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August 2007Dear Families:I hope that you are enjoying your summer! The first day of school is rapidly approaching. I am certainly looking forward to an exciting year with your child. I would like to share a few things with you to make the beginning of year go smoothly.
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about myself. I received my Bachelor of Science Degree from The College of New Jersey. I am pursuing a Master’s Degree in Reading. I am beginning my 18th year of teaching in South Brunswick. I taught and Brunswick Acres School and I am beginning my 16th year at Indian Fields School. I have been teaching here ever since the school opened. I live in South Brunswick with my husband, Rick, and our two daughters, Lauren, age16 and Allison, age 11.
Nametags: For the first two weeks of school, each child will need to wear a name tag with his/her name, teacher’s name and bus number. If your child will be attending the after school program print After School on the nametag. If an adult will pick up your child after school, print Walker on the nametag.
Supplies: Your child will need a small box of crayons, colored pencils,2 spiral notebooks, 2 composition notebooks, 2 folders (they should be 2 pocket folders), a small box of markers, an old size large (man’s) shirt that can be used as an art smock (It is helpful if you cut the sleeves at the elbow of the shirt so that it fits a child.), a container to hold crayons/markers (please be sure it is small enough to fit in a cubby. Staples and Target carry an appropriate container. They are usually $1.00 or less),2 felt tip pens (black or blue), 4 highlighters, 1 package of index cards (any size), 2 three ring binders 1 ½ inches or 2 inches (to hold our poetry collection – please no Trapper Keepers – They are so big!!!!!!), a lunch box, a back pack (NO WHEELS ON THE BACKPACKS. BACKPACKS WITH WHEELS DO NOT FIT WELL INTO THE CLOSET SPACE), 20 glue sticks, a package of small bathroom drinking cups (for our water fountain), and a box of ziploc bags (any size) a package of disposable cleaning wipes to wash our tables. Please label each item with your child’s name, room number and teacher’s name. I can not stress the importance of this request. I appreciate your support in advance.
Snack: Tummies start to rumble at around 10:00 a.m. We will stop at that time to have snack. Please remember ONLY healthy snacks will be permitted in the classroom. Some suggestions for healthy eating include vegetables, fruit, crackers, cheese, pretzels, popcorn and yogurt. Pudding is allowed in any flavor. Please do not send in any chocolate in any form. Please make every effort to provide a non-sugary snack for your child Thanks in advance for assisting with this request. You may send drinks with your child, however no glass bottles are permitted in our school. Further information about snack will follow. Some of the children in our class have food allergies and we need to be sensitive to their needs. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. NO PEANUT PRODUCTS OF ANY KIND! Please remember to send a snack with your child each and every day.
Communication: Your child will receive a folder called The School Folder. Please be sure to look in your child’s backpack daily for this folder. In it you will find work samples, notes from school, homework, etc. If you would like to ask me a question, let me know of a change in dismissal schedule, etc., you can place a note in this folder. I go through the folders each morning. Also, you can leave me a voice mail message at extension 202 (our room number). I check my messages before school, at lunch and after school. I will get back to you as soon as possible. Please be sure to go though this information daily, as it will contain additional information about our schedule. Many Thanks!!!!! You can also reach me before school begins with any questions via my e-mail address. My home e-mail address is rtlaw@comcast.net. My school e-mail address is terri.wells@sbschools.org. If you have a need to change your child’s dismissal plans and the school day has already begun, please call the main office. Be sure to speak to someone and leave the plans for your child. Please do not leave the change in plans on voice mail.
I check my e-mail once a day. I will get back to you as soon as I can. This is my home e-mail address as well as my school address and I usually check it in the evening. If you have an urgent message for me perhaps about a change in your child’s route of dismissal, please do not leave it on voice mail. There are times when we experience difficulties with our voice mail system and it becomes unavailable. Please be sure to reach a school secretary and tell them the information that you need me to know. They will be sure to get the information to me. Many thanks in advance.
Lunch and Recess: Your child will each lunch and have recess from 11:00 – 12:00. If your child is planning to buy lunch, please send $1.75 for lunch or .40 for milk. Place the money in a sealed envelope labeled with the child’s name, teacher’s name, and what he/she will be purchasing. Please look for information about pre-purchasing lunch on a debit card to be sent home from our cafeteria. Your child will go outside, weather permitting, each day for recess. Please make sure that he/she is dressed appropriately for outside play. Our paraprofessional staff supervises lunch and recess.
Homework: A detailed homework policy will be sent home during the first month of school. Further information regarding daily schedules, procedures, specific homework assignments and classroom behavior expectations will be discussed at our Open House.
Arrival/Dismissal: If your child will have a change in his/her dismissal schedule, please let me know in writing. For example, if he/she usually goes on the bus, but today you plan on picking up your child let me know. If you pick your child up, you can meet him/her in the main lobby next to the main office. If your child attends the afterschool program, please put it in writing as well. On the first day of school, please don’t arrive too early…waiting for more than 5 minutes prior to the beginning of school increases your child’s anxiety. School begins at 8:20 and children are allowed in the rooms at 8:10.
Birthdays: We love to celebrate birthdays! Please let me know at least one week in advance. Sometimes we need to schedule the celebrations around assemblies or other special happenings in school. We will need to arrange a time and date. If you choose to drop birthday snacks off without speaking to me first, you take the risk of not being able to accommodate the request due to a very hectic schedule. Also, some children have allergies so I would share any special details with you when you call me. Parents usually send in a small snack for each child, paper products, and a drink. You can be as creative as you wish. You are welcome to come in and celebrate with us, however, if you are unable to do so we will celebrate with your child. Please don’t send in goody bags or favors. We can not send home birthday invitations. Please send them through the mail. A class address list will be sent home in early October.
Play: Play is a vital part of our program. Children learn by doing, touching, experiencing, and talking. My goal is to improve the social skills that are necessary for success in a school setting and in life. Be prepared for your child to play in sand, water, paint, glue and many other very messy things. Please dress your child for comfort. Sneakers are a must! If your child is prone to have bathroom accidents, please send in an extra set of clothes. I’ll keep them in my closet and use them when necessary.
Trips: Permission slips are necessary for any field trips. They will be sent home with your child and must be returned by the due date. Chaperone volunteers will be limited throughout the year to encourage a wide range of families to participate.
Parent Volunteers: I have found that children enjoy school more if parents are involved. We have a fabulous P.T.O. and I encourage you to become active in the organization. Once the children have settled into a routine, I will be able to have helpers in the classroom. I will ask you to be in charge of an activity such as painting. During that time, you will work with all of our students in small groups. If this sounds like something, you would enjoy, please sign up when the letter comes home.
Academics: Children are at all different levels in their development when they come to First Grade. Some children read and some children are able to read along with your support. However, that is not an expectation. We will learn together. Most children do not become fluent writers and readers until some time in first grade. I will be reading a variety of great books to your child this year. We will also be writing books this year. We will be talking about literature and deciding what we like about it and why we think it is good. We will do lots of creative writing. I hope you enjoy the early writings of your child as much as I do!
I hope this information is helpful to you! Enjoy these last days of summer! I am looking forward to a great year! Please do not hesitate to e-mail me with any questions, before school starts. I welcome your partnership.
Supply Letter 2007-2008
Best Wishes,
Terri Wells
Integrated Arts
Day 1 Physical Education
Day 2 Library
Day 3 Art
Day 4 Physical Education
Day 5 Physical Education
Tech Lab
Day 6 Music
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