Welcome to the wonderful world of First Grade! I hope you find the following list helpful as we begin the new school year.

1. BEE BOOKS: Your child will have a BEE BOOK to bring back and forth to school each day. This is used to carry homework, important notes and corrected school work home daily.  Please check and

empty the book each night.  More info will be sent about this.

2. PE/Health: Our class has PE on Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri. Children must wear socks and sneakers

on these days. Health is scheduled on these days later in the year. A note will come home to notify

you of the change.

 3. Lunch: Lunch is at 10:40 each day. Please label lunchboxes and money envelopes with child’s name. Lunch tickets are recommended to avoid the loss of lunch money.

Lunch ticket money should also be clearly marked in an envelope. Pricing is listed on the school

menu.  Please note: the children do not actually carry a ticket but rather their name is kept on a

list at the cash register.  Lunch tickets can be used at any time and are monitored by the cafeteria.

4. Snack: A short snack time will be given in the afternoon around 1:20.  Please send a quick,

nutritious snack. If your child also brings lunch to school be sure they know which items are for

snack and lunch to avoid confusion. Please have your child bring a bottle of water daily to stay

hydrated. Squirt tops work best to avoid desk spills.

5. Book Clubs: Each month you will receive a book order form from Scholastic Book Clubs. There is

no obligation to purchase books, but many find the prices great and convenient. If you decide to

purchase, return the form along with payment by the due date. Delivery usually takes about 2

weeks.

 6. Recess: Children go out for about 30 min. each day, weather permitting. Please dress the

children appropriately for the weather. Tuesday through Thursday they are with recess monitors

during recess. Monday and Friday they are with the first grade teachers.

7. Dismissal: The end of the day is a very hectic time. Your child must have a note for any changes

at dismissal. Any child without a note will go to their regular dismissal location.   I will walk the

children to their buses until they are confident to go alone.

8. Grading: Your child’s papers will have smile faces, stickers, stars, C’s, etc. Spelling tests and

math tests will have numerical grades. Vocabulary checks on Friday may have fractions such as, 8/8

or 7/8 or percentages and show a break down of the skills.

9. Homework:  All homework is to be done in pencil. Vocabulary and spelling word lists come home

Monday along with the weekly spelling assignments. Math homework varies nightly. “Decodable

Reader” stories come home during the week. Please review concepts taught in class, vocabulary

words and spelling words.  Reading with your child is very important!  Spelling homework is due

Friday. Homework is not returned once it is handed in unless I need to bring an area to your

attention.                               

10. Handwriting: A handwriting guide has been provided in the BEE Book. Please encourage “neat

writing”. All letters should start at the top. You may occasionally see handwriting HW, especially in

the beginning of the year.  Pencils are a must.

11. Class parents:  If you would like to be a class parent or help in any way, please indicate so on

the volunteer form. There are many things that can be done to help our year run smoothly.  All are

welcome to help in one way or another. Tasks include organizing parties/events, phone calls to

parents, assisting with projects and sending in needed items.

 12. Birthdays:  We will celebrate birthdays in class.  A treat or snack can be sent in with your

child or dropped off at the office by 12:00. Birthday snacks are part of our short snack

time.  Summer birthdays will be celebrated in June. Party invitations can be given at school if the

entire class receives one. A class directory of phone numbers will be sent home that can be used to

invite classmates to parties if you prefer not to invite everyone.  Parents are invited to visit for

“Star of the Week”, and birthdays will be part of our short snack without parents present.

13. Take Home Pet: Your child will get a chance to take home our class pet, SOCKS(stuffed) for a

few days. It will come home in a backpack. There will be a book and journal included. There will also be special class journals that come home to document exciting events such as birthdays, new shoes, lost teeth.

14. Contact: The school has a voice mail system that allows you to leave messages for each teacher.

If it is an emergency or urgent, please call the elementary office. I try to check my voice mail

daily, but may not always get to it. Email is a great way to reach me as well.   

15. Field Trips:  We will take several class trips this year. When permission slips and info letters

come home, pay close attention to deadlines.  I will choose chaperones for each trip by pulling names

from a hat.  Once a parent has attended a trip, others will be given first priority for the remainder

of the trips.

I will keep in touch with newsletters.  Feel free to contact me at any

time with any questions or concerns you may have. It is my personal

endeavor to make this school year meaningful, successful, and FUN

for your child. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you!!

Thank you in advance for a fantastic first grade year!