A Guide to First Grade at Highland View
Classroom Expectations
To encourage outstanding student achievement, responsibility and citizenship, we have adopted the P.B.I.S (Positive Behavior Intervention System). We follow the Love and Logic philosophy which “allows children to grow through their mistakes and live with the consequences of their choices.”
Fay, Jim, and David Funk (1995). Teaching With Love & Logic
Take-Home Folders
I will be sending home the plastic B.E.E. folder with your child each night. This folder will include any notes home, completed work, and homework. Any homework assigned is practice for a concept covered that day at school, and should be returned the following day. Please check your child’s backpack each night. The folder should be returned to school every day. You can put any communication to me in the folder, too.
Money
Any and all money sent to school (for lunch, milk, field trips, or whatever!) should be sent in an envelope. On the envelope, please write:
(Child's Name)
(Steigerwald – Room #113)
(Purpose for the money)
Book Orders
I plan to send home book orders from the Scholastic book club each month. We ask that you shop online and pay online; the books will be delivered to me at school and I'll send them home with your child. Shopping Scholastic Book Club online and your order gets us free classroom library books!
Go to: www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
Steigerwald Class Activation Code: HZNV3
Nutritious Snack Break
In order to better focus on learning, children are encouraged to have a healthy breakfast every day. Even so, most children tend to get a little hungry well before lunchtime. Please send a daily (easy-to-open) healthy snack for your child, such as cheese sticks, fruit, vegetables, pretzels, or crackers. CHECK WITH YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER ABOUT FOOD ALLERGIES CONCERNING CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM. Since hydration is beneficial in keeping the brain active for learning, your child may bring a tightly sealed water bottle or thermos that has a built-in straw to school.
Change in Daily Transportation from School
Regular dismissal schedules will be followed unless I receive a note from you. When your child is to go home in a different way than usual, (picked up by someone other than you, walking/going with a friend, early departure, etc.), please send a written note to make certain your child is safely sent where you intend him/her to be. If there is a change to your child’s schedule during the day, please phone the school office to advise of any change. If you need to get an URGENT message to your child’s teacher during the school day, please contact the school office.
Library
We will visit the school library as a class every week. Your child may check out one book at a time. There will be additional times in our week when children may go to the library with a friend to check out a book when he/she has returned any previous book(s) to the library. Please make sure that, once your child has finished reading the book, he/she returns it to school. A new book cannot be checked out until the previous book is returned. Remind your child that he/she is responsible for the library book (not you!).
Technology
Students will have regular opportunities for using technology in the classroom including classroom computers, mobile laptop lab, iPod Touches, and iPads. We will be using a variety of educational programs and websites throughout the year. (Parental permission forms must be completed prior to your child using the Internet.) Your child needs a personal set of headphones to use with the computers. Please label the headphones with your child's name and place them in a clear plastic bag; headphones will be kept in the classroom all year.
Field Trips
A permission slip will be sent home with information regarding each field trip. Please send required forms and fees back by the due date listed. Kindly remember that the school district policy does not allow younger siblings to accompany us on field trips.
Birthdays
Although not required, feel free to send a healthy treat on your child’s birthday (please refer to the “Health and Nutrition Update” for a list of suggested treats). Children with summer birthdays can celebrate their birthday in June. CHECK WITH YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER ABOUT FOOD ALLERGIES IN THE CLASSROOM.
Schedule
Our first grade "specials classes" are from 1:40-2:30 daily. Attached are Specials Schedules with the days and times for Physical Education, Music, Art, and Spanish for all three first grade classrooms.
Appropriate Clothing
Please be sure that your child is dressed appropriately – especially when the weather gets colder. Plan now to provide a winter coat, mittens or gloves, a hat, a scarf, boots, and snow pants to keep your child warm and dry.
Parent Teacher Organization (P.T.O)
Our P.T.O. at Highland View is absolutely wonderful. Through this organization, parents and teachers do so much for our children and families throughout the year. Further information will be sent in your child’s take-home folder.
Parents are invited and encouraged to join the P.T.O. The meetings are held every other month at 6:30 p.m. PTO meeting dates can be found on the calendar on Highland View’s website.
The P.T.O. collects General Mills’ box tops and uses them to purchase items for our school. Please cut-out the pink “Box Tops for Education” on the dotted line and send them to school with your child.
Curriculum
Curriculum information is available on the district website: www.greendale.k12.wi.us
Parents in the Classroom
All children will most certainly benefit from your addition to our learning! All adults must complete a Volunteer Form in order to be eligible to help in the classroom or attend field trips. Volunteer forms need to be completed and on file with the district. To fill out the Volunteer Form, please visit: http://www.greendale.k12.wi.us/volunteer.html Once you are on the Volunteer page, the WECAN Volunteer link can be found embedded in the last paragraph. The word WECAN is highlighted in green. Once you click on the word WECAN, you will be taken to the WECAN Volunteer home page where you should click on Create a Volunteer account.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me:
Phone: (414) 423-2750, ext. 2113
or Email: [email protected]
- The best time to reach me is before 8:20 a.m. or after 3:40 p.m.
- If you need to get an URGENT message to me during the school day, please contact the school office at 423-2750.
We are looking forward to
a GREAT year in First Grade!