August 31, 2009
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Welcome to Roland Park’s First Grade. We are looking forward to an exciting and rewarding year.
Communication and collaboration between home and school strengthen a child’s ability to achieve academically and also enjoy the process of learning. Here are a few suggestions that will assist the student, parent/guardian and teacher in making this
“A GREAT FIRST GRADE YEAR!”
1. Remember 8:00 A.M. is the time school begins. Students will be marked late beginning at 8:10. (Perfect attendance means present and on-time.) Although this time is short, it is used for unpacking, organizing, greeting friends, using the facilities and getting in the “I am here and ready to learn” frame of mind. Instruction begins at
8:10 A.M. Mornings are needed to set the tone for the school day; therefore, if you need to confer with us please send an email or note requesting a conference or call the elementary office at 410-396-6455 to set up an appointment.
2. To assist in the development of independence, please say your goodbyes at the elementary entrance and allow your child to enter the building on his/her own.
3. Parents/guardians can help by reinforcing appropriate school behavior. At Roland Park we expect the best from your children both academically and behaviorally. Please allot 15 minutes daily for your child to read, either together or independently. Studies have shown that children who are well-rested and have a good breakfast do better in school.
4. PRAISE! PRAISE! PRAISE! Praise your child’s efforts and successes. Encourage neatness and organization. Please initial all home assignments next to your child’s name before it is returned to school. Check your child’s folder for daily assignments and/or notes. All marked papers should stay home unless otherwise noted.
5. Please adhere to guidelines and target dates for trips and other class activities. We cannot adequately plan a trip or activity without honoring a payment schedule. Being late will probably mean your child cannot participate. Exact cash must be sealed in an envelope with your child’s name, amount and purpose. Place all lunch money, book money, etc. in correctly labeled envelopes.
6. Label everything that belongs to your child.
7. Make sure your child does not bring toys or any valuables to school. They can be broken, lost, stolen, or a distraction.
8. Celebration of birthdays is a fun time. Due to severe food allergies we no longer share food on a child’s birthday. We encourage parents/guardians to send in a favorite story for the teacher to read and/or stickers for the birthday child to pass out to classmates. Please arrange birthday book sharing prior to the celebration day. Please note: birthday invitations and thank you notes should be delivered outside of school.
9. Each child needs to bring a note to school on the day returning from an absence. Please include the date of the absence, the reason for the absence and your signature. Assignments that are missed during an absence will be placed on the child’s desk if a family member or neighbor did not collect the assignments at the end of the school day. These assignments should be completed and returned to school.
10. Each student should have an extra change of clothing. Please label clothing and place in a plastic bag. Remember to change clothing as the seasons and sizes change.
11. Don’t forget the school uniform is a solid navy top or Roland Park shirt and khaki pants, shorts, skorts or skirts. Flip-flops are NOT allowed for safety reasons.
12. The school day ends at 2:45 P.M. The first graders will be waiting outside the elementary entrance between the steps and the playground fence for you to meet them. We use a handshake handoff to signify the transition from the teacher to the parent/guardian. If your child is going home with someone else you must send in a note in the morning. Teachers must be focused on student safety so please refrain from discussing issues better addressed during a conference.
We realize this is a great deal of information! We hope it addresses some of your concerns and questions. Please be sure to attend our Back to School Night to find out more about the first grade program and expectations for your child. If you have other suggestions or concerns please feel free to discuss them with us. Regardless, send your child’s teacher an email so you may receive important communication from the first grade team.
Thanks for your support!
First Grade Teachers
Nicole Baillie ndbaillie@gmail.com
Catherine Gearhart cathy.gearhart@gmail.com
Linda Knedler lknedler@gmail.com
Rebecca Singer rsinger630@gmail.com
