First Grade Families,
We are so excited to be your child’s teacher! We are going to have an amazing year learning and growing together. Below, you will find the ABC’s of First Grade. This is full of information about our entire year together. Keep this document in a safe place so that you can reference it throughout the year. I look forward to working with your First Grader and your family!
We are so excited to be your child’s teacher! We are going to have an amazing year learning and growing together. Below, you will find the ABC’s of First Grade. This is full of information about our entire year together. Keep this document in a safe place so that you can reference it throughout the year. I look forward to working with your First Grader and your family!
Arrival
Arrival begins at 8:45 when the first bell rings. The second bell rings at 9:15. During this time, students come in, unpack, get breakfast if needed & begin their morning work. Please keep in mind that it takes your child several minutes to walk down to the room each morning. Arrival is an important part of our day that helps us transition into a full day of learning. Students who arrive to the classroom later than 9:15 are considered tardy and will need to go to the office to get a note.
Attendance
Attendance is imperative for your child to find success in First Grade. Many of the activities we do each day are group oriented and involve working with partners, the whole class, etc. It is important for your child to be part of these learning experiences. If your child is absent, please send a note in with them on the day of their return.
Absences
Your child must have a written or emailed excuse from a parent, guardian or doctor within three days of the absence in order for it to be excused. After ten unexcused absences a parent/guardian will be in violation of state attendance laws.
Allergies
Please make us aware of any food allergies your child may have.
Birthdays
Birthdays are a special time for all children. Sharing the celebration is an important event for them. A great way to celebrate your child's birthday is to donate a book to our classroom library in your child's honor. If you wish, you may come in and read the book to our class. If you would like to send in cupcakes or another birthday treat, please let me know a few days in advance. All food that is sent into the classroom has to be purchased from a store/bakery. No homemade treats are allowed. Please do not send cake as it is too difficult to serve in the classroom. Please do not plan on having a “Birthday Party” in the classroom, as all children are not able to celebrate their birthdays in the same way. If your child is having a party at home, please do not send the invitations to school with your child unless you plan on inviting everyone in the class.
Book Orders
We will send home Scholastic book orders each month for you and your child to look over. If you want to place an order you will be placing your orders online. It may take up to two weeks for the orders to come in. I will provide directions on how to submit your order with our first book order flyer. Remember purchases are not mandatory but make great gifts for birthdays and other special events. Also, the more books you order the more FREE books we earn for our classroom library.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served to all interested students between 8:45–9:10am. Time will be extended for late buses. If students return late from breakfast, they will be marked tardy and have to make up the time at recess by walking the track. Students who cannot follow a timely procedure should lose the privilege of eating breakfast in the cafeteria. We will not take away breakfast, but we can have another student bring the breakfast to the classroom where the child eats.
Cafeteria
Student procedures and expectations include:
Upon entering the cafeteria students should:
Communication
We will send home a folder every night. If you need to send in a note, please ensure it goes into your child’s daily folder. We check these folders each morning. When it is time for field trips or other important papers, all of these will go home in your child’s daily folder. If you need to contact us during the school day, you can: 1) Send a note with your child 2) Call the school and leave a message 3) Send an email to [email protected] AND [email protected]. We check our emails before school begins and at the end of the school day.
Conferences
We will be holding parent conferences twice a year. The first conference will be after the first nine weeks of school. The second conference will be student-led and will take place after third quarter has been completed. Other conferences can be scheduled on an as needed basis. I will send out a Sign-up Genius email twice during the school year to invite parents to sign up for conferences.
Daily Folders
Your child will bring home a yellow BEACH folder each day. If you need to send in a note, please ensure it goes into your child’s daily folder. We check these folders each morning. When it is time for field trips or other important papers, all of these will go home in your child’s daily folder.
Dismissal
Dismissal for Highcroft Drive Elementary School is at 3:45pm. Please send a note in your child's folder or call the office if there is change in the way your child will be going home. Though email is convenient, we may not be able to check our emails as often as we would like and don’t want to miss the note. If a note or phone call is not made, your child will go home the way that they normally do.
Early Check Out
Parents must come to the office to check-out a student early. The student will be called from the office. If we are on the playground, you will be sent to the playground with a note.End of day check-out should be made by 3:30 p.m.
Field Trips
We will participate in several field trips throughout the year. We will need parent volunteers to chaperone field trips so please make sure your volunteer clearance is up to date! Parent volunteers are welcome as needed and will be chosen on a first come, first served basis. No siblings may accompany us on our field trips.
Food
Food items brought to school for celebrations and other food related activities must be purchased packaged products. Due to health issues and concerns, items prepared at home are not allowed. WCPSS follows the recommendations of the Wake County Health Department not to serve home prepared items since we cannot guarantee proper food preparation procedures. We strongly encourage healthy choices for snacks and celebrations and must work to limit the sugary cupcakes, treats, and juice that do not comply with Healthy Schools Initiatives. Please let us know if you are bringing treats to the class.
Good Behavior
Our first grade classroom is a safe and happy place where lots of learning happens. We are a classroom family where teamwork and good relationships are expected. Positive behavior is rewarded. We will spend time learning class procedures and practicing them. Each student is expected to act within our standards of behavior. Problems will be dealt with as they arise. If misbehaviors continue, we will contact you for support.
Handwriting
It is very important that students’ handwriting be neat and legible. We will work on this at school, so please work on this at home as well. In the second half of the year, students will be asked to redo or fix an assignment if it is illegible.
Homework
Monthly homework will be given at the beginning of each month. In addition, please read with your child 10 minutes per night. Reading at home could be you reading aloud to your child, you and your child reading together, or your child reading independent with a little help from you.
Illness
The question to keep your child home from school is often difficult. It is important, however to keep your child home if he/she is ill. This keeps them comfortable and prevents others from getting ill. It is a Wake county Schools policy that a child MUST be symptom free for 24 hours without the aid of medication before they can return to school.
Independence
Independence is a goal for students because it builds self-esteem and self-confidence. First Graders are very capable of doing many things on their own and we encourage them to do as much as they can for themselves in the classroom. Please continue to work on zipping, tying skills, and opening lunch/snack items.
Jobs
Jobs will be assigned weekly in class. Students will complete their job daily for the entire week. If the student is unable to handle their job, or it results in a behavioral issue, students can also be fired from their job for the week.
Kindness
Students in our classroom are encouraged and expected to treat all members of our class, as well as others in society, with kindness and respect. Bothering others, bullying, and interrupting learning will not be permitted.
Labeling
Please label all personal items that your child brings to school, especially his or her lunchbox, backpack, and outerwear. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
Library
We will have a scheduled library time. The students will check out books and listen to a story. Be sure to help your child remember to bring them back each week.
Lunch
The students will eat lunch in the school cafeteria each day from 11:30-12. You are always welcome to join us for lunch. However, please give us three weeks to establish our routine before visiting. When you arrive please sign in at the office.
Letterland
Letterland is a phonics-based approach to teaching reading, writing and spelling. The Letterland characters transform plain black letter shapes into child-friendly pictorgrams and they all live in an imaginary place called Letterland. Simple stories about the Letterland characters explain the phonics facts so that children are motivated to listen, to think and to learn. These stories explain letter shapes and sounds, allowing children to progress quickly to word building, reading and writing. Please help your child practice weekly Letterland words in the car, with magnetic letters on the refrigerator, in shaving crème, on the sidewalk with chalk, or even writing them in bubbles while in the bathtub. Be creative and do whatever motivates your child.
Meetings
Please respect that teachers are not available before or after school unless you have a scheduled appointment. As you can imagine our schedules are quite full with weekly staff meetings, staff development trainings, or other committee work and school obligations. Because of this, we are not able to meet with you unless you have a scheduled appointment. School policy is that you stop in the office and the office staff will call our room to see if we are available to speak with you. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Notes
If you send a note in with your child, please put it in their BEACH folder. These folders are checked each morning. It will be your child’s responsibility to turn in this folder each day.
Office
Please ensure that when you are coming into the building, you sign in at the office. You will need to sign in and sign out so that the office knows who is in the building. You may not enter through any other door.
Playground
Our class will be playing on the playground every day (weather permitting). Please keep this in mind when your child is choosing clothing and shoes each morning! Clothing worn to school should follow the Wake County Public Schools guidelines.
Parent Involvement
We are always happy to have your help for special activities in the classroom. You will need to have a volunteer clearance to do this so we will try to let you know at least one week ahead of time if we need help. Requests for help will be on “SignUp Genius”. We hope that you can come and join in the fun!
Photographs
Throughout the school year we create engaging and memorable learning opportunities for the students. Many times we try to capture these wonderful moments with photographs. Please sign and return the consent form to communicate your (dis)approval of photographs of your first grader being taken and shared with the families of other first graders in our class.
Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by assigned student in the classroom.
PTA (Parent Teacher Association)
All parents are encouraged to join the school’s PTA. This is a great way to meet other first grade parents, and get involved in all the great things they support! Come to meetings and find out more about enrichment activities, fundraisers, student achievement support - and of course all the fun social events.
Questions
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s education. We will make every effort to meet and discuss your concerns or questions.
Quick Goodbyes
Help your child with their transition to first grade by giving them a hug and leaving quickly. Quick goodbyes leave dry eyes!
Report Cards
In first grade students will receive four report cards. These will be sent home at the end of the each quarter. Progress reports (stating that your child is working at or above grade level in all areas) or an interim (stating what areas your child needs practice with in order to be working
on grade level will be sent home the middle of each quarter. Please review your child’s report card when it arrives home and then send the envelope back to school at your earliest convenience.
Snack
We have snack daily. Please be sure to send in a HEALTHY snack with your first grader. Please send in all utensils needed for the snack. i.e. a spoon for applesauce.
Supplies
Most of the school supplies sent in will become community items, we will ask as the year goes on for more supplies as our stock runs low. Please check in on our wishlist page to find out what we may need throughout the year.
Science and Social Studies
Social Studies and Science are also important parts of our day. We alternate when we teach these subjects each quarter.
Specials
We are on a 7 day rotation for specials. Our specials include Technology, Art, Media, Music, Spanish, Readers Theatre, P.E., and P.E. II.
Spelling and Sight Words
Phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, decoding vocabulary, fluency and spelling are critical parts of language instruction in first grade. Students will receive extensive instruction and practice in these areas using Letterland.
Spirit Day
Students and staff are encouraged to celebrate our school each Friday by wearing a school t-shirt or school colors.
Team Teaching
This year your student has two teachers! :) Our team is made up of two teachers working together in developing goals, lesson plans, activities, and the learning environment of our classroom. Benefits for your student include additional opportunities for differentiation, access to strategies from two teachers, and a lower student to teacher ratio. We are really excited to be Classroomies this year, and we look forward to working with your child!
Technology
We enjoy using technology whenever possible to provide interactive learning experiences for the children. We regularly utilize the Smart board, chromebook, and ipads. Technology also allows us to communicate about your child and our classroom. The school’s internet use policy can be found in the WCPSS parent handbook.
Toys
Bringing toys to school is not permitted because they distract the children from learning and can be accidentally lost or broken. Books are okay to bring in, but please make sure that they are clearly marked with your child's name.
Transportation
If there is ever a change in your child’s transportation, please send in a dated note with the bus number and/or carpool number. It is also helpful to call the school to let them know and they will call down to the room as a reminder towards the end of the day. It is very important to discuss this change with your child before he/she comes to school so that he/she will know what to expect at the end of the day. If your child is going home with another child (car or bus), both students will need transportation notes stating that both families are aware of the transportation change.
Unexpected
Please keep me informed if something unexpected happens within your home such as loss of a pet or family member, moving to a new home, birth of a sibling, etc. These changes can impact your child’s social, emotional, behavioral and academic performance at school.
Visitors
Highcroft Drive has a policy that ALL GUESTS (including familiar faces) are required to check in at the school office and wear a visitor’s pass. It is important to remember that while this may seem inconvenient to frequent visitors, it is the goal and responsibility of the school to create a safe learning environment.
Volunteers
All volunteers must register on-line using a computer at a WCPSS school. Directions are posted by the computers in the media center. Volunteers must register at the beginning of EACH school year. Volunteer registration takes place in the mornings in the media center. You must be registered with Wake County in order to volunteer. Also, all volunteers must sign in at the front office and wear their name tag denoting their volunteer status.
Writing
Students will write each day as part of our Daily 5 Literacy block. Students will also learn to practice writing during our writing block. Students learn to write at least five sentences about a given topic using capitals, periods, and age appropriate spelling by the end of the year through our Writer’s Workshop.
Wishlist
Throughout the year we sometimes need supplies above and beyond our classroom materials. These needs will be posted on our class website.
eXcited
We are so eXcited to work with your child this year!
You
You are the expert on your child. We look forward to working with you and your family this year to ensure that your first grader has a successful and fun year! Please remember that YOU are your child's first and most important teacher. No one can influence your child's life in the way that you can! You can help to make your child feel successful this year by discussing your child’s school day with them. Ask questions like, “What did you learn today?”, “What did you work the hardest on?”, “What was the best part of your day?” or “What are you getting better at?” These questions cause children to reflect on their learning which in turn helps them remember new information. Don’t let them tell you “nothing.” The way your child perceives your feelings about his/her school and teachers will have a direct effect on how he/she feels about them. Show an enthusiasm for learning. It is contagious!
Zzzzzz's
Your child should get plenty of rest each night. Set a bedtime and be consistent. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give to your child. It will help them to be attentive and prepared to learn each day! Don't forget to read a book before bedtime!
Arrival begins at 8:45 when the first bell rings. The second bell rings at 9:15. During this time, students come in, unpack, get breakfast if needed & begin their morning work. Please keep in mind that it takes your child several minutes to walk down to the room each morning. Arrival is an important part of our day that helps us transition into a full day of learning. Students who arrive to the classroom later than 9:15 are considered tardy and will need to go to the office to get a note.
Attendance
Attendance is imperative for your child to find success in First Grade. Many of the activities we do each day are group oriented and involve working with partners, the whole class, etc. It is important for your child to be part of these learning experiences. If your child is absent, please send a note in with them on the day of their return.
Absences
Your child must have a written or emailed excuse from a parent, guardian or doctor within three days of the absence in order for it to be excused. After ten unexcused absences a parent/guardian will be in violation of state attendance laws.
Allergies
Please make us aware of any food allergies your child may have.
Birthdays
Birthdays are a special time for all children. Sharing the celebration is an important event for them. A great way to celebrate your child's birthday is to donate a book to our classroom library in your child's honor. If you wish, you may come in and read the book to our class. If you would like to send in cupcakes or another birthday treat, please let me know a few days in advance. All food that is sent into the classroom has to be purchased from a store/bakery. No homemade treats are allowed. Please do not send cake as it is too difficult to serve in the classroom. Please do not plan on having a “Birthday Party” in the classroom, as all children are not able to celebrate their birthdays in the same way. If your child is having a party at home, please do not send the invitations to school with your child unless you plan on inviting everyone in the class.
Book Orders
We will send home Scholastic book orders each month for you and your child to look over. If you want to place an order you will be placing your orders online. It may take up to two weeks for the orders to come in. I will provide directions on how to submit your order with our first book order flyer. Remember purchases are not mandatory but make great gifts for birthdays and other special events. Also, the more books you order the more FREE books we earn for our classroom library.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served to all interested students between 8:45–9:10am. Time will be extended for late buses. If students return late from breakfast, they will be marked tardy and have to make up the time at recess by walking the track. Students who cannot follow a timely procedure should lose the privilege of eating breakfast in the cafeteria. We will not take away breakfast, but we can have another student bring the breakfast to the classroom where the child eats.
Cafeteria
Student procedures and expectations include:
Upon entering the cafeteria students should:
- Walk in a straight line
- Wait your turn
- Be sure to get a spoon, fork, napkins, ketchup, mustard, or dressing before sitting down
- Walk to your assigned table with your lunch
- Be respectful of adults and others
- Keep hands to yourself and feet under the table
- Eat your lunch using good manners
- Talking should be done with an inside voice
- Remain seated during lunch
- If you need something, raise your hand
- Do not share food
- Clean up your table and floor area
- Throw all trash in trash containers
- If you have a tray, empty all contents into the trash can and help the Tray Stacker stack your tray
- Line up by walking to where your class is directed
- Sit down on the floor and wait for your teacher to arrive
- Stay in line
- If you need an adult, raise your hand
Communication
We will send home a folder every night. If you need to send in a note, please ensure it goes into your child’s daily folder. We check these folders each morning. When it is time for field trips or other important papers, all of these will go home in your child’s daily folder. If you need to contact us during the school day, you can: 1) Send a note with your child 2) Call the school and leave a message 3) Send an email to [email protected] AND [email protected]. We check our emails before school begins and at the end of the school day.
Conferences
We will be holding parent conferences twice a year. The first conference will be after the first nine weeks of school. The second conference will be student-led and will take place after third quarter has been completed. Other conferences can be scheduled on an as needed basis. I will send out a Sign-up Genius email twice during the school year to invite parents to sign up for conferences.
Daily Folders
Your child will bring home a yellow BEACH folder each day. If you need to send in a note, please ensure it goes into your child’s daily folder. We check these folders each morning. When it is time for field trips or other important papers, all of these will go home in your child’s daily folder.
Dismissal
Dismissal for Highcroft Drive Elementary School is at 3:45pm. Please send a note in your child's folder or call the office if there is change in the way your child will be going home. Though email is convenient, we may not be able to check our emails as often as we would like and don’t want to miss the note. If a note or phone call is not made, your child will go home the way that they normally do.
Early Check Out
Parents must come to the office to check-out a student early. The student will be called from the office. If we are on the playground, you will be sent to the playground with a note.End of day check-out should be made by 3:30 p.m.
Field Trips
We will participate in several field trips throughout the year. We will need parent volunteers to chaperone field trips so please make sure your volunteer clearance is up to date! Parent volunteers are welcome as needed and will be chosen on a first come, first served basis. No siblings may accompany us on our field trips.
Food
Food items brought to school for celebrations and other food related activities must be purchased packaged products. Due to health issues and concerns, items prepared at home are not allowed. WCPSS follows the recommendations of the Wake County Health Department not to serve home prepared items since we cannot guarantee proper food preparation procedures. We strongly encourage healthy choices for snacks and celebrations and must work to limit the sugary cupcakes, treats, and juice that do not comply with Healthy Schools Initiatives. Please let us know if you are bringing treats to the class.
Good Behavior
Our first grade classroom is a safe and happy place where lots of learning happens. We are a classroom family where teamwork and good relationships are expected. Positive behavior is rewarded. We will spend time learning class procedures and practicing them. Each student is expected to act within our standards of behavior. Problems will be dealt with as they arise. If misbehaviors continue, we will contact you for support.
Handwriting
It is very important that students’ handwriting be neat and legible. We will work on this at school, so please work on this at home as well. In the second half of the year, students will be asked to redo or fix an assignment if it is illegible.
Homework
Monthly homework will be given at the beginning of each month. In addition, please read with your child 10 minutes per night. Reading at home could be you reading aloud to your child, you and your child reading together, or your child reading independent with a little help from you.
Illness
The question to keep your child home from school is often difficult. It is important, however to keep your child home if he/she is ill. This keeps them comfortable and prevents others from getting ill. It is a Wake county Schools policy that a child MUST be symptom free for 24 hours without the aid of medication before they can return to school.
Independence
Independence is a goal for students because it builds self-esteem and self-confidence. First Graders are very capable of doing many things on their own and we encourage them to do as much as they can for themselves in the classroom. Please continue to work on zipping, tying skills, and opening lunch/snack items.
Jobs
Jobs will be assigned weekly in class. Students will complete their job daily for the entire week. If the student is unable to handle their job, or it results in a behavioral issue, students can also be fired from their job for the week.
Kindness
Students in our classroom are encouraged and expected to treat all members of our class, as well as others in society, with kindness and respect. Bothering others, bullying, and interrupting learning will not be permitted.
Labeling
Please label all personal items that your child brings to school, especially his or her lunchbox, backpack, and outerwear. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
Library
We will have a scheduled library time. The students will check out books and listen to a story. Be sure to help your child remember to bring them back each week.
Lunch
The students will eat lunch in the school cafeteria each day from 11:30-12. You are always welcome to join us for lunch. However, please give us three weeks to establish our routine before visiting. When you arrive please sign in at the office.
Letterland
Letterland is a phonics-based approach to teaching reading, writing and spelling. The Letterland characters transform plain black letter shapes into child-friendly pictorgrams and they all live in an imaginary place called Letterland. Simple stories about the Letterland characters explain the phonics facts so that children are motivated to listen, to think and to learn. These stories explain letter shapes and sounds, allowing children to progress quickly to word building, reading and writing. Please help your child practice weekly Letterland words in the car, with magnetic letters on the refrigerator, in shaving crème, on the sidewalk with chalk, or even writing them in bubbles while in the bathtub. Be creative and do whatever motivates your child.
Meetings
Please respect that teachers are not available before or after school unless you have a scheduled appointment. As you can imagine our schedules are quite full with weekly staff meetings, staff development trainings, or other committee work and school obligations. Because of this, we are not able to meet with you unless you have a scheduled appointment. School policy is that you stop in the office and the office staff will call our room to see if we are available to speak with you. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Notes
If you send a note in with your child, please put it in their BEACH folder. These folders are checked each morning. It will be your child’s responsibility to turn in this folder each day.
Office
Please ensure that when you are coming into the building, you sign in at the office. You will need to sign in and sign out so that the office knows who is in the building. You may not enter through any other door.
Playground
Our class will be playing on the playground every day (weather permitting). Please keep this in mind when your child is choosing clothing and shoes each morning! Clothing worn to school should follow the Wake County Public Schools guidelines.
Parent Involvement
We are always happy to have your help for special activities in the classroom. You will need to have a volunteer clearance to do this so we will try to let you know at least one week ahead of time if we need help. Requests for help will be on “SignUp Genius”. We hope that you can come and join in the fun!
Photographs
Throughout the school year we create engaging and memorable learning opportunities for the students. Many times we try to capture these wonderful moments with photographs. Please sign and return the consent form to communicate your (dis)approval of photographs of your first grader being taken and shared with the families of other first graders in our class.
Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by assigned student in the classroom.
PTA (Parent Teacher Association)
All parents are encouraged to join the school’s PTA. This is a great way to meet other first grade parents, and get involved in all the great things they support! Come to meetings and find out more about enrichment activities, fundraisers, student achievement support - and of course all the fun social events.
Questions
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s education. We will make every effort to meet and discuss your concerns or questions.
Quick Goodbyes
Help your child with their transition to first grade by giving them a hug and leaving quickly. Quick goodbyes leave dry eyes!
Report Cards
In first grade students will receive four report cards. These will be sent home at the end of the each quarter. Progress reports (stating that your child is working at or above grade level in all areas) or an interim (stating what areas your child needs practice with in order to be working
on grade level will be sent home the middle of each quarter. Please review your child’s report card when it arrives home and then send the envelope back to school at your earliest convenience.
Snack
We have snack daily. Please be sure to send in a HEALTHY snack with your first grader. Please send in all utensils needed for the snack. i.e. a spoon for applesauce.
Supplies
Most of the school supplies sent in will become community items, we will ask as the year goes on for more supplies as our stock runs low. Please check in on our wishlist page to find out what we may need throughout the year.
Science and Social Studies
Social Studies and Science are also important parts of our day. We alternate when we teach these subjects each quarter.
Specials
We are on a 7 day rotation for specials. Our specials include Technology, Art, Media, Music, Spanish, Readers Theatre, P.E., and P.E. II.
Spelling and Sight Words
Phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, decoding vocabulary, fluency and spelling are critical parts of language instruction in first grade. Students will receive extensive instruction and practice in these areas using Letterland.
Spirit Day
Students and staff are encouraged to celebrate our school each Friday by wearing a school t-shirt or school colors.
Team Teaching
This year your student has two teachers! :) Our team is made up of two teachers working together in developing goals, lesson plans, activities, and the learning environment of our classroom. Benefits for your student include additional opportunities for differentiation, access to strategies from two teachers, and a lower student to teacher ratio. We are really excited to be Classroomies this year, and we look forward to working with your child!
Technology
We enjoy using technology whenever possible to provide interactive learning experiences for the children. We regularly utilize the Smart board, chromebook, and ipads. Technology also allows us to communicate about your child and our classroom. The school’s internet use policy can be found in the WCPSS parent handbook.
Toys
Bringing toys to school is not permitted because they distract the children from learning and can be accidentally lost or broken. Books are okay to bring in, but please make sure that they are clearly marked with your child's name.
Transportation
If there is ever a change in your child’s transportation, please send in a dated note with the bus number and/or carpool number. It is also helpful to call the school to let them know and they will call down to the room as a reminder towards the end of the day. It is very important to discuss this change with your child before he/she comes to school so that he/she will know what to expect at the end of the day. If your child is going home with another child (car or bus), both students will need transportation notes stating that both families are aware of the transportation change.
Unexpected
Please keep me informed if something unexpected happens within your home such as loss of a pet or family member, moving to a new home, birth of a sibling, etc. These changes can impact your child’s social, emotional, behavioral and academic performance at school.
Visitors
Highcroft Drive has a policy that ALL GUESTS (including familiar faces) are required to check in at the school office and wear a visitor’s pass. It is important to remember that while this may seem inconvenient to frequent visitors, it is the goal and responsibility of the school to create a safe learning environment.
Volunteers
All volunteers must register on-line using a computer at a WCPSS school. Directions are posted by the computers in the media center. Volunteers must register at the beginning of EACH school year. Volunteer registration takes place in the mornings in the media center. You must be registered with Wake County in order to volunteer. Also, all volunteers must sign in at the front office and wear their name tag denoting their volunteer status.
Writing
Students will write each day as part of our Daily 5 Literacy block. Students will also learn to practice writing during our writing block. Students learn to write at least five sentences about a given topic using capitals, periods, and age appropriate spelling by the end of the year through our Writer’s Workshop.
Wishlist
Throughout the year we sometimes need supplies above and beyond our classroom materials. These needs will be posted on our class website.
eXcited
We are so eXcited to work with your child this year!
You
You are the expert on your child. We look forward to working with you and your family this year to ensure that your first grader has a successful and fun year! Please remember that YOU are your child's first and most important teacher. No one can influence your child's life in the way that you can! You can help to make your child feel successful this year by discussing your child’s school day with them. Ask questions like, “What did you learn today?”, “What did you work the hardest on?”, “What was the best part of your day?” or “What are you getting better at?” These questions cause children to reflect on their learning which in turn helps them remember new information. Don’t let them tell you “nothing.” The way your child perceives your feelings about his/her school and teachers will have a direct effect on how he/she feels about them. Show an enthusiasm for learning. It is contagious!
Zzzzzz's
Your child should get plenty of rest each night. Set a bedtime and be consistent. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give to your child. It will help them to be attentive and prepared to learn each day! Don't forget to read a book before bedtime!