Welcome Letter

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to a new school year! I have the honor of being your child’s teacher for this vital year. I am thrilled with the fun and interesting educational experiences that are ahead for our first graders. Our school is a dynamic environment for all children and the first grade team of teachers is ready to meet the needs of every child. My teaching will focus on the Language Arts and Math Common Core standards of the first grade curriculum, while integrating the Science and Social Science Core Standards for greater knowledge, involvement, and fascination for all of my students.

My Mission as a Teacher is to inspire children to a lifelong love of learning. I will treat each child with respect, caring, and understanding. My goal is to meet the individual needs and learning styles of every student. I will provide a safe environment where risk-taking is rewarded and challenges are a part of our daily learning. I will use the advances of technology and innovation to help create a classroom full of self-directed learners. I will have high expectations for all my children and motivate them to live up to their potential, as students, and as the generation of the future.

I look forward to meeting with each of you and working together to maximize the learning potential of your child. Please join us at Back-to-School Night to learn more about the programs, procedures, and expectations that will guide the next school year.

The following items will assist in your preparation for the first weeks of school:

WE ARE A CLOSED CAMPUS! For safety reasons, all SMUSD schools will not allow adults on campus unless they are working or meeting with a teacher. Bring your ID to sign in at the office. Please give yourself extra time for this procedure.

DROPPING OFF: The front gate will open at 7:45 am. Children may walk to the classroom and drop off their backpacks outside, then proceed to the playground. The start of school bell will ring at 8:15. Students will walk to the classroom through the main hall doors.

GOING HOME: Please help your child know exactly where and how they will be going home each day (KOC or front of school), KOC or B/GC kids will meet at the tables.. We will walk to the front of school to wait for pickup. Students need to be safe and respectful after school while waiting for pick up. It is also very helpful for me to know your plans for your child. If you have a change in your plans and need to inform your child during the day, call the office or use Remind or Class Dojo.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: The following is a list of suggested items for each child:

Small Backpack (not rolling) Water bottle (with a pop-top lid only) Clipboard (letter size only)

**Students do not need a pencil box. We will share donated items and use them to supplement our needs this year.

I would appreciate any of the following donations for classroom use:

Dry Erase Markers-small tip and large tip Pencils Tissue boxes

Baby Wipes Small tip markers Ink cartridges (HP 61 black or color)

Healthy Snacks Colored pencils Colored cardstock Band aids

Let me do the shopping with gift cards to Costco, Target, Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Amazon,etc

Thank you for thinking of our class as you do your back-to-school shopping!

BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT: Wednesday, August 22nd from 5:15-6:30. This is a very important meeting, which is designated for adults only! Please be prompt and be aware that parking may be difficult! I find that the time goes by fast to convey so much and I may run over the allotted time! Sorry!

HOMEWORK: My homework philosophy is that you are the crucial component to your child’s success in first grade. Reading and real world and game experiences with math are the foundation of a solid year in first grade. Students should be reading daily. Working with adding numbers is important too. Additional activities may be sent home as applicable. Incomplete work may be sent home for completion.

SUPPORT CLASSES: The students at Double Peak experience the benefits of weekly music, art, and library classes. In addition, the students will attend Physical Education (PE) classes two times per week on Tuesdays and Fridays (with alternating Wed). Please have your child wear appropriate clothing and shoes on these days. We will be having Innovation, Makerspace, and Engineering sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, at the end of the day.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS: With the daily assistance of parents, our classroom is a dynamic learning environment. I encourage parents to participate as much as you are able! I would love to have at least one parent volunteer per morning Language Arts time. Volunteers may work with small groups, individual students, monitoring the class while I work with a small group, or completing preparation tasks. I am actively seeking a Sight Word Club Parent,, reading helpers, Room Parent, PTO Liason, class photographer, and technology troubleshooter. In addition, parent help at the end of the day during our Makerspace and Innovation blocks is very helpful.

I welcome helpers to assist with prep items whenever you can. Please sign up using the Parent Information Form, if you are able to help our students grow and learn this year. Thank you!

PAPERLESS SCHOOL INFO: We are paperless as much as possible! Communication from the school will be available online at www.doublepeak..org . I send home a monthly newsletter. I will continue to send home information as needed in hard copies, but will rely on emailing for weekly communication and updates! Please let me know if you do not have access to online emails. I will be using emails, Class Dojo, Shutterfly, and Remind to communicate with you.

Class Dojo sign in information will be sent home. Remind Code on next page.

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT: I believe in positive reinforcement, praise, and the use of appropriate consequences. I will share more info at Back-to-School night.

***WEDNESDAYS EARLY RELEASE DAY:EVERY WEDNESDAY SCHOOL ENDS AT 1:40

LUNCH is a 45-minute break each day at 10:15. Children play first for 25 minutes, then have 20 minutes to eat with their peers. Students may bring a sack lunch or purchase one from the cafeteria. Please consider setting up a cafeteria account and your child will be given a lunch card. Money for a lunch card account should be taken to the cafeteria in the morning. This is the easiest way to handle buying lunch!

FOOD: Please send a snack to school each day. My job is to train your child to acclimate their little bodies to a new time schedule. We will have a 20 minute recess each day at 12:45 and students may have a snack and drink at that time. They may be very hungry at this time! Snacks should be healthy food items and a drink. Please consider sending in extra healthy snacks (or food your family won’t eat!) to keep my cupboards stocked for snack emergencies. (Please let me know about any allergies!) We have a peanut free table in the lunch area.

This information should be kept handy for the rest of the school year. Please don’t hesitate to contact me regarding any part of your child’s education or life. I am your first line of communication!!! Come to me first regarding any concerns, problems, academic needs, behavioral issues, or other items. Please give me the professional courtesy of working with you to remedy a situation before contacting administration unless the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction. I am available at school by calling 760-290-2340 x 3837. During the hours your child is in school, you will reach my voicemail. I usually check my voicemail at lunchtime. Call the office directly for emergencies. I typically arrive at school 1/2 hour prior to the start of the school day and stay after school for up to 2 hours. I look forward to seeing you at Back-to-School Night to share more information with you. It is going to be a very rewarding year together. I can promise you that you will see tremendous growth in your child this year. Even better, I will provide evidence of their growth at the end of the year!

Here’s to a great year!!!

Thank you,

Nancy Danielson

Contact Info:

nancy.danielson@smusd.org

Room E137

Room Number: 760-290-2340 x3837

Office Number: 760-290-2340

Absence Line: 760-290-2349

REMIND: Text to number 81010 Text this message: @ab32fh

Class Schedule:

8:15-10:15 Language Arts Block

10:15-11:00 Lunch and Recess

11:00-12:05 Math

12:05-12:45 PE class on Mondays and Thursdays(Alternate Wednesdays)

12:15-12:45 Music class: Tuesdays and Fridays

12:451:05 Snack and Recess

1:05-1:50 Writing, Social Sciences, The Leader in Me

1:50-2:40 Innovation, Makerspace, and Engineering Block (Mondays,Tuesdays, Thurs)

2:40 Dismissal

Library: TBA

Art: TBA