First Grade Handbook

I am very much looking forward to Open House on Thursday night. I understand some of the parents have siblings in the other grade levels that are meeting the same night we are meeting.  I am placing the "Handbook" on the blog so you can refer to it at your convenience.
See you Thursday night!

Mrs. Carter’s First Grade Handbook

Clothing

First graders are involved in active learning. Despite our reasonable precautions your child may get dirty. Clothing should be comfortable and manageable. Your child should be able to use the bathroom and zip, snap, fasten, and tie clothing without assistance. If he/she wears tie shoes, please be working on tying skills.

Getting Ready

Be sure your child has the energy he/she needs by getting plenty of rest and starting his/her day with a good breakfast. School begins at 8:35 each day. Please do not send your child before 8:15 am. Dismissal is at 3:00 pm every day except Wednesday when it is 2:00pm. Please be on time to drop off and pick up your child.

Bathroom

Please work on independent skills. Children are permitted to use the bathroom at any time of the day. They are asked to use the bathroom before P.A.M. (P.E., Art, Music) and lunch. Please work on hand washing skills as this will help the germs from spreading.

Lunch

Our lunch time begins at 10:50 and lasts for 30 minutes. Please pack a nutritious lunch that you think your child will eat. (Candy and sodas should not be included.) Practice opening lunch box, food containers and a thermos at home. Be sure your child’s name is on all parts of his/her lunch box. The lunch menu is posted at SCPS website (www.scps.k12.fl.us). Your child will have his/her own lunch number which you should help him/her memorize as soon as possible. Each time your child makes a purchase, the cost will be deducted from the account balance. Please discuss with your child what he/she may buy: ice cream, cookies, chips, etc. Please discuss appropriate table manners with your child and encourage the same table manners that you expect at home. If you would like to come and have lunch with your child, please sign in at the front office and get a visitor’s name tag.

Transportation

One of the most important times of the day is dismissal. It is of utmost importance that your child arrives home safely every day. Please make sure he/she is aware of how they will go home. Under no circumstances will a child be sent home because he/she says they are going home by a different mode of transportation. I must have a written note or a phone call to myself or the front office stating if a child will be having a change of transportation. Please do not just leave a message on my voicemail with a transportation change, make sure you speak to me or the front office.

Dismissal

First graders are escorted to their designated dismissal areas a few minutes before the rest of the school is dismissed. Do not tell older siblings to come to get your child at dismissal time. Older siblings and/or parents should meet the first grader at his/her dismissal area.

Classroom Access

For the safety of all our children, all campus visitors are required to have a Visitor’s sticker (attained in Front Office) every time they are on campus. You must be a registered Dividend to assist in the classroom/go on field trips. If you signed up last year, you must sign up again this year. You may not volunteer in the classroom or go on field trips if you are not registered. This includes any family member who may be interested in volunteering at school.

Media Center

We will visit the media center weekly. In a few weeks your child will be bringing home the books he/she has checked out. Please remember to return the media book on or before the next media day. Our media day will be announced in the near future.

Accelerated Reading Program (AR)

First graders will begin participating in the AR program. Some of your children may have participated in kindergarten last year. We have many AR books in the classroom that the students may read during the day. They may also check out AR books from the media center. If you have a Seminole County library card, the Wekiva branch has a list of the books that Sabal Point students can take tests on. Your child will be able to take tests on a regular basis. He/she signs up in the classroom when they have completed reading a book. They may take as many tests as our schedule allots each day. Please encourage your child to read each book thoroughly as each test asks for specific details. Tests are taken on computers in the classroom as well as the media center. This is an outstanding program as it helps to strengthen comprehension, word recognition, fluency, etc.
Daily Take Home Folder

Your child has been given a green folder that is to come to school with him/her daily. The folder will contain notes from me, reminders, homework, etc. I ask that you check your child’s folder DAILY and take out all important information, then return it the next day. Take time to discuss the items in your child’s folder. I recommend looking through the folder together each day at home. If something is incomplete, please make sure your child finishes it and returns it to school the next day.

Birthdays
Birthday treats may be dropped off in the front office and will be distributed during lunch. There are 20 students in our class.

Homework

Homework sheets will be sent home on Monday each week. They will be placed in the front sleeve of the green take home folder. Homework is required in first grade. Homework will generally be assigned Monday through Friday. Please go over your child’s homework with him/her, but make sure he/she is doing the actual work. The homework needs to be done in pencil, no pen. Please make sure your child’s name is always on his/her homework.

Scholastic Book Orders

I try to send home book orders every month. With each book order our class earns free books for our classroom library. The due date for each book order will be stamped or written on each form. Please send a check made out to Scholastic Books, NO CASH. Please also remember to write your name on the order and return it to school by the due date.

Illness

If your child is ill please keep him/her at home until they are feeling better. Many times children hate missing class and want to go see their friends. I will be happy to send things home with a sibling, friend, or you may come pick up homework at the front desk if you like. Please write a note/call the office to excuse an absence. Students may not transport any type medication (including cough drops and chapstick) to school. Please be sure to complete and return the pink, green, and white card to school immediately so you can be reached if needed. (Be sure to update the cards during the year as needed.)

Classroom Donations

We are asking for a voluntary $10.00 classroom donation that will be used for our Scholastic News magazines as well as other classroom supplies. Budget cuts are preventing some of these things from being covered.
Show and Tell
Is a wonderful opportunity for your child to share something with the class that is special. Please help them think of three clues to tell about their object so we can guess what it is. You do not have to write these down.  I will send home a bag when it is your child's day.