Following are some important messages to start the new school year...
Arrival
In First grade I really encourage independence and routine in the
children's morning arrival. I want and encourage the children to walk
THEMSELVES into our building and their classroom. I realize this is a big
step - but they really do well with it!
If your child arrives at school prior to the 8:30 bell, because they
ride a bus or were dropped off early, they need to go to the cafeteria, not
their classroom where children will wait with a teacher on duty until the
first bell rings. While in the cafeteria children are asked to sit quietly
and have something to work on - coloring book, drawing paper, a book to
read or look at, etc. At 8:30, they will then be sent to their classroom
where their morning routine begins.
Arriving by 8:40 seems to give the children time to check in and get
settled for the day. The last thing you want is for them to feel rushed.
If your child arrives after the 8:50 bell they will be marked tardy.
Daily Routine
On a daily basis, when arriving to school in the morning I expect the
children to...
*hang up their coat & put their lunchbox in the hallway (under the
designated spot for Mrs. Phillips' class)
*walk themselves into their classroom & take their belongs out of their
book bag
*check in with teacher for lunch count (attendance/buying or packing)
*sharpen pencils
*bring home assignments up to teacher's desk to have checked
Lunch Count - Lunch (12:15-12:35)/Recess (12:35-12:55)
Please try to send your child's lunch money in an envelope at the
beginning of each week. Specify on the outside of the envelope what days
your child will be packing or buying lunch, salad, or milk. This will be
easier for your child and me when it comes time for lunch count each day.
If you are unable to send lunch money at the beginning of the week we will
still take lunch money daily. If you don't pay with cash, please make
checks payable to Norwalk Catholic School. You will find the lunch menu for
the week in the Norwalk Reflector, Friday Flyer and on the Norwalk Catholic
School website.
Lunch/Salad = $2.00 Milk = $.50
Classroom Communications: Newsletter/Teacher Web page/E-mail
I will send home a detailed newsletter at the beginning of every week
to let you know about things that will be going on in our classroom. Also
in the newsletter will be specific assignments, upcoming events, important
dates, notices for help needed in the classroom, etc., therefore posting it
on the refrigerator would be extremely beneficial. Please be on the lookout
for this newsletter.
If you have access to the internet you can check out my web page, which
will keep you updated also - www.ncsweb.org If you have any questions or
concerns, please feel free to either stop in before or after school hours,
call me at school (419)668-6091, send a note with your child, or e-mail me
at - aphillips@ncsmail.org
Behavior Expectations
I will take a few moments at the end of each day to access your child's
conduct so you are informed daily of your child's behavior in school. If
there is an infraction of our rules it will result in a brief note sent home.
This will allow you to discuss your child's behavior with him/her on the
day it occurred.
Gym Class - Tuesday & Friday
Please put your child's gym clothes in a bag (marked with their name)
separate from your child's book bag. Your child needs a shirt, shorts or
sweatpants, and gym shoes for Gym class. If your child doesn't have their
gym clothes they will be asked to sit out for gym class on that day. Their
gym clothes will stay here until the end of the week and then come home to
be washed.
Dismissal after School (3:10) Notify Teacher in writing if change of
plans
*Car rides/Walkers - We dismiss out the doors of the Primary Building. We
ask that parents/older siblings wait outside in the courtyard to pick up
their child/children at 3:10. We ask that no one picks their child up
directly outside the classroom door, because it is too crowded in the
hallways.
*Busers - If your child rides a bus please make sure they know their
bus # on the first day. When they get over to the cafeteria they need to
know what table/bus # they need to sit with until their bus arrives. For
the first few weeks, we will walk them over to the cafeteria and make sure
they are sitting at the right table.
*Change in Plans - Please send a note with your child if there is a
change in their pick up plans - for instance going home with a friend, or
maybe they aren't going to be riding the bus everyday that week, or a
grandparent is picking them up instead. Whatever the change may be, a note
is so HELPFUL & NECESSARY. Sometimes the children can't remember and if
there is no note I have nothing to refer back to, so that makes two of us
that don't know what to do. I really appreciate notes!