A B C's of First Grade
Absence
If your child is ill, please call the office by 9am.(410.467.1683) and inform us of your child’s absence. This is for your child’s safety.
Arrival
Students should be on the white top by 7:55am to salute the flag each morning. In case of inclement weather the children will come directly into the building. Arrival at this time will allow your child to have enough time to prepare for the start of classes. Students arriving after we have entered the building will need to be accompanied into the building and be signed in by the adult who has brought them to school.
Art
The children will have art class with Mrs. Walsh once a week.
Birthdays
Birthdays are special occasions for young children. If you would like to send in an edible birthday treat on or around your child’s birthday that would be fine. Please contact me prior to the birthday. We can celebrate summer birthdays during the last few weeks of school if you wish. Birthday invitations will not be distributed in class, unless the entire class is invited. ( invitations only) Please take care of all other non-school communications outside of the classroom.
Book Orders
Each month I will send home in your child’s white envelope a Scholastic Book Club catalog. These clubs offer wonderful books at reduced prices. If you choose to place an order it can be placed on line using our class code ( GW9ND ) or the order can be sent to school. Please make checks payable to Scholastic.
Calendar
Each week’s newsletter, sent out by email from the principal, will include a listing of important dates. The school year calendar is also on the front of the schools website. www.sfa-school.org
Brown Envelope
Each Wednesday your child, if they are the youngest child at SFA in your family, will bring home the Brown Envelope. This is our communication method for weekly information that needs to be sent home on paper.
Computer/iPads
The children will have informal computer time each week. We do have several iPads available that we use throughout the school year. We have two computers in the classroom that are available for student use. I also use the computer, and Apple TV for instruction throughout the year.
DEAR
Each morning at 10:00 the entire school will "drop everything and read". Please make sure your child has an extra book with him/her at all times to DEAR.
Discipline
Our classroom is a small community where teamwork and good relationships are expected. We will spend time learning class procedures and practicing them. Each student is expected to act within our standards of behavior. Students will be guided to respect themselves and their friends through specific direction, positive reinforcement, suggested activities and responsible actions. This will aid in establishing good order and help learn self-control.
Dismissal
All students will be dismissed from the white top at 2:50 pm. The first graders stand with myself in front of the St. Francis statue. The students may not walk away from me until I have seen their pick-up person and have shaken hands with me. Kindly send me an email or written note if your child will be picked up by someone who has not been identified as a pick-up person on your student information sheet. Students going to after school care will go directly to ASC and not come outside.
Emergency Information
Please complete the emergency information that has been sent home the first week of school and return it immediately. If any of that information changes throughout the school year, PLEASE either contact the office, send in a written note or send me an email. This will help tremendously if we need to contact you if an emergency occurs.
Field Trips
I hope to plan two field trips that will be both fun and educational for the children. Buses will be used for transportation. If you would be interested in chaperoning a trip, you MUST have completed the Shield the Vulnerable training. Information for this training can be found at www.archbalt.org
Folders
Students will have a take home folder that they will bring home each evening. Occasionally there will be papers in their folder to be left at home. (Left at home side) Paper homework should be returned the following day in the folder .(Right back to school side)
Gym
The students will attend Gym class twice each week. Ms.Mariya is the gym teacher for the first grade. On our gym days are MOnday and Friday. The students should wear the school gym uniform. The tee-shirt and shorts are to be worn each gym day. All four pieces of the gym uniform should be with the children on gym days. On warm days the sweats may be left in the backpack.
Hands-on-Learning
The best way to help children learn is to make it fun. Important concepts can be learned by doing meaningful hands on activities.There are times when seat work is required and necessary. I will strive to have an active learning environment.
Health
Please let me know of special circumstances which may effect your child.
Help at Home
You can help your child with these readiness skills and ideas:
~ initial, medial and ending consonant sounds
~ basic number facts, addition and subtraction to 10
~ handwriting, proper pencil grip
~ reading aloud, sounding out words at the appropriate level
~ identifying sight words from Kindergarten
~ following directions
Illness
The question of when to keep your child home from school is often a difficult one, especially when decisions must be made first thing in the morning. It is important, however, to keep your child home if he/she is ill. This helps to make them more comfortable and prevents others from becoming ill. Children function more effectively in class when they are healthy.
Jesus
Just remember that Jesus Loves YOU!!
Kindness
Students in our classroom are encouraged and expected to treat all members of our class and others with kindness and respect.
Liturgy
Students will have Liturgy class once each week with Ms. Jean Kelley. She meets with them in the church and practices liturgical music as well as prepares them for Masses.
Lunch
We will eat lunch from 11:45am to 12:10pm each day. Please pack only what your child will eat for lunch. We do not heat food for the students. Please remember to send in spoons for soup, fruit cups etc.
Mass
Student will attend and participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as scheduled. We will also participate in a class Mass each month. Please watch the calendar for the schedule.
Music
Our Music teacher is Ms. Mariya. Student will attend Music class once a week on Tuesday afternoon. She will prepare the students for our Christmas show and Spring Musicale.
Numbers
Please keep all phone numbers updated, It is important to do this for the safety of your child.
Outside Play (Recess)
The children will have a twenty-five minute outside recess each day before lunch. It is important for them the run around and get some fresh air. I have also incorporated a Recess run into our morning schedule for fitness and exercise.Please consider volunteering for lunch recess duty, the children love to see their families at recess time.
Parties and Celebrations
Information will be sent out from our class mothers for each celebration. Please consider helping out when you are available.
Restroom
Please have your child use the restroom shortly before coming to school. We do take a couple breaks during the day for restroom use.
Snack
Students will have a short snack time each morning. Please send a small snack in your child’s lunchbox each day. Children may have water from their water bottles at snack time. No juice boxes please.
Spanish
Students will have Spanish instruction each week. They will be provided formal instruction as well as hands on learning for the first grade.
Supplies
There is a detailed supply list on the first grade website. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Toys
Bringing of toys from home is discouraged because they distract the children from learning. Students should however bring a book from home to have in their desk for reading after work is completed.
Uniforms
First graders are expected to comply with the uniform regulations set by the school. A reminder will be sent home for students who are out of uniform. continued infractions will be forwarded to the administration.
Visitors
School policy requires that all visitors (even familiar faces) are required to check in at the school office. It is the goal and responsibility of the school to create a safe learning environment.
Website
The school website can be accessed at:
www.sfa-school.org
White Envelopes
Each Wednesday your child will bring home a white envelope with their work from the previous week. Please remove the work, sign the front of the envelope and return the envelope the following day. Any work that is stamped, sign and return should come back to school. This system allows you to see your child’s progress on a weekly basis.
eXtra Special
First grade students are extra special. Please contact me with any question, comments or concerns you may have.
You
You are your child’s first teacher. I am honored that you have chosen to send your child to St. Francis of Assisi School. I am here to work with you to educate your child.
Zzzzzzzs
Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift that you can give your child. It will help them be alert and ready to learn each day.
Absence
If your child is ill, please call the office by 9am.(410.467.1683) and inform us of your child’s absence. This is for your child’s safety.
Arrival
Students should be on the white top by 7:55am to salute the flag each morning. In case of inclement weather the children will come directly into the building. Arrival at this time will allow your child to have enough time to prepare for the start of classes. Students arriving after we have entered the building will need to be accompanied into the building and be signed in by the adult who has brought them to school.
Art
The children will have art class with Mrs. Walsh once a week.
Birthdays
Birthdays are special occasions for young children. If you would like to send in an edible birthday treat on or around your child’s birthday that would be fine. Please contact me prior to the birthday. We can celebrate summer birthdays during the last few weeks of school if you wish. Birthday invitations will not be distributed in class, unless the entire class is invited. ( invitations only) Please take care of all other non-school communications outside of the classroom.
Book Orders
Each month I will send home in your child’s white envelope a Scholastic Book Club catalog. These clubs offer wonderful books at reduced prices. If you choose to place an order it can be placed on line using our class code ( GW9ND ) or the order can be sent to school. Please make checks payable to Scholastic.
Calendar
Each week’s newsletter, sent out by email from the principal, will include a listing of important dates. The school year calendar is also on the front of the schools website. www.sfa-school.org
Brown Envelope
Each Wednesday your child, if they are the youngest child at SFA in your family, will bring home the Brown Envelope. This is our communication method for weekly information that needs to be sent home on paper.
Computer/iPads
The children will have informal computer time each week. We do have several iPads available that we use throughout the school year. We have two computers in the classroom that are available for student use. I also use the computer, and Apple TV for instruction throughout the year.
DEAR
Each morning at 10:00 the entire school will "drop everything and read". Please make sure your child has an extra book with him/her at all times to DEAR.
Discipline
Our classroom is a small community where teamwork and good relationships are expected. We will spend time learning class procedures and practicing them. Each student is expected to act within our standards of behavior. Students will be guided to respect themselves and their friends through specific direction, positive reinforcement, suggested activities and responsible actions. This will aid in establishing good order and help learn self-control.
Dismissal
All students will be dismissed from the white top at 2:50 pm. The first graders stand with myself in front of the St. Francis statue. The students may not walk away from me until I have seen their pick-up person and have shaken hands with me. Kindly send me an email or written note if your child will be picked up by someone who has not been identified as a pick-up person on your student information sheet. Students going to after school care will go directly to ASC and not come outside.
Emergency Information
Please complete the emergency information that has been sent home the first week of school and return it immediately. If any of that information changes throughout the school year, PLEASE either contact the office, send in a written note or send me an email. This will help tremendously if we need to contact you if an emergency occurs.
Field Trips
I hope to plan two field trips that will be both fun and educational for the children. Buses will be used for transportation. If you would be interested in chaperoning a trip, you MUST have completed the Shield the Vulnerable training. Information for this training can be found at www.archbalt.org
Folders
Students will have a take home folder that they will bring home each evening. Occasionally there will be papers in their folder to be left at home. (Left at home side) Paper homework should be returned the following day in the folder .(Right back to school side)
Gym
The students will attend Gym class twice each week. Ms.Mariya is the gym teacher for the first grade. On our gym days are MOnday and Friday. The students should wear the school gym uniform. The tee-shirt and shorts are to be worn each gym day. All four pieces of the gym uniform should be with the children on gym days. On warm days the sweats may be left in the backpack.
Hands-on-Learning
The best way to help children learn is to make it fun. Important concepts can be learned by doing meaningful hands on activities.There are times when seat work is required and necessary. I will strive to have an active learning environment.
Health
Please let me know of special circumstances which may effect your child.
Help at Home
You can help your child with these readiness skills and ideas:
~ initial, medial and ending consonant sounds
~ basic number facts, addition and subtraction to 10
~ handwriting, proper pencil grip
~ reading aloud, sounding out words at the appropriate level
~ identifying sight words from Kindergarten
~ following directions
Illness
The question of when to keep your child home from school is often a difficult one, especially when decisions must be made first thing in the morning. It is important, however, to keep your child home if he/she is ill. This helps to make them more comfortable and prevents others from becoming ill. Children function more effectively in class when they are healthy.
Jesus
Just remember that Jesus Loves YOU!!
Kindness
Students in our classroom are encouraged and expected to treat all members of our class and others with kindness and respect.
Liturgy
Students will have Liturgy class once each week with Ms. Jean Kelley. She meets with them in the church and practices liturgical music as well as prepares them for Masses.
Lunch
We will eat lunch from 11:45am to 12:10pm each day. Please pack only what your child will eat for lunch. We do not heat food for the students. Please remember to send in spoons for soup, fruit cups etc.
Mass
Student will attend and participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as scheduled. We will also participate in a class Mass each month. Please watch the calendar for the schedule.
Music
Our Music teacher is Ms. Mariya. Student will attend Music class once a week on Tuesday afternoon. She will prepare the students for our Christmas show and Spring Musicale.
Numbers
Please keep all phone numbers updated, It is important to do this for the safety of your child.
Outside Play (Recess)
The children will have a twenty-five minute outside recess each day before lunch. It is important for them the run around and get some fresh air. I have also incorporated a Recess run into our morning schedule for fitness and exercise.Please consider volunteering for lunch recess duty, the children love to see their families at recess time.
Parties and Celebrations
Information will be sent out from our class mothers for each celebration. Please consider helping out when you are available.
Restroom
Please have your child use the restroom shortly before coming to school. We do take a couple breaks during the day for restroom use.
Snack
Students will have a short snack time each morning. Please send a small snack in your child’s lunchbox each day. Children may have water from their water bottles at snack time. No juice boxes please.
Spanish
Students will have Spanish instruction each week. They will be provided formal instruction as well as hands on learning for the first grade.
Supplies
There is a detailed supply list on the first grade website. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Toys
Bringing of toys from home is discouraged because they distract the children from learning. Students should however bring a book from home to have in their desk for reading after work is completed.
Uniforms
First graders are expected to comply with the uniform regulations set by the school. A reminder will be sent home for students who are out of uniform. continued infractions will be forwarded to the administration.
Visitors
School policy requires that all visitors (even familiar faces) are required to check in at the school office. It is the goal and responsibility of the school to create a safe learning environment.
Website
The school website can be accessed at:
www.sfa-school.org
White Envelopes
Each Wednesday your child will bring home a white envelope with their work from the previous week. Please remove the work, sign the front of the envelope and return the envelope the following day. Any work that is stamped, sign and return should come back to school. This system allows you to see your child’s progress on a weekly basis.
eXtra Special
First grade students are extra special. Please contact me with any question, comments or concerns you may have.
You
You are your child’s first teacher. I am honored that you have chosen to send your child to St. Francis of Assisi School. I am here to work with you to educate your child.
Zzzzzzzs
Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift that you can give your child. It will help them be alert and ready to learn each day.