Family Handbook
Mrs.Reese's Second Grade
Mt. Juliet Elementary School
2007-2008
(615) 758-5654
reesej@wcschools.com
http://teacherweb.com/TN/MtJulietElementary/Reese/
Dear Second Grade Families,
Welcome to our class! I have worked hard to plan a great year.
I believe that a child’s family is the single most important factor in the way he/she learns. Cooperation and communication between school and home will help create the best environment for your student’s success.
As an educational professional with an emphasis in primary education, there is a reason for everything I do in the class. This may not always be clear to you, so if you have a question, send a note or email and I will explain.
In addition to the curriculum established by the State of Tennessee and Wilson County, our class will be working hard to prepare for third grade. Two of our classroom goals follow.
· The students will become independent learners.
1. Establish study skills.
2. Follow written and oral directions.
· The students will develop appropriate social skills.
1. Becoming a good friend.
2. Respecting adults and peers.
This handbook will answer most of the standard questions. Please take time to read it and keep it handy for future reference. The topics are listed alphabetically.
I love second grade and hope you will enjoy this year.
- Joy Reese
ABSENCES
The policy on absences and tardies is outlined in the front of your child’s agenda. Please send an absent excuse accordingly. In order for make up work to be ready for you at dismissal, you must call or email me no later than 9:00 AM.
AGENDAS
Agendas are the best way for parents to communicate with me.
The spiral bound books are issued at no charge to the students by Wilson County Schools. They are just like a textbook and should be treated as such.
Daily homework assignments will be copied by your student into his/her agenda. Other notes and information will be posted there as well.
Check the agenda for county and school policies and procedures such as tardies, absences, and dress code.
Agendas must be initialed by a parent daily. This acknowledges that you are aware of the information for that day.
PLEASE INITIAL EACH DAY…DO NOT INITIAL AHEAD!!!
ARRIVAL
Our school day begins at 7:15 AM. Students arriving after The National Anthem will be considered tardy.
The school doors open at 6:45 AM. Students arriving early should wait in the gym for a teacher to pick them up for class. After the first week of school, second graders should walk themselves to our classroom.
BIRTHDAYS
We will celebrate your student’s birthday as close to the actual day as our schedule permits. Summer birthdays will be celebrated as ½ birthdays…June in January; July in February.
If you are sending a treat for the class, please let me know so I can alert anyone who as a special diet. Treats will be taken to the cafeteria at lunchtime, so cookies and cupcakes are welcome.
(See “Birthday Books” below.)
BIRTHDAY BOOKS
A way we add grade level books to our classroom library is through “Birthday Books.” Families send $ 5.00 cash in an envelope marked with the student’s name and birth date. As the day nears (or when we have Book Fair) the student selects an AR book to contribute to the “Reese Library.” I print a bookplate in your child’s honor for the inside front cover and he/she presents the book to the class.
You can find notes and envelopes in this packet. If you need another, let me know.
CAFETERIA
Breakfast and lunch are served in the school cafeteria.
Meal tickets are sold on Monday Mornings. Please send all money/checks in an envelope. On the front, write your child’s first and last name, teacher’s name, amount of money enclosed, and lunch code number. The lunch code is written in the front of your student agenda.
If you child eats breakfast, make sure he/she arrives no later than 7:00 AM.
CONFERENCES
Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled by the county. In order to give you my full attention and to be fair to your child, please schedule conferences in advance.
CURRICULUM
Our curriculum is guided by standards set forth by the State of Tennessee. A link to the Tennessee State department of Education is accessible through my website
DISCIPLINE
· Classroom Rules
1. Follow directions the first time.
2. Listen to the speaker
3. Raise your hand and wait for permission to speak or leave your seat.
4. Keep hands, feet, objects, and unkind words to yourself.
· Rewards
1. Notes, stickers, stamps in the agenda.
2. Tokens
3. Treats from the treat jar.
4. Whole class rewards-loops to the chain, letters in a word, scoops to the Jenny Jar.
· Consequences
1. Verbal warnings.
2. Pull 1 card-stop and think.
3. Pull 2 cards-5 minutes time out at recess.
4. Pull 2 cards-10 minute time out at recess.
5. Pull 3 cards-all of recess in time out and note in agenda.
6. Pull 4 Cards-remove from classroom and write off.
7. Severe clause-send directly to the office.
DISMISSAL
The school day ends at 2:15 PM.
If you are picking your child up early, you must go to the office to sign him/her out of class. The secretary will call the classroom to notify us you are waiting. Your child will join you as soon as he/she is ready.
DISMISSAL CHANGE
If your child is going home in a different manner (for instance, riding in a car instead of on the usual bus) I must have a note with a parent signature. Otherwise, the student goes home in the usual manner.
Office approval is required if your student is riding a different bus or getting off at a different stop.
DRESS CODE
The Wilson County Dress Code is outlined in the student agenda and available on the county website.
It is a good idea to keep an extra set of dress code compliant clothes in your child’s backpack. Mark then with your student’s name. Second graders sometimes have accidents and it could save you an unplanned trip to school.
ENGLISH
Our class will use a variety of English materials. Most of the work will be completed in class, but sometimes there will be homework, Check your agenda, homework folder, and my website for homework information.
EMAIL: reesej@wcschools.com
You can reach me at my desk using email. I can send you updates, newsletters, and an occasional classroom anecdote. Please restrict emails to school business.
If you would like to be included on our class email distribution list, please send an email to me from the account I should use. Make sure you put your child's name on the subjet line of the email.
FORGOTTEN ITEMS
Should your child forget anything at home, please drop it off in the office. The staff will let us know and we can pick it up when we have a break.
Unless it is an emergency (i.e. medications) I hope you will let your child take responsibility for forgetting and the resulting consequences.
GRADED PAPERS
In order to keep current on your child’s progress, graded papers will be sent home on the first day of the week (hopefully). Please remove the papers, review them with your student, sign the form, and return the empty folder the next day.
HANDWRITING
We use D’Nealian manuscript in the second grade. It is fluid and helps prepare the children for cursive writing in the third grade. A copy of this alphabet is enclosed with the new student materials.
HOMEWORK
Homework provides routine and structure. It reinforces skills and concepts we learn in class. It teaches the student responsibility and study skills.
Homework assignments will be written on the board each day for your child to copy into the agenda. They are also listed weekly on my website.
Each student has a homework folder with the day’s homework and other information inside. After the work is completed, remind your child to return it to the folder and the folder to the backpack. Missing homework means no recess. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday are homework nights. It should take no longer than 20 minutes. Additionally, your child should read for 30 minutes every night.
Unless otherwise noted, homework must be completed in pencil. Pens, crayons, and markers are not acceptable unless specified in the directions.
Even if it is a “no homework” night, please continue reading, spelling, and math facts.
LIBRARY (Classroom)
My personal library is available for my students to use. I have several hundred AR books ranging from RL 0.5 to 5.0+. Lost books must be replaced by year’s end at a cost of $ 5.00 each or report cards will not be released.
LUNCH
Our cafeteria sends home monthly menus. Check the current class schedule for our lunch time.
Please take the time to come eat lunch with your child. Stop by the office to sign-in before proceeding to the cafeteria to meet us. Pre-arrangements are not necessary.
MATH
Generally, your child will have math homework on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. Don’t forget to have it in the homework folder to return to school.
Math fact sheets will be sent home for practice. We will have timed tests on these sheets each week. Make sure your student studies them daily.
MID-TERM REPORTS
Our county is using a new computer-based report card this year. it should be in place in time for the first mid-term report.
MONDAY MEMO
Our class newsletter will be sent out using the email address you provided on the first day of the week (usually) . I will try to keep you updated on calendar events and classroom information. I will and post it on teacherweb.com, as well.
MOVIES & VIDEOS
Our classroom has an overhead projection system. We use it almost daily. Everything we watch is considered G-rated UNLESS I notify you in advance. If you send a video to share, make sure it is G-rated.
PHONICS
Second graders at Mt. Juliet Elementary are taught Phonics alon with Spelling and Reading. As a rule, students will not have phonics homework.
RECESS We go outside unless the temperature is 40°or below. We check the Internet at weather.com & NewsChannel5.com. We also check our classroom outdoor thermometer.
ROOM PARENTS
This is a committee made up of parent volunteers. They help plan our classroom activities, field trips, and parties. Please volunteer to help!
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Please do not label supplies with your child’s name.
5 packs 3rd grade paper (MJE Bookstore) 24 yellow # 2 pencils
1 small pencil sharpener (with holder for shavings)
1 sharp-point child-sized scissors 2 boxes 16-count crayons
4 glue sticks 1 large, soft, zippered pencil case
1 large pack cap erasers 1 pack 3-count rectangl erasers
2 spiral notebooks-70 sheets, wide ruled
1 pack construction paper-any color
1 small, personal-sized hand sanitizer
Additionally, students in my classroom are asked to bring
Everyone----1 Pack of Post-it Notes
2 containers of Baby Wipes
Boys----1 Eraser for Dry-Erase Board
Girls---1 marker for Dry-Erase Board
Please do not send
Art/pencil boxes
Bottles of glue
Trapper Keepers, folders, notebooks, or binders
Rolling backpacks
SCIENCE
We will alternate themes in science and social studies. Most of the work will be completed in class. However, some projects must be done at home. If there is a change, it will be noted in the agenda.
SNACK
We have a snack in our classroom each morning. Acceptable snacks are pretzels, popcorn, fruit, raw vegetables, crackers and cheese, or peanut butter. The only drink allowed is water. Water bottles must have a 'sippy top' that closes. Please do not send anything in a glass container.
Unacceptable: Sweets and sugars, chocolate, candy, soft drinks and juices. These will be saved for lunch.
SOCIAL STUDIES
We will alternate units in science and social studies. Most of the work will be completed in class. However, some projects must be done at home. If there is a change, it will be noted in the agenda.
SPECIALS
Our students go to “special” classes daily. Check our current schedule for specific classes and days. Teachers for these classes are:
Art-Mrs. McDaniels Computer-Mrs. Hayes Library-Ms. Williams
Music-Ms. Dickens PE-Mrs. Bannach
SPELLING
Word Lists are sent home in the homework folder on the first day of the school week. Have your student practice the words daily. Students will probably have Spelling Homework two days each week. Spelling tests are usually on Thursday.
STAR STUDENT (Student of the Week)
Each full week of school, a student is highlighted as our “Star Student.” The names are randomly selected. The student will be mentioned in our newsletter and on a poster in our classroom. Please send a photograph to use on the poster-baby pictures, funny shot, and sports photos work well. If you would like to send a treat that week, follow birthday treat guidelines.
VISITS
I encourage you to visit our classroom anytime. As a parent, it is one of the things I like most about MJE.
The safety of our children is very important to me. YOU MUST SIGN-IN AT THE OFFICE AND HAVE A VISIBLE VISTOR PASS BEFORE COMING TO OUR CLASSROOM. This applies to anytime during the school day. Even if I know you…YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED WITHOUT A PASS.
WEBSITE
Our classroom website is located at www.teacherweb.com. Parents and students can access classroom information quickly and easily. The site contains our newsletter, calendar, homework, updates, spelling words, links to great sites for kids and other items of interest.
