First+Grade+Handbook

First Grade Handbook

About your Child’s Teacher
My name is Sarah Hartung. This is my 12th year teaching first grade at Rawson Elementary. I have a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a Master’s degree in Reading and Specific Learning Disabilities. I am married and have two children. My son J.J. is 15 years old and a sophmore in high school and my daughter Katie is 12 and is in seventh grade.

Communication
I believe that a good parent-teacher relationship is necessary for maximum school success. Throughout the year I will communicate with you through notes, telephone calls, weekly newsletters, progress reports, report cards and parent-teacher conferences. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. You may call the school before or after school at 766-2918. You may also contact me via email: Hartung.Sarah@sdsm.k12.wi.us

I check my email throughout the day and am usually very good about getting back to you promptly.

Morning/End of the day routine
 In the morning your child will be lining up on the east side of the playground by our room number 109. I will be picking them up and bringing them into the building. For safety reasons, they should not be in the building or in the classroom prior to the bell ringing as there is no one to be able to supervise them. When there is inclement weather, students will be brought into the building at 8:00am and will stand by their lockers until the bell rings.

 Our school does participate in a breakfast program. If your child is not enrolled in the breakfast program, they are still welcome to bring in something to eat, if they would like in the morning. Breakfast usually is cleaned up by 8:30am in the morning and our morning routine begins.

At the end of the day, the students will be lining up in the classroom until I dismiss them at 3:05pm. I will be walking them down to the east doors where they come in in the morning. The end of the day can be hectic, with making sure the students are packed up with what they need to take home. I ask that you do not meet your child in the classroom and pick them up. If your child needs to be picked up early please send along a note with your child in the morning and I will make sure to get them ready and send them down to the office.

Take-Home Folders
Most days your child will bring home a “Take Home Folder.” Inside this folder you may find information from me or the office, papers that need to be corrected or completed, homework etc…I ask that these folders be brought back to school every day. Please use this folder to send any notes, information, book order money etc… back to school.

Friday Folders
On Fridays (or the last school day of the week), I will send home a “Friday Folder.” This folder may include a weekly letter from me updating you on classroom information and also your child’s corrected work. All the corrected papers my stay at home. Please sign the Friday folders by the appropriate box and return it to school on the following Monday.

Snack
Each afternoon we will take a short break for a healthy snack. If you ordered milk for your child, we will have it at this time. Please feel free to send in a juice box, milk or water if you did not order milk. The children need a little energy boost in the afternoon. Please make sure the snack is small and healthy (fruit, vegetables, cheese and crackers, pretzels etc…) Please do not send candy or any other high sugar foods. Also, I do allow the students to have water bottles. They may sit them on their desks and drink from them during the day. This is optional and you and your child can decide if he/she would like to bring a water bottle.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Birthdays
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">If your child so chooses to celebrate their birthday at school, that is great! Please send in a treat with your child that everyone can enjoy. I do however request that it is something that the children can eat without making too much of a mess. Also, it your child has a summer birthday, we will be celebrating our “unbirthdays” at the end of the year. Birthdays are very important and I want to make sure to recognize everyone on his or her special day.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">All About Me Booklet
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">During the course of the school year, each child will bring home a booklet called “All About Me”. The booklet will come home on a Thursday to be completed over the weekend together as a family. You may color, draw, use pictures etc… Return the booklet on Monday. The poster will be displayed during your child’s special week.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Homework
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Homework may consist of your child reading their guided reading book, math practice or word wall word practice. Encourage your child to work on their homework in an area where there are few distractions and it is well lighted. The homework your child brings home will be a reinforcement of something that we have already gone over in class.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Volunteers
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">The first month of school will be spent building our classroom community and getting to know each other. To give us time to get to know each other and our routines, I will not begin having parent volunteers until later this month. If you would like to help in our classroom, please fill out the volunteer form and send back to school with your child.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">First grade is a very special year and one of which I am proud to be part of. I look forward to working with you and your child!

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Sincerely, <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Mrs. Hartung