Friday was the last day of staggered entry and we had a great week! I want to say THANK YOU to everyone for being so prompt with drop-off and pick-up on the half days. It went very smoothly and the kids did great on their assessments and fun activities. An assessment is simply "a snapshot in time" of what your child can do. Results of the testing this week will be discussed at progress reports and parent teacher conferences in October once more data has been collected and day-to-day observations are completed.
I also want to thank everyone who sent in their letter about their child. I absolutely LOVED reading all of them and getting to know them from your perspective. If you did not write a letter or send an email about your child, please send one next week! We really enjoy reading them and it helps us out so much.
If you have not sent in your $10 activity fee, $1.00 for chinese writing books, library bag, CMS library card, signed class rules form, or office paperwork and immunization forms, or any other missing supplies please send them as soon as possible. Personalized reminder emails will go out at the end of the week.
FIELD TRIPS!!!
Last week I worked to get all of our field trips for the year set up. I am 90% of the way there and will be finishing this week when you will notice a new tab on our blog dedicated to field trips.
Once everything is finalized, there will be 2 separate permission slips that need to be filled out. One is for the Imaginon Public Library Trips and the other is for all field trips this year. Each also has a separate chaperone form for parents.
Once things are finalized you will also be able to pay for field trips and library trips in one lump sum, trip by trip, month by month, etc. However it is easiest for you! Any payments need to be sent to the classroom via hand delivery or through your child's daily folder in cash. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Daily Folders
Daily folders went home on the first day of school last Monday and again on your child's staggered entry day. There is a clear page protector in the front that makes a convenient pocket for money, notes, etc. so it is immediately visible and reduces the likelihood of it falling out into your child's backpack due to the static cling. There is also a daily behavior form and a reading log.
Each day we will write what your child has enjoyed about his/her school day. Please sign/initial daily. The folders are also used for reading logs and a means of communication via forms, homework, and school happenings so it is important that they are checked and emptied daily.
Don't forget to have your child read each and every night and record his/her stories in the back of their folder on the reading log.
Lastly... A few procedural reminders:
**This week it is O.K. if you still walk your child to class. I encourage you to drop them off at the door to allow their independence to blossom as they progress through the morning routine. Next week it is important to say goodbye in the commons area and/or back door to allow for further growth or independence. However, I do have a message station outside my door if there are ever any last minute reminders, notes, etc. that need to be given and I am unavailable due to the buzz of morning unpacking. It is outside the front door under the bulletin board and pens, paper, envelopes, etc. are available for use.
**There are always emergencies and exceptions to the rules/procedures, so please use your best judgement. If you are delivering supplies or something happened on the way to school, etc. please feel free to come to the classroom and use the message station or wait for a pause in the action. =)
**At Open House Scholastic Book Order form.s went home. If you are interested in ordering, our classroom receives free books. Scholastic orders can be sent in via paper orders or ordered online. Our Scholastic classroom code is GYQWR for online ordering and you can pay with a check, credit card, etc.
**This week a Highlights order form will go home. You are not obligated to order. However, whether or not you want the Highlights magazine, our classroom can get free things if you sign and return the form marked "no."
**This week we will be focusing on our classroom rules and what it means to be responsible, one of our classroom rules. Please foster this responsibility by having your child carry his/her backpack, lunchbox, etc. to class each day. Please also have them practice packing their daily folder, water bottle, etc. at home so it is an easy unpacking transition.
**During the first 9 weeks of school, no parents, siblings, visitors, etc. are allowed during lunch. Please honor this rule but feel free to visit any time following the first quarter!
**If you have not registered for a MRSA Library card, please do so ASAP. This is different than the CMS card. You can sign-up here.
**This week Technology Policy forms and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) forms will come home in your child's folder. In order to use the school computers and technology, everyone needs to sign and return the acceptable use policy. If your child has an iPad or device that you will be allowing them to bring to school and use (in several weeks when routines are established and I ask for them to come) please fill out the BYOD form as well and send it to school with your child's device. Having them carry the device or placing it in their lunch box are both safe ways if you don't trust the device in the backpack. They are safely kept in their cubbies once they are in the classroom.
**Our school is in need of volunteers for the beautification committee. There are multiple ways to volunteer. You can adopt a grade level/ adopt a garden (each grade level can choose a special area of the garden or garden project to follow throughout their time at Scholars Academy. The grade's garden parent will work with the beautification committee to select a site/project and then work with the students and teachers to implement the project.) You can transport / spread compost and mulch (they will need someone with a pick up truck to bring compost or mulch 1-2 times per year and volunteers to spread the compost and mulch). And last, you can donate plants. These are wonderful opportunities to get involved in our school. If you are interested in volunteering, please send me your name via email and I will submit it to the beautification committee.
**If you are interested in being a room parent, please email me. Room parents help coordinate parties, communicate specific grade level information via email from the PTO, and occasionally assist me as needed. You do not have to attend the parties, etc. to be room parent.
**Selling the GoPlaySave books is important in order to get new technology for our school. Please do your best to participate in this fundraiser. Also, PLEASE consider giving to the Annual Campaign. I personally give every year and know how important the money raised is to our school in order to meet the deficit in funding we have due to being a charter school. 100% class participation is just as important as the monetary amount.
**Don't forget to text "scholars" to 292929 to keep up to date on events and news from the constant contact at school!
**This week we will be learning about All About Me, Friends, and Family. We will also be covering rules, procedures, colors, months, numbers, and other basic back to school skills. Don't forget to return your child's All About Me person to school along with the worksheets. Optional homework will begin going home this week as well. Keep an eye out for it (and information regarding it) in your child's daily folder.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Let me know if you need anything or have questions.
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