August 17, 2008

Wow, what a wonderful start in First Grade!!!

Parents, thank you so much for helping make this a great first week of school. I had so much fun getting to know your children. We also had fun reading several great books this week. Some of the books were... (If You Took A Mouse To School,The Day The Monster Came To School and Junie B. (First Grader, Toothless Wonder). You may want to ask your child to tell you a little about the stories or how Junie B. is handling loosing her teeth. 

After reading The Day The Monster Came To School the children made class rules that they would like to follow in our classroom. Then they created their very own monster. They are on the walls by the class rules. Look for them at Open House.

Just a few reminders from the desk of Mrs. White....

• Open House is August 19th at 6:30
• Take home folders come home nightly and should return daily. Please leave the citizenship report in the folder. Take out all other papers I've sent home. I check the folder every morning for transportation changes or any other note you may want me to read.
• Dismissal: Getting your child home safely every day is very important to me. Please let me know on Monday or the day of the change (in writing) how your child is to go home. If your child changes throughout the week I need a note on Monday stating how they are to go home each day. If I am at all in question I will put your child in ASP to be safe. I do not want them going home to an empty house. Thank you for your help in this very important matter.
• Nutritious Snacks: A snack time will be allowed each mid-morning. The students will need to bring their own snacks from home. We go to lunch at 12:34so they get very hungry. Make sure the snack is healthy and something they like.  Please do not send drinks, juice boxes, yogurt or canned fruit. These items are difficult to open and are frequently spilled which causes us to have unwanted "visitors"
• to our classroom. Thank you so much for helping me by sending easy nutritious snacks that fill up your children's stomach until lunch.

• Birthday's: We like to celebrate birthdays in First Grade!  If you would like to provide a birthday treat to share with classmates on your child's birthday or half-birthday (for summer time birthdays), please follow these guidelines:

1. The treats should be pre-cut or individually pre-wrapped. Some  good suggestions are a cookie cake (pre-cut), individually wrapped cookies, doughnuts, snack cakes, or muffins. We will have the treat at snack or at lunch time.

2. Please remember that birthday party invitations need to be mailed and are not allowed to be handed out in class unless all of the students in the class are invited to the celebration.

I would like to welcome our student teacher from Kennesaw University. Her name is Mrs. Anderson and she will be with our class until mid November. I will be working very closely with her over the next few months. Mrs. Anderson was a TOSS student with me last spring too. She has a head start in knowing what I expect. Mrs. Anderson puts the children first and is a hard worker with lots of creative ideas. I am so excited to have her in the class with me!

One last reminder, please plan to attend Open House on Tuesday, August 19th at 6:30 P.M. I will discuss classroom procedures, curriculum, and volunteer opportunities.

      ...Mrs. White