Classroom News
�Vocabulary Folders � Read and practice stories and words daily. Please make
sure your child brings this folder to class daily.
�Spelling Choices � Please see Spelling Choice note in the blue homework
folder for spelling activities. Spelling Choices need to be done Monday �
Wednesday.
�PTA - Membership is individual $5.00 and family $8.00.
�Graded Papers � Test papers are sent home in the Cub Roar on a weekly
basis. Please look over the papers with your child, initial and return on
Thursdays with the Cub Roar. The # of graded papers will be on a slip
attached, as well as on the front of the Cub Roar.
�School Website � Elementary Website. http://lyonelementary.stpsb.org.
Homework and newsletters are posted on it weekly.
�Take-Home Folders � Please sign daily and remove your child�s work on the
left side of the folder.
�Absent or Tardy � Please send in excuses when students are absent. Also it
is helpful to get your child to school on time. Being late causes
unnecessary stress to catch up.
�Labels � Please send in Box Tops for Education, Campbell�s labels, and
Community Coffee UPCs. These items will in return help fund supplies,
playground equipment, etc. for our school.
�Snacks � Pickles, popsicles and water will be sold on Fridays for .25
and .50 by the PTA.
WELCOME TO FIRST GRADE!
Dear Parents,
I am very pleased to have your child in my class this year! To make
your child�s First Grade experience more meaningful to you and your child, I
have compiled this information. If you have any questions or comments,
please let me know. You can help shape your child�s academic year by doing
the following. Review the reading vocabulary words and any homework
assignment nightly. Homework should be both neat and correct. Also, read
to your child, and eventually let him/her read to you. This is very
important. Please remember to take a few minutes each day to find out
what your child is learning in school. Your interest fuels your child's
motivation to become a skillful learner!
BENEFICIAL INFORMATION
1. Money: Please keep all money in a labeled envelope. It should have
your child�s name, my name, and the purpose.
2. Instructional Fee: A $10.00 fee will cover materials that are needed
to help make our classroom successful.
3. Breakfast and Lunch: .60 for breakfast full price and .30 for reduced
breakfast. Lunch is 1.00 for full price and .40 for reduced. Extra
milk is .30. Please put money in a labeled envelope with your child�s
name and number. It is helpful if money is collected by the month or
the week.
4. Labeling: Please write your child�s name on all materials and
supplies. This includes coats, sweaters and book bags.
CONFERENCES
If you would like to schedule a conference with me, the best times are
from ______________ or ______________ You can call the office at 892-0869,
send me an email at Sandy.Haynes@stpsb.org, or write me a note to set up an
appointment. Our communication is important to the success of your child.
HOMEWORK
I believe that homework is essential to reinforce what is learned in
school. Education is truly a team effort. It will take the teacher,
parents, and student working together to achieve maximum potential. Each
student will have a Homework Folder or Notebook. Your child is required to
do his/her homework in this each night and return with it to school the
following morning. Homework will be checked every day. Please read over
the Homework Habits information sheet.
DISCIPLINE
In order to obtain a classroom environment that allows all children to
learn, DISCIPLINE is very important. I have developed a classroom
discipline plan. Please read over this plan very carefully. Daily behavior
progress will be sent home every day. Review, initial, and discuss as
necessary. This is a great tool for us to communicate daily.
READING
St. Tammany Parish has adopted a new reading series beginning this
school year. We will complete 6 different reading books (units). Our class
will spend two weeks on a Smart Start review of basic readiness vocabulary
and skills. Students will then begin with �Assisted� reading level and work
our way up to an �Independent� reading level. Each book and unit of study
will increase with difficulty and skill levels. Please give extra attention
to your child�s reading homework each night.
Your child will have a Reading/Vocabulary folder. Students will focus
on Oral Language, Phonics Skills, Reading Vocabulary, and Written
Language. Mastering the vocabulary and phonics words will be the KEY to
your child�s success in Reading. Review and practice these words nightly
with your child. Your child is responsible for taking this folder home
every night and back to class everyday.
I feel that exposing children to as many books as possible is the
greatest way to get them interested in reading. We will participate in a
program called Reading Counts. This program encourages students to read
books and take computer quizzes to earn points. Accumulation of points
are used to purchase prizes throughout the school year.
SPELLING AND HANDWRITING
Our spelling list will contain words that correlate to our weekly
reading and phonics instruction. Spelling test are given on Friday.
Handwriting will be daily practice using Zaner Blozer Manuscript print.
Spelling list and a Handwriting reference sheets will be kept in the
student�s Homework Folder.
MATH
We will learn math through individual and group learning. We use hands
on materials, discovery and problem solving. A variety of programs will be
used during instructional time. Everyday Counts, Scott Foresman-Addison
Wesley, and Math Investigations, are all programs which promote higher order
thinking and problem solving. Please work with your child on his/her
addition and subtraction facts throughout the year. This will help your
child become a stronger and more confident math student.
SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES
This program will provide the principal context within which students
can integrate major understandings, skills, and use their own experience in
learning. Hands-on experiments and problem solving skills will be used.
Science and Social Studies lessons will alternate in the curriculum.
COMPUTER INSTRUCTION
We are very fortunate to computers in our classroom as well as in our
school's computer lab. We will use various math, language and problem
solving programs to assist in all areas of the curriculum. Students can also
use suggested websites from our class web page for added fun and practice.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
P.E. will be taught by the classroom teacher however, will be
complemented by a P.E. teacher. Please help your child remember to wear
tennis shoes and shorts/pants on these days.
MUSIC
Music will also be taught in the classroom and will be complemented by
our highly qualified Music teacher.
LIBRARY
Our class will visit the library each week. With your approval,
students will be allowed to check out books each week. Our library is a
major asset to our school and to the learning process. Please encourage
children to use the utmost care when handling and caring for books. Books
should be returned promptly each week. We are fortunate to have a class
library as well.
ART
We will be doing many art projects throughout the year that will
require various types of materials. The students will be notified ahead of
time as to what they will need for each art project. We will have formal
art instruction once a week from the school Art Instructor.
WRITING
Students will complete daily writing assignments. Assignments will
consist of various writing tasks that begin simple and work toward creative
writing of stories. Throughout the year we will learn the steps of the
writing process. You will see more on this as the year progresses.
SUPPLIES
A list of supplies needed for first grade can be found on the school
website. Please try to get your child�s supplies as soon as possible. It
is important to label all supplies. Some supplies are need for special
activities and notices will go home at the appropriate time. Most supplies
will not last all year and may need to be replenished as needed.
ON THE WEB
To help with communication to our parents and students, we can be
located on the web. Our class web page will keep you up-to-date on news,
homework, spelling and reading list, as well as classroom happenings.
Please visit the following information sites often.
St. Tammany Parish School Board site:
http://www.stpsb.org/
Lyon's School site:
http://lyonelementary.stpsb.org/
Our class room web page:
http://www.teacherweb.com/LA/LyonElementary/SHaynes/
Your teacher's email address:
Sandy.Haynes@stpsb.org
In conclusion, I look forward to working with you and your child this
year. I hope to have a chance to meet with you, and to tell you about your
child�s progress. If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free
to contact me. I feel that together, we can make this an enjoyable and
productive year for your child.
