August 10, 2017

Dear Parents and Families,

I am thrilled to welcome you and your child to 4th grade! My name is Jessica
Anderson and this will be my sixth year at Southside; however, it will be my 17th
year teaching. My previous teaching experience includes 1st grade, 2nd grade, and
4th grade. I attended University of Florida in Gainesville, then transferred to
University of South Florida and obtained a bachelor's degree in Elementary
Education. Continuing my education was extremely important to me, so I jumped
right back in after graduating to earn a Master's Degree in Literacy. I am certified
to teach PreK-6 grades and have my Gifted Certification.
I have a wonderful husband named Jay and two beautiful children named Dalton
and Mallory. Dalton is nine and coming to 4th grade, and Mallory is six and going into
1st grade this year. They are the loves of my life! My interests include reading (on
my own, to my own children, and to my students!), going to the beach, shopping,
photography, scrapbooking, crafting, and antiquing. During college, I developed a
love for anything old and have since collected many vintage juice glasses, nut
grinders, Pyrex, children's books and puzzles, old tins, and so much more. My
biggest passion in life is teaching and creating a warm and inviting classroom for
all who enter!
This will be an exciting year for everyone as the students are challenged to
learn, grow, and make huge strides in their academic lives. I believe that a
cooperative effort between the parent, child, and teacher is crucial for a year of
success! In this classroom, all children can and will succeed. I hold high
expectations for my students, and I know they will work hard to meet them!
Fostering confident, independent, hard-working, respectful, and organized
students is very important to me! If we all work together, I am positive that this
will be an extremely productive, successful, and exciting year.
As most of you probably know, I will be team teaching with Mrs. Holman this
year. She will be teaching math to both classes and I will be focusing on science
and writing instruction. We are extremely excited that our classes will also be
doing many special events and projects together!!
Please take the time to read the attached papers where you will find very
important school and classroom information. Please fill out the student
information sheet and return it to school as soon as possible.
If you ever have any questions or concerns, please dont hesitate to
come to the classroom, e-mail me, or call anytime. I am looking forward
to an absolutely wonderful year!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Jessica Anderson
 Important School and Classroom Information

Attendance/Punctuality: Please help your child be present and prompt for the
start of each school day. Tardiness interrupts the education of all students in
the classroom. Adequate sleep also results in a more alert, productive,
successful, and happy child!!

Homework: Official nightly homework will begin the 2nd week of school.
Homework is a great way to reinforce what is taught in the classroom. It also
teaches responsibility and helps students to develop the good study habits that
are needed as they move to middle school. Thanks in advance for being
available to give your child support and encouragement during homework time.
Nightly reading is also required as homework and will be part of the reading
grade. Fourth grade students should be reading at least 30 minutes each night
and recording it on their monthly reading log. Reading logs will be kept in your
childs purple homework folder and must be signed or initialed weekly by a
parent.
* Students will be given Southside agendas. These agendas will serve as a
calendar as well as a great communication tool. Please check it and sign or
initial it nightly. Look below for further important information regarding
agendas.
* Official nightly homework will begin the 2nd week of school. There will be
a math assignment each night and spelling and/or vocabulary assignments
weekly in addition to the required nightly reading. Occasionally there will also be
science and/or social studies homework. It is very important that students
complete homework each and every day and make it up when absent.

Office 365: Sarasota County now offers an amazing technology resource

called Office 365. Office 365 is the same Microsoft Office you know and use
every day and then some! Powered by the cloud, Office 365 allows students
and teachers to have access to their applications and important files from
virtually anywhereon a PC, a Mac, or any mobile device. Students will be using
this resource for creating Powerpoints, Sway presentation, saving and sharing
documents, and submitting assignments!!

Spelling: Students will be given 25 spelling words each week of school. There
will be 20 regular words and five challenge words. The students will use Spelling
City.com to review and study their words. Each week, there will be 3-5
assignments/activities for them to complete. The students will be tested on
their 25 spelling words on Friday mornings.
Agendas: Students will be given a Southside agenda. This agenda must go
home each day and be brought back to school each day. It is very important
that you read and initial your childs agenda every night. It is a great
communication tool and will allow you to see how your child is doing on a daily
basis. Each day you will see a stamp if behavior was great or a note if
improvement is needed. The agenda will also be used to record nightly
homework, weekly spelling words, specific due dates, and upcoming tests and
events.

Classroom Website: We have a class website- Mrs. Andersons All-Stars!!

Please check this daily as it will have the latest classroom news, upcoming
dates, special projects, homework, spelling words, pictures, and more.
http://www.andersonsallstars.com

Monthly Newsletters: I will post a monthly newsletter on our class website at

the first of each month. It is very important to read these so you will be aware
of the skills well be working on and the upcoming events.

Monthly Book Orders: Every other month, a book club order will be sent home
with your child. Please take advantage of this program, as it provides an
excellent and less expensive way to add books to your home library!!

Parent Volunteers: Parent volunteers are always welcome in our classroom! If

you would like to volunteer, please let me know so we can discuss ways you can
help us have a terrific year!! Please remember all parent volunteers must be
PALS approved through the front office prior to volunteering in the classroom
or at school.

Lets have a wonderful

year together!!
 Student Information
Please take the time to
fill out this information
sheet. I look forward to
reading your responses
and getting to know your
child better.
Thank you!
5 words that describe your
child:
1. _________________
2. _________________
3. _________________
4. _________________
5. _________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
________
______________________
Students Name: __________________________
Birthday: _______________________________
Parents Name(s): ________________________
Home Address: ___________________________
_______________________________________
Phone #: _______________________________
E-mail: _________________________________
What are your childs strengths?
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
_________________________________
What areas, if any, are in need of improvement?
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
Please provide any additional information below
that would help me better understand your child!
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
______