Parent Information for 1st Grade
Your child is an extra special treasure from God. We anticipate a great
year guiding your child’s learning and working with you. When it comes to
teaching children, parents are VIPs (Very Important Partners) in the
learning process.
This page was put together as a guide for parents of first graders. It should
answer most questions that arise during the school year. Please read it
carefully and refer back to it as necessary.
The First
Teachers
Grade
Absences | Arrival/Dismissal | Attendance | Behavior Charts | Birthdays
| Book Orders | Book Week | Communication | Conferences |
Curriculum | Discipline | Dress Code | Field Trips | Graded Papers |
Homework | Lunches and Snacks |Magazine Sale | Medicines | Pink Slips
| Publix Cards | Schedule | Show and Tell | Supplies | Tardies | Teaching
Assistants | Web Sites
ABSENCES
Please call the school office if your child will miss school for any reason.
We will send home any missed work or assignments on the day that your
child returns to school.
ARRIVAL / DISMISSAL
By the end of the first week of school first graders are expected to enter
the Combee Elementary Complex building from the carpool side and go
to their classroom unassisted. Parent volunteers will help your child get
from your car safely into the building.
Dismissal for first grade car riders is from the carpool side of Combee
Elementary. Teachers will escort students to a waiting area just outside the
doors. Please do not come into the building to pick up your child. Remain
in your car with your child’s carpool number hanging in the windshield
where it can been seen by the teachers on carpool duty. Children will be
escorted to your car when the teachers on duty permit them to enter the
carpool lanes. Remember that carpool is a “no cell phone zone” for
safety reasons.
Dismissal for first grade walk-ups is from the gallery side of Combee
Elementary. Teachers will escort students to a waiting area in the gallery.
Please do not come into the building to pick up your child. Remain on the
portico with your child’s carpool number in hand where it can been seen
by the teachers on walk-up duty. Your child will be permitted to go
outside to meet you when his/her carpool number is called. NOTE: This is a
change from previous years. You MUST bring your carpool tag to walk-ups.
Please refer to the student handbook for school policies on early arrival
(before 7:55) and late pick-up (after 3:20). Children who arrive before 7:55
should be escorted to the Combee cafeteria where they will be
supervised until class time. Children who are not picked up from the
carpool area by 3:20 will be sent to Kids’ Time, our after-school program.
Parents should check in with the Village receptionist who will call for your
child to be brought to you.
ATTENDANCE
We expect elementary students to be at school and on time every day
unless they are ill. Please try to schedule appointments, vacations, and
special events at times other than our school day. We realize that this may
not always be possible, but we do ask that you avoid being late or absent
on Friday mornings which is when we take our weekly quizzes and tests.
We do not have a scheduled time during our day to make up tests, so it
puts your child at a disadvantage if he/she misses school on Friday
mornings.
BEHAVIOR CHARTS
A behavior chart will be sent home each week in your child’s folder. Sign
the chart and return the next school day. The key for behavior grades is:
S = satisfactory behavior
This is the grade that we expect every child to receive.
NI = behavior that needs improving
This indicates that your child has repeatedly broken class or school rules
during the week after warnings, time-outs, and meetings with the teacher.
U = unsatisfactory behavior
This grade indicates a student needs to improve and/or a conference will
be scheduled with the classroom teacher.
Note: This same grade scale will be used for behavior on your child’s
report card.
Each 1st grade teacher uses a “three chance” system to determine
behavior grades. Every child has either three sticks or three bears at the
beginning of each day. If a child repeatedly breaks a rule during the
course of the day, the teacher will ask for a stick (or a bear). Grades for
behavior are based upon the number of sticks or bears lost during the
week. Grades for each week will be recorded in the teacher’s grade
book. Weekly behavior grades will be averaged for the report card
grade.
The scale for the weekly grade is as follows:
• 0 – 3 sticks or bears lost: Satisfactory
• 4 – 7 sticks or bears lost: Needs Improvement
• 8 + sticks or bears lost: Unsatisfactory
If a child loses all three sticks or bears in one day, then a pink slip will be
sent home.
BIRTHDAYS
If you would like to send edible treats to celebrate your child’s birthday,
then please let us know ahead of time. Birthday cookies and cupcakes
may be served during our lunchtime, which begins at 10:50. We
encourage you to eat with your child on that day. To attend lunch with us,
plan to arrive at the Elementary reception desk by 10:45 to check-in. You
may wait at the cafeteria doorway for your child’s class.
Our school cafeteria can provide a birthday cookie for your child if you
like. Contact Mrs. Failor in the cafeteria for information about cost and to
schedule a date.
If your child wishes to give out birthday party invitations at school, then
please give them to the teacher. We do not permit the children to pass
out invitations at school. The teacher will place the invitations in your
classmates’ folders to be opened at home. Please note: We will put
invitations in folders only if ALL the children in a class are invited. If you
invite only part of the class or a child from another class, then you must
mail those invitations. The one exception to this rule is if you send
invitations to all of the boys or all of the girls in a class.
Final note: Do not send any type of party bags, favors, or toys as birthday
treats – they will be returned home with your child. Balloons or flowers
delivered to the school will remain at the receptionist’s desk until dismissal.
BOOK ORDERS
Book orders are an easy and inexpensive way for your child to own quality
literature. Scholastic book clubs offer many accelerated reader books as
well. Your child will bring home book order forms once per month. If you
would like to order books, then please do one of the following:
For online orders:
Follow the directions in the Scholastic Parent letter attached to the book
order flyers.
For paper / check order:
• Carefully complete the order form --don’t forget your child’s name-and clip it out of the flyer.
• Place the order form in an envelope with a check made out to the
book club. The check should be made out for the exact amount (do not
add sales tax). Do not send cash.
Books will arrive at school within two to three weeks. We will send them
home in your child’s book bag unless you make some other arrangement
in advance. (We often help Santa near Christmas!)
BOOK WEEK
Book Week occurs in November. On Friday of that week, your child should
come to school dressed as a storybook or Bible character. You can start
now planning a simple costume for your child.
During Book Week parents will be offered the opportunity to read to their
child’s class. More information regarding sign-up will be sent home closer
to Book Week.
COMMUNICATION WITH TEACHERS
E-mail is the best way to correspond with a teacher. It helps us if you type
in your child’s name in the RE: space on the address bar. Each teacher’s
web site has an e-mail link to that teacher. We will make every effort to
respond to your e-mail the same school day we receive it. However, our
schedules are very full and it is possible that we may not have a chance
to open and read e-mail until the end of the school day. Therefore, do not
send any urgent messages such as a last-minute change of plans for
transportation home that afternoon.
Another way to contact your teacher is by sending a note to school in
your child’s Take-Home Folder. We will respond by note in your child’s
folder that day.
For any urgent messages, please call the school office. Do not call your
teacher’s voice extension listed in the school directory.
Each Friday afternoon teachers will send parents an e-mail newsletter with
information and homework assignments for the following week.
CONFERENCES
Each teacher will schedule parent conferences after the 1st nine weeks of
school. The administration sets aside this time for us to discuss your child’s
progress with you. This is the only time set aside for teachers in grades 1-5
to have formal conferences, so your attendance is crucial. A sign up
sheet for a formal conference will be in your child’s classroom on Open
House night.
Individual conferences may be scheduled as needed during the year.
Please call or e-mail your child’s teacher in advance if you would like to
conference. Advance notice assures you that you will get the attention
you want.
CURRICULUM
First grade students receive daily Bible instruction. We use the Biblical
Choices for a New Generation curriculum published by Standard
Publishing. Bible lessons consist of stories from the Bible (both Old and New
Testaments), application of those stories, and a weekly memory verse.
Memory work will be sent home at the beginning of each week. Every
Friday students will be required to quote the week’s memory verse with
scripture reference. Written tests will be given periodically. Study questions
for a test will be sent home at least a week in advance, with the test date
noted. Bible grades are taken from tests, memory verses, class
participation, and class projects.
Our handwriting method is Handwriting Without Tears published by Jan Z.
Olsen. We will send home a chart illustrating how to form each letter and
how to hold a pencil correctly. Parents are encouraged to help their
children to practice at home using the correct pencil grip for improved
legibility.
We use Everyday Mathematics published by SRA/McGraw-Hill for Math.
Everyday Math is a spiraling course of study in which children repeatedly
encounter important skills. Each encounter builds on previous lessons and
extends the children’s understanding and performance. Workbook pages,
performance assessments, quizzes, and unit tests determine grades.
We teach Reading and Language Arts daily, using a customized
curriculum for a well-rounded approach to comprehension skills and basic
grammar skills.
Making Meaning, published by Developmental Studies Center, is our
reading comprehension curriculum. We also use hundreds of guided
reading books from various publishers for small-group reading instruction.
Reading homework consists of independent reading at home for at least
10 minutes per school night.
Language Arts skills are taught through several different series. Our Phonics
curriculum is Phonics First which was developed from the Orton-Gillingham
Method of teaching phonics and is published by Reading and Language
Arts Centers, Inc. Our writing instruction is based on the Units of Study for
Primary Writing program written by L. Calkins. Neither phonics nor writing
are graded as separate subjects. Spelling is coordinated with the weekly
phonics lesson. Spelling tests are be administered and graded each week.
Grammar skills are introduced in the Grammar and Punctuation series
published by Evan-Moor. .
We integrate science and social studies concepts and units of study
during the school year through our reading and math curricula. Although
science and social studies are an important part of our studies, they are
not graded as separate subjects.
Several important enrichment classes are offered in addition to our regular
classroom courses of study. Each first grader participates in daily P.E. class
under the direction of a P.E. specialist. Spanish is taught a minimum of
twice weekly. Once each week every first grader attends music, art, and
library classes, all taught by qualified teachers.
DISCIPLINE
Each teacher has a copy of classroom rules posted in the room. All
teachers at GACS practice assertive discipline – “catching the children
being good”. This works well because most of our first graders really want
to do what is right. Teachers use praise and incentives to encourage
acceptable behavior.
Minor infractions are handled in the classroom between the teacher and
student. If a problem persists or is more serious in nature, then the teacher
will send home a pink slip for the parents to read and sign. Serious
infractions or dangerous behaviors will be referred to the principal
immediately, and the office will contact the parents.
DRESS CODE
Uniforms must be worn Monday through Thursday. It is very important that
you put your child’s name on all sweaters, vests, and sweatshirts. Please
note that elementary school uniforms differ from village uniforms:
elementary uniform shirts have collars, and elementary shorts and slacks
have belt loops.
Please refer to the Parent-Student handbook for specific rules about
dangling earrings, headband colors, socks colors, and non-uniform
sweaters or sweatshirts.
Your child may choose to wear GACS Spartan spirit tee shirt on Friday.
Uniform shorts, pants, or skorts may be worn with the tee shirt on Friday.
Blue jean pants may be worn only on Friday. Jean shorts are not permitted
in the elementary school.
FIELD TRIPS
First graders leave campus for one or two field trips during the school year.
Due to the large number of students, teachers, and teaching assistants
traveling to field trip venues parents are not invited to attend. Information
regarding field trips will be sent home in advance so parents will be aware
of where we will go and when.
GRADED PAPERS
Class work, quizzes, and tests are sent home in your child’s take-home
folder after they are graded. Please review completed work with your
child -- first grade children need encouragement and reinforcement to
maintain new skills. Unless otherwise noted, all graded work should be
taken out of your child’s folder each day and kept at home.
HOMEWORK
Homework papers and projects will be assigned as the need arises. Do not
expect daily math homework. (This is a change from past years.) If
homework is assigned, it should be completed and returned the next day
unless otherwise noted.
First grade students have a Bible memory verse and spelling word list
assigned each week. Reading to your child each evening should also be
considered part of a 1st grade child’s homework.
Check your teacher’s webpage announcements for any group
assignments for class projects.
Unfinished class work will be considered homework to be completed and
returned the next school day.
LUNCHES AND SNACKS
GACS offers a prepaid hot lunch program. If you are interested but did
not sign up a registration, you may call the business office at any time to
add your child to the list. If your child prefers to bring a lunch from home
most days and buy a lunch only occasionally, the cost is $5.00 per lunch.
You may send a lunch coupon (available for purchase from the office) or
lunch money in a zip coin pouch or a sealed envelope.
Please plan to eat lunch with your child sometime during the year. You
must check in at the elementary reception desk by 10:50 and wait for us
at the cafeteria doorway.
We give the children an opportunity each afternoon to have a healthy
snack break. First graders have special permission to eat in their
classrooms. Due to school regulations, we have strict guidelines for food
eaten in our classrooms. Your child may bring a snack from the following
list of acceptable foods:
raw fruit or vegetables (but no dips)
pretzels or crackers
popcorn
raisins
granola or protein bars without chocolate
cheese slices or cubes
Please do not send anything that must be eaten with a spoon, no dips,
nor dessert-type foods. Do not send any drinks other than water.
MAGAZINE SALE
Please begin asking your neighbors, relatives, business associates, and
friends to save their renewals and new subscriptions for your child.
Brochures and extra order forms can be obtained from the Elementary
School office. All checks are to be made payable to GACS. This is the only
fundraising item that your child is asked to sell during the year. Our school
keeps 40% of the total sales. If our 1st grade classes reach the goal of $285
per child, then we will plan a special activity. We appreciate your help!
PLEASE NOTE: Daily flyers will be sent home with your child to notify you
about the specific prizes to be given the next school day. Grades 1-5 do
not receive prizes for bringing just one magazine order to school.
MEDICINES
If your child requires daily medication, the school must have a completed
medication authorization form on file in the office. Parents must personally
deliver to the office any medicines for their child. Do not send medicine to
the classroom with your child. All medication to be given a child for any
reason will be administered by a school nurse. No medication will be
administered in the classroom.
PINK SLIPS
A pink slip may be given for incomplete work or misbehavior in the
classroom. When your child receives a pink slip, it must be signed and
returned the next school day. Completed work should accompany the
signed pink slip.
PUBLIX CARDS
If you do not have a Publix Partners card, please send a note to school
and cards will be sent home with your child. The Publix grocery chain
gives money to our school based on purchases by parents and friends.
SCHEDULE
Please check your teacher’s web site for more detailed information on
your child’s daily schedule. We value our academic time, so we
respectfully request that you check our schedule before scheduling
doctor or other appointments during the school day. All first grade classes
attend chapel and PE every day. All first grade classes visit art, music, and
library story time once each week. Spanish lessons are incorporated into
classroom time using Rosetta Stone computer software.
Our special classes and instructors are:
Art – Mrs. Felicia Bishop and Mrs. Noretta Jackson
Media Center – Mrs. Allison Anderson
Music – Mrs. Joy Sullivan
PE – Mrs. Rosa Vestal
SHOW AND TELL
We do not have show and tell in first grade. We have found toys to be a
distraction at school, therefore we ask that toys and other items from
home stay at home. The exception to this rule is when your child is Student
of the Week. Your child's teacher will notify you when it is your child's turn
to be Student of the Week. Guidelines for appropriate show and tell items
will be sent home with other information about being Student of the
Week.
SUPPLIES
Your child’s tuition covers most classroom supplies including pencils,
crayons, glue, etc. The only supplies parents must provide are
 a bookbag – NO WHEELS, lightweight, large enough to hold a 9”x12”
folder but small enough to fit in a 10” wide space
 a hooded raincoat or a poncho – NO UMBRELLAS
 a refillable water bottle
Please see your child’s teacher if you want to help your child’s class by
donating classroom supplies. Each teacher posts a “wish list” on Spartan
2-gether Day and on Open House night.
TARDIES
Elementary School starts at 8:00. If your child arrives after 8:10 for any
reason (doctor appointment, oversleeping, traffic, etc.), then he/she is
considered tardy and must report to the receptionist to get a pass to
enter the classroom. If your child accumulates ten tardies over the course
of the school year, then your child will NOT be awarded a perfect
attendance medal.
Please make every effort possible to get your child to school on time. The
best students arrive on time, prepared to start the school day. Do not
handicap your child by arriving late.
TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Teaching assistants work under the supervision of the classroom teacher.
The teaching assistants help provide differentiated instruction in our Young
Scholars' Classrooms by working with small groups of children in math or
reading groups, supervising center work, and providing other support as
needed in the classroom. Teaching Assistants also develop relationships
with the students by monitoring lunch, assisting in P.E., and supervising
recess. All of our first grade Teaching Assistants are well-qualified with
classroom experience. Their presence is an invaluable aide to your child's
success in first grade. We teachers respect them as equals, and we
expect our students and parents to extend that same respect as well.
Our Teaching Assistants are
Mrs. Kathy Craddock, who assists Mrs. Beasley
Mrs. Lauren Hollier, who assists Mrs. Wiseman
Mrs. Debbie McCarty, who assists Mrs. Cox
Mrs. LaTrenda Washington, who assists Mrs. Williams
WEB SITES
All GACS teachers maintain a web site. You may visit any teacher’s web
site by going to the GACS home page or by logging on to your
NetClassroom at www.greateratlantachristian.org.
Newsletters and any assignments are updated on the web sites each
Friday afternoon for the following week. No hard copies of newsletters will
be sent home.
Each teacher’s web site has an e-mail link to that teacher. E-mail is the
best way to correspond with a teacher. It helps us if you type in your
child’s name in the RE: space on the address bar.
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