Welcome to a brand new school year! This packet contains useful information that will facilitate a smooth school year.
School Day
Our school day is from 7:50-2:35. The school will open at 7:30 and students may enter the classroom. It is important that each student arrive on time. The tardy bell rings at 7:50 and I will begin our activities immediately at 7:50.
During the first few weeks of school, you will notice that your child will be very tired at the end of the day. This is to be expected since this may be your child’s first exposure to a full day of school. Your child will be doing many new things the first few weeks of school and may feel overwhelmed.

Transportation
Each family was given a transportation form. Please fill it out so that we are prepared for dismissal on the first day. It is very important that your child have a consistent dismissal plan each day.
Any changes to the dismissal plan need to be presented to me in writing!
Teachers will be walking the students to their dismissal spots around the building. Be assured that there are many teachers and staff on duty at all of the doors and outside to assist your children if there is a need.
BUS RIDERS: Buses are parked in the same spot each day.
STUDENTS MAY NOT GET ON ANOTHER BUS WITHOUT A
NOTE FROM A PARENT EXPLAINING THE CHANGE. A bus pass will then be issued from the office for that day’s bus change.
IMPORTANT: If your child rides the bus but you plan to bring him/her on the first day, your child will not be tagged with the correct bus # for the end of the day. Please inform me of your child’s bus number either in person or with a note on the first day. If the student is not tagged for a bus the office staff will need to call you for the information.
DAYCARE BUSES: There is a designated spot for students to line up for their respective daycare van each afternoon.
WALKERS/CAR RIDERS: Students who walk home and car riders will exit the building from the main door by the office. Please indicate, on the transportation form, who your child will be meeting and any other details of importance.

TRANSPORTATION CHANGES: If your child’s dismissal plans change, please notify me in WRITING as soon as possible. Students are not permitted to go with any other families unless there is written consent-this includes play dates!
Daily Folders
Throughout the school year your child will receive many forms and announcements in their folder. Please take the time to fill out the forms and return them to me the following day.
This folder will be used all year long and should be returned to school
each day for communication, behavior calendar purposes and finished work. PLEASE RETURN IT TO SCHOOL EACH DAY!
FIRST DAY PACKET: This packet contains many forms that are necessary to have on file for the school year. Please take the time to fill them out as soon as possible and return them to school.
Homework
The first grade team be giving Word Study for homework starting
SOMETIME in October. We also ask that your child read for pleasure each day.
Lunch
Your child will have lunch in the cafeteria daily. Students have the option of buying their lunch or packing their lunch. If your child is going to be purchasing anything in the cafeteria we recommend that you put money in their lunch account to eliminate your child carrying money to school. Each child has a LCPS number that they must memorize. When your child purchases lunch, he/she enters in the number and the correct amount is deducted from their account.

Students also have the option of purchasing cookies and ice cream in the cafeteria. It is possible to designate a special day that your child can have the extra treat, by seeing the cafeteria manager or sending a note. Many families select one day per week for the ice cream/cookie treat. Many times when the children know they can eat a treat, they do not eat the other food on their tray or lunch box.
Birthdays
There will be NO birthday celebrations this year.
No treats will be permitted. No items of any kind will be distributed for birthdays.
Invitations
If you would like to send party invitations through the homework folders, it is the POLICY of our school that there is an invitation for
EACH AND EVERY CHILD in the class. NO EXCEPTIONS!
If you are finding that you need addresses, you can purchase a school directory. It is a family’s own personal choice if they want to be included in the directory.
Dress
Please have your child wear sneakers to school each day since we have
P.E. and recess daily. Your child will have P.E. three times a week with their P.E. teacher and recess daily with me. No students are allowed on the recess climbing equipment or in the mulch unless they are wearing sneakers. The school policy also states that no spaghetti strap shirts are allowed.

Toys
Toys are not appropriate for the classroom or playground. If your child attends an after school program or daycare and a toy is needed, it must stay in their backpack at all times during school hours. I encourage the students to share their writing and reading daily. We do not share toys.
Volunteers
I am always looking for helpers! Please email me and indicate the jobs you prefer, if you want to be a helper this year.
Jane.Gaudens@lcps.org
I am looking for the following assistance:
Copying: Come in once a week and copy class work.
Library: Help students during their weekly Library lesson.
W.E.B. Reading: Wonderfully Exciting Books!
The date and time will be scheduled for any/all parents to bring in books to read to the class or small groups. Bring books from home or stop by our library before coming to our room. Parents and children love this time as stories take on new meaning with parent interaction.
Everyone is welcome for W.E.B.
Class Parties: A homeroom mom OR more than one person to help organize our 3 parties. I have the party ideas, just need to have a contact person to help.

Communication
Good parent teacher communication is essential to providing quality education for children. I will communicate with you in many ways. This includes, monthly behavior calendars attached to the Daily Folder (which you will see & sign daily), notes, report cards, and parent/teacher conferences.
I will not hesitate to contact you if I have a concern, question or proud news to convey!
Please feel free to contact me with information that you feel is necessary. If you need to speak with me, please
Email me or send in a note with your child. jane.gaudens@lcps.org
Class work - Numerous assignments are completed in journals that stay in the desks. Many skills are practiced on dry erase white boards. After reviewing, I will send home some papers in the daily folders.
Remember, first grade work is for PRACTICE!
Supplies
Please see the supply list as some of the items are on a “per
teacher” basis. If your child should run out of a certain supply I will have them write a reminder note to take home.

Some of our supplies are shared (pencils, glue sticks) and some we keep in our desks (crayons, scissors). PLEASE bring the supplies to the open house if possible. The sooner I can organize them-the better!
Conferences
I have requested that you sign up for a conference. We have conferences near the end of the first quarter and then only if needed throughout the school year. PLEASE sign up for a conference.

Behavior Expectations
In all classrooms there are necessary rules that everyone must follow to accomplish the educational goals and maintain safety. All children are encouraged to accept responsibility for their own behavior. To help them accept this responsibility our expectations are posted, discussed, and reinforced on a daily basis to help the children become better citizens and learners.
Good Choice Reminders
 Treat others, as you would like to be treated.
 Respect others.
 Use an inside voice while in the school building.
 Respect others who are learning.
 Always walk.
 Make GOOD choices.
 Ask a question if you are not sure about something.
 Do your BEST at all times!

Daily Folders
Each student will receive a monthly calendar attached to his/her folder. This calendar will be marked according to the behavior presented at school each day. Children will have a star with their number on it in the classroom. It begins each day on the  . The child’s star may be moved away from the happy face to the straight face if they have received a warning. The star will be moved to the sad face for behavior if necessary. Your child can explain why their star was moved from the  as they tell you about the choices that they made. Everyone makes mistakes! Please do not be alarmed if you see sad faces. When sad faces become frequent we can discuss the problem. If behavior becomes consistently inappropriate, often times I will have the child do some thinking/writing about their choices, which I will include in the folder that evening. My hope and goal is that every mistake will become a learning experience for each child.

First Step: Warning
Consequences
Second Step: Natural Consequence
Third Step: Write a note home/call home
Fourth Step: Visit with the office

Grading
Many papers will be marked with the following features on the top. A brief description of the notations follows:
4 Indicates that the student has exceeded the expected mastery of the skill without teacher assistance.
3 Indicates that the student has mastered the skill and completed the work accurately.
2 Indicates that the student has a good grasp of the skill and is completing many of the items correctly. More work is needed or a higher degree of accuracy is
necessary for mastery. This may also indicate that appropriate time and effort was not given to the assignment.
1 Indicates that the student has little understanding of the skill or has completed many of the items incorrectly. The child is presently working below
the expected skill level. This may also indicate that appropriate time and effort was not given to the assignment.
The GOAL is to reach “3-level” work in all areas. This is not a letter grade system (e.g. A, B, C).
First grade is developmental!

Top Ten Things You Can Do To Help Your Child Be
Successful in the First Grade
10. Have them arrive to school on time.
9. Provide them with a healthy amount of sleep and breakfast.
8. Contact me immediately regarding questions or concerns.
7. Ask your child about their day in school.
6. Clean out all papers from the folder each night, read/sign return if needed.
5. Read with your child each night.
4. Provide your child with a quiet working area for homework.
3. Review all homework, every night!
2. Guide her/him with homework questions.
The #1 way you can help your child be successful in first grade:
1. Provide them with the love and support necessary for good self-confidence! Celebrate their success as a student!

Please return the transportation form and sign up for a conference.
Ms. Gaudens