess on cold days?
- What time does school start /end on a delay opening/early dismissal?
- What is Wacky Wednesday or Fun Friday?
- Is Mathewson a FOOD School?
Can I have peanut butter/nuts at lunch?
Yes! We do NOT have any allergies.
Can I send in birthday invitations to school?
If you invite the entire class then YES! If you are a girl and
invite ALL the girls in room 22, then YES! If you are a boy and
invite ALL the boys in room 22, then YES! I will NOT allow your
child to go to another classroom and invite someone with an
invitation. Please understand that many feelings get
hurt when children are not invited to a classmate's party when
other children in the class are.
How will I know if my child is on yellow or red?
A Yellow Sticky will go home in their homework folder with the reason.
Please discuss at home. If you have any questions please email me.
What is the BEST way to contact you?
I check the note basket everyday. I will TRY my hardest to
repsond that day. Sometimes it takes an extra day. I do check
email but not always daily nor do I have time to repond to emails
daily. But if it's NOT an emeregency feel free to email me at
school.
What is a ROYAL READER?
A Royal Reader is just a guest reader, anyone can be one. Moms,
dads, grandparents, godparents, family friend, aunts and uncles,
friends from the community. The volunteer Royal Reader will come
in and read aloud to the class for approximately 20 minutes. You
bring your own books in. While reading you wear a king/queen
crown and gold robe trimmed in white fur. Your picture will be
taken and placed on the classroom bulletin board.
*Some parents ask if they can do one book and a craft with the
book...YES!
What is DEAR Time?
DEAR stands for Drop Everything And Read. It's a time when the
children read silently at their desks from their book boxes. What
is a book box? A book box is a box of books your child picks out
each week. The books are leveled according to your child's
ability. The children pick between 5-7 books each week. They read
them silently, with the parent volunteer and with their
reading buddy from 5th grade. Each week your child selects a new
set of books to keep in their box. Throughout the week your child
may have to complete a written repsonse about one of their books.
They may also take quizzes on Scholastic Count books.
Does my child need a backpack?
Every child needs a backpack to transport their snack, lunch &
folder home. I will provide the folder to transport homework &
notices. Rolling backpacks are NOT allowed in school. Nothing
should be tangling off (keychains & jewerly). NO toys should be
brought to school! Please make sure your child's name in
somewhere inside the backpack.
What if my child has experienced a traumatic event?
It is important to communicate any traumatic experiences your
child encounters which may effect his/her behavior at school, ex:
death of a person or pet, illness to someone close, new baby
anticipated or any experience by which your child became
frightened or anxious.
What if my child has a change in their dismissal?
Please send in a note that morning explaining the change of
dismissal. Please note children may NOT ride a different bus
home. If your child is going to have an on going change then one
note with that information is fine - example: every Monday
child's name has karate/brownies/etc and they will be a walker,
etc...
What does my child need for specialists?
Gym - SNEAKERS and girls should not wear dresses or skirts
Art - they may use paint, markers, clay etc...your child may get
messy so
you may want to dress your child in 'old' clothes.
Library - return your library books
Does room 22 have a daily snack?
YES we have a QUICK morning snack each day. Please send in a
SMALL HEALTHY snack with napkin and proper utensils if needed.
Water or juice box/pouch with straw...no soda and NO open tops on
juice. Try NOT to give too many choices, often children think
they need to eat them all. Snack should be packed separately from
their lunch. Bothsnack & lunch bags should have your child's name on them.
Do you celebrate holidays?
Holidays will be seasonally introduced. Discussions will provide
children with a knowledge of other cultures and traditions. Our
room mothers will contact you when assistance is needed. Please
let me know if there are any problems with the discussions of
holidays (example religious conflicts).
Do you celebrate birthdays in school?
Yes! We sing but NO FOOD items are allowed to be sent in per MBOE.
Children with summer birthdays can celebrate their HALF
birthday! Celebrations are for the children in room 22 only.
Parents are not invited in to celebrate with us.
NO indivdual gifts or goodie bags are allowed.
When I volunteer can I bring in a small child?
I am sorry but I do NOT allow small children to come when you are
volunteering (1-on-1 reading or classroom celebartions). I know
many have well behaved children but it is a distraction and
unfair to the children in room 22. Please make arrangements for
childcare. Thank you for your understanding.
Do you go outside for recess on cold days?
YES!!! Fresh air is very important. We try to go outside
everyday unless the blacktop is icy or the temperture is too
cold. Children are required to have hat/earwarmers (not a hood)
and gloves/mittens to go outdoors on COLD days.
What time does school start /end on a delay opening/early dismissal?
90 minutes
Delay Opening: 10:35 AM
Early Dismissal: 1:35 PM - Yes we still have lunch!
DO NOT call the school, listen to the radio, watch TV or log onto
MBOE website!
What is Wacky Wednesday or Fun Friday?
I don't want anyone to get the impression that those days are just fun fun fun
and no work. These days like Baseball Day is not an all day party. We do
academics all day like normal I just add some extra fun activities that go
long with our weekly theme. Some weeks themes we are able to do more fun and
interesting things compared to others. All our academic activities just are
coordinated with that theme. For instance on Friday we read baseball stories,
read baseball poems, did a cloze activity on Babe Ruth, wrote word problems in
math using baseball words... WE DID NOT PARTY ALL DAY! These extra fun things
are privileges, there is no guarantee that children get to participate. This
week in particular we had 3 extra FUN thing: a baseball game against Room 3 -
Team Tuozzola.. however math was incorporated while we tallied the score &
physical fitness & health while we exercised, made baseball pennants & had a
food celebration with baseball foods. These are extra things that I do that
go above and beyond the day to day daily academic program. I like to have fun
and do these extra things but these are something students have to earn, these
are privileges that can be taken away, from all or some individuals. On Wacky
Wednesday we have DJ, if a child is not acting appropriate they will have to
go to their seat. If someone is being rude to a presenter on Headline News or
Fluffy then they are removed form the group. This is how things are handles
on a daily basis. It doesn't change just because the activity seemed more
important or special. I expect respectful students at all time for all
activities. I hope that clears up any confusion.
Is Mathewson a FOOD School?
NO!
During the summer of 2011 administration decided to make all K-5 schools NO FOOD!
No outside food is allowed in the school to be shared with others.
Therefore there will NOT be treats for birthdays or holiday celebrations!
If you have any questions regarding this policy please contact Mathewson's principal Mrs. Dixon.
