Dear
Parents and Students,
Please
find below some general information you will find helpful as we begin our year
of learning together.
Blog
If you
would like to learn more about what we did during our day and receive important
information about our classroom and the school such as field trips and special
events you can follow my blog at https://grade1macdonald.blogspot.ca/
If you would like to receive e-mail's when a new
post is made, please enter your email address into the follow by email box on the right hand side.
Shoes
Students require two pairs of shoes.
One pair is to be used exclusively for indoor wear and the other for
outdoor wear. Please select shoes that
your child can put on easily and independently.
If your child is unable to tie his/her shoes independently, please use
Velcro shoes. Both pairs of shoes should
be appropriate for gym activities and running as we participate in daily
physical education both indoors and outdoors dependent on weather. Please label
your child’s shoes as many children have the same shoes. J
Dress
Students are expected to be able to fully and independently get
their jackets on, change their shoes, pack up their backpacks, and put on their
own hats and gloves. If this is a skill
that your child is still learning, please be sure to practice at home, and send
them to school with items of clothing that they are able to put on independently
such Velcro shoes, and easy slide zippers. Please also ensure that you label
your child’s belongings, especially winter gear, as it can tend to be misplaced
and end up in the lost and found. Each morning, your child should be dressed
for the weather, as students will be outside for morning recess and lunch
recess. We also go outside as a class to
look closely at nature and to sketch and sometimes for physical education.
Snacks and Lunch
We set aside 10 minutes before recess for students to eat their snacks
as part of a classroom community. We
also use this opportunity to discuss healthy food choices and how they impact
our energy and learning. Please pack
your child's snack and lunch separately in different containers or compartments
so it is easy for your child to know when they should be eating each part. At
times students will bring their snack with them outdoors. Due to the number of children with food and
nut allergies, we ask that you remind your children not to share food such as recess snacks with their friends. Please
note that there are no microwaves available to heat snacks or lunches. Grade 1 students will be eating their lunches
in the lunchroom. Please ensure you
label their lunch bags as they sometimes end up in another classroom’s
bin.
Daily Folder
A blue coloured
folder will be coming home in your child's backpack. This is their
communication folder and we will use it each day to send home notices and
important information. If you need to send a note to the teacher, it can also
come in this folder. We will check them each day.
Home Reading
Reading with your child at home on a regular basis is key to
success. We encourage students to read
at home each day.
Supervision
Morning supervision begins at 8:55 am.
Please do not leave your children unattended before that time. Students will also have a supervised morning
recess and a supervised lunch recess.
Pick-up
meeting spot
Due to the
large amount of parents and caretakers picking up students at the end of the
day, parents are encouraged to make meeting spots for their child. Some
caregivers make their meeting spot on the hill so the student can still see the
parent when they're leaving. Other meeting spots may be the coloured basketball
nets. Students in Grade 1 know that if they check their meeting spot and their
parent or caregiver is not there that they can return to the Grade 1 doors or
the office. You can send me a quick e-mail at ammacdonald@cbe.ab.ca and let me
know your meeting spot and I will ensure the students head there at
dismissal.
Birthday invites
If you have birthday
invitations to hand out, please send them to school in your child’s
communication folder. We will discreetly make sure each child receives their
invitation to avoid any hurt feelings. I do not expect that all students
be invited to all parties. We are unable
to hand out birthday treats.
Volunteers
Throughout the year we will be looking for a number of parent volunteers
to assist us in the classroom and on field trips. Please see the front
office to confirm that volunteer and police clearance information is current.
All volunteers must have
current security and volunteer clearance before you will be able to
volunteer. These do take time so don’t
wait until the last minute!!!
This year, I am in hopes of being
intentional and organized in the way that volunteers are managed and
implemented, as your time is so very valuable and important to us. Below,
please let me know if you are able to volunteer with the school, and what your
preferential work and availability would be (please check more than one if that
suits you).
________________________________________________________________________
(Volunteer’s Name(s))
________________________________________________________________________
(Child’s Name)
I am interested in volunteering
in the following way(s) (please
check all that apply) -
Working in the Classroom with Students (art
projects, science, in-school field trips, reading, helping with cutting and
pasting etc.)
Field Trips (outside of school)
Assisting
with Scholastic book orders
I am available: ______________________________________________________________
Thank you for taking the time to
fill this out. Please send it back in your child’s communication folder at your
earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Ms. MacDonald
Amanda
MacDonald
Teacher,
Royal Oak School
Calgary
Board of Education | www.cbe.ab.ca/b402
t|
403-777-6279
