Policies & Procedures

ARRIVAL:  Students may enter the building when the first bell rings at 8:40.  Students are expected to have book bags unpacked and be the classroom when the tardy bell rings at 8:55 a.m. Students who are not in the classroom at 8:55 a.m. must sign in at the office.

 

DISMISSAL and TRANSPORTATION CHANGES:  Dismissal begins at 3:05.  At the beginning of the year, parents will complete a classroom form indicating your child’s regular dismissal schedule.  Students must bring a note if there is a CHANGE to their regular dismissal.  Please use the BLUE dismissal change form and only mark the day that is affected and how they will go home.  If it is a last minute change or emergency, you may call the office – but please make every effort to use the dismissal notes and reserve phone calls to true emergencies/last minute changes.  Please do not email transportation changes as I may not always check email during the school day and if I am at a meeting, in-service, or absent a substitute would not have access to that information.

 

TAKE-HOME FOLDERS come home every night and is an important means of communication between home and school.  Please check and empty your child’s home folder each day.  There are two pockets inside:  “To the Teacher”  and “Going Home.”  When sending anything to the office, to me, PTA, etc., please make sure it is in the “To the Teacher” side.  Students will learn the routine of coming to my desk each morning to “check” their folder and turn in lunch money, papers, and so forth.  Please use a FULL SHEET OF PAPER when sending notes to me and the blue dismissal forms for dismissal changes.

 

MONEY/LUNCH MONEY: Any money sent into school should be in an envelope with your child’s first and last name, Room 217, and the purpose for the money marked on the front. Cash is not taken through the lunch line.  If you do send in cash or a check, it will be turned in to the office and entered onto your child’s lunch card.  If possible, making deposits online.

 

 

ATTENDANCE and MAKE-UP WORK: Your child’s regular and prompt attendance at school is crucial to his/her success.  Please note that it is often not possible to send work home that replicates what happens in the classroom.  Much of our work is done using a gradual release model meaning I may introduce a concept whole-group in which I model how to do something, then we do it together, followed by students doing independent work (I do, We do, You do).  Throughout the day, we shift back and forth from whole-group mini-lessons to small group instruction also referred to to guided reading or guided math.  When students are not with the teacher in their small group, they work independently or with a partner using manipulatives, games, technology, or other classroom materials in math, reading, writing, and word work stations.  If your child is out and you want them to try to do work, the best suggestion is to have them do 20 minutes of Lexia Reading and 20 minutes of iReady Math, plus their homework assignment for the evening.  Lexia and iReady are adaptive technologies that provide individualized instruction for students; makiing up the time they would have had on these programs during their station work ensures they continue moving along on their learning path.  If there are paper materials I can send home, I will collect these during the absence and send them home with your child when he/she returns to school.

 

 

REPORTING ABSENCES:  The school requires that you call the attendance line and send a note in when the student returns. Work can be made up when the student returns and is feeling better.  Feel free to email me if you want me to be aware of the absence or situation, but the school must also be notified via attendance line or note/form prior to the absence.

PRE-ARRANGED ABSENCE: If you know your child is going to be out for several days ahead of time, a Pre-Arranged Absence Form should be completed and submitted one full calendar week before the absence.

 

 

REPORT CARDS: First grade does not receive traditional letter grades, such as A, B, or C, in subject areas.  Primary report cards are marked with progress monitoring statements.  Each standard assessed during the quarter will be marked with M (Meets Expectation) P (Progressing towards the standard), or NI (Needs Improvement).  Reading, Math, Writing, and Work Habits receive a progress code all four quarters while Science, and Social Studies grades appear on the report card in the 2″ and 4th grading periods only.  Handwriting and related arts classes (music, art, gym, STEM) are coded with an 0 (Outstanding), S (Satisfactory)  or NI (Needs Improvement) each quarter.

DAILY WORK/GRADING: Daily written work is marked with a stamp, sticker, check mark, etc. These papers are practice activities. Papers with a circled-T at the top means the paper was completed together. A check-mark-T means students completed, then we reviewed together and they made corrections.  Papers marked with a percentage, or 6/7, or a progress code are typically recorded grades calculated in the report card.

 

 

WATER BOTTLES:  Students may bring in a water bottle if the weather forecast calls for 80˚ or higher.  Water bottles may also be brought to school if the student is experiencing a scratchy throat or other personal need.  Please send a note if that occurs.

 

 

BIRTHDAY TREATS and INVITATION: Only safe, non-food treats (such as pencils, stickers, party favors) are permitted; enough for all students in the class.  

Summer birthdays may bring something in anytime during the last two weeks of school.  Birthday invitations may be handed out at school but only IF THE ENTIRE CLASS IS INVITED.  PTA does publish a directly and we try to do a classroom or grade level directory to so that you may contact families individually for social events outside of school.

 

MEDICATION:  The nurse must administer all medications including cough drops and Chap Stick.  as these are considered as “over the counter” medications.  Please check the school handbook or contact the school nurse for questions related to medications.

 

 

DRESS CODE HIGHLIGHTS:  Shoes – No strapless shoes. Shorts – No more than 3 inches above the knee. Shirts – No spaghetti strap shirts.  

 

 

Please see the Student Handbook for a full description of policies.