A Parent’s
Guide to
1st Grade!
Important First Grade Information
First Grade 2009-2010
Addison
Elementary School
Mrs. Hossenlopp
Room 112
Information and Class Procedures
Welcome to First Grade! This is information that you will need throughout the year. This is your SURVIVAL guide! Please keep this in a safe place so you will know where to find it when you have a question regarding first grade procedures. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask! I am looking forward to working with you and your child this year.
Arrival
Your child may arrive at school beginning at 7:15. The tardy bell rings at 7:45. It is important that your child arrives before the 7:45 bell. We feel that arriving early (around 7:30) will give your child an opportunity to unpack and get organized for the day. When a child is late it can affect their whole day. The best way to ensure that your child is on time every day is to send them on the bus! Our instructional day begins promptly at 7:45. Every minute in our day counts! Please have your child at school on time each and every day!
ASP
The After School Program is held from 2:20-6:00pm every day. The cost is $7.00 a day and you must pre-register before leaving your child for the first time. There is a $10 initial registration fee. All ASP money must be put in the special ASP envelope. Please complete the front of the envelope in its entirety so that your account gets proper credit. We will put your envelope in the ASP box which is located in each hall. Please remember to have your ID when picking up your child from ASP.
Attendance
Attendance is critical! Each day is a valuable learning experience. I understand that your child will get sick from time to time, as well as have scheduled doctor’s appointments. After an absence of any kind, please send a note to school with your child explaining the reason for the absence. Please include your child’s name and date of absence on the note. If you visit a doctor, please get a doctor’s note.
· Five Excused Absences: The teacher will contact the parent or guardian. If contact is unsuccessful, then a letter or postcard will be sent.
· Five Unexcused Absences: After two reasonable attempts to notify the parent or guardian without response, the school will send a letter to the parent or guardian by certified mail, return receipt requested.
· Ten Excused or Unexcused Absences: A letter will be sent from a school administrator to the parent or guardian regarding attendance. In addition, an Administrator will confer with a School Social Worker to determine whether a referral is warranted at that time.
· Fifteen Excused Absences: An Administrator will confer with a School Social Worker to determine if a referral is warranted at that time.
· Fifteen Unexcused Absences: A referral will be made to the School Social Worker.
The above provisions apply to absences during the entire academic year.
Birthdays
Birthdays are special! If your child would like to share a birthday treat with the class, please let me know. Time does not permit us to cut servings for the class; make sure you send individual sized items. These treats will be shared during our snack time. Due to allergies, students will not be able to eat “birthday treats” during lunch.
Conferences
We will have a scheduled conference in January. If you should need to meet with me other than the regularly scheduled January conference, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Also, I may ask to meet with you at a time other than the regularly scheduled January conference. My door is always open. Open communication is essential!
Contacting Us
If you ever have a question, a concern or need to discuss something with me, please let me know. You can drop a note in your child’s GATOR Notebook, call me at school, or send an email. If you call during the regular school day, your call will be directed to voice mail. Due to our schedule, I may not receive your message until after the students have left. If I have not returned your call by the end of the day, please drop a note in your child’s notebook. Email is usually the fastest way to reach me. My email address is: Rachel.Hossenlopp@cobbk12.org
The school phone number is 770-578-2700.
**Please note that transportation changes can not be left on voice mail or email.
Discipline
Behavior management is vital to creating a classroom where learning is the focus. I will expect good behavior from each child. My goal is to develop a classroom community that helps children develop responsibility, organization, independence and problem solving skills. I also expect the children to be considerate and respectful of others in their school community. I have high expectations for student learning and behavior. I expect each child to be the best person he/she can be and will use positive reinforcement and redirection as needed. Our class will work together to come up with ‘Rules’ they will follow. These rules will be an integral part of our behavior management system. Our behavior system is as follows:
· Daily Behavior Sheet to record Money Earned & Keep Parents Informed. (See Attachment)
Money earned will be recorded by your child on their tally Sheet. The students will color their “coconut” by the color code depending on how their day is. Please review your child’s behavior each night, initial and return to school the following day. The money earned will enable them to shop at the Class Store each month.
· Jungle Money will be earned daily for good behavior and deposited weekly into Safari Savings Accounts. Once a month, the students will go on a monthly shopping spree to our Jungle Store (see below). Below is how the children will earn money.
Ä10 cents – Above and Beyond Great Day! Your child has gone above and beyond to follow the rules and complete assignments.
Ä5 cents – Great Day! Your child has followed the rules of the jungle!Ä
Extra Money
As the year progresses, extra money will be given to students to put in their banks. This extra money is not recorded on the behavior sheet. This money will go towards purchases at the Class Store. Money can be earned for a variety of reasons such as hallway behavior, outstanding participation, homework, etc. - I will try to catch students doing a great job at some point during the day. I love to use positive reinforcement and extra pennies is one way I will reward students “caught” using good decision making and choosing the right choices!
Class Store
Each month the Class Store will open for business. Your child will be able to spend their money at the store. The store will have items ranging from 25 cents to $2.00. This is their reward for following the rules of the jungle. Your child will learn to count, exchange money, and practice decision making. In addition, they are learning and beginning to master some of our first grade math and social studies standards.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation in handling and reviewing behavior issues that your child may have at school. I know all students will try to have a great day every day. Please keep in mind some days may be difficult; however, each day each child begins with a brand new start!
Donations
Our class will need some donations for class projects and special activities through out the year. Look for ways to help our classroom in the weekly newsletter as well as our class website: http://addison.typepad.com/wood
Homework
Homework is important! There will be homework Monday through Thursday in first grade. Each child will have a homework calendar in their GATOR Notebook and inside their homework journal that will list what homework they have each day for the entire month. Please be sure to help your child with his/her homework and check to make sure it is complete. Homework is used to reinforce skills learned in school. Please don’t be afraid to help your child with homework; that’s an excellent role-modeling opportunity! In addition to written homework, reading and sight words will also be assigned. Children should read for at least 20 minutes every night. You may begin the school year by reading books to and with your child. As the year progresses your child will read to you and gradually move towards independent reading. Homework will begin in September.
Lunch
Our lunchtime is from 11:46-12:16. Lunch is $1.60. Adult lunches are $2.50. Lunch money can be paid online or sent to school in an envelope or baggy labeled LUNCH with your child’s name and teacher name on it. This will prevent any confusion of what the money is intended for. Your child will carry his/her own lunch money to the cafeteria each morning. You may pay by the day, week, or month. If you choose to pay online, you must request your child’s id to set up an account; please request that in writing.
You are welcome to join us for lunch. If possible, please let me know in advance so we can look for you. Please meet us at the cafeteria at our designated time.
Breakfast is served from 7:15am to 7:40. Breakfast is $1 for children and $1.25 for adults. If your child eats breakfast they should go directly to breakfast when they arrive at school.
Medicine
For the safety of all students, there are rules and regulations regarding medicines. If your child needs medication, he/she will go to the nurse’s clinic. Parents must bring all medication to the clinic and fill out the appropriate medication form. Medication is only administered by the school nurse.
Report Cards
Cobb County School District
GATOR Notebook
The GATOR notebook is a special notebook that your child will carry to and from school every day of first grade. He/she needs to keep it in his/her book bag. Some things you will find in the notebook are lunch menus, homework and specials calendar, class work, parent information, sight word journal, spelling words, and more. It is a very SPECIAL notebook!!
Snacks
Please send in a healthy snack for your child that requires only fingers to eat. No drinks or candy will be allowed. Water bottles are fine. This will be a quick snack, so send a small amount. We will have snack each day.
Transportation
Your child and his/her safety are very important to us. The transportation form that you completed for your child during Meet and Greet will be kept in a Transportation Notebook all year. If there is EVER a change in your child’s usual transportation route home, I must have a written note indicating the change. Please date the note and include your child’s full name and our name as well. I cannot change a child’s usual way of transportation without a written note. For your child’s safety, we can not accept verbal permissions or a phone call. In addition we can not accept a transportation change on email or voicemail.
In the event you need to change your child’s transportation, please call or fax the front office before 1:30 (Fax Number is 770-578-2702). The front office telephone number is 770-578-2700. If someone else is picking up your child, you must send a note listing that person’s name OR they should be listed as a pick-up person on your child’s registration card. Please make sure they have a picture ID with them. If you have any questions about transportation, do not hesitate to ask.
Thank you for reading your First Grade Survival Guide. Please write a note in your child’s GATOR Notebook confirming you have read the information. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding the information.
