The ABCs of First Grade!

If your child is absent a note stating the reason for the absence must be brought to school as soon as possible to avoid an unexcused absence. Your child will be assessed throughout the year using formal tests, weekly tests, class work, class observations and state assessments. Your child will have art every 3 weeks for 2 hours. If you would like to send a birthday treat with your child on or near his/her birthday, please feel free to do so. Please notify me if you will be bringing a treat. School policy is that treats may be served after 1:30. I will host a class birthday party to celebrate ALL students birthdays in May! Mandatory Parent/Teacher conferences are held following the 1st 6 weeks grading period in October. You are also free to request a conference at any time to discuss your childs progress. Communication is important. Feel free to contact me whenever you have a question or concern. You can reach me by Phone: 277-3880 , Email: hkaldis@brenhamisd.net or Text: 979-661-9017. Our class has 12 digital cameras that the children will be using on a regular basis. Donations of AA batteries are always welcome.

Discipline is simple. I work hard to make the classroom a positive and safe place for all students. There are only 2 rules at B.E.S. Be Nice! and Work Hard! That pretty much covers everything. Please see your childs behavior folder for more specific information. Daily Take Home Binders help keep us organized. It is your childs responsibility to make sure you check it daily for important information. The binder must be returned daily.

Email is the best way to communicate with me. Please be sure I have your current email address. Please allow me 1 day to respond to any emails you send @ hkaldis@brenhamisd.net. Edmodo is a student blog site we will be using in the class, as well as a place to record your reading homework. Look for additional information to come home soon. Our class Estimation Jar will go home with a different student every Friday. Please make sure it is filled with something new and returned Monday morning. Information about upcoming field trips can be found in your childs Daily Take Home Binder. You will also find information on my classroom blog, Pencils, Paper and Pixie Dust. The URL is: www.pencilspaperandpd.blogspot.com

1st Grade attends (3)- 45 minute gym classes every week. The children are asked to wear tennis shoes on gym days. We will have gym on Tuesday and Friday. Grades will be given each six weeks. Students will be graded in math, reading, science, language arts, and social studies.

Keep

updated by reading the classroom blog, Pencils, Paper and Pixie Dust, every week and checking your childs folder every day for important notes and information. Please empty your childs take home folder daily.

Homework will be sent home on Fridays, and is due the following Friday. Children will receive an E, S, N, U grade for homework completion.

Independence is a goal for students because it builds self-esteem and self-confidence. Children will be asked to be increasingly more independent as the year progresses. . You can help at home by making your child responsible for his/her own backpack and binder. Our class currently has two iPod Touches that will be utilized as a station during Literacy Stations.. The iPods are loaded with apps that reinforce skills learned in class. iTunes gift cards are always appreciated to help purchase new apps. Writing takes place every day in class. One way we accomplish this is through shared writing in our journals each morning. We also have a daily writers workshop where the children take on the identity of a writer. Children will also be expected to journal in math and science. Please encourage your child to write at home for a variety or purposes.

Our class will visit the library every other week on Friday. Your child will check out two books when we visit the library. Library books should remain in your childs backpack when they are not being read. Lunch is from 11:20-11:50. Children are discouraged from bringing soft drinks for lunch. You are always invited to join your child for lunch; However, you are not allowed to bring food for any other children, other than your own. Limeades for Learning Please visit Limeades for Learning.com to find out how you can help our class receive 2 additional iPod touches. You can log on daily to vote for our class with a valid email address. All money that is sent to school needs to be placed in the money pouch in the daily take home binder. I will not check anywhere else for money. I cannot be responsible for money that is handed to me by children, rather than placed in the notes and money pouch in the daily take home binder. Your child MUST have lunch money in his/her account to purchase lunch. The children will have music class every week on Thursday for 45 minutes. Children will be expected to use their manners at school. I will emphasize being polite and always saying please and thank you. Please reinforce this behavior at home. I am very thankful for donations of plain M&Ms for my candy jar. . You would be surprised to know how exciting M&Ms can be as a treat!

 Please refer to the handbook for policies regarding

medications and the nurse. Please know that if the nurse calls regarding your child, I have made every effort to keep your child in class, and sending your child to the nurse was due to a persisting problem. Your child misses a great deal of instruction ANYTIME he/she is out of class. It is very important that your child always complete work as neat as possible, this includes all class work and homework. All work should be completed in YOUR CHILDS OWN handwriting and in pencil.

Questions? Please feel free to call me at B.E.S. 2773880, text me at (979) 661-9017, stop in Room 105, email hkaldis@brenhamisd.net or send a note. If it is an emergency, emailing is the best way to contact me. I WILL NOT be available after 8 P.M. for calls or texts.

Report

cards will be sent home 6 times during the school year. Please see the school calendar for grading periods. First graders will have a short playtime after lunch on the hill. The scheduled recess for 1st grade is from 1:45-2:15. This will be adjusted, due to the heat, at the beginning of the school year.

Learning Center We will be growing a vegetable garden in the OLC. We will try to do at least 2 plantings one in the fall and another in the spring. This will be an integral part of our Science Curriculum. We would LOVE to have parent assistance with this project. Look for addtl info.

Outdoor

Safety is key to the success of any learning community.

All children MUST feel safe in order to learn - name calling, hitting, rough play, etc will not be tolerated. Please complete and return the student information form promptly. If your contact information ever changes, PLEASE let me know IMMEDIATELY! We MUST be able to reach you, in case of emergencies. Every lesson taught throughout the day will be based upon the Standards established by the State of Texas Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. I have very high expectations for all students. Spelling City Spelling will be online @ spellingcity.com. Your child will receive a special log in to access games and spelling activities. The weekly spelling test will also be taken online using spelling city. Scientist of the Week Each week there will be a new Scientist. Your child will bring home a bag with a number of experiments to choose from. Your child should choose one, and practice it all week. He/She will then perform the experiment for the class on Friday.

When picking up car riders, please REMAIN in your vehicle with your car signs in the front window. For your childs safety, DO NOT come to the front doors to pick up your child. Party information will be sent home in your childs take home folder throughout the year, as well as posted on our classroom blog. Parents are welcome to pop-in the classroom any time. Your child will be assigned several take home projects this year. ALL work that your child is assigned should be completed in his/her OWN handwriting. Projects are extensions of class lessons.

If there are any changes to your childs transportation, please let me know in writing or by e-mail. Please AVOID last minute phone calls changing your childs transportation, if at all possible. The end of the day is hectic and it is sometimes confusing for your child when last minute changes are made. Being able to contact you in case of an emergency is of the utmost importance. If your address and/or telephone number changes, Please notify me ASAP! Excessive tardiness prevents your child from learning. Class begins promptly at 8 A.M. Please make every effort to have your child at school on time. Excessive tardies may result in a call from the B.I.S.D. truancy officer. Technology Your child will visit the computer lab once per week for 45 minutes to work on planned computer lessons in the computer lab. In addition, I recently received a grant to purchase 7 netbook computers that will ALWAYS be in our classroom. We will use these EVERY day in our classroom for technology activities. TPRI Texas Primary Reading Inventory Your child will be tested using TPRI 3 times during 1st grade September, January and April. Success on TPRI is ONE promotion standard that must be met. We will discuss TPRI in depth at our first conference. In lieu of a Treasure Box, I have a Treasure Binder. Instead of stuff, the children will be able to earn special privileges as a reward for appropriate behavior. If something is unclear please ask about it! I will be more than happy to answer any questions you have! I want this to be a wonderful experience for your entire family! If you dont ask, I cant explain.

Volunteers and visitors must register in the office and pick up a badge before being allowed to enter the school. We love to have volunteers come in and help. If you would like to volunteer please let me know and we can set up a time for you to come in and assist. All visitors to the school are required to have a Drivers License that will be scanned for a simple background check. This is for the childrens safety! Please make sure you always have your ID with you when visiting the school. There are NO exceptions, even my own husband has to sign-in anytime he brings me lunch. Your child will take weekly tests covering spelling, reading, math and sight words. You will receive the grades the following week. It is important that your child study his/her spelling words EVERY night, as well as reviewing sight words.

Parents

and visitors MUST enter and eXit the school through the front office.

ideas and suggestions are ALWAYS welcome! Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas at any time.

Your

ZZZZZZZZZZ - Make sure that your child gets plenty of

rest. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give your child. There will be NO naptimes in 1st Grade.