Back To School

Arrival & Attendance

The first bell rings at 7:30 every morning. At this time, students are allowed into the building and may go to class.  The tardy bell rings at 8:00. This is the official start to our instructional day. If your child arrives after 8:00, please check in at the office for a tardy slip. Students should be unpacked and settled before 8:00.  Breakfast is served from 7:30-7:50; arrive early if your child will be eating breakfast at school.

Excused absences are the following: student sickness, student doctor appointments, death in the family, court appointment, or a bus issue.  All other absences are unexcused.  If a child is on vacation, the absence is unexcused. If your child has an unexcused absence or an unexcused tardy, you will receive an automated phone call. 

• Notes for excused absences will only be taken online.  To report an absence please go to the Dilworth Website and click the tab on the right side of the page:  Report an absence.  This will send an electronic note to our registrars.  If you have a physical note from the doctor you need to attach it electronically on the absence form.  Phone calls or emails to the teacher will not excuse the absence.

Birthday Treats

To ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all of our students, including those with dietary restrictions, only food that is pre-packaged and has attached labels are permitted to be brought in for classroom treats.  These items must also be free of any nuts, including peanuts and tree nuts.  A list of school approved snacks is located at www.snacksafely.com.   Popular classroom treats in the past have been store bought cupcakes, donuts, and packaged items.  Please notify me ahead of time if you plan on bringing in classroom treats to celebrate a birthday.  All birthday celebrations will be done during our lunchtime block.  

Cafeteria & Lunch Visitors

Students are able to pay for lunch with check, cash, or online using www.paypams.com. 

Lunch visitors are always encouraged to come during your child's assigned lunch time.  Visitors may sit with their child only at the tables outside of the cafeteria by the fish pond or in the courtyard.  While eating outside, please be mindful of your volume to respect the learning of classrooms surrounding the courtyard. 

Communication 

The take-home folder will be used as the first grade communication folder. This folder will contain a monthly calendar of events that are happening during the month as well as our academic focus. Please check this folder daily.

Dragon Houses

The Dragon Houses were created in 2009 when Dilworth Elementary was re-established as a neighborhood school.  There are four dragon houses:  Denim Blue Drakes, Hunter Green Hydras, Lemon-Lime Lindorms, and Orange Ouroboros.  When new students and teachers come to Dilworth, they are inducted into a dragon house by selecting a colored stone from a velvet bag without looking.  Each person's dragon house is a surprise!

Within each dragon house students are paired with reading buddies from other grade levels.  This partnership gives each student in the school an opportunity to meet new friends, establish lasting relationships, and build character together.  The dragon house teachers are responsible for supporting and encouraging good buddy reading practices and facilitating an understanding of the character education traits twice a month.  

Dragon Dollars are given to students for exhibiting "On F.I.R.E." behavior and strong character.  Each house collects the dragon dollars quarterly.  The dragon house earning the most dragon dollars is the keeper of the coveted Dragon House Trophy until the next quarter.  At the end of the year, the trophy goes to the dragon house that earns the most dragon dollars for the entire year!

Review this presentation to learn more about the Dragon Houses. 

Homework

This year, first grade homework will consist of reading for 20 minutes every night and recording it on the provided reading log. Teachers may send home sight words or fluency passages weekly after Curriculum Night.

PTA

If you haven't done so already, please consider joining and donating to the Dilworth PTA. The Dilworth PTA sponsors the Children's Theater field trip, our SPARK t-shirts, and many other important committees that keep our school running. We are very grateful for the support of our PTA. Whether it is donating your time or money, please check out the PTA website at www.dilworthpta.org to see how you can volunteer.

School Wide Behavior Plan

Dilworth Dragons have high expectations throughout the school day. "On F.I.R.E." behavior creates a nurturing school atmosphere where students are able to be challenged, make mistakes, and succeed!

F- being FAIR

I-showing INTEGRITY 

R- showing RESPECT & being RESPONSIBLE

E- being EXCEPTIONAL

Please see this link for the Dilworth First Grade Behavior Matrix.

Snack

Students will eat a snack mid-morning. Parents may provide a nut-free, healthy snack for your child each day; children that do not bring a snack will be given Goldfish. Parents will be asked to donate nut-free snacks as needed.

Testing

I-Ready and DIBELS

I-Ready is the new universal screener for math this year. More information to come.

Students will also be assessed using DIBELs phonics, running records, end of unit tests, and on-going observations and notes.

Transportation

If there are any changes to your child’s transportation, please send a note in the front clear pocket of the take home folder.  If you need to make a last-minute change, you must complete the online form to communicate a transportation change to the office. This form must be filled out before 2pm; there are no guarantees until the office confirms this with you. We DO NOT accept emails or texts to the teacher to communicate transportation changes. Thank you for your understanding and patience!

School Number: 980-343-2240

Volunteers 

We are excited to have you as a member of our class community! There will be opportunities to volunteer during the school year. Whether you will be a frequent visitor or not, you must sign up through CMS to be a registered volunteer. Click here to register!