Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- What is the FISH philosophy?
- How do I make a transportation change?
- What do I do if my child is absent?
- Can I send a cake/treats for my child's birthday?
- How can I contact Mrs. McDanell?
- What is the red papers' folder for?
- When will test be given?
- What are the grades given in 1st grade?
What is the FISH philosophy?
It is a work place philosophy that the St. Tammany Parish School
System has adopted. There are four main principles: Be There,
Choose Your Attitude, Make Someone's Day, and Have Fun Learning. We
incorporate these ideas into our classroom environment here in
St. Tammany Parish.
How do I make a transportation change?
If your child is to ride a different bus or to change the way
he/she is to get home, you must send a note or call the office
(892-4311) in order to notify the teacher of the change.
What do I do if my child is absent?
Your child's regular and prompt attendance at school is crucial
to his/her success. If your child is consistently tardy, he / she
is missing morning exercises that reinforce previous lessons and
give extra practice. Some classwork can be made up at home.
However, we do many learning activities as partner work or in a
group situation. This is very difficult to make up at home.
Please make getting to school on time a priority for you
and your child except in the case of illness or an emergency. If
your child misses a school day, please send a doctor's excuse or
note stating why your child was absent.
Can I send a cake/treats for my child's birthday?
You are welcome to send a treat for your child's birthday (plan
for 21 students). Please send a note a day in advance so we can
set aside time to enjoy the treats and celebrate.
How can I contact Mrs. McDanell?
I check homework folders daily. Please send a note in this
folder. You can also call the school office (892-4311) and leave
me a message. I will call you back as soon as I possibly can. You
can also E-mail me @ anna.mcdanell@stpsb.org. All your questions
and comments are very important to me!
What is the red papers' folder for?
The papers folder will be sent home every Tuesday for you to
review with your child. Please look through your child’s papers
carefully and work on any skills that may need improvement.
There is a section for both the teacher and the parent to write
comments/concerns as needed. Please sign the parent signature
section and return the folder to school the next day. You may
keep all of the papers. I do not need them returned to school.
When will test be given?
Test will be given weekly to assess skills in the following areas:
phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and language. This test
pertains to the story that is read each week (see weekly newsletter
for the story titles/skills). Spelling test will be given weekly,
usually on Fridays. The spelling test will also consist of dictation
sentences. Practice beginning sentences with capital letters and
ending sentences with a period or a question mark. The test given
the 1st nine weeks are for practice purposes.
What are the grades given in 1st grade?
E-Excellent/Exceeds stated goals, S-Satisfactory/Meets stated goals,
N-Needs Support/Progressing toward stated goals, or
U-Unsatisfactory/ Not grasping stated goals
These grades will appear on the 2nd-4th nine weeks report card.
The first nine weeks report card only allows us to grade your child on
work habits, conduct, and handwriting.