Classroom News for N-13

Aug 18, 2023 Update:

Welcome to first grade at Grant K-8!    I am looking forward to a wonderful school year! 

My name is Michelle Harris and I am your child's teacher!   This is my 20th year of teaching, mostly here at Grant in 1st, with a couple years in K or K/1.

First grade is a paramount year in education and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to guide your child through a year of learning and growth!  

Nuts and Bolts:

Your child should enter campus at the Chatio gate(small upper parking lot), near the office building.   They will need to find our line up area on the blacktop to line up there each morning.  Parents will be allowed on campus at drop off and may walk their child to line up if they choose.  However, parents are then excused once teachers arrive at line up and take the class back to the room to start the day.  We will nicely say our good byes to you at the line up area as we head off to class.

If your child is eating a school breakfast, they will need to promptly go to the cafeteria for breakfast and eat. After that, they can go to line up.  If they want to grab the breakfast food and save it for morning recess, they may do that as well.  It will stay in their backpack until recess.

At dismissal, families are not allowed on campus and your child will exit the gate by our classroom at the end of the day.  This gate is located near the lower parking lot and the bus zone.  I will be carrying a yellow sign with my name on it so it will be easier to find us if you are picking up.  I ask that your child identify you to me before they leave.  I don't know many of your faces and want the child to be confident with whom they are leaving.

All school supplies are provided.  Whatever crayons, pencil boxes, and the like that you have purchased need to stay home.  There will be a daily Take Home Folder(starting at some point during week 1) for any papers that come home on a daily basis, whether they are from class or school/district papers.  Please empty the folder each day.  I do not go through your child's backpack so anytime there are forms that need to come back, I will ask the students for them and it is their job to get them out and hand them in.  If I email asking for them and you swear you've done them, let me know, and I will have the child check their bags in front of me.  Regular sized backpacks are preferred as folders tend not to fit in the small ones.

Your child WILL NEED a water bottle EVERYDAY.  There are NO drinking fountains on campus but there are refill stations for water bottles.  The kids will place their water bottles on the table outside the door and anytime they are thirsty, and I'm not directly teaching, they can access their water.  Please write their name on it in case it gets lost, or we have duplicates.

Backpacks and lunch boxes will remain outside on the hooks and shelves during the day, unless it is raining.  Please make sure their name is on their lunch box in case it gets lost or we have duplicates.  If your child is getting a school lunch, which there are no fees for lunches this year, I will show them where to go.  Our class will be sitting together for lunch to help maintain stable cohorts but will have free choice for play.

Please dress your child for the day.  I can't control the temperature in the classroom too much right now due to the regulations of leaving windows and door open when possible to help with air flow.  The system is in override mode to run even with them open.  I am not allowed to use any extra fans at this time either.  Dress for summer if it's going to be hot and make sure your child has water.  If it's cold and wet, have them dress accordingly, especially those who will have seats by the door.  It's always cooler there.  Also, a gentle reminder that children should be wearing tennis shoes/close toed shoes for school and not Crocs/flip fops/etc.  Please help your children learn to tie their shoes.  I don't do this past September.

Google Form:  https://forms.gle/yRScqmCAqDFsP8MG6

Please make sure to fill in the google form that was sent out with the class announcement so that I can create an email list for myself and so that I know where your child is going at the end of each day.  I would also like to provide families with a class directory if possible. If you've already filled it in, thank you. 

Grant Tk-8 Information Packet:  Coming home this week will be a yellow enevelope from the school with all sorts of forms that need to be filled out and returned.  Please return them by Monday, August 28.  The specific information for the forms is included on the envelope however I want to point out one of the forms as it is often missed.  The Signature Page Universal Form from Facts for Parents booklet is page 26 in the booklet.  It needs to be torn out, signed, and returned.  The optional Pesticide form is also in this booklet.

Class Dojo:  I use this app as a way to provide students with positive feedback as well as feedback on areas they could make better choices.  You can track their points by logging in at the link provided.  https://www.classdojo.com/ul/p/addKid?target=class&class=CNTXRWX

Wish List:  https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/T7L3BUQC8R8L?ref_=wl_share

There are a lot of books on the list, many for SEL lessons, and some for fun that tie in with our units during shared reading.  In between the books are a few other items for brain engagement, prize box, and tools to make games for word study lessons

If you need to reach me, my preferred email is mcharris4@gmail.com but I will respond to the district one as well at mharris2@sandi.net.  Their will be a weekly email that will come from my gmail account.

I think that is it for now.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I'll see your child this week. 

~Ms. Harris