Items students will need from home: Just a backpack. We will make sure all students have the necessary supplies in the classroom. Toys are not allowed at school. If students choose to bring things from home that cause or may cause a problem at school or in class, those things may be taken away and will be returned at the end of the school year.
Report Card: Grades: 1,2,3,4 and Effort Grade.
Absences: Whenever your child is absent, please call the office the day of the absence at 599-4225, or send a note when your child returns to school to explain the absence.
Tardy: School begins at 8:15 a.m. Students arriving after 8:15 must report to the office for a tardy slip.
Lunch: Regular breakfast is $1.50 per day. Regular lunch is $3.00 per day. Milk is $.30 per day.
Playground: I continuously work with my class on correct and safe playground behavior. However, that does not mean that problems do not occur. Please talk to your child about playground safety and safe playing. If your child has problems with students on the playground and it does not get resolved, please let me know.
Bathroom/Drinks: Students are encouraged to use the restroom and get a drink before school, during morning recess, lunch recess, and after school. They are only allowed to use class time for emergencies. Please discuss this with your child. It is extremely important that they do not take up class time for bathroom breaks or drinks as they may miss crucial information/lessons that they need to know for their class work, homework, and/or tests.
Homework: Homework is given daily, and is always due the next day. Students may lose a portion of their recess if they do not return homework. There is no homework on Fridays. In the back of the red homework folder there will usually be a one-week homework schedule. I try very hard to stick to the schedule, but sometimes it may change due to unexpected situations/events. If your child needs materials to complete homework assignments, please let me know. Make sure your child reads 10- 15 minutes every evening and be sure to fill out the reading log. Review the homework with your child once he/she completes it and sign on the back of the homework folder each day. Stress the importance of neatness. Please practice penmanship at home.
Reading Logs: A reading log can be found in the homework folder. Please fill out the log when your child reads or when you read to your child. Leave the log in the homework folder at the “keep at home” side so it will not get misplaced. When the log is completed, switch the log to the “return to school” side. A completed reading log allows your child to have lunch in the classroom and earn ten gems for treasure box. If your child needs another reading log, he/she may pick one up in the classroom.
Book Bag: Once I begin reading groups, your child will bring home a zip-lock reading bag. Please make sure they read the book(s) or story sheet(s) in the bag. There might also be a book report sheet to be completed and they may be expected to take an AR test, if it is an AR book. Please also remember to ask questions about the story to test your child’s comprehension. Typical questions would include the following: Who are the characters? What is the setting? What was the problem? What was the solution or what happened at the end? What happened at the beginning, middle, and end? What does this story make you think of?
It is very important that your child bring the book bag to and from school every day. Your child may have the same story for more than a few days. That’s okay. They can continue to practice reading the same story for fluency.
Field Trip: We usually have a walking field trip to the public library, police department, and fire station. We also have one bus trip. Specifics on these trips will be announced once it is scheduled.
Spelling: Weekly word list will be sent at the beginning of the week (usually Monday) and will be tested at the end of the week (usually Friday). Please help your child practice these words.
Character Education: Character counts! Character education is very important and will be discussed throughout the entire year. Topics will include: courtesy, respect, self control, compassion, integrity, responsibility, teamwork, forgiveness, and sportsmanship. In our classroom, we have three specific personal standards that students are expected to follow or work toward all year long: 1. Show Respect 2. Make Good Choices 3. Solve Problems
Newsletters: Will be sent once a month to keep you updated on what is happening in the classroom and at the school.
Class Incentives: Treasure box is a privilege. Students who work hard and follow class/school rules will get that privilege. Students may earn gems throughout the week to use towards treasure box. Gems can be obtained in various ways: homework completion, good behavior, helpfulness, class work completion, good manners, etc.
Classroom Needs: We would appreciate donated classroom supplies such as: pre-sharpened pencils, white board markers, large/small Ziploc bags, prizes for treasure box, and tissue. We are also in need of volunteers who can work in the classroom on a routine schedule.
Birthdays: To recognize your child’s birthday, you are welcome to bring something in for them. Please let me know in advance so I can plan a time. We do a very simple celebration which includes singing the birthday song and passing out the treat to eat outside of the classroom. Ripon Elementary is promoting a healthy eating habit, therefore, we discourage sweets for birthday celebrations. Please bring in healthy snacks such as, but not limited to, pretzels, crackers, apples, oranges, grapes, bananas, etc.
Curriculum: ELA- McGraw Hill: Wonders Math- My Math Science- Amplify Science Social Studies- Harcourt: Reflections
How You Can Help Your Child Succeed: Have your child eat a healthy breakfast each morning. Have your child sleep at least 8 hours each night. Create a quiet place at home for your child to do homework or read. Encourage reading every night, and share the reading with them. Encourage your child to speak and write in complete sentences. Practice spelling and writing first grade high frequency/sight words.