Welcome to First Grade!

1. Welcome toFirst Grade! Mrs. Hanks Room 19 ehanks@wsfcs.k12.nc.us

2. All About Me • Started first grade in 1988. • Originally from southwest Florida. I moved to NC in 2001. • Graduated from Greensboro College with a B.S. in Elementary Education. • I believe every child has the right and ability to learn and not in the same way. It is our job to help them realize their learning potential.

3. First Grade Goals • Common Core State Standards and Essential Standards are taught and assessed. • All information in available on the NC Department of Education’s website.

4. PBISPositive Behavior Intervention & Support • A school-wide discipline policy • Behavior • Academics • School Morale and Pride • R-Respectful Actions • O-Only Safe Behavior • A-Always Do Your Best • R-Responsible Choices

5. Classroom Expectations • Behavior • A clip chart will be used to monitor behavior and choices. • Daily behavior will be logged on the calendar that is kept in the homework folder.

6. Classroom Expectations • Class Work • We are learning everyday in our classroom. • We will have hands-on activities as well as written activities. • Participation is required for all class work.

7. Number System • Labeling: Please label everything your child brings to school. All items (jackets, backpacks, lunch boxes, snacks, notebooks, crayons, etc.) need to have your child’s name on them. • Your child will be assigned a number based on his/her place in alphabetical order on the first day of school. This number helps to keep things organized. • Your child’s books, desk, supplies and book baggie will all be labeled with this number.

8. Homework • Homework will be sent home weekly and is to be completed and turned in on Friday. • The Hanks Herald is our weekly newsletter. Please be sure to read it! • You will have the same color homework folders as last year. Please keep the papers in the “Keep at Home” pocket and review and return the papers in the “Return to School” pocket.

9. Attendance • Please try to have your child here, on time every day. • When something happens causing your child is absent, please send in a note the day your child returns to school stating the reason for absence. • While you may request make-up work, please understand that it is impossible for you to help your child make up all the work that he/she would be missing. We do not give busy work in first grade

10. Arrival • Students may arrive starting at 7:25. The classroom is open at 7:40 and the tardy bell rings at 7:55. Please be in the classroom by then, as we have morning work and other things going on that are super important. • If your child is late, please send a note explaining why.

11. Dismissal • If your child is going home any other way than they normally do, you must send in a note. Phone calls are not accepted. • School is over at 2:20. We appreciate you not signing your child out earlier than that.

12. Grading • A rubric grade is given instead of percentages; this rubric grade ranges from a 1-4. • This rubric system will be used for Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. • Work Habits and Social Development will also have a letter grade. • S - Satisfactory • N - Needs Improvement • U – Unsatisfactory

13. Schedule • Lunch 12:00-12:25 • Specials 12:35-1:20 • Art, Computer, Character Media, Music and P.E. • Remember your tennis shoes for P.E.!

14. Medicine • Medication administered at school must be accompanied by a “Permission to Administer Medication” form signed by a doctor. • A new permission form must be completed each year. • Medication must be in the original bottle-labeled with student’s name, contents and administration directions. • Please fill out the green medical form.

15. Snacks • Please supply your child with one small healthy child-size snack and drink each day. • Healthy snacks are fruit, vegetables, cheese and crackers, pretzels, fruit snacks, granola bars, etc. • I feel that it is important to instill healthy eating habits at a young age and that there are numerous benefits to eating healthy. • Please, send your child’s snack in a labeled separate bag from his/her lunch.

16. Breakfast & Lunch • Breakfast is served from 7:25 Until 7:55 every morning. • Lunch is from 12:00-12:25. Feel free to come eat with your child. • Please label all lunch boxes/paper bags with your child’s name. If your child is buying lunch, please place the money in an envelope or zip-lock bag with your child’s name and ID number on it. I will hold onto the lunch money until lunchtime.

17. Birthdays • Your child is welcome to celebrate his/her birthday in class. • Birthday parties are held during snack time. Please, drop off the cookies or cupcakes and all the necessary supplies in the main office before 8:30. If you want to send in a drink, I request that you send in individual juice boxes. • Summer birthdays will be celebrated on your child’s half-birthday.

18. Book Orders • Scholastic book order forms are sent home about once a month. A parent letter will explain how to order the books online. • Through your orders, we receive free books for the classroom. In addition, if you decide to place your order online, we will automatically receive a free book. • Please don’t feel obligated to order. Many book order forms will be sent home throughout the year. • If you would like the books you order to be a surprise gift for your child, please let me know.

19. Field Trips • All field trip money and permission slips are due on or before the due date listed on the permission slip. Field trips are paid for in advance; we do not bring cash to our destinations. • If there is a situation preventing you from obtaining the funds required in a timely manner, please, let me know as soon as possible.

20. Family Situations • I would like to be informed of important experiences that may be affecting your child’s state of mind, such as: illness in the family, a best friend moving away, conflicts among family members, loss of a pet, etc. Although I am interested in anything that could be affecting your child, it is not necessary for you to reveal personal information. Please know that anything you do say will be kept in the strictest confidence.

21. VolunteersWe Need You! • Come to the school and volunteer your time, either in the classroom or in the school. • Join the PTA. It costs $6 and benefits the school greatly. • If you want to help, but aren’t sure how, let me know and we can work something out. • I will gladly accept any donations for room 19.

22. Contact Information • Call • 703-4100 • Click • ehanks@wsfcs.k12.nc.us • Kernersville school website • Come By • Anytime!

23. KES Mission • KES partners with students, parents, and the community in educating children to ensure they become responsible, caring, global citizens.

24. KES Vision • KES works collaboratively to provide educational opportunities that foster the unique potential of all our students while supporting their intellectual, emotional and social development.