The ABC’s of First Grade
A
Arrival: Doors open at
Absences: Good attendance habits enhance your child’s
learning. If your child is absent,
please call the office. Also, document
in the PAWS book the reason for the absence and doctor’s note if necessary. See
Paradise handbook for attendance policies.
Accelerated
Reader: We use the A.R. program
for comprehension practice in first grade.
We will not be taking a grade on the tests; however, you will receive
reports on your child’s performance.
A-Z Readers: Students will soon be bringing leveled readers
home for nightly reading practice.
B
Birthdays: We acknowledge each child’s birthday in the
classroom. If you would like to send a
special snack on your child’s birthday we would be happy to share.
Box Tops: Please continue to send
Box Tops and be sure to write your child’s name on the back of each one to be
entered in drawings each six weeks.
C
Computers: Our students will visit
the computer lab regularly to work on academic and technology skills.
Conferences: If at any time you have any questions, please
call during the conference period of 9:55-10:55 am.
D
Discipline: In order to provide your
child and all the students in the classroom the excellent learning climate they
deserve, we will practice the eight expectations from the Great Expectations
program daily. Also, a behavior calendar
report will indicate if your child has some areas to address.
Donations: Supplies that would be
useful in the classroom but are not mandatory are colored copy paper, play
dough, plastic spoons, and baby wipes.
E
Email: Please feel free to
contact me by email. Our district’s filter may prevent your email from coming directly
to my inbox. If I don’t reply within 24 hours, please jot me a note in the PAWS
folder so that I can look for it in the spam folder.
Emergency
drills: From time to time the
administration will conduct emergency drills to ensure the safety of our children
in the case of the actual event.
F
Family
Projects: Throughout the year, students will be asked
to participate in various projects to be completed at home as a family.
Field Trip: We plan to extend our
learning by taking some field trips this year.
Please look for notes and procedures in your PAWS folders.
G
Great
Expectations: Great Expectations is a
program used district wide to create a positive, respectful, and successful
learning environment for our students.
Gym: Please wear or bring appropriate
shoes daily for P.E. Points will be
deducted from grade if tennis shoes are not worn.
H
Homework: Regular weekly homework
includes reading, sight words and spelling.
I
Illness: If a child is running fever at school s/he
will be sent home. Please help us to
keep a healthy environment by keeping your child home when running a
temperature.
J
Join PTO: Please support our PTO by
becoming a member. They are generous in the donations, service, and time for
each child at Paradise. See how you can share your talents and time also!
K
Keep
Updated: Check
your child’s PAWS folder and the district’s website for school happenings.
L
Label: Please label everything your child will be
bringing to school. This includes
supplies, coats, lunchboxes, backpacks, etc.
Lunch: First grade lunch is from 11:25 to 12:05.
Your child may bring his/her lunch from home or purchase it from the
cafeteria. You may deposit money in the
account program if you would like. Free
and reduced lunch applications have been sent home and are available in the
office. You may join your child for
lunch anytime, just be sure to sign in at the office to get a visitor’s
sticker. Due to state law, you may only provide lunch for your child.
M
Money: Please send all money in
the bag located in the PAWS book. All money must be labeled with your child’s
name, amount and purpose of money.
N
Nurse: When your child is ill at school you will
need to pick him/her up from the nurse’s office located in the main
office. Please send all prescription
medications to the nurse.
O
Outside: Playing outside is an
important part of large motor and social development. Please make sure your child is dressed
appropriately for the weather.
Open House: In the spring we will
host an Open House when we invite families to come visit our classrooms and
show off our fabulous learners.
P
Parties: We will host 3 parties a
year for our students: Christmas, Valentine’s and Easter. Please look for notes so you may sign up to
contribute.
Q
Quiet: First grade students are
active learners, so you will not always hear a quiet classroom! We are busy learning!
Questions: Please use the communication notebook in the
PAWS, email, or call during conference time to ask any questions that you may
have.
R
Report
Cards:
Report Cards will be sent home 6 times a year at the end of the 6 weeks grading
period. Please sign and return the
envelope after reviewing it with your child.
Recess: 1:30-2:00 pm
Rise and
Shine: Monday morning school-wide meeting beginning
at 7:55 a.m. You are always welcome to join us in the cafeteria.
Recognition
Rally: A special time to recognize successes during
the Rise and Shine time.
Recycling: Our school has a paper
recycling program. Bins are located in the front parking lot.
S
Spelling: Students will be taking a
spelling test on Fridays. Practice
spelling words with your child regularly.
Snack: Look for individual notes from your teacher
describing snack procedure. Please follow the FMNV guidelines outlined by the
State.
T
Tardies: Students are tardy at 8:00 a.m. Students arriving after that time will need
to go to the office for a tardy pass.
After the first tardy, students will receive a warning; the second tardy
will result in a phone call from the office and a letter home. Students who accumulate three tardies will
need to attend after school detention on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
Toys: Please keep all toys at
home. Outdoor play equipment is provided by the school.
Transportation:
Please
contact the school office before 2:30 if there are any last minute changes in
your child’s regular schedule. You may also send a note in the PAWS folder if
you know in advance of any changes.
U
Understanding: Thank you for your understanding that your child
is our first priority and we will do our very best to answer all communication,
comments and questions promptly.
V
Visitors: All visitors must sign in at the office.
Volunteers: Please see your child’s teacher for volunteer
information and a sign up sheet. All
help is appreciated!
W
Writing: Your child will really begin to develop his/her
writing skills this year. Please make
sure when practicing at home, that they use correct letter formation. An example of the D’Nealian handwriting that
Water
Bottles: Students
may bring flip top or sport top water bottles from home to drink in class.
Please remind your child that it is a privilege and to not let their water
bottle distract them from learning.
X
X-tra
Classes: P.E. is attended daily by
your child. Computer, Music, and
Library, are attended on a rotational basis.
Y
Yell for the
Panthers! Our students will be attending the pep
rallies at the high school on Fridays during football season. Parents are welcome to attend but your child
can not be released from the pep rally.
Z
ZZZZZ plenty of sleep: Make sure
your first grader gets adequate sleep at night so they will be ready for
learning at school.