1st/2nd Grade

Teacher: Mrs. Donna Evans

Welcome to First and Second Grade at St. Paul’s Lutheran School. I am excited about the upcoming year! We currently have 5 second graders and 7 first graders.

This year we will be going on several field trips. The first field trip is in September to the Sod House near Aline, OK. We will also be attending the “Daze in the Maze” in October. Other field trips will be announced during the year. One Monday per month we will be going to Art Smart at Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse.

We will be having “Mystery Readers” coming to our class several times a month. If you would like to be a mystery reader, please let me know. The students try to figure out who the mystery reader is by deciphering 5 clues that you privately e-mail or send me.

We will also be doing the Flat Stanley Project this year to go along with our Social Studies goals and objectives.

The ABC’s of First and Second Grade

A Absence and Attendance If your child is ill, please call the school office and let them know your child will not be there. A successful school experience is the responsibility of the child, the parent, and the school. Your child’s progress, both academically and socially, is influenced to a great extent by daily participation. Regular attendance without tardiness is a key.

B Backpacks and Binders, Birthdays Please send backpacks daily. The S.T.A.R. binder is to go home daily and is to be brought back every morning. Birthdays are special occasions for young children. If your child wishes, he/she may bring a treat for the class. Please let me know the day before when and what time you are coming in.

C Conferences Conferences are scheduled after the first and third nine weeks. Please feel free to schedule additional conferences at any time throughout the year if the need arises.

D Discipline Our classroom discipline system includes a card/tag system. All students start with 3 colors, green, yellow and red. The first time a child breaks a rule, he/she will be given a verbal reminder. If the child chooses to break a rule after a verbal reminder, his/her card will be changed to yellow. If the child continues to break a rule, the last color which is red will be changed and the student will be moved to our “Thinking Chair”. There will also be a note that will be sent home by the student, teacher, or principal describing the inappropriate behavior. A discipline calendar will be sent home daily in the S.T.A.R. binder.

E E-mail I check my email on a daily basis. You may email me at donnakay@suddenlink.net. If you need to discuss something urgently, please call me at school instead.

F Field Trips We will plan several field trips during the year. We often need 2-4 parent volunteers on the trips and chaperones will be chosen on a first come, first served basis.

G Games We do have a lot of “Learning Games” in our classroom! Don’t be surprised to hear that your child played games during the day. I have found that kids learn more when they are having fun!

H Homework Please read a minimum of 20 min. every night to your child. There will also be homework packets sent home on Friday or Monday that may be completed during the week and returned on Friday.

I Illness The question of when to keep your child home from school is often a difficult one, especially when decisions must be made first thing in the morning. It is important, however, to keep your child home if he/she is ill. Please do not send your child if they have a fever. This prevents others from becoming ill.

J Journals We will have a Writing Journal that students will write in daily. These will usually remain in their desks and will be sent home at the end of the year.

K Kindness Students in our classroom are encouraged and expected to treat all members of our class as well as others with kindness and respect. Bothering others, bullying and interrupting learning will not be permitted.

L Library and Lunch We will be going to the library on Monday and Wednesdays. We will eat lunch from 11:30 to 11:50. Recess will be from 11:50-12:10. If you wish to eat lunch with your child, please call the office in the morning. Please dress your child appropriately because they will be going outside on most days. Cost of the lunch is $3.00 if you wish to eat with your child.

M Music The students will get to go to Music as a resource! Mrs. Moehle is our music teacher. They will have a great time singing, playing instruments and learning the love of music. I also use a lot of music in the classroom.

N Newsletters Class newsletters will come home frequently to keep you informed of upcoming events.

O Outside time (recess). We will have a noon recess, and usually an afternoon recess. There may be days we may possibly have a morning recess. Please send appropriate clothing according to the weather forecast. Parties and Celebrations, PE

P We will have a Christmas, Valentine and Easter party. If you would like to be the parent in charge of any of these parties (homeroom parent) please let me know which one. Students will be going to PE daily. Please wear appropriate footwear for PE.

Q Questions Please feel free to call me or email me if you have any questions.

R Recess The children will play outdoors for recess each day (unless it is raining). If it is raining or below freezing, we will pick an indoor activity. Please keep the forecast in mind when helping your child select clothing for the day.

S Show and Tell Show and tell will be on Fridays from 2:45 until 3:15. This is the ONLY day the children are permitted to bring in toys from home. Show and tell must fit in their backpack. They are not allowed to play with these items at center or free time. Please do not send anything that is very valuable in case of an accident.

T Toys Bringing toys is discouraged because they distract the children from learning. If a toy is accidently lost or broken, feelings will be hurt. Students may bring in books that are clearly marked with your child’s name. If a toy is brought to school (other than Friday show and tell) it goes in the “May Box” where it will stay until “May” or a parent comes in to claim it.

U U are a Shooting Star If you wish to go above and beyond there are numerous websites that teach and reinforce basic skills. These sites will be sent home at the beginning of school.

V Visitors St. Paul’s has a policy that ALL GUESTS (including familiar faces) are required to check in at the school office. St. Paul’s School welcomes and encourages family involvement. It is important to remember that while this may seem inconvenient to frequent visitors, it is the goal and responsibility of the school to create a safe learning environment.

W Website Please check the St. Paul’s website for lunch menus, upcoming events or other important notices.

X eXtra Special First and Second graders learn that they are special and unique. They have opportunities to describe how they are alike and different from others. They share their culture and learn about different cultures within the class.

Y Yearly eye and hearing exams. Optimal vision and hearing enhance learning. Please have your child’s vision and hearing checked during your child’s annual physical.

Z Zzzzzzzs Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give to your child. It will help them to be alert and ready to learn each day. Remember your child needs 8-10 hours of sleep every night to ensure a successful year.