Dear Parents/Guardians,
Welcome to Grade One! We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to a new school year at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School. We are extremely excited to work with your child and would like to provide you with some general information to get your child prepared for this upcoming school year.
AGENDA
As part of the grade one program, students will be using the agenda to track events, write homework, and organize themselves. It is also to be used as a form of communication between teacher and parents. We have discussed the agenda in class and we urge you to take some time to explore the agenda with your child. It will be brought home daily in your child’s Homework Bag. Please initial beside the day as confirmation that you have reviewed your child’s homework. As well, if you have any notes, please write it in the agenda and the classroom teacher will make every effort to contact you in a timely manner. Most importantly, please ensure that the agenda and Homework Bag is returned to school EVERY morning. The cost of the agenda is $6.00. Please send a cheque payable to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School. Thank you in advance for your participation.
GUIDED READING BOOKS
A main focus for grade one is reading. As part of the guided reading program, your child will be receiving a book weekly. The book must be read to gain accuracy, fluency and establish good comprehension. The book MUST be returned the following day even if it continues to be sent home each day. We encourage the children to keep the guided reading book in their Reading Folder. Each child will be assigned a number and is responsible for returning that numbered book. Please note that books that are not returned or books that are damaged will be subject to a fee.
WORD STUDY
In the classroom, HIGH FREQUENCY sight words will be presented within a meaningful context (i.e. book, story poem, song, labels) that can be read, reread, referred to and revisited time and time again by the teacher and students. To enrich our school program, children will also be given a list of words to practice each week. These are words from the “HIGH FREQUENCY WORD LIST”, the most commonly used words. Students will write these words in their agenda each Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday). A Word Study folder will be going home every Monday as nightly homework. In this folder, there are activities for every day of the week. These activities are designed to reinforce the list words. The Word Study homework folder should be returned on Friday (Thursday if Friday is a P.A. Day) to be checked by the teacher. A weekly test will NOT be given to the students.
SCHOOL MATERIALS
The school provides essential materials such as paper, notebooks, rulers, pencils, eraser, glue, markers, crayons and pencil crayons. However, children may wish to bring their own materials. We ask that you label all items with your child’s name and remind him or her to keep them in a pencil case.
RECESS AND LUNCH TIMES
Children will have an opportunity to eat an indoor snack before or after first and last recess. Please remember that this is a small-snack portion that can be easily eaten in 10 minutes. Children are asked to bring their own snacks each day due to allergies, SHARING SNACKS IS NOT ALLOWED. We are a NUT SAFE and EGG SAFE school. PLEASE DO NOT SEND FOOD ITEMS THAT CONTAIN OR MAY CONTAIN NUT PRODUCTS. WE ALSO ASK THAT STUDENTS DO NOT BRING HARD BOILED EGGS OR EGG SALAD to school for lunch. Read the labels of all unsuspecting foods (i.e. granola bars, some chocolate bars etc.). Fruits and vegetables are good snacks, and are healthy.
Below are the times for recess and lunch:
Please note that the children have 20 minutes to eat their lunch.
First Recess: 10:30am - 10:45am
Lunch Time: 12:10pm – 12:30pm
Lunch Recess: 12:30pm – 1:10pm
Last Recess: 2:30pm – 2:45pm
BIRTHDAY AND CELEBRATIONS
In keeping with our “NUT SAFE” and “EGG SAFE” school policy, we will NOT be allowing parents to bring in birthday cakes/cupcakes/cookies etc. to celebrate their child’s birthday. Therefore, please DO NOT SEND ANY FOOD to school for these celebrations. If you want to extend the celebration to the classroom may we encourage the purchase of indoor or outdoor equipment and activities to be donated to the class (i.e., skipping ropes, soccer ball, books).
DRESS
York Catholic District School Board has implemented Standardized Dress Code for all elementary schools. Our colours for Standardized Dress are Red, White and Black. All children should be dressed in black bottoms (track pants) and white or red tops (no t-shirts). During the winter months, please provide your child with appropriate outdoor wear, including extra pair of socks and mittens, as they will be going outdoors. Clothing with few fasteners such as buttons, zippers and laces help to facilitate independence. Also, it would help immensely if you could LABEL ALL your child’s clothing with a permanent marker or sewing initial.
INDOOR SHOES
In order to keep the classroom and school clean, your child will be required to keep a pair of “indoor shoes” at school at ALL TIMES. It is required that indoor shoes are non-marking running shoes since they are mandatory in order to participate in physical education class in the gymnasium. Please ensure that the running shoes are labeled with your child’s name. Also, please do not send shoes with laces until your child is able to tie them confidently and independently.
TISSUE BOX DONATION
If possible, we are asking that each family contribute a box of Kleenex to the classroom. This will ensure that Kleenex will always be available in our room, especially during the winter months.
CALENDAR & NEWSLETTERS
Each month we will be sending home a calendar that will outline various events, gym and library days. A calendar will be sent home as soon as library days have been finalized.
LIBRARY
The children will be able to take books out of the school library on a weekly basis.
PARENT SIGNATURES
Signatures will be require each night in your child’s agenda, which should help to reinforce the importance of completing daily assignments. Parent signatures will also be required on rubrics at the end of each unit of study. Tests and rubrics will be coming home with your child in a designated folder, and should be returned to school as soon as possible.
BOOK ORDERS
Each month we will be sending home Scholastic Order forms. If you wish to purchase any books, please send in the order form on or before the date indicated. We cannot mail cash/coins, so please pay by cheque only, made payable to Scholastic Canada Ltd. Also, please pay close attention to paying the correct amount, which is the yellow column, usually the higher of the pricing due to Ontario Tax. Happy Reading!
FRENCH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
All children in grade one will participate in the French and Physical Education programs. The classroom teacher does not teach these two subjects. Your child’s French teacher is Madame Balenzano and P.E. will be taught by Mrs. Santarsia. The grade one students do not change their clothes for P.E. class. Please ensure your child is dressed in comfortable clothing and non-marking running shoes on gym days. Gym days will be indicated on the classroom calendar.
PARENT/TEACHER COMMUNICATION
If someone other than the parent/guardian will be picking up a student, even on a regular basis, written permission from the parent/guardian will be required. You may write a note in the agenda. VERBAL DIRECTION BY THE CHILD WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Also, if alternative arrangements have been made (i.e. your child usually takes the bus but will be picked up by his/her parents today), written permission from the parent/guardian is required. Please be aware that the office may still contact the parent/guardian to confirm identity of the person picking up the student. If a change must be made at the last minute and a note cannot be sent to school, please call the school and the office will make your child’s teacher aware of the alternate arrangements. The safety of our students is our primary concern and without written permission, we will NOT dismiss a child to anyone other than the child’s parents/guardians.
We are very excited about working with you and your child! We have many special events planned for the children and we look forward to learning together! If at any time through the school year you have any questions or concerns regarding your child, please do not hesitate to contact us at (289) 553-3802.
Your Partners in Education,
The Grade One Teachers
Welcome to Grade One! We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to a new school year at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School. We are extremely excited to work with your child and would like to provide you with some general information to get your child prepared for this upcoming school year.
AGENDA
As part of the grade one program, students will be using the agenda to track events, write homework, and organize themselves. It is also to be used as a form of communication between teacher and parents. We have discussed the agenda in class and we urge you to take some time to explore the agenda with your child. It will be brought home daily in your child’s Homework Bag. Please initial beside the day as confirmation that you have reviewed your child’s homework. As well, if you have any notes, please write it in the agenda and the classroom teacher will make every effort to contact you in a timely manner. Most importantly, please ensure that the agenda and Homework Bag is returned to school EVERY morning. The cost of the agenda is $6.00. Please send a cheque payable to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School. Thank you in advance for your participation.
GUIDED READING BOOKS
A main focus for grade one is reading. As part of the guided reading program, your child will be receiving a book weekly. The book must be read to gain accuracy, fluency and establish good comprehension. The book MUST be returned the following day even if it continues to be sent home each day. We encourage the children to keep the guided reading book in their Reading Folder. Each child will be assigned a number and is responsible for returning that numbered book. Please note that books that are not returned or books that are damaged will be subject to a fee.
WORD STUDY
In the classroom, HIGH FREQUENCY sight words will be presented within a meaningful context (i.e. book, story poem, song, labels) that can be read, reread, referred to and revisited time and time again by the teacher and students. To enrich our school program, children will also be given a list of words to practice each week. These are words from the “HIGH FREQUENCY WORD LIST”, the most commonly used words. Students will write these words in their agenda each Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday). A Word Study folder will be going home every Monday as nightly homework. In this folder, there are activities for every day of the week. These activities are designed to reinforce the list words. The Word Study homework folder should be returned on Friday (Thursday if Friday is a P.A. Day) to be checked by the teacher. A weekly test will NOT be given to the students.
SCHOOL MATERIALS
The school provides essential materials such as paper, notebooks, rulers, pencils, eraser, glue, markers, crayons and pencil crayons. However, children may wish to bring their own materials. We ask that you label all items with your child’s name and remind him or her to keep them in a pencil case.
RECESS AND LUNCH TIMES
Children will have an opportunity to eat an indoor snack before or after first and last recess. Please remember that this is a small-snack portion that can be easily eaten in 10 minutes. Children are asked to bring their own snacks each day due to allergies, SHARING SNACKS IS NOT ALLOWED. We are a NUT SAFE and EGG SAFE school. PLEASE DO NOT SEND FOOD ITEMS THAT CONTAIN OR MAY CONTAIN NUT PRODUCTS. WE ALSO ASK THAT STUDENTS DO NOT BRING HARD BOILED EGGS OR EGG SALAD to school for lunch. Read the labels of all unsuspecting foods (i.e. granola bars, some chocolate bars etc.). Fruits and vegetables are good snacks, and are healthy.
Below are the times for recess and lunch:
Please note that the children have 20 minutes to eat their lunch.
First Recess: 10:30am - 10:45am
Lunch Time: 12:10pm – 12:30pm
Lunch Recess: 12:30pm – 1:10pm
Last Recess: 2:30pm – 2:45pm
BIRTHDAY AND CELEBRATIONS
In keeping with our “NUT SAFE” and “EGG SAFE” school policy, we will NOT be allowing parents to bring in birthday cakes/cupcakes/cookies etc. to celebrate their child’s birthday. Therefore, please DO NOT SEND ANY FOOD to school for these celebrations. If you want to extend the celebration to the classroom may we encourage the purchase of indoor or outdoor equipment and activities to be donated to the class (i.e., skipping ropes, soccer ball, books).
DRESS
York Catholic District School Board has implemented Standardized Dress Code for all elementary schools. Our colours for Standardized Dress are Red, White and Black. All children should be dressed in black bottoms (track pants) and white or red tops (no t-shirts). During the winter months, please provide your child with appropriate outdoor wear, including extra pair of socks and mittens, as they will be going outdoors. Clothing with few fasteners such as buttons, zippers and laces help to facilitate independence. Also, it would help immensely if you could LABEL ALL your child’s clothing with a permanent marker or sewing initial.
INDOOR SHOES
In order to keep the classroom and school clean, your child will be required to keep a pair of “indoor shoes” at school at ALL TIMES. It is required that indoor shoes are non-marking running shoes since they are mandatory in order to participate in physical education class in the gymnasium. Please ensure that the running shoes are labeled with your child’s name. Also, please do not send shoes with laces until your child is able to tie them confidently and independently.
TISSUE BOX DONATION
If possible, we are asking that each family contribute a box of Kleenex to the classroom. This will ensure that Kleenex will always be available in our room, especially during the winter months.
CALENDAR & NEWSLETTERS
Each month we will be sending home a calendar that will outline various events, gym and library days. A calendar will be sent home as soon as library days have been finalized.
LIBRARY
The children will be able to take books out of the school library on a weekly basis.
PARENT SIGNATURES
Signatures will be require each night in your child’s agenda, which should help to reinforce the importance of completing daily assignments. Parent signatures will also be required on rubrics at the end of each unit of study. Tests and rubrics will be coming home with your child in a designated folder, and should be returned to school as soon as possible.
BOOK ORDERS
Each month we will be sending home Scholastic Order forms. If you wish to purchase any books, please send in the order form on or before the date indicated. We cannot mail cash/coins, so please pay by cheque only, made payable to Scholastic Canada Ltd. Also, please pay close attention to paying the correct amount, which is the yellow column, usually the higher of the pricing due to Ontario Tax. Happy Reading!
FRENCH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
All children in grade one will participate in the French and Physical Education programs. The classroom teacher does not teach these two subjects. Your child’s French teacher is Madame Balenzano and P.E. will be taught by Mrs. Santarsia. The grade one students do not change their clothes for P.E. class. Please ensure your child is dressed in comfortable clothing and non-marking running shoes on gym days. Gym days will be indicated on the classroom calendar.
PARENT/TEACHER COMMUNICATION
If someone other than the parent/guardian will be picking up a student, even on a regular basis, written permission from the parent/guardian will be required. You may write a note in the agenda. VERBAL DIRECTION BY THE CHILD WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Also, if alternative arrangements have been made (i.e. your child usually takes the bus but will be picked up by his/her parents today), written permission from the parent/guardian is required. Please be aware that the office may still contact the parent/guardian to confirm identity of the person picking up the student. If a change must be made at the last minute and a note cannot be sent to school, please call the school and the office will make your child’s teacher aware of the alternate arrangements. The safety of our students is our primary concern and without written permission, we will NOT dismiss a child to anyone other than the child’s parents/guardians.
We are very excited about working with you and your child! We have many special events planned for the children and we look forward to learning together! If at any time through the school year you have any questions or concerns regarding your child, please do not hesitate to contact us at (289) 553-3802.
Your Partners in Education,
The Grade One Teachers