Frequently Asked Questions:
This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- How can I contact the teacher?
- What should I do about picking my child up from school?
- Can I pick up assignments if my child is absent?
- Will my child have homework everyday?
- How will I know about homework assignments?
- How can I help my child successfully complete his/her homework?
- May I come in to visit the class?
- What about lunch with my child?
- Will there be a snack time?
- What about bathroom and water breaks?
- How do I go about sending in birthday treats?
- May I send in birthday party invitations?
- When are the Conferences this year?
- When is Curriculum Night?
How can I contact the teacher?
Feel free to leave a phone message at (847) 984-8921, contact me via email at
dmaculan@dist50.net, or send along a note with your child to school. Please
be detailed in both your message as well as a good time/method to be contacted
should you require a response. I will try my best to respond the same day.
What should I do about picking my child up from school?
Send a note to school with your child giving the date and time
you will be picking him/her up. If you forget to send a note, either email
myself (dmaculan@dist50.net) or call the Woodland Elementary West office at
(847) 984-8900 and let one of our office personnel know.
Can I pick up assignments if my child is absent?
Yes, please call or e-mail me (before our lunch time at )to arrange a
time to pick up the assignments that can be completed at home. I will have
them waiting in the office for you.
Will my child have homework everyday?
Yes.
Your child will receive a weekly Book Bag with Reading Log/Story Map to be used
through (and due) on Friday. Each child will be given a weekly book at his/her
level to use. If completed before the given time, he/she can supplement with reading
of their choice, including the weekend as well (an extra form will be provided).
Your child will be given math worksheets, to practice and reinforce daily Math lessons,
approx. 2-3 nights per week. Math facts practice will also occur throughout the year.
Your child will have a weekly spelling list and related worksheets for practice.
Other subjects may have homework assignments as needed depending on the
subject/curriculum requirements.
Please note that Reading BookBags/Logs and Spelling Practice worksheets are due
on a weekly basis, on Friday. All other homework is due the next day.
Please note that your child will be required to makeup any late homework
during recess time.
In fairness to other students, "late allowances" can only be given for health
reasons and/or extended absences.
How will I know about homework assignments?
Each Monday morning, I will provide everyone the week's assignments on a
"Homework Sheet" and place in their Take Home folder. Please sign and return
the sheet by the end of the week to show that you have seen it.
I will also post the homework assignments on our classroom web, with
additional details which may prove helpful.
How can I help my child successfully complete his/her homework?
It is important to set up a homework area and schedule. Make
sure the needed homework supplies are handy for your child to
use. Some parents have their student complete homework right
after school. Others give their child a break to unwind. Your
student has been focusing all day at school and may need to relax.
Either way, be involved and supervise homework completion to the extent
needed by your child, depending on subject and actual assignment.
Have him/her begin on their own, but be available should questions arise
and/or checking of work be needed. Afterwards, have your child explain
to you what he/she did on the assignment.
May I come in to visit the class?
Yes.
There are opportunities to participate in classroom activities such as class
parties as well as volunteering to help out in areas such as reading, writing
workshop, math, etc.
An interest and availability survey will be sent home at the beginning of the school
year, should you wish to volunteer to help in the classroom. Aside from this, should
you want to come in to "observe" please contact me regarding your availability,
and we will schedule a date/time for you to visit. Please note that a one-hour
session is usually sufficient and siblings cannot be brought along, per school policy.
What about lunch with my child?
It is the policy of the school that the office be contacted 24 hours prior to
any lunch visit. Please contact them directly. Please note that other
children/siblings are not allowed during visits.
Will there be a snack time?
Yes. In this year's schedule, we should be able to have a short "snack-time"
during the morning (due to our later lunchtime). PLEASE NOTE: WE HAVE A NUT FREE ROOM.
Please check your child's snacks carefully so that they DO NOT include any nut products,
and/or package does not note that nut products could have been in processing facility.
Also, I cannot stress strongly enough that snacks should be as healthy as possible.
Items such as fruits, veggies, low-fat crackers, etc. work best.
Please refrain from sending any kind of sweets. Also, please package snacks appropriately
as we will often have a "working snack-time" where independent reading and/or journal writing
may occur simultaneously so desks will need to be kept as neat as possible.
Please remind your child that snacks are their own and should not be traded.
Once again, we have a Nut Free classroom, and in addition quite often,children have
dietary restrictions. Also, if you don't want to send a snack (for whatever
reason) that is OKAY. We might also have extra snacks (such as pretzels or crackers)
available if donated by parents. However, should you prefer your child not receive
if they forget their snack that day, please let me know.
What about bathroom and water breaks?
Given that our class is quite close to the restrooms, we will take a couple of bathroom
breaks during the day, as a class. Your child is also encouraged to use the bathroom
before leaving to come to school and during their lunch time at the cafeteria.
We also have water fountains available during our break times.
Water bottles are discouraged (unless during extremely hot times of year).
If you feel your child's bathroom or water break needs are not being met,
especially for medical reasons, please contact me directly for additional
arrangements. I do not want your child to be uncomfortable, however I do
try to maximize instructional time for the class as much as possible.
How do I go about sending in birthday treats?
REMINDER: Ours is a nut free classroom.
I encourage everyone to send a non-food birthday treat if possible.
Small prizes such as special pencils and/or party favors are equally
enjoyable and can be passed out during our snack time.
However, should you send food items, please remember our class is nut-free
and check labels and ingredients of any items sent in.
They should be dropped off first thing in the morning as your child will
distribute during our snack time.
May I send in birthday party invitations?
The school would rather that you did not send in party invitations to
school/the classroom. If you would like an address listing of the class,
please contact me and I will send
along a copy of those addresses which we have parental permission to release.
You may then mail the invitations directly
to intended recipients.
When are the Conferences this year?
During the 2011-2012 academic year, Fall Conferences (Parent-Teacher)
will be held from Monday, Nov. 21st through Wednesday, Nov. 23rd.
Fall Conference signup sheets will be available at Curriculum Night.
Spring Conferences (Student-Parent-Teacher) will be Wednesday, March 21st
through Friday, March 23rd. Signups will be available at Fall Conferences.
When is Curriculum Night?
This academic year of 2011-2012, 2nd Grade Curriculum Night will be on
Wednesday evening, September 14th at 6:30 pm.
