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Absences: Please call the office if your child will be absent that day at 303-387-6725. In an effort to keep our children as healthy as possible, we ask that you keep your child home until he/she has been symptom-free for 24 hours (fever, vomiting, diarrhea). THANK YOU for your cooperation! Please don’t worry about any work your child missed while absent. For extensive amounts of days off, I will send home any missed work.
Arrival: School starts at 8:35 a.m. We have a soft start time so students may start arriving at school and come in as soon as 8:25 a.m., but the official bell is 8:35. Please try to have your child to school on time so we can start learning right away!
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Backpacks: Your child should bring their backpack to school every day. They will have things to bring home daily in their Star Binders.
Birthdays: Birthdays are VERY special in first grade! If your child would like to bring share with the class, please send them to school in the morning with your student or leave them at the office. Non-food items such as pencils, erasers, and note pads are great treats to bring. If you would like to send a food snack, please make sure that it is peanut-free. Due to allergies and time constraints, food treats need to be pre-packaged and individually wrapped. Please send in the same treat for everyone, and limit it to one snack or item per child. We suggest rice crispy treats, goldfish crackers, cookies (nut free), string cheese, and granola bars and other easy to pass out individually wrapped snacks. If your child has a summer birthday, we will celebrate it in May! If your child is having a birthday party please handle invitations during non-school hours to avoid hurt feelings and issues with communication.
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Conferences: You will have the opportunity to participate in two parent/teacher conferences during the school year. Of course, if any concerns arise, or you need to meet with me for whatever reason, I am happy to schedule a meeting.
4Cs: At Heritage we teach with the 4Cs in mind - Communication, Critical Thinking, Cooperation, and Communication. These 4Cs will be intertwined into the everyday curriculum.
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Dismissal: School will end at 3:30 each day. If you'll be picking your child up, please meet by the school's front doors (where we dismiss first graders.) If your child will be attending Base Camp, an announcement will be made for after school kiddos to be dismissed a few minutes before the bell so they can walk to the cafeteria. Bus students will also leave a few minutes early and will be escorted to the bus by an adult.
Discipline: We believe in using positive behavior support and praise as our main discipline tool. We strive to encourage good behavior! Students are encouraged to “fill each other’s buckets with kindness” and have restorative conversations to resolve conflicts with each other with me as a support. If needed, we will use a think sheet to work through the behavior and I will send a copy of this home. If there is a consistent issue, I will reach out to parents for support as well.
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E-mail: E-mail is the quickest and easiest way to contact me. I will respond as soon as possible to questions or concerns! My email is: eholcomb@dcsdk12.org
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Fine motor practice: Fine motor activities help develop hand muscles. Working with Play-Doh, using markers, crayons, pencils, pens, and scissors will strengthen your child’s hand muscles. Stronger hand muscles will help your child’s writing skills and encourage proper letter formation throughout the year.
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Homework: Read for 15 minutes a night. Have your child read to you and read to your child every day. Book bags and stories will be sent home once we begin reading groups. Please have your child practice reading this book for 2-3 nights and then return it to school on Wednesday and Friday for a new book. Practice math facts by playing math games at home.
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Independence: First grade is a big transition for children and families! We encourage the children to be as independent as possible. We are focusing on how to be kind, helpful and responsible! Walking into school and unpacking belongings is a great way for first graders to practice independence.
iPads: We are incredibly lucky here at Heritage because we have one-to-one devices for every child in the school. In first grade, every child will have his/her own iPad to use at school.
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Journals: The first graders will have a variety of journals to work on throughout the year. Writing journals will be composed of children’s writing on specific or free choice topics. We will be using these journals for writing, science, and math.
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Kind: Although academics are important, they are not the sole focus of our program. We aim to support and develop your child’s social, emotional, and physical development as well. We want your child to become the best first grader they can be!
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Label all of your child’s items: This includes jackets, backpacks, lunch boxes and water bottles (and in the winter -boots, mittens, and hats). This cuts down greatly on lost items! Also, check through the lost and found throughout the year for any missing items!
Library: We will visit the library as a class and students will be able to check out books to enjoy at home. I will share our library day with you soon!
Love: I promise to love your child and my hopes are that they will LOVE first grade, LOVE Heritage, and LOVE coming to school each and every day!
Lunch: Your child has a choice of bringing their lunch or buying lunch from school. There are always 2 hot lunch choices and you can view the lunch menu online on the Heritage website. Purchasing milk daily is also an option. You can put money into your child's lunch account on the My School Bucks site.
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Math: In first grade, students will be involved in our enVISION curriculum and concepts are covered daily. Encourage your child to explain what they are learning in math throughout the week. You can always expand your child’s math knowledge by using everyday objects to count, add, and subtract.
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Newsletter: A weekly newsletter will be emailed to you every week (sometimes it will be skipped or combined during a short week.) Be sure to read it for important updates, topics of study, and other special news.
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Outdoors: Recess is outdoors everyday the windchill is above 21F. If the weather is rainy or too cold, children will have indoor recess. Please send weather appropriate clothing suitable for outdoor play, as the weather and temperature can change during the day. While the weather is still hot, please put sunscreen on your child at home. Extra layers that can be added or taken off are very helpful for morning to afternoon transitions.
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Parent Portal: You should have received instructions when you registered on how to set up your Parent Portal account online. If you cannot figure it out, please contact the front office. You will access field trip payments, progress reports and lunch balances all on Parent Portal so please get it set up soon. Thank you!
Partners: We are partners in your child’s education, well being, and success. I value your collaboration!
Picture Day: Smile!!! School pictures will be taken on Monday, August 28th!
Phone Calls: During the school day, I am actively engaged with students and will not be able to answer my phone. Phone calls interrupt the education time throughout the day so I will return calls within 48 hours. PLEASE call the office regarding changes in how your child will get home and other important matters. They will pass the message along.
Progress Reports: These will be sent home twice per year - in December and in May.
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Questions: Please don’t hesitate with questions or concerns! Feel free to write me a note and send it inside your child’s folder, email me, or give me a call!
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Reading: We will establish and expand reading skills in first grade! Please read with your child every day. Also, allow your child to read to you! In first grade, we have three ways to read: read the words, read the pictures, or retell the story. All these forms of reading help your child develop reading skills and an excitement for reading! Give your child a few seconds to decode and unknown word, then tell them the word. They may not have learned that part of the "code" yet and enjoyment of reading is the focus at home. Encourage any and all reading your child may do! This year, we will use the Wonders Curriculum for literacy.
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Star Binders: Star Binders will be sent home everyday shortly after the start of the school year and should be brought back to school each day. I will primarily include homework and books to read, but at times I may be sending home notes from the office or me as well as finished work. Please help your child check his or her Star Binder each day after school for homework and remind him or her to put it back in the backpack before the next school day.
Specials: Every day from 2:35-3:15 your child will participate in "Specials" which consist of Art, Music, PE. During the PE rotation, your child will need to wear tennis shoes to school.
Science and Social Studies: We integrate our science and social studies instruction within our day. We will be exploring a variety of topics throughout the year!
Snacks: We will have a snack each day during our afternoon recess so please send your child with a ready to eat healthy snack everyday. PLEASE do not put the snacks in your child's lunch box. Just put them right into his/her backpack. Healthy snacks could be fruit, vegetables, pretzels, cheese sticks, etc.
Shoe Tying: Please work on shoe tying with your child. This is an important skill for developing independence.
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Technology: We will be using technology in various forms this year to extend and share our learning.
Thinking Maps: Heritage will continue using Thinking Maps. Please view the following link to learn more about it! What are Thinking Maps?
Transportation: It is very important that we safely get your child to their proper form of transportation each day! In order to keep everyone updated on how your child will get home, please let me know your child's schedule on how they are to get home each day. If there is a change in the way your child will be getting home, call the office and they can get the message to me. Unless we hear otherwise from a parent/guardian, your child will be sent home the way that’s normal for him/her on any given day!
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Unique: Each child comes to us with gifts and needs that are unique to him/her. We rejoice in each child’s uniqueness and will do our best to teach him/her according to his/her individual needs. We strive to differentiate our teaching so that each child can be the best first grader he/she can be!
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Volunteers: There will be many opportunities for parents to assist us this year. Volunteers are greatly appreciated throughout the year to keep our classroom running smoothly. Be sure to check your email, as I'll be setting up a volunteer schedule in the weeks to come.
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Water Bottles: Please send your child with a reusable water bottle each day. This water bottle should contain water only, close securely, and be labeled with your child's name.
Web Page: The school website is a great place to keep updated with current school events.
Writing: First graders are beginning to learn so many new things and writing is one of them! Your child’s writing will develop tremendously throughout the year. As a first grader we will be working on letter formation and writing in complete sentences. Encourage your child to write about what they draw at home. If you don’t know what it says, you can ask your child, “Can you read this to me?” or “Wow! Tell me what you are writing about. That looks interesting!” These are ways to encourage your child to excitedly continue writing! We use Write From The Beginning for our writing program.
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“X-tra” Time: First grade students are notorious for learning at different speeds. Some might come in not knowing a single letter or sound while others may already be reading. Because of this, I will take each child from where he/she is and teach accordingly. In other words, if a child doesn't know letters and sounds, we'll start there. If a child can read, we will move on from where they are. There's no sense in boring children - or teaching over their heads. Some just need "x-tra" time...
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YOU!: YOU are imperative in your child’s learning!
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Zippers: Something else your child can work on at home - zipping jackets!
Z-z-z-zs: Please make sure your first grader gets a good night’s sleep and has a good breakfast before coming to school! This will help your child have the best day possible!