Back to School

1. 1st
Grade
Orientation
August 4, 2014

2. Attendance
• Unless your child is ill, please make every
attempt to have your child present at
school and on time.
• Our day begins at 7:45am and the
dismissal time is 2:45pm. Students that
arrive late are a disruption and waste
valuable instruction time for the rest of
the class.
• If your child is going to be out, please
provide a written note on the first day
that your child returns to school. Please
include date, duration and specific reason
for absence.

3. Behavior
• Every student is expected to follow
school and classroom rules. We will
follow the school wide behavior policy.

4. PE
• Please make sure your child comes to
school each day with proper shoes
and clothes for running, jumping,
climbing, and participating in physical
education activities.

5. Enrichment
• Students will have Art class once a
week, Technology class twice a
month, and Library and Counseling
class once a month.

6. Grades
• Every week your child will be assessed in
reading, and spelling (10 words and 1 dictation
sentence 1st
9 weeks, 12 words and 1 dictation
sentence 2nd
9 weeks and 15 words and 2
dictation sentences 3rd
and 4th
9 weeks). These
test will usually be given on Friday. Students will
be assessed in mathematics once a chapter is
completed. Tests papers will be sent home on
Tuesday and must be returned by Thursday.
• Please take the time to look them over each
week and review any skills or areas of weakness
with your child.

7. Homework
• Every week students are expected
to complete Reading and Math
homework. Students must also
complete the reading log daily.
• It is important that 1st graders
read for a minimum of 15 minutes
EACH night. This may include
practicing their decodable, shared
reading with an adult or older
sibling, and reading and decoding
good fit books on their own.

8. Keeping Informed
• Visit our classroom website frequently.
The itinerary will let you know what we
are learning about each week, and our
calendar will keep you up-to-date,
reminding you about upcoming projects,
due dates, and events.
• Make sure to read the Newsletter.
• Watch for emails

9. Money
• Any money sent to school must be in
an envelope with your child’s name,
the purpose and amount.
• Classroom donation $40
• Agenda books $5

10. Notes
• Please send a note with your child if:
• You know your child will be missing school for an
extended period of time. An independent study
can be arranged if a student will be out for 5 or
more consecutive days.
• A change in pick-up or after school care will be
occurring.
• You would like to schedule a conference or have
concerns.
• Your child has been absent and you have not yet
notified the office about the absence. Watch for
notes from the office and me, and don’t forget to
check the Take Home folder nightly. This will be
our primary way to communicate with you.

11. Other Items
• Parties
• No food, beverages, or balloons (cupcakes/cakes, etc.)
for individual student birthday parties will not be
permitted during the instructional day as it interferes
with the school learning environment and causes hurt
feelings when all students do not have the opportunity
to celebrate at school. Distributing party invitations at
school for a home party will not be permitted.
• Take home folders and agendas (review every night)
• Newsletters (sent every Friday)

12. Snack
• Only water drinks will be allowed
and the school’s preference would
be that each student provide their
own reusable water bottle to refill
at the water fountain.
• MES is using guidelines from US
Healthy Schools Challenge; only
snack items from these guidelines
will be sold in school vending
machines or the school cafeteria.

13. Library
• Students will be able to check books
out from the library every week.
• Students may check 2 books out at
a time.
• Birthday Book Club- $10 donation
will buy a library book to be placed
in honor of your child. Members will
get a special snack at the end of
their birthday month.

14. Extra Supplies
• There will be times throughout the year
where extra supplies are needed. We
will send a note home with the
requested items.
• We always appreciate your support!

15. You
• You are your child’s first and most
important teacher.
• We hope that we can work together
this year to make your child’s 1st grade
school year a huge success!

16. Zzzz
• Please make sure your child gets
plenty of sleep each night, so that
he/she is well rested and ready for
the challenges of first grade.
• This year will ZOOM by, so let’s
make the most of it.

17. Thank You for Coming
Once again, thank you for
coming this evening and for
showing an interest in your
child’s education.
Welcome to 1st
Grade!