Email: mdelasierra@dentonisd.org
Phone: 940-369-3729
Conference Period: 10:20-11:05
Hello and welcome to our new 1st grade family! Although this year may be different from what we are used to, it is still going to be filled with fun, adventure, and tons of new learning!
I grew up in Lewisville, Texas and graduated from the Texas Woman's University with a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies (elementary education). This will be my nineteenth year of teaching, and my eighteenth year of teaching 1st grade. I taught one year of 2nd grade.
I am married to my high school sweetheart Adolfo "Fo" and have two beautiful daughters. Jessica (23) just graduated from UNT in May of this year and has her "adult job". Alyssa (20) is in Esthetician school and will graduate this fall.
As a teacher, I hope to help prepare my students to be global citizens and create a lifelong love of learning. I can't wait to work with and grow along with each one of you throughout the school year and see what adventures this year takes us on!
Colors: Green and Pink
Drinks: Unsweet Tea, Coke, HTeaO
Food: Chick Fil A, Canes, Whataburger
Snacks: York Peppermint Patties,
Stores: Amazon and Target
Loves: Reading, Sports (Rangers and Cowboys), Music, Movies
This is a list of different things that we are always in need of in the classroom. Nothing has to be from Amazon, but feel free to use if you are willing and able to support. Thanks!
According to Denton ISD policy parents must sign in to escort their child to their classroom. You will need your ID in order to sign in. Parents will be able to walk their child in for the first 2 days.
You are welcome to individually wrapped treats to celebrate your child’s birthday. We will do birthday celebrations at our 2nd recess. Due to district security regulations, parents are not allowed to attend birthday celebrations.
If you choose to send invitations to be passed out at school, please send one for every student in the class.
If you are interested in volunteering, please let me know. There are many ways to volunteer: working with students, at home projects, class parties and field trips. In order to volunteer, you must fill out a background check on the Denton ISD website every year.
Email is my primary way of communicating. I will send out emails in a timely manner so that you are aware of everything that is going on. Please feel free to email me as needed and I will respond within 24 hours (unless on a weekend or holiday). You can also call if you have anything you need to discuss with me.
We will meet at the beginning of the year at the end of September/beginning of October. If you have any concerns, you would like to discuss we can meet before then or any time after that. It is very important that we work together to help your child succeed. Check out my conference request form to schedule a conference whenever you need.
We will have two recesses each day.
11:05-11:35 Playground
2:20-2:50- STEM Play
During the 2nd semester, the second recess will be up to the teachers’ discretion.
For students to get the most out of their schooling experience, they must attend on a regular basis. Students with excessive absences or tardies (see school handbook) will be referred to truancy court. If a student is absent, they must turn a note in to the office within 2 school days or email https://forms.dentonisd.org/Forms/absence-note to be excused. Please see school handbook for excused absences. The tardy bell will ring at 7:40. Students who arrive after that time, will need to report to the office for a tardy slip. If your child is late or leaves early, it is considered “loss of instructional time” and can also count towards absences.
Starting Monday 8/29, please feel free to come have lunch with your student. Our lunch time is from 12:35-1:05. You can meet your student in the cafeteria and eat in the commons area right outside the cafeteria. Due to safety reasons, you are only allowed to eat lunch with your student. Students are not allowed to invite a friend to eat with them.
This year we will be using SeeSaw to share student work and pictures throughout the school year.
You may already have a parent account associated with your child from last year, but if not, send me an email so I can get you the invite.
Your child will be asked to read from their book bag every night. As students progress through reading, they may be asked to respond to their reading through writing. Please take care of the books that are sent home as each one cost $8.
Occasionally there will be “at home” projects that are connected to our Units of Inquiry. These projects should reflect student work.
Since our lunch is a bit later in the day, we will have an optional snack time for students around 9:30 each day.
We will be snacking as we learn so please be conscious of the snacks your child brings. They should be easy to open, quick to eat, and healthy.
Examples of great classroom snacks:
Fruit
Cheese
Crackers
Applesauce pouch
Cut up vegetables
Granola bars
Pretzels
Veggie Sticks
Plain popcorn
Schedule coming soon!!!!
Your child will be attending Specials on a rotating schedule where all of the 1st grade classes are mixed together.
It is very important that your child wear appropriate PE shoes everyday until they can remember their specific PE days.
Walkers are to be picked up in front of the school at the doors close to the 1st grade hallway.
1st graders will stay with the teacher at the entryway. They will not be allowed to leave this area until they have been picked up by an authorized parent or guardian.
The parent/guardian will walk up to the door, the student will say goodbye to their teacher, and then they may leave.
Parents must either be walking from their home or parked on one of the neighborhood streets and walk up to the school to pick up their child as a walker.
Please do not park in or drive through the school parking lot to pick up your child as a walker as this creates more traffic and unsafe conditions.
Car riders are to be picked up through the circle drive at the back of the school.
Parents must have their car tag number hanging from their mirror.
Please help your child memorize their number.
Bus riders will go home on the yellow school buses.
Please help your child memorize their bus number.
Students who attend an after school daycare program that provides transportation.
Please remember to inform your daycare provider if your student is absent or picked up early from school.
Students who attend the Extended School Day program at Newton Rayzor.
For more information, visit the DISD website or call 940-369-0080.