General School and Classroom Info

School Hours, 8:15 - 3:10 (Monday through Friday)

While the school day doesn't start until 8:15, students will be let into the building beginning at 8:05 for breakfast. An outdoor supervisor will be present on the playground beginning at 7:50. On days with bad weather, students enter school but remain in front of their lockers until breakfast begins at 8:05.

Drop-off and Pickup

Student drop-off and pickup can be done from the parking lot, Pershing Ave, or in the bus circle on Pershing Ave. Remember that drop-off should be before 8:15. Please note that pickup is different for 1st grade and up! Students wait in the classroom until 3:10 rather than near the front doors as your child did in Kindergarten. There are 4 options for students leaving at the end of the day.

1. Drive into the bus circle pickup - This generally begins around 3:10 as student names begin to be called by walkie talkie and the walkers begin lining up in the hallway. Walkers are students being picked up in the parking lot or on Pershing Ave. A sign with your child's name on it should be held up for a staff member to see. This staff member will use a walkie talkie to call names to all classrooms. Please move up in the single car line rather than passing other cars. If you will arrive after 3:25, please contact the office.

2. Walkers - This refers to students walking out to either Pershing Ave or the parking lot. Beginning around 3:10, walkers line up in the hall. A staff member walks the students out. You need to communicate with your child if you will pick them up in the parking lot or on Pershing Ave. Parents choose this option to try and avoid the long pickup line.

3. Pigeon River Rec Department - You will need to contact the rec department and sign your child up for after-school childcare. Students going to the rec department will be met by an adult and escorted to the building off 21st ave.

4. Tripper bus - Students using this option will be taking a city bus specifically for SASD students. The bus usually arrives at Étude Elementary between 3:40 and 4pm. Contact Tammy in the office for more info on this option.

Breakfast

Breakfast will be eaten in the classroom starting at 8:05 prior to school and ends promptly by 8:25. If you know your child is eating breakfast,  drop them off early to make sure they have enough time to eat.

Breakfast is provided for free to all students that request it. Don't be afraid to take advantage of this! Sometimes students are confused and might take breakfast against the wishes of their parents. Communicate clearly with your child and myself whether they should be taking breakfast or not. 

My Work Hours

I typically am at school half an hour before and after the school day (7:30 - 4:00). During these times is when I am able to respond to emails. If you email me while I have students, I can't guarantee that I will see it. If you need to give me important information about a child's appointment or pickup info, either contact the school office or send a note with your child.

Materials Needed by Each 1st Grader

Shared items do not need to be labeled with your child's name. All other items will benefit from being labeled.

• 24 Pencils, sharpened (yellow #2) (shared)

• 4 Large sized Glue Sticks OR  8 small (shared)

• 1 Bottle White Elmer’s Glue (shared)

• 2 Boxes of Tissues (shared)

• 2 Pink Erasers

• Scissors 

• Walkman Style Headphones (Please do not send headphones that need charging or are bluetooth, and no earbuds)

• 2 Packages of Colored Pencils

• 1 Pencil sharpener with Shavings Catcher

• 3 Dry Erase Markers Skinny Style

• 1 Pocket Folder

• 2 Three-ring Binders (1 inch)

• Paint shirt (old t-shirt works best) 

• Gym Shoes/Indoor Shoes

• Refillable Water Bottle, no-spill

• 1 Package Antibacterial cleaning wipes

• 1 Pack of post-its

• Pencil Box

Water Bottles

It is important for your child to have a reusable water bottle at school to stay hydrated and also to reduce how much they leave the classroom. I encourage students to take them home each Friday to keep them clean.

Treats or Party Invitations

Birthday treats are fine to bring in and may be prepackaged or homemade. There are 19 students in the class. If birthday party invitations are brought in to school, there must be enough for each student in the class so as to not exclude others.

Allergies

Please be cautious of any allergies we have in our class. Current allergies include: 

Specials

Students will attend library, gym, music, art, rug routines, and movement classes this year.

1st grade units

The school year is split up into 3 trimesters with each trimester bringing a new topic or essential question. In first grade, our units are the following:

• 1st trimester (September - November), Why do we need to understand that the Earth is unique?

• 2nd trimester (December - March), How does the human body work?

• 3rd trimester (March - June), What is important about my community?

Classroom Wishlist

Follow this link to an Amazon wishlist which includes items to purchase for use in the classroom!

EOL's

Exhibitions of Learning are a massive part of what makes Étude special and meaningful. They occur at the end of each trimester (late November/ early March/ late May). These events are typically the climax of a trimester and involve each class presenting for an audience. Students present their project work as well as their music, art, and movement pieces. Families and community members are encouraged to attend and support students.

POL's

Presentations of Learning happen about a week after the EoL. These serve as a "conference" between teacher, student, and family with only said parties in attendance. Students lead this presentation by sharing information they have learned throughout the trimester as well as how they have grown or struggled. The teacher and parents show their support of the student by asking open-ended questions to aid in reflection. This event gives students a higher purpose for their learning at school and teaches them responsibility along with vital presentation skills.

Home Learning

At this age, home learning for a 1st grader requires your assistance. You will be asked weekly to guide your child in different activities outside of school which will strengthen their grasp on what we learn inside of school. It is best to add it into a set routine such as right when you get home from school or immediately following dinner. 

When these activities come your way, I ask that you set time aside to be present with your child and support them. These interactions could even be as small as taking a few minutes to complete a math page. This might seem minuscule but the impact is monstrous. The simple act of sitting down with your child shows them you care. This teaches them that learning is a priority. It can be easy to put off with how busy your schedule might get but a few minutes of your undivided attention is truly a gift.

There are 3 general types of home learning you will experience in 1st grade:

1. A red math journal will be sent home about every other week for math practice. This Home Connections journal is part of the Bridges Math series that students interact with daily at school. I provide detailed instructions of how to guide your child in completing the pages and using correct math vocabulary.

2. Reading practice should be happening regularly! I recommend reading to or with your child for at least 10 minutes a day. The Mead Public Library is an incredible free resource if you aren't already using it. Any extra activities will be sent home in the form of home practice sheets or decodable books.

3. The other home learning sent home will be related to our units. These activities vary in subject from writing information about your family to finding a planet in the night sky. These will be infrequent, and I will email you when one of these project-based activities is being sent home.

Responsive Classroom

At Étude Elementary, we use a classroom management program by the name of Responsive Classroom. This program is very much aligned with our schools beliefs as it is based around building community within our classroom and school. Daily morning meetings involve sharing and listening to make student connections as well as waking up our bodies and brains for a successful school day.  Another huge aspect of responsive classroom is giving students a voice. As a teacher, I become more of a mediator than "the one in charge" during class discussions. Students will work together to create expectations for our classroom and other areas of the school. This student voice and choice helps students develop responsibility for themselves and their actions.

The take a break area in our classroom is of course used for students who need to take a breather. This area is a crucial part of responsive classroom as it gives students a place to relax and calm down when needed. Taking a break doesn't always mean a child has been naughty. Students are welcome to walk over to this area if they are feeling strong emotions or out of control. We talk as a class about recognizing feelings within ourselves and using strategies to calm down or focus. There will be times when I recognize this within a student and tell them to take a break.

Buddy teachers are used in the circumstance that a student refuses to take a break in the classroom. A predetermined teacher will be notified, come to our classroom, and take the student to their classroom for a break. If a student refuses to go with this buddy teacher, the principal will then be notified and take the student to the office for a break. The student will be required to make reparations and problem solve steps to take in the future to avoid this situation.