We are very excited to welcome our students back for the new school year! Here is some general information that will ensure a great year.
Attendance
It’s extremely important for your student to be On Time, Ready to Learn. We start our day at 8am each morning. Students begin school with a community circle which settles them into their day and then we’ll jump right into academics. In the event that your student needs to miss school for any reason, please contact the Peninsula office at (503) 916-6275 to let us know.
Birthdays
We will have one special (and BIG) Birthday Party on Day of the Child (Dia de los Niños). Students will be involved in planning and preparing for this special event. More information will be posted on this website as we get closer to the date. On your child’s birthday they will be acknowledged and may bring a special book from home (or choose a favorite classroom book) to share during the Read Aloud. Please save treats and special celebrations for after school events.
Classroom Celebrations
We will be celebrating our success in many different ways including: end of unit parties, field trips and other academic and milestone celebrations. Please let us know if you would like to be involved in planning classroom celebrations.
Classroom Expectations
We strongly believe that each student must be ensured the right to learn in a welcoming, calm, safe and supportive environment. Students have the right to a classroom where academic learning and community are at the heart of daily activity. We will start the year with these two Expectations/Rules to provide a foundation for our community:
Windy's Classroom Expectations:
Take Care of Each Other
Start Anywhere
Pay Attention
Make Mistakes Please
Pay Attention
Mandy's Classroom Expectations:
Take Care of Each Other
Start Anywhere
We also believe that student voice is an integral part of building a strong community and plan to work collaboratively with students to add an additional 2-3 expectations. These will be communicated with you as they are developed by our communities.
Students will use our The Daily Bird Chart (Birding will be a theme throughout the year) to hold themselves accountable for appropriate school behavior. Students will strive to earn 5 birds throughout the day.
If students earn:
5 birds: Awesome day - Way to go Rockin' Robin!
4 birds: Mistakes happen, no big deal. This is a good opportunity to remember school and class expectations and work extra hard to meet them.
3 birds: 5 minutes of structured recess
2 birds: full structured recess
0-1 birds: Structured recess & parents will be notified via email. A discipline referral may be written.
Structured Recess: This will be flexible and designed for each student and situation. It will often include guided problem solving with opportunities to repair harm. If needed, a student might be given 2 choices for games or activities that keep our students safe and active. For instance, if a child crossed off a bird because they were running in the classroom or hall, we want to make sure they run a lot outside at recess where it's safe and appropriate. Our goal is for students to be accountable to our community as well as have a voice in finding solutions to keep our community safe and build trust. All IEP/504s will be followed.
This chart will be sent home at the end of each week in Friday Folders for you to review. Please celebrate your students' successes at home!
Calming Moment/Calming Corner
Students will be taught how to take a quick break at their seat or in a special calming corner in the classroom and use mindfulness strategies to reset their body and brain to get back to learning. Students can request these breaks or the teacher might suggest one if it looks like it might be helpful.
Communication
We believe that school is a partnership between the teacher, families and students. As a member of this partnership, we will be communicating with your family regularly regarding classroom academics & events, your child’s progress, learning opportunities and classroom needs.
To facilitate communication, we will use:
Friday Folders
ParentSquare
Third Grade Website
The 3rd Grade Website will be updated regularly and will function as a weekly newsletter. We'll send out a ParentSquare message letting you know when it is updated. You might consider downloading the Parent Square App and bookmarking the website.
Each Friday, we will send home your child’s Friday Folder. This folder will contain graded work and school communications. Please remove and look over work and handouts with your student. If anything needs to be returned to school (permission slips & such), please tuck it back inside. Send this folder back to school on Monday morning. We will collect and refill them throughout the week.
If you would like to check in or schedule a conference, you can reach us via email, text (ParentSquare) or phone. See below for contact information.
Donations
If you are able to donate to our classroom, these are always welcome items:
Lysol wipes
Ticonderoga Pencils or Unpainted Pencils
Expo dry erase markers (black, chisel tip)
Black oil sunflower seeds and suet
Gallon and pint sized Ziplock bags
Classroom Snacks (see below)
Lone sock? We'll use it for our dry erase boards (please wash prior to donation)
Electronics and Toys
The district policy regarding personal electronics (smart phones & watches) and toys is that students should leave these items at home. Students that need to communicate with parents can use the school phone as appropriate. If you have individual needs please make arrangements, please contact the school.
Go Home Plans
At the beginning of the year, let us know how you would like your child to get home by filling out this Google form for Windy's Class or Mandy's Class. If your child is being picked up by someone other than legal guardians (play date with another Peninsula Student or family/friend pick up), please ensure both teacher and office have been notified: (503) 916-6275. Unless otherwise notified by you through a note, a phone call or an email (in advance), we will always follow the go home plan you have established.
If you need to make a last minute change the day of, please notify the office. They will make sure we know about the change.
Grading
4 = Exceeds, everything or nearly everything correct
3 = meets current grade level expectations, a few mistakes but close to mastery
2 = close to meeting grade level standards, mistakes are present, but making progress toward mastery
1 = unfinished, little effort or many mistakes, not meeting expectations yet.
If you see a ✔ next to a problem, that problem had a mistake and needs to be checked.
If you notice a grading mistake, feel free to let us know. We always try to do my best, but teachers make mistakes too.
Homework
Read daily (20 - 30 minutes, but adjust for your child and schedule)
Practice Math Facts (5-10 minutes daily)
Other Options:
Typing Practice (TypingPal is a great web based app)
Family Games
We regularly send home math sheets from our workbooks. Any unfinished problems can be used as extra practice at home.
We may send home unfinished work or project based work on occasion, but in general students will not have specific worksheets or assignments to complete at home. We will communicate any changes to this policy if needed.
Homework for Parents:
In an effort to get to know your child better, we would appreciate it if you could take the time to write a letter about your child. Please include your child’s strengths and interests, areas you want special attention paid to, and perhaps something special about your child. Email your letter to your teacher: Mandy Carrigg acarrigg@pps.net or Windy Ford wford@pps.net. (This will also ensure that we have your correct email address for our newsletter and other communication).
Panther Paws
At Peninsula, one way we recognize students is with Panther Paws. These tickets are given when we notice students demonstrating our school and classroom values. Students can choose to bring Panther Paws home or collect them at school. Be on the lookout for these tickets and give your child lots of extra positive reinforcement when they come home.
Parent Teacher Conference
Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Monday, 11/24/25 and Tuesday, 11/25/25. Please email or text your to let me know the best date and time of day for you (morning, afternoon, or evening).
Snack
You are welcome to send your child to school with a healthy snack. Great snack options include: fruits or veggies, animal crackers, pretzels, granola bars or trail mix. Please label snack containers with your student’s name. Students may eat their snack during morning recess.
If you are able to donate any healthy snacks for the whole class, these donations are always GREATLY appreciated!
Teacher Contact Information
Mandy Carrigg
(503) 916-6275
Text via the ParentSquare app
Email: acarrigg@pps.net
Windy Ford
(503) 916-6275
Text via the ParentSquare App
Email: wford@pps.net
Volunteering
There are lots of possible ways to help our classroom community. Here are a few ideas:
Classroom Caretaker
Helping with classroom prep
Chaperoning on Field Trips
If there is any chance you’ll want to volunteer and/or chaperoning field trips this year, you MUST have a PPS background check on file. We highly recommend completing one early in the year, even if you are not sure about volunteering. They can take up to 2 weeks to be approved. (We have had situations where parents wanted to volunteer, but couldn’t because they didn’t have a background check on file.) To complete a background check go to: https://www.pps.net/volunteer
Water Bottles
Please send your students to school with a water bottle full of fresh water daily (metal or plastic is best, please avoid glass). Please clearly label your student’s water bottle with their first and last name. Water bottles will be sent home with students each night to be cleaned and refilled.