s Of First Grade' A handbook for Mrs' Billingsleys class

1
s Of
First Grade.A handbook for Mrs. Billingsleys
class
2
Absence

• If your child misses a day of school, please send
  a note the following day. Send a doctors excuse
  if s/he visited a doctor.

• If your child must leave early for an
  appointment, please go to the office to sign
  him/her out and the secretary will call him/her
  to the office. A note is also necessary for
  tardies and leave earlies.

3
Attendance

• Attendance is crucial in first grade. Learning
  depends on participation, so it is very important
  for your child to attend school every day.

• However, I do realize that sickness, family
  emergencies, and doctors appointments do occur.
  Whenever possible, your childs schoolwork will
  be saved for him/her to complete upon their
  return to school.

4
Accelerated Reader is an incentive based program
that allows students to read books of their
choice, at their level and then check their
comprehension with a computer test. Students will
have an AR folder to keep a log of their tests
and results. Please make sure children are
prepared before testing by signing their AR
folder.
A.R.
The children attend a 45 minute art class weekly.
Our art teacher is Ms. Owen.
Art
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Arrival Procedure

• Students should not arrive at school before 800
  unless they are attending the before school
  program. There is no supervision for them. When
  the 8am bell rings, they will go to the Bulldog
  Room. (This begins on the 3rd day of school).
  The stuffed bulldog rotates through first grade
  as each teacher has the Bulldog Room.

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Birthdays
All birthdays will be celebrated once monthly,
on Thinking Cap Day, in the cafeteria. You
will be contacted and asked to contribute to the
birthday treats during the month of your childs
birthday. We regret that we can no longer have
classroom celebrations for each birthday. If your
child has a June or July birthday, we will
celebrate their half-day. Please take note of
the county policy Birthday invitations may be
distributed at school only if all classmates are
invited. This eliminates hurt feelings.
7
Every month I will send home Scholastic book
order forms for you and your child to look over.
These clubs offer wonderful books at reduced
prices what a great way to build your home
library!! If you choose to order, please make
checks payable to Scholastic.

• Book
• Orders

If your child needs to ride a different bus, you
must send a written note with the bus number,
address, date and your signature.
Bus
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Conferences
Parent/Teacher conferences are held at the end of
the first grading period. You will receive your
childs report card and we will meet to discuss
your childs accomplishments, strengths, and
overall progress. Please feel free to schedule
additional conferences during the year as the
need arises. lakeisha.billingsley_at_ccboe.net.
9
Communication Folder
Every day your child will bring home the Red
Folder. This folder contains important weekly
information. PLEASE check and initial this
daily. It may contain important announcements,
homework assignments, or completed work. It is
very important for your child to return this
folder to school every day. This will develop a
routine and provide communication between home
and school.
10
Discipline

• Classroom Rules
• Be kind to everyone.
• Raise your hand to
• speak.
• Stay in your seat.
• Follow Directions
• 5. MYOB
• (Mind your own business)

My philosophy of discipline is based on the
belief that children need affectionate care and
firm guidelines. In order to establish good
order and help the children learn self-control,
the children will be expected to respect their
teachers and their classmates. I will use
specific direction and positive reinforcement to
encourage this expected behavior. Please discuss
these rules, consequences and rewards with your
child.
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Consequences

• First offense - verbal warning. Flip to
  orange. No loss of recess and no note.
• Second offense student will be reminded of
  the rule broken, flip their card to yellow and
  miss 5 minutes of recess.
• Third offense Student will flip their card
  to red and miss 15 minutes of recess.
• Fourth offense Student will flip their card
  to black, miss all of recess and a note will be
  sent to his/her parents.
• Next offense will result in a Discipline
  Referral and a visit with the principal.

12
Dismissal
Students will be dismissed at 330pm.
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e-mail

• The best way to contact me is email.
• My address
• lakeisha.billingsley_at_ccboe.net
• I check my email several times daily.

14
Field trips
We plan several field trips that are both fun
and educational for the students. Our tentative
plans this year are River Banks Zoo, The Roar of
Love, Elijah State Park, and Spirit Creek. If
parent volunteers are needed I will let you
know. Please return permission slips as soon as
possible after they are sent home.
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Gym

• Our class will have a 45 minute gym class 3 days
  each week. The children are asked to wear tennis
  shoes. Girls should wear shorts under dresses.
  Our gym teachers are Coach Adkins, Coach Wessner
  and Coach Russell.

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• Homework

Homework assignments will be
listed on the weekly agenda that is
sent home in the communication folder. It will
require some parental involvement but it should
take no more than 30 minutes to complete.
Completing and returning homework helps build a
sense of responsibility and prepares him/her for
the homework they will have in second grade. You
are encouraged to develop a homework routine
that includes 1. noise-free, well lit place for
your child to work 2. your review of their
homework and 3. Reading with your child every
night.
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Please let me know of special circumstances that
may affect your child. These may include
medication that makes him/her sleepy, a death in
the family, etc. Also please let me know of any
allergies your child may have, especially food
allergies. The school nurse will administer any
medication that may be needed.
Heal th
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Illness
The question of when to keep your child home from
school is often a difficult one, especially when
decisions must be made first thing in the
morning. It is important to keep your child home
if they are running a fever of 100. This helps
to make them more comfortable and prevents others
from becoming ill.
19
Journals

• We will begin writing in our journals at least
  once weekly. In these journals, we will combine
  their emerging writing skills with their drawing
  skills.

20
Kindness
Students in our classroom are encouraged and
expected to treat everyone with kindness and
respect. Hitting, fighting, name-calling and
making fun of others will not be permitted. We
will be looking for acts of kindness when
offering rewards for students.
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Lunch
We eat lunch from 1235 1255. Children may
bring a lunch box or buy a school lunch. Please
place all money sent to school in an envelope
labeled with your childs name and what the money
is for. Ice cream is available for 50 cents.
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Mystery Reader
Music
I would like to invite parents or other
relatives to surprise our students by visiting
our classroom for a read aloud of a favorite
book. I will send more information home soon,
along with a sign up sheet.

• Our class will have a 45 minute music
  class each week. Ms. Starcher is our music
  teacher. We will also sing in class.

23
Newsletter
Nurse
We are very fortunate to have a nurse at our
school. Ms. Moyer will tend to minor scrapes,
sudden illness and any medications. For
serious illnesses or injuries, she will contact
you immediately. Please be sure to send in any
change of contact numbers as soon as possible.

• Our classroom newsletter is generally sent
  home monthly. This will keep you informed about
  what is happening in our class the skills we
  are learning, and upcoming events.

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O.K.

• It is okay to make mistakes. We are in first
  grade to learn and I tell the children that we
  all make mistakes and that most mistakes can be
  fixed. Mistakes are a great way to learn.

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• Parties
• Celebrations

PTO
We have a very hard working and generous Parent
Teacher Organization that is always willing to
help teachers and students. Please join PTO. We
are striving for 100 participation.
There are 2 main parties each year Christmas
and the end of the year. We will have other
celebrations throughout the year. I will send
home a list of items needed and you can let me
know what you can send.
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Questions

• Im sure you may still have some questions
  after tonight. Please feel free to send me a
  note or an email
• lakeisha.billingsley_at_ccboe.net

27
Recess
Restrooms

• The children will have recess every day from
  110 130 providing it is not too hot. We will
  try to go earlier in the day or play some indoor
  games if the weather does not allow us to go
  outside.

We have restrooms in our classroom. Students
will need to use it during certain breaks, unless
it is an emergency. Please make me aware of any
medical problem that might require frequent
restroom trips.
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Report cards

• Report cards are issued every nine weeks. These
  reports reflect the progress your child has made
  towards first grade objectives. This year we are
  using a standards based report card instead of
  letter grades. We will talk more about this at
  Parent Orientation night.

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Snack

• We eat lunch later and by mid-morning the
  students will be hungry. Please send a small,
  healthy snack to school each day.
• I recommend fruits, veggies, or crackers.
• Please avoid sweets. Students should be able
  to finish their snack in 5 minutes. We would
  appreciate any donations of non-perishable
  healthy snacks for our class to have on-hand for
  those who forget.
• Also, please send a water bottle daily .

30
Toys

• We do not have show and tell in first grade
  except on rare and special occasions.
• Bringing toys to school is not allowed except on
  these special occasions.

31
Unique

• Our children are special and unique. They will
  have many opportunities to describe how they are
  alike as well as different from others.

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Volunteers
Visitors

• River Ridge has a policy that ALL GUESTS
  (including familiar faces) are required to check
  in at the school office and wear a visitor pass.
  We welcome and encourage you to visit.

Volunteers are always needed in many areas.
Please complete a volunteer form so that we may
contact you. I have many needs including room
parent, classroom volunteers and those that can
help from home.
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Water Bottles
Wish List

• Throughout the year, we need supplies above
  and beyond our classroom materials. In the event
  that this need arises, I will post it in the
  newsletter or agenda. (I have items needed on my
  wish list board tonight.) Thank you for all
  donations!!)

Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle
to school everyday. Please put your childs name
on the water bottle.
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X-tra Information

• Extra information will be sent home in the
  communication folder as necessary. This may
  include PTO reminders, etc. Please check this
  folder every night.

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YOU !

• You are the most important person in your
  childs life and you are your childs first
  teacher. We need to work together to keep that
  learning process going. Always take an active
  part in your childs education by
• Check the communication folder daily.
• Have a conversation about his/her day.
• 3. Let them know how important their education is.

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Zzzzzzzz
Zero tolerance

• River Ridge Elementary has a Zero tolerance
  for violent behavior and /or words. Students
  are not allowed to say, bomb, shoot, or kill
  even while playing! Please talk with your child
  about this.

Make sure your child gets plenty of rest.
Setting and keeping a regular bedtime is a
wonderful gift you can give to your child. It
will help them to be alert and ready to learn
each day.