Parent Handbook
3rd Grade
Room 17
Lindy Nice
Patterson Elementary
Office: 480-472-9700
Phone: 480-472-9717
Fax: 480-472-9788
Website: http://www.mpsaz.org/patterson
Email: lmnice@mpsaz.org
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to 3rd grade classroom room #17. I am very excited to be teaching your child this
school year. I have an exciting year planned for us! I am looking forward to working together with
you as a team to ensure a positive learning experience for your child this year. I appreciate this
opportunity to work with you and your child. Here is some important information that will help guide
you and your child through our classroom policies and procedures. Please read this through with your
child and sign the attached paper and return it to me. Please contact me with any questions or concerns
you may have.
Please label all jackets, lunch boxes, book bags, and personal items.
A Little About Me
I am originally from Salt Lake City, Utah. My family and I just moved to Mesa this summer. I
have 3 children ages 5, 3, and 1. I received my B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of
Utah. I received my M.A from the University of Phoenix is Elementary Education. I taught 1st grade for
3 years in Salt Lake City. I am excited to be a part of the Mesa School District.
Class Description and Teacher Philosophy:
I love teaching!! I believe every student has the right to a safe and fun learning environment. I
believe every student and family has valuable knowledge, skills, and experiences to bring to the class
community. I want to provide an environment that incorporates many ways of student learning. My
overall goal is to help your child become a lifelong learner and problem solver.
I strongly believe that a successful education requires teamwork. I believe that communication is
vital to your child’s success. It is going to take both of us to help your child succeed. I am sensitive to
the fact that no one knows your child as well as you and because of this I am always welcome
suggestions and appreciate updates if you notice a potential problem. I am committed to keeping the
lines of communication open and I ask the same from you. You are always welcome to call or email
me about anything that concerns you.
Phone Calls/Email:
My school phone number is (480) 472-9717. You can reach me at this number between 8:00
a.m. and 4:00 p.m., however the phone will not ring in the room during instructional time. If you need
to reach me during instructional time, leave a message and I will return your call as soon as possible. If
it is an emergency or if it concerns how your child will get home that day, please call the office at
(480) 472-9700. You can also reach me by email at lmnice@mpsaz.org.
Lunch Money
The school lunch costs $1.95 daily. You may also purchase on a weekly basis for $9.25 per
week. When sending money, please put it in a SEALED ENVELOPE with your CHILD’S NAME on
it. If you are sending a check, please make it out to Patterson Elementary. Children may also bring
their own lunch and buy milk or juice for $.50.
Homework
A Homework Folder comes home the first day of the week with information from the
classroom and office, as well as homework. Occasionally, a note may come home on a different day
Attached is a signature sheet. Once you have looked through the folder please sign the signature sheet.
If you would like to add any comments to the signature sheet, please feel free. The homework packet is
due back by Friday. If extra time is needed please contact me and we can arrange for your student to
turn in work on the following Monday. I am a mother as well as a teacher and I know that sometimes
the week is busy and weekends allow for more time to work with your child.
It is up to you to set up a schedule with your child to complete the homework each week. The
purpose of homework in 3rd grade is not to remediate or challenge students. This is done in the
classroom during the school day. The purpose is to maintain critical skills, teach good study habits, and
to teach responsibility. Since this is our goal, we do not think homework should take up more than 30
minutes of a child’s evening.
Progress Reports
A formal progress report will be sent home mid-quarter throughout the year. It will include be a
breakdown of all the work assigned, completed, and graded. You can contact me at any time
throughout the quarter if you want to know how your child is doing. You don’t need to wait for a
progress report.
Phonics
Every Monday your child will receive a new word list with a specific phonics focus. Please put
it in a safe place. Your child will need to study this list daily. A phonics test will be given each Friday.
The test is broken up into three parts: Focus Phonograms and Review, Application of Phonograms, and
Weekly Word Study. For the “Focus Phonograms and Review,” your child will be asked to identify
and write letter patterns that make certain sounds in given words. The phonograms will come from the
current word list as well as past lists. For the “Application of Focus Phonograms” section, ten random
words will be chosen from the word list (sent home on Mondays) for your child to spell. For the
“Weekly Word Study” section, your child will be tested on other 3rd grade phonics and vocabulary
skills such as syllabication, prefixes, suffixes, synonyms, antonyms, and homophones.
Vocabulary
Every week your child will also receive a vocabulary list consisting of key words from our story
for that week. Your child will be expected to read and understand the meanings of these words. On
Friday, your child will be given a test to demonstrate their understanding of these words. They will be
asked to complete sentences using the correct vocabulary word. This year we also plan to have
students practice and work with math vocabulary as well.
Birthdays
Birthdays are special to 3rd graders. Your child may bring in his/her birthday treat to share with
the class. We will celebrate birthdays at the end of the day. Summer birthdays will be celebrated in
May. Please have your child refrain from passing out birthday invitations at school. As a class, part of
our belonging philosophy is not having anyone feel left-out.
Toys
Please make sure your child doesn’t bring toys to school. They will be taken and kept until a parent
comes to pick them up.
Cell Phones
Students who bring cell phones to school must keep them off or on silent in their backpacks at all
times. If a cell phone goes off during instruction, school policy dictates that I must confiscate the phone
and send it to the office for parent pick-up.
Snacks and Water Bottles
I encourage students to keep a water bottle at school. It must have a lid (no juice or Gatorade). I will
allow time every morning before or after recess for a healthy snack. If you would like, please send a
small nutritious snack to school with your student. Please note that you are not required to send a
snack with your student. If you choose to send a snack, make sure that it is nutritional, and can be eaten
and cleaned up within 10 minutes (please no sticky snacks). Please do not send drinks or yogurt as a
snack. Snack ideas:
-carrot sticks
-celery sticks
-crackers
-grapes
-banana
-apple slices
-raisins
-pretzels
-granola bars
-cheese
We always need parents to bring snacks. I will send out email and note reminders to everyone
when we are low.
Volunteers
We welcome and encourage parents and grandparents to volunteer during the school year.
Volunteering your time consists of reading with students, going on field trips, helping with classroom,
and other opportunities as they present. PLEASE contact me your availability and area of interest. WE
NEED YOU!!!
Classroom Behavior
Individual Rewards
Students are asked to follow the classroom and school rules. The rules emphasize respect of
themselves, others, and the school. The students are aware of the consequences of their actions.
Following the rules leads to a more pleasant learning environment for us all.
Students are rewarded for positive behavior with: smiles, self-pride, privileges, Fun Friday,
happy notes sent home, high fives, stickers, and treats.
Classroom Rewards
Students will work together as a classroom community in making good choices like: walking
silently in the hall, listening and cleaning up together as a class, listening as a class, making good
choices in PE or Library or other classroom. Class will work together to earn points for these
behaviors and choices. Rewards may consist of popcorn parties, movie party, extra recess, read-a-thon,
pajama day, or other choices that are proposed and voted upon as a class.
Consequences of Non-positive Behavior
Individual consequences for non-positive behaviors:
1. Verbal warning-reminder of appropriate behavior
2. Yellow Card- think time in class or loss of privilege
3. Red Card- problem solving conference with teacher and think time in buddy room to
complete an action for improvement form to be signed by parent
4. Phone call home and sent to Principals office
I would like to thank you for reading and supporting our classroom philosophies. Please
feel free to contact me if you or your child have any questions or concerns. I am extremely
excited to be a part of your child’s education.
Sincerely,
Lindy Nice
My child and I have read and discussed the parent handbook. We accept and support this statement, and we
understand what is expected within the classroom. Please sign below, and return this portion to Mrs. Nice.
Thank you.
________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
___________________
Date
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Student Signature
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Date