I am looking forward to working with you and your child this school year. This will be a year of fun and excitement as your child progresses significantly in reading, math, social studies, science, handwriting, and much, much more! Thank you for giving your child the opportunity to attend a Christian school. With your support and with the Lord's guidance, I will do my best to provide your child with the best education possible.
Contact Mrs. Calixto: [email protected] (909) 796-0161 x 1195 Room #105 Class Dojo app
COMING PREPARED Something very important that we will be learning in 1st grade is responsibility and organization. Please help your child get in the routine of putting away S.T.A.R. Binders and any other item needed for school in their backpack the night before so nothing can be forgotten at home. I like to keep my classroom organize as well as having my students organized.
TOYS AND SHARING Due to the possibility of loss and damage, toys should not be brought to school. If I do see any toys, I will take them and not return them until the parent talks to me. Students will have the opportunity to learn to share through classroom activities and work.
SNACK TIME When students eat a good breakfast, they do better in school. I as a mother of two, know that it may be hard getting your children to eat a good breakfast. One, your child is simply not hungry that early in the day, and next, we all seem to be in a hurry to get out the door in the mornings. But, a good healthy snack can help keep a hungry tummy over until lunch (lunch begins at 11:35a.m.) Your child may bring a snack to eat at morning recess (9:35a.m.). Snacks should be low sugar, and healthy. Some examples may be: Any fresh fruit Dried fruit Raisins Carrot sticks Cheese Pretzels Popcorn Salty crackers/ cheez-its Gram crackers Yogurts Please NO CANDY It is important that you label the snack or let the child know what food item is for snack so that they don't end up eating their lunch as a snack (snack recess is only 10minutes). Please let your child know that as we do encourage sharing; food is an item we do not share because of allergies and the harm it can do to some of their friends.
LUNCH TIME First graders eat lunch every day at 11:35a.m. Hot lunch meals can be purchased from the cafeteria. One meal ticket is $6.00 or you can buy a book of 8 tickets for $45.00. You may wish to keep hot lunch tickets at home, or you may store them in my classroom for safe keeping and just let me know if he/she will be having hot lunch. When tickets are running low, I will send you a note to purchase more. On Friday's, pizza is available for $1.00 a slice. Please send money in the STAR Binder. If you desired for your child to have a balanced meal, please send a juice, fruit/vegetable, and desert to go along with the pizza.
BIRTHDAYS Your child's birthday is a special time for them to share with their classmates. I would be happy to celebrate your child's special day. Celebrations are scheduled during lunch times. I just ask that you let me know ahead of time and that you show up 10min. prior to lunch to set up and help pass out items. Please remember that school policy is to have single served items to be shared with the students. Examples of single served items are: Cupcakes Popsicles Ice cream bars Donuts Individual chip bags or popcorn PLEASE NO CAKE THAT NEEDS TO BE CUT, OR ICE CREAM THAT NEEDS TO BE SCOOPED
STAR OF THE WEEK Each student will be given the opportunity to be "Star of the Week" and will be given tasks. Some tasks include bringing a poster to school (I will give you the poster template) with pictures of family, friends, pets, and favorite activities to be displayed in the classroom. The students will also receive special book at the end of the week written by the class. As much as possible, we schedule these privileges at the time of the child's birthday; however it is not always possible due to summer vacation and duplicate birthdays. Please look over the "Star Bulletin" board to find your child's assigned week.
WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS!! I enjoy having parents help in our classroom when possible. First grade is a very big transition from Kindergarten. For one, there is no nap in the middle of the day. Second, they need the opportunity to grow independently. Last, by first grade, most students have experienced being away from family and home for the school hours. It's easy to turn to their parents if the parents are in the classroom all the time. Therefore I like to give the opportunity of independency by trusting themselves, or asking me or our teacher aide for help. I hope you can trust me and know that your child will be fine in the classroom. If a child is experiencing separation anxiety, I would be happy to work on a plan with you.