Mrs. Campitelli

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Back to School Night
September 17, 2009

Welcome to your child’s first Grade classroom.  Hopefully, many happy 
memories will be formed here during this year.  You will be amazed at the 
progress your child will make from September to June.  Not only will your 
child grow physically, but also your child will leave First Grade with many 
new skills, a great sense of accomplishment and a stronger relationship with 
Jesus.  
	All of this does not happen overnight.  It may take four to six weeks 
before your child is comfortable with the classroom schedule and routine.  
Please let me know if your child is experiencing any adjusting problems, and 
be assured that I will be in touch with you if I see any difficulties.  Any 
insights concerning your child’s learning style, interests, or special needs 
will be most welcome.

This letter includes further information which may help you understand our 
First Grade programs:

Religion:  
Our Religion book is Christ Our Life. We will spend time learning about God, 
our faith, prayer, and special holidays and seasons of the Church year.  I 
try to recognize on a daily basis the many examples of Christian behavior 
through positive reinforcement and Principal’s Awards. Ideally, we want the 
children to be kind and helpful because it is the right thing to do, but 
reinforcing positive behavior is part of the learning process. 
 
Math:
Our Math series is the enVision Math by Scott Foresman.  During the year we 
will be covering the addition and subtraction facts to 18.  We will use 
manipulatives to generate real understanding of the concepts being taught.  
It is perfectly acceptable for your child to use his/her fingers to help with 
the equations.  Eventually, the facts do need to be memorized; making or 
purchasing flash cards will be most helpful.  You can even have your child 
make the flash cards as an initial drill.  
	Other Math concepts which will be taught include place value to 100; 
two-digit addition and subtraction; telling time; money skills with pennies, 
nickels, dimes, and quarters; fractions (1/2, 1/3, ¼); measurement.
	Also, Mrs. Pry, our computer teachers, will be available to work with 
small groups whom I will send to her to reinforce math skills or for math 
enrichment.

ILA:
Reading, Penmanship, Grammar and Spelling are all part of the ILA 
curriculum.  We will be using the reading series published by Scott Foresman, 
Reading Street.  Spelling will begin within the next few weeks.  The children 
will have a spelling test each week.  Each week’s words will be stapled in 
the back of your child’s green star copybook.  The Spelling and High-
Frequency words should be reviewed on a regular basis.  The other columns of 
words are skills we will be working on that week in ILA class. If your child 
has trouble with certain words, concentrate on those words and review the 
others less frequently.  Take home readers will be coming home to be read 
occasionally.  These books contain vocabulary the children have had and 
should be able to read without much difficulty.  Mrs. Gosseaux, our school 
Reading teacher, will also work with small groups to reinforce reading skills 
and work on enrichment activities.  All children will get the opportunity for 
small group activity at least twice a week.

Seatwork:
	This is independent work which the children do while I work with a 
small group.  I introduce and explain the work before they begin.  Seatwork 
is very important for reinforcement and for assessing your child’s 
understanding of work which I have taught.  Seatwork also helps the children 
learn to follow directions and teaches them to be responsible for 
assignments.  A few times during the year, each child will get to use our 
educational CD Roms and websites on the classroom computer during seatwork 
time.

Social Studies:
I teach Social Studies for both first grade classes and Mrs. Protesto teaches 
Science to both classes.  We switch classes on Wednesday afternoon.

Homework:
The Archdiocesan guidelines indicate that first graders should spend thirty 
minutes each night on homework.  On the first day of the school week your 
child will receive a weekly homework sheet that they will keep in their green 
folder.  If your child finishes in less than thirty minutes, use this extra 
time for reading, drilling vocabulary and math equations, or reviewing 
prayers which we are learning.  If it takes your child much more than thirty 
minutes, please let me know.  If your child looses or forgot his/her homework 
sheet he/she can view it online at 
http://TeacherWeb.com/PA/StMaryMagdalen/Campitelli/

Please check that your child has done his/her homework and initial any 
written pages. 
	The children will have a class work (red star) copybook and homework 
(green star) copybook.  They will also have a penmanship tablet and journal, 
we will use later in the year.

Tests and Report Cards:
Whenever tests are sent home, please sign and return them the next day.  The 
marking code is as follows:
O-	    Outstanding    		
VG-   Very Good    		
G-      Good    			
S-	    Satisfactory    		
I-	    Improvement is needed    	
U-     Unsatisfactory

The children will be given a report card mark for: Personal & Social Growth, 
Effort & Study Skills, Religion, Mathematics, Reading, Writing, Spelling, and 
Handwriting for each Trimester.

Behavior Chart:
Every child will have a Behavior Chart that is located in the front of their 
green star copybook. Each school day I will place a sticker or strike(s) ‘l’ 
onto your child’s chart.  Strikes are given when I have to correct a child. 
Three strikes results in an “out”- ‘O’.  Every two weeks, all the children 
who do not have an “out” will be allowed to pick a prize from our “Treasure 
Chest”.  I ask that you look over and sign the behavior charts every two 
weeks. The children will be reminded of the classroom rules regularly so that 
we can try to avoid “outs” and have fun learning.

Absence from school:
When your child is absent, a note is required explaining the reason for the 
absence.  If your child is sick more than one day I will send home a paper 
and books of important missed work for your child to complete.

Notes and Money:
Please send all money in an envelope and label it with your child’s name, 1A, 
the amount enclosed, and what the money is for.  This makes sorting the many 
envelopes which I receive every day much easier.  If you send a note for me, 
please write my name on the envelope so that I can attend to it right away.  
If your child is going home another way than usual I must have a written 
note.  If your child will be riding a different bus to go to a friend’s 
house, I must have a written note (which Mrs. Burke signs) to give to the bus 
driver.

Snacks and Lunch:
Your child may bring a small snack from home for morning recess.  Fruit, 
crackers, or pretzels are suggested as we are trying to stress the importance 
of nutritious snacks.  Please do not send a drink for morning snack.
Please send in two napkins with your child’s lunch.  One will be used as a 
placemat and the other for your child’s hands and face.

Prayer Partners:
The First and Eighth Graders are Prayer Partners and your child will meet 
his/her Prayer Partners this Friday.  The children will fill out a 
questionnaire with their Prayer Partners as a way to get to know each other.  
Prayer Partners will get together several times during the year to get to 
know one another and to pray.  
	
Miscellaneous:
	It would be greatly appreciated if you could send in one box of 
tissues and one container of disinfecting wipes for each child. 
I will also be sending home bookclub orders (usually once a month or so).  
These are totally voluntary.  If you wish to order any books for your child, 
please return the order by the date indicated along with a check made out to 
specific book club.

Thank you for attending “Back to School Night”.  I feel that it is very 
important for teachers and parents to work together because you are your 
child’s first and best teacher.  I would appreciate any insights you have 
regarding your child’s personal learning style, interests or special needs. 
If you have any questions regarding any of the information in this letter, 
please do not hesitate to send me a note or call the office and leave a 
message for me.  I will get back to you as soon as possible.
 I am very excited about this year and I hope your child will enjoy their 
first grade experience.  	
								Sincerely,

Mrs. Lori Campitelli

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Mrs. Campitelli

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