Contacting Mrs. Fairrel-
Please know that open commucation between us
is essential is providing your child with a happy and productive first grade
experience. As the students are my main focus during arrival and dismissal
times, I will not be able to have lengthy conversations at these times.
However, I will always do my best to respond to phone calls (770-487-5425) or
emails (fairrel.dana@mail.fcboe.org)
on the day that they are received. Please understand that if you try to reach
me after 3:45, it may be the follwing day before I am able to contact you. As
I devote my evenings to my family, I do not typically take calls at home.
However, please contact me at school if you have any questions, concerns,
funny stories or information that I need to be aware of.
Birthdays-
Your child's birthday is an important day for
all of us! We celebrate this special day in many ways: through song, with
special gifts, and the birthday chair for the day. If you would like to share
a treat with the class for their birthday, please remeber that we eat these
treats at lunchtime in the cafeteria! Should your child's birthday fall in the
summer, we will celebrate their birthday at the end of the school year. This
way we can be sure that each student has a birthday experience just for them!
Clothing-
We are very busy in first grade! During the
day, we will be coloring, painting, experimenting, and playing as we learn.
Please keep this in mind when you are dressing your child. Also, we will enjoy
recess daily from 9:30-10:00, so you will need to keep the weather in mind
while choosing the day's clothing. If it is cold outside and your child
doesn't have a coat, they will be kept inside. Finally, please keep in mind
safe footware for outdoor play. Slip-on shoes make running and playing
difficult and sometimes dangerous.
Snacks-
Your child will need to bring a healthy snack
to school daily. A list of healthy snack ideas can be found on our homepage.
We will be enjoying a snack every morning. The children do get upset if they
forget their snacks, so we have a picnic basket with other snacks for those
that occasionally forget their own. From time to time, we may request for
parents to send in additional snacks to replenish our snack basket. Thanks!
Absenses-
Whenever your child is absent for any reason,
you must send in a written note within 3 days documenting the reason for the
absence. For children that are absent for two consecutive days, we will
collect work to be completed and leave in the office at the parents' request.
Please understand that because much of the work in first grade is directly
related to the material being presented in class, I am unable to prepare
packets for students ahead of time. First grade is fast paced and filled with
fun and educational experiences every day. Good attendance is vital for your
child to feel successful and included in the classroom learning. Please try to
schedule doctor, dentist, and other appointments for afterschool hours if
possible. This will help to insure that your student is present at school as
much as possible. Thank you!
Toys-
Please remind your child that first grade is
a busy place where lots of learning takes place and therefore toys are not
permitted in the classroom.
Library Books-
We will be visiting the media center as a
whole class once a week. During the course of the week there will also be
opportunities for students to visit the media center individually or within a
small group. Each first grade student will be allowed to check out one book
from the library at a time. This book is due back in two weeks, but the child
may return it for a new book anytime before that if they so choose. If a child
would like more time with a book, they simply ask Ms. Boyd or Mrs. Pyshos to
renew their book for them. Please encourage your child to check out books
often and read them with your child. Remember the more we read to them and
have them practice their own reading, the more successful they will become!
Parent Helpers-
We enourage parent helpers in our classroom
and are looking for some good help! If you are interested in this opportunity,
please check out our section on parent volunteers on the home page. Thank you!