Jackson Elementary First Grade

Dear First Grade Families,

We hope you enjoyed your extended weekends and used that time to rest, relax and refresh. It's been a very short week in 1st Grade, but we still packed in A LOT! We are now into our 2nd Nine Weeks of school, so we jumped right into learning. We explored poetry in Reading & Writing, learned about various bodies of water in Social Studies, explored motion through pushes and pulls in Science, and began our new unit in Math where we will be focusing on addition & strategies and fact fluency.

Have a great weekend! We look forward to a full week of learning next week!

Sincerely,

The First Grade Team

• Phonics Focus: Silent e: Rule 1: The vowel says its long sound because of the e; H.F. Words: like, make, here; Heart Words: come, one, some, have

• Reading: I can explain how poems are different from fiction and nonfiction text.
• Writing: I can help write different types of poems.
  

• Social Studies: I can describe characteristics of different places.

• Science: I can investigate and explain how different amounts of force directly affect speed and distance.
• Math: I can use addition and subtraction strategies to solve story problems.

• October 20th- Author Visit: Josh Funk
• October 20th- Last Day to turn in Storybook Pumpkin
• October 23rd- Family Movie Night- 6:45-8:45 pm
• October 25th- Last Day to Purchase BOO! Gram- see flyer below for details
• October 26th- Storybook Character Parade
• October 26th-30th- Red Ribbon Week
• October 27th- Fall Picture Retakes
• November 2nd- Be Like Betty Day- see flyer below for details

Students have a Daily Folder that comes home each day and should be returned to school the following day. Please check your child's Daily Folder every day. The folder contains a GROWS expectations chart, monthly calendar, Specials calendar, a Take Home Section for papers, and a pouch for guided reading books (more information to come in September).

• The lunchroom is now open to visitors.
• Guests must park in the parking lot.
• Guests must have their ID scanned and given a badge to wear.
• Guests are not permitted to walk any other locations of our building during your visit.
• You are only allowed to eat with your child on stage.
• Our lunch time is 11:25-12:00.
• If you choose to take pictures/ selfies during lunch time, please do not include any other students in your photo.
• Other useful information:
• To put money on your child's lunch/breakfast account, please visit My School Bucks.
• Free and Reduced Lunch Application
• Meal Account Restrictions Form

Your child will be bringing home a communication page each day in their take home folder. Our campus as a whole decided this would be an excellent way to stay connected about your child and their expectations here at school.

This folder contains important information regarding:

• Classroom Expectations: A clear outline of the expected behaviors in your child's classroom.

• School-Wide Expectations: An overview of the positive behavior expectations for all students at Jackson.

• Behavior Tracking: A record of your child's positive behavior and any instances where they may have needed redirection.

• Communication Log: A space for teachers and parents to communicate about your child's behavior and any concerns.

We encourage you to review the folder with your child daily and discuss the importance of positive behavior at school.

We believe that open communication between home and school is essential for your child's success. We appreciate your partnership in supporting positive behavior and creating a positive learning environment for all students.

No notes is GOOD!

A positive note is EXCELLENT!

A note describing a behavior incident will be noted as well.

Please send a snack and water bottle to school each day. Snacks should be easy to eat and easy to clean up. Please make sure your child's water bottle is labeled and spill-proof. We want to keep our carpets nice and dry! Also, please only send WATER in the water bottle---when spills happen, the desks/ carpet become sticky and stained.

Please label ALL of your child's personal items. This can include, but is not limited to: water bottles, lunch boxes, jackets, change of clothes, headphones, backpack, etc.

Sometimes the excitement of what's going on in class keeps students from going to the bathroom because they don't want to miss anything. They may wait a little too long and have an accident. While this rarely happens, the student and teacher are relieved when parents have packed a change of clothes. Please pack a change of clothes for your child in a gallon-sized baggie labeled with his/her name to keep at school. Pack a well-used outfit that can be worn for any season and include a change of underwear and socks.

Due to classroom allergy safety, please DO NOT send food/ candy treats. If you would like to send birthday treats with your child, we encourage goody bags instead. If your child would like to pass out birthday invitations to his/her classmates, they may be distributed at the beginning or end of the day.

Thank you for your patience during school dismissal. Please look at these tips that apply to your family:

• Please help your first grader learn their new family dismissal number and a gentle reminder to remain quiet during dismissal. Please use the current 26-27 car tag.

• Accompanied Walkers- Please write your child's name and teacher's name on the car tag using a permanent marker. They exit through the door near the circle drive.

• Bus Riders- Please help your child learn their AM & PM bus number.

• Unaccompanied Walkers- They should only be leaving school with an older sibling. Older siblings should not leave the building without their younger sibling. For safety reasons, first graders do NOT walk home alone. Unaccompanied walkers will be walked to the crosswalk. Parents are not to meet students at the building if they are an unaccompanied walker.

The teachers in First Grade use various types of positive reinforcement, such as tickets or "sprinkles" to reward students when they are making good choices. Students may then use their tickets, etc. to purchase coupons such as bring a stuffed animal to school, Show-and-Tell, wear a hat to school, and more. If your child tells you they earned a coupon at school, please let him/her bring the item to school. If your child's class earns a reward, such as a pajama day, your child's teacher will communicate that to you.

Students will earn "Betty Bucks" for demonstrating desired behaviors in all common areas of our school. Earned "Betty Bucks" will be deposited into their grade level's jar. Each week, a drawing will take place where names are randomly selected and there will be a winner chosen from each grade level. Winning students will then have the exciting opportunity to choose from a variety of rewards. We believe that strong partnerships between home and school are key to unlocking your child's full potential.