Welcome to first grade! My name is Stacy Swanson. I will be your child's first grade teacher this year. Mrs. Nancy Doerries will be my assistant in the classroom. We look forward to this year and the opportunity to work with you and your child. The description of our class policies and program should help guide you through the year. By working together, we can assure your child an enjoyable and successful year.
The red St. Clement of Rome pouch contains:
5 sharp pencils with clean erasers, crayons, scissors, 1 gum eraser and 1 glue stick
I will collect and save extra markers, watercolors, SCR folders, glue, glue sticks, pencils and erasers.
Arrival:
Please see that your child is at school between 7:40 - 7:55. Children will be working on their morning work after they unpack. Your child will have a pleasant, peaceful start of their day if they are not rushed or tardy.
Tardiness:
If your child arrives to school after 7:55, they will be considered tardy. Please go to the office and check in.
Absent:
If your child is absent, please call and request the work. The assignments will be sent to the office at the end of the day. Please arrange to pick them up.
Dismissal:
At 2:55 the school bell rings. I will walk the children to the ramp. If your child is in aftercare, we will bring them to the proper place. Please send a note letting us know if your child takes the bus, ramp, or aftercare.
The Website:
The website and homework site will keep you up to date on everything from special events, homework, and important happenings at school. Please sign up on the classroom website as well as the school newsflashes.
Graded Papers:
Graded papers will be sent home in your child's take home folder. You can also check your child's grades on line.
Homework:
Homework is a valuable tool to help reinforce skills that have previously been taught. Homework will be assigned daily, except Friday's. All homework will be checked. The children are instructed as to which books are needed for that night's assignment. Please check and initial the homework daily. A homework grade will be determined at the end of the nine weeks. Return all written homework in the red folder. We do want to form good study habits, even in first grade. We also want to begin forming responsibility in your child.
Birthdays:
In celebration of all of our children's birthdays, we will have monthly birthday celebrations. On the last Friday of each month, we will celebrate those children who were born in that particular month. Our birthday mom will organize and contact you on what to bring for your child's celebration such as: cupcakes, drinks, plates, napkins, or favors. Parents are not allowed to attend the birthday celebrations because there is not a designated time for the celebration, as it depends on the schedule of the day.
Take Home Folder:
Your child will have a red SCR take home folder. It will be sent home everyday. Please make sure to check it every night. It will or could contain the following information:
* Notes from me or the office
* Behavior chart
* Work done in class that can be kept home. This work is not given a grade.
It is for you to review at home with your child.
* Homework
* Tests papers
Behavior Chart:
Your child will have a behavior calendar that will need to be initialed every night and returned the next day.
We will use the "STOPLIGHT" system as our discipline method. Every morning the children will begin their day with a GREEN light. When an inappropriate behavior occurs, the light will be turned YELLOW. The first light change will serve as a warning to the student that his/her behavior should improve. A second light change in the same day will result in a RED light. If the student then has to move to a BLUE card at this time a note will be made on your child's behavior chart informing you that a BLUE light was reached. This will be used as a means of communication between home and school.
At the end of each week, the students that have stayed on a GREEN light the whole week will be able to pick out of the treasure chest.
Please discuss this with your child so he/she can recognize their mistake and be able to explain it to you.
Report Cards:
Report Cards are issued four times a year. The final 9 - week grade will be determined by a combination of daily grades and tests grades. Daily grades will include homework, class work, neatness, and participation.
Many forms of assessments are used in our first grade classroom. Daily grades
consist of participation, group work, written work, and oral work. Report
card grades consist of tests (6 tests each quarter in major subjects), home
projects, and homework.
Grades:
A 94-100
B 86-93
C 78-85
D 70-77
F Below 70
Parent/Teacher Conference:
Parent/Teacher conferences are held twice a year. Each appointment is scheduled for 10 minutes. Please be mindful of the time so that we may stay on schedule. If more time is needed, we may arrange to meet on another day.
All School Mass:
First grade will go to mass every week. Parents are welcome to join us and sit with their child. Proper behavior is expected in church. Please do not allow your child to play in church. Encourage him/her to be big boys/girls by not holding them or talking to them during mass.
Co-Op Meetings:
The Co-Op's purpose is to support and help the school. Sweatshirts and bookstore items are sold before the meetings begin. Parents are eligible to win prizes at the meetings. Teachers may also win cash prizes based on parents attendance. This cash prize would be used to purchase classroom items. Please try to attend.
Snacks:
Students may bring a healthy snack to school for our ten minute recess break. Please label them with their name. Your child should be able to open their own snack.
Water Bottles:
Water bottles will NOT be allowed. The students are allowed to go to the water fountain during the day, and the water bottles become a distraction.
Other Items:
Whenever money is sent to school, please put it in an envelope labeled with your child's name and what the money is for, written on the outside.
Book Club:
Book Club sheets will go home weekly. Read the attached note to learn more about listening to your child read for 10 minutes each night. Return the Book Club Sheet on Friday of every week.
Student of the Week:
During the school year, your child will have the opportunity to be "Student of the Week." To prepare for this week, your child will be asked to fill out and return a Student of the Week poster. Please have your child return this poster at the beginning of the week. To make this week special, on Monday (of their week) your child will be able to bring their favorite book to share with the class. On Wednesday your child can bring a show - n - tell item (1) This item MUST be ablt to fit in their school bag. On Friday your child may bring a scicence related object, article or experiment to share with the clas. If your assistnace is needed, please let me know IN ADVANCE so I can notify the office. If you have any questions please ask.
A special THANK YOU to our ROOM MOM this year. She has great things planned for us.
I appreciate the support from all my parents.
