FAQ

What time is lunch?
When can we buy lunch?
When can I talk to Ms. Mahaffey or Ms. Cassidy?
Are the kids always in a big group?
Do you have recess with other students?
What do the colors of the groups mean? Are kids in that group all the time?
What is an advantage of a multiage class?
Do MAC kids have to take the same tests as all the other students?
Do you mind if parents come in to help out?
Who are the multiage teachers?

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 What time is lunch?
Lunch hour may change in fall so keep an eye out for the mailings from Lake 
Bluff.
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 When can we buy lunch?
You can send money any day and it will be added to your "account". Children 
just need to give their number when getting lunch. Teachers have the numbers 
and have students memorize them.
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 When can I talk to Ms. Mahaffey or Ms. Cassidy?
General questions specific to individual children can be answered via email 
from this site, phone (963-6972 EXT. 4133) or if you drop a note in the 
Important Paper Box (suitcase near blue couch) we will call you at a time 
convenient to all. We will be having 2 parent/student/teacher conferences 
during the year so that is another option. We ask your understanding if we 
are unable or seem unwilling to talk with you during the school day. It's 
not that we don't want to, but there is generally a lot going on that we 
need to monitor. For personal or urgent situations, we will certainly make 
ourselves available with no delay.
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 Are the kids always in a big group?
No. Children participate in many kinds of groupings throughout the day. 
Sometimes we work whole group, but generally you will see small groups or 
independent work time monitored by Ms. Mahaffey and Ms. Cassidy. Children go 
to specials like art, music, p.e. and Spanish in classroom size groups of 
21. Those are the Red and Blue groups.
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 Do you have recess with other students?
Yes. We have recess and lunch recess at the same time other 1-3 graders do.
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 What do the colors of the groups mean? Are kids in that group all the time?
The group of 41 is divided in half, Red and Blue groups of first and second 
graders. They go to art, music, p.e., library and spanish in these classroom 
sized groups. Ms. Mahaffey has Red Group, Ms. Cassidy blue. At times we have 
to break kids into groups according to grade. Orange is first grade and 
yellow is 2nd grade. So if your child is in Blue group and orange group that 
means they are first graders who hang their coats on the south end of the 
classroom and go to specials with Ms. Cassidy. They are assigned to these 
groups for the year, but the other groups formed for instruction and 
activities change very often.
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 What is an advantage of a multiage class?
A big advantage is that we have children for two years, thus giving all of 
us time. The amount of stress at the beginning of each year is diminished 
because we always know half the class and their families. Throughout the 
year the children get to know Kitty Moore and Mike Roberts who teach MAC2 
(3rd and 4th grade), so again the transition is met with a bit more 
security. 

Academically, we are able to group children for math and reading with other 
children at a similar level of competency, skill level and interest. This 
comes about because of the double grade in one room and because of the flow 
that can take place among all the MAC classes in the building.
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 Do MAC kids have to take the same tests as all the other students?
Yes. Any test given from the district or required for any other Shorewood 
student will be administered to our students as well.
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 Do you mind if parents come in to help out?
We love it. Parents are welcome to come in and stay for the song and go, or 
if they want, can read with children or help out in other ways. It's hard to 
schedule particular days of the week because of our crazy 6 day instead of 5 
day schedule, so we leave things very flexible for all of us.
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 Who are the multiage teachers?
MAC 1 (1st/2nd): Kelly Cassidy and Foyne Mahaffey
MAC 2 (3rd/4th): Mike Roberts and Kitty Moore
MAC 3 (5th/6th): Sachin Pandya and Amy Miller.
Rooms are on each side of hallway as you walk past office going south and 
directly above on 2nd floor.
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