Welcome to First Grade!
Jefferson Elementary
Miss McKnight, Mrs. Smith,
& Mrs. Wewer
Dear Parents,
We are looking forward to a great year with your child in first grade. We have many
plans and expectations which we hope will make this an exciting and rewarding year for all of us.
Thank you for taking the time to read this handbook which explains our classrooms.
The success of a school year has direct correlation with the communication between
teacher, parent, and child. Please feel free to call with any questions, suggestions, or concerns.
You many send a note with your child or leave a message with the school secretary and your call
will be returned as soon as possible.
Jefferson Elementary 717-4550
First Grade Guidelines
*Personal Best
*Trust
*Truth
*Active Listening
*No Put-downs
Curriculum Expectations
Attached is Geary County’s grade card guide for first grade.
HANDWRITING
The children will be using the D’Nealian handwriting program. The goal of D’Nealian
handwriting is to facilitate a smoother transition from printed writing to cursive writing (which is
taught in 2nd grade). The numbers 0-9 and most of the lower case letters are written with one
continuous stroke. Therefore, your child should not lift the pencil from the paper except when
writing a number that has more than one digit or a letter that has a cross stroke or a dot.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Students must wear appropriate athletic shoes for maximum participation. Please make sure your
child has their athletic shoes on these days. (If students wear shoes other than those needed for
physical education they will need to be able change their shoes on their own and be able to tie
them by themselves.)
General Information
ATTENDANCE
The official attendance is taken through the office. Please call if you child is going to be absent
or tardy. School starts each morning promptly at 8:20. (Students should not arrive before 8:10
unless they eat breakfast. The breakfast line starts each morning at 7:50.) Students who are not
in the classroom at 8:20 will be counted tardy. We feel that it is very important for students to be
at school and on time each and every day.
HOME TO SCHOOL
As changes occur in your child’s life, it is important to communicate with the school. The school
needs to be informed about the following changes:
Address
Telephone number
Babysitter/emergency/alternative phone numbers
Place of employment of mother and father
It is helpful to also know when your child has experienced any unusual circumstances in the
home such as a death of someone/something close to them, having someone go to the hospital,
deployment, etc. This will help in understanding and working with your child.
Please send a note when there is a change in your child’s dismissal routine. This may include
going home with a friend to play, a different adult picking them up, or a change in bus schedule.
HOMEWORK
Homework will be sent home on a regular basis. Please help your child find a quiet place to
work. It would also be very beneficial if you kept a school supply box at home with scissors,
pencils, crayons, and glue since your child will need these things in order to do their
homework. Homework may consist of reading to you, doing a math page, practicing spelling
words, etc. The homework should be completed by the following morning.
GRADING SCALE
4= Exceeds Expectation
3= Meets Expectation
2= Approaches Expectation
1= Below Exceptions
BIRTHDAYS
We will not have birthday “parties” but will take time to sing and acknowledge birthdays during
snack. If your child would like to bring something special for their birthday during snack time
for the class please call or send a note to make arrangements. Birthday invitations may only be
handed out in the class if there is one for each child in the class. If the whole class is not
invited invitations need to be given out in another way. (It causes too many hurt feeling when
some children are not invited.)
TOYS
Toys are an unnecessary distraction in the classroom and should not be brought to school unless
permission is given. If toys arrive at school without permission, they will be kept until picked up
by a parent.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are needed and greatly appreciated. To provide the most assistance and the least
distraction to the class it is best to prearrange your volunteer time. We must request that
preschool children not be brought into the classroom during class time. We will be glad to send
things home that can be done at home for those volunteers who cannot make arrangements for
preschoolers, or for those who prefer to work at home. Thanks for your help!
FIELD TRIPS
We will be going on field a couple field trips during the year. A permission slip will be sent
home before the field trip. Field trips are part of our learning process and as in the classroom
preschoolers can be a distraction to the class. If you want to volunteer to go on a field trip your
help is always needed but other arrangements will be needed to be made for siblings not in the
class.
SUPPLIES NEEDED
24-#2 sharpened pencils
Smal 5” x 8” School box for supplies
2- boxes of tissues
2-boxes of crayons (no more than 24)
Scissors (Fiskar)
1-bottle of glue
2-big erasers
1-set Prang watercolor paints
1-pkg washable markers
4 glue sticks
Top of pencil erasers
1-pkg colored pencils
8 plastic pocket portfolios
1-120 page spiral notebook
Book bag
2-dry erase markers
1 container baby wipes
1 pump bottle hand sanitize
½” 3 ring binder
1 pkg page protectors
Tennis shoes for PE (please wear them to school on PE days)
Your child may need to bring some other supplies during the year. We will send home a note to
let you know if something else is needed.