Welcome to First Grade!
We ‘BEElieve’ in your children!
It is a pleasure to have your child in our first grade classroom this year. We will spend the first two to three weeks of school getting to know each other, learning classroom procedures, and building upon the knowledge your child gained last year. We are looking forward to working together to make this year a happy and successful one for your child.
Parent/Teacher Relationship:
A good parent/teacher relationship is necessary for student success! During the year we will be communicating with you through notes, phone calls, newsletters, interim reports and conferences. During any point of the year please contact us with any questions, comments or concerns you have. We also encourage you to participate in the different classroom activities and learning experiences we will be having in First Grade. Please let us know if you are interested in being a room parent, volunteering in the classroom, or helping to prepare materials at home. All volunteers need to visit the computer lab to register with the volunteer program (it only takes a couple of minutes). We really encourage you to register at the beginning of the year in case you would like to help out later in the year.
Daily Folders:
Each First Grader will receive a folder to bring home every day. This folder should be taken home every school day and brought back in the child’s backpack. We will be sending home self-assessments, papers, notes, etc. in the folder. If you have any notes for us please put them in this folder.
Daily Assessments:
Your child’s Daily Folder will contain a self-assessment sheet. We have included a copy of the self-assessment for you. This is a way for you to see how your child’s social skills and work habits are developing. Occasionally, you may see a note in your child’s folder that encourages you to talk with your child about making better choices as he or she works towards becoming an independent worker. Please remember we are on the same team and want your child to be successful. The daily assessment is not used to evaluate academic performance. Academic performance will be discussed in parent conferences, interim reports, and report cards. Please check the Daily Folder nightly for important information and initial the self-assessment.
Money:
If you are sending money to school for any reason (lunch, school store, field trips, etc.) please put it in a sealed envelope with your child’s name, amount, what the money is for and teacher’s name (Ms. G.). Place the envelope in the daily folder so we see it first thing in the morning.
School Attendance:
In order for your child to excel in school, he/she needs to be here everyday. Your child may enter the building at 8:45 and go to breakfast that will be served until 9:05 or come to the classroom. All students need to be at school by 9:15; at that time the tardy bell will ring and instruction will begin.
Change in Transportation:
It is extremely important that all the children go to the correct places after school. If your child is using alternative transportation, you must send a note or call the school by 3:15 p.m. Otherwise, we will be sending your child by their usual method of transportation. Buses and car riders will be dismissed at 3:45 p.m.
Snack:
We will have a monthly schedule for snack. Each Monday 5 families will bring at least 19 snacks each that will be used during the week. This will allow students to have a variety of snacks to choose from during the week. This schedule will be placed in the Daily Folder at the beginning of each month. We will attach a list of healthy snack choices to the calendar. We will use the water fountain in our room for drinks but you may send juice boxes if you would like. As a way of implementing Wake County’s policy for healthy living, children will be allowed to purchase snacks from the cafeteria on Fridays only. Please do not send snack money for your child on any other day.
Birthdays:
Birthdays are special occasions for your children. If your child wishes to bring a special treat for his/her birthday please let us know ahead of time so we can set aside some extra time to celebrate. We will try to schedule snack day on his/her birthday when possible.
Breakfast and Lunch:
Your child has a lunch code and will use this number to get their breakfast and lunch. Please help your child practice this number! If your child will be getting lunch from school make sure that there is money in their food account. It is helpful to write a check or pay a larger amount of money for lunch instead of sending in money each day. Free and reduced forms are available and can be sent back to school with your child. Once you have been approved for free or reduced meals please send the approval letter to school to be submitted to the cafeteria. Until your child has been approved, please send in lunch money, $1.75 per day. If your child does not have money in their account, they will be provided with only fruits and vegetables.
Toys:
Toys that are brought to school often get misplaced or broken! Their “treasures” may also distract the children from our activities. As a result, we ask that you keep all toys at home (not in backpack)!
Outdoor Recess and Clothes:
Our class will be going outside for recess everyday unless it is raining or extremely cold/hot. Please keep this in mind when your child is getting ready in the morning. Will he/she be able to run and climb outside in his/her shoes? Does he/she have something to put on if it gets cold? Please make sure your child has extra clothes at school with their name printed somewhere. Accidents happen…sometimes we spill; sometimes we are having too much fun to get to the bathroom on time. Please make sure your child is dressed according to Wake County’s dress code. All shirt straps must measure at least three fingers wide. Shorts must be longer than finger tips when your child is standing with his or her hands at his or her side. No flip-flops. Tennis shoes are encouraged since we go outside everyday for recess. Please make sure that girls wear shorts under dresses or skirts as we do many activities on the floor.
Reading Assessments
Your child will be assessed during the first two weeks of school to determine his or her instructional reading level. This information will be used in planning to meet your child’s individual needs. Wake County expects for students to be reading on levels 15 and 16 by the end of first grade.
Homework:
The only homework your child will have during the first nine weeks is to read and sign the Reading Log in your child’s Reading Folder. This should get started during the third week of school. Monthly homework calendars will begin during the second nine weeks. A homework letter will go home at that time to explain our expectations of homework. If you have any questions about the homework feel free to email or call us to help clarify the assignment. Homework should only take our friends a couple of minutes to do and helps reinforce what is being taught at school.
Books:
First Graders will be visiting the library every Monday and will have the opportunity to check out a book from our school library. Please return the library book the following Monday. If the book has not been returned your child will not be able to check out a new book until the book has been returned or paid for. For questions call our librarian Mrs. Parker. Later in the year our fiends will be taking home leveled books to read to you! You will get more information about these books that are at your child’s reading level at a later time. These books will have a replacement cost if lost or damaged.
Thank you for taking the time to read over this information! We look forward to a wonderful year with your child! Please contact us if you have any questions or comments!
Carver: 365-2680 kgruenhagen@wcpss.net
Ms. Gruenhagen and Mrs. Winn
Important Dates
July 20th: 1st-5th Grade Open House
July 25th: 1st Day of school for 1st-5th
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