- What should my child bring to school on the first day?
- Does my child need help with their backpack items every day?
- How do I change my child's dismissal plans?
- Why do we have to send 2 HEALTHY, NUT-FREE snacks a day?
- My child has food allergies. What should I do?
- How do I buy lunch tickets and where should I put them?
- How do I help my child be successful in school?
- Can I help in the classroom? What do I have to do?
- Where can I get information on school events?
What should my child bring to school on the first day?
A regular sized backpack (small ones don't have enough room). A leakproof canister/bottle of
water labeled with their name. 2 HEALTHY snacks (no juice please!). A lunch or plan for
purchasing one. Clean underwear and socks in a labeled ziploc baggie. A sweater/sweatshirt
as needed. Please refrain from letting your child bring other things because it makes it hard for
them to keep things organized! Some parents put one book or one stuffed animal for
the bus ride. There are no cubbies for individual items and all personal belongings are kept in
the backpacks during the day. Electronic games, silly band bracelets, trading cards and
game-like toys are NOT allowed in the classrooms.
Does my child need help with their backpack items every day?
YES! Your child's folder needs to be emptied EVERY DAY to locate homework and important notices
from the office. Be sure to set this into your daily routine to help your child find the most success.
After time, your child will become more independent doing this routine if you empower them early.
The sooner you set up a routine of emptying the homework folder and the backpack contents daily
and replacing finished work and note for the next day to the folder and a fresh water bottle and snack
the better your child will feel about themselves when they arrive the next day.
How do I change my child's dismissal plans?
Each child has a dismissal plan that is kept on a master sheet in the classroom and the office. In
the event of a change, the parent/guardian must write a note to state a change in the routine and
send it THE MORNING OF THE CHANGE so that we can be sure to make the necessary changes.
Be sure this note is DATED and SIGNED and is in their folder. Long term changes can be made
by sending a note as well. In an emergency, parents can call the office to make a last minute
change as early in the day as possible.
Why do we have to send 2 HEALTHY, NUT-FREE snacks a day?
Hunger and our Health Curriculum! Your child is working hard and need to eat frequently.
We have a nut-free snack time in the morning and again in the afternoon if time allows.
Note:NO JUICE for snack time. We have a water fountain in the classroom and children may
bring a reusable water bottle that is labeled with their name that DOES NOT LEAK onto Library
books or their work in the backpack.
My child has food allergies. What should I do?
This is already a nut-free room but BE CERTAIN to check in with the nurses before school begins with
your concerns and to let us know about any food allergies for our classroom. Let your teacher know
specific concerns so your child can have the best experiences in school. There are NO fur-bearing
or feathered class pets in this classroom (only Beta fish in bowls) and I am happy to make our
classroom safe for your child.
How do I buy lunch tickets and where should I put them?
Please see the new guidelines on the Cole School website for this procedure.
How do I help my child be successful in school?
Please get your child to school on time if you are driving them. We start
activities right away when children arrive. If your child does not take the
bus to school (we strongly recommend this for most students) it is your
responsibility to be sure that they are here ideally for morning recess and
are NO LATER THAN 8:35 when all students enter the classroom door and attendance
is taken.
Set a consistent bedtime. Most students go to bed at 7:30.
Make sure they have two HEALTHY snacks each day.
Check and empty your child's backpack EVERY DAY of notes, homework
and notices from the office and old snacks and used water bottles.
Stay connected to what they are doing in class both academically and
socially. Set our class web page as a book mark and check often for our
classroom news.
Email/call me about even the little things so I can help you and your child have the best year ever!
Can I help in the classroom? What do I have to do?
Yes! I will be asking for parent volunteers during the Open House at the beginning of the year.
Just be sure to have a CORI done (or check the current status) through our school at the very
start of school.
Where can I get information on school events?
For whole school events, check your weekly Cole School Connection at the school's website http://
boxfordschools.org/hlcole.html. For classroom news, check out the teacher web page found at the
Cole School website and watch for information through emails or backpack mail. I update our
classroom web page and my blog frequently and welcome emails at prussell@boxfordschools.org