I am so excited to be your child's first grade teacher this year.
My name is Christine Lynch. This is my eleventh year teaching first grade. I received my Bachelor of Science in Business Economics and Master Degree in Elementary Education from Southern Connecticut State University. I live in Milford with my husband, three children, and dog named Coco. Each year is full of rewarding experiences as I get to help your child learn and grow. I am hopeful that this year will be a rewarding one for all of us as we work together to provide enriching experiences for your children.
The month of September is a time for adjustment. The children will be working on learning the classroom rules, routines and expectations. It takes a while to become acclimated to a new room, new teacher, and a new routine. We want school to be fun and we want your child to feel safe and comfortable.
In order to make an easier transition for the children, parents, and myself, I offer the following procedures to you:
1. Label all personal items (backpacks, lunchboxes, coats/sweaters/sweatshirts, etc ) with first and last names.
2. I have provided a folder for each child as a means of communication. Please check it every day and return it back to school emptied.
3. When sending in money, please have your child's name on it and label it with what it is for.
4. Breakfast/Snack/Lunch: Breakfast and lunch is provided free of charge to all students at Stratford Academy. If you do not want your child to get breakfast in school, please send me a note. Otherwise, I will allow them to get breakfast if they ask. We will have a snack every day. I encourage students to bring healthy foods to eat. Please do not send in any glass bottles, candy, or soda. All foods MUST be NUT FREE.
Students can order a free lunch from the cafeteria or bring a lunch from home. There will be a hot and cold lunch choice.; in addition to a bagel/pretzel. Lunch orders are placed first thing in the morning, so please make sure your child knows what they will be having prior to arriving to school.
5. Masks are optional.
6. Arrival and Dismissal: Students will enter the school through the front doors. I will be in the hallway waiting for them and staff members will be directing them. Each student will be given a dismissal tag that will be attached to their backpack showing the way they will be getting home (bus, walker, car, YMCA). Please keep this attached to your child's backpack every day throughout the year. This helps teachers know which dismissal line your child needs to be in.
School begins at 8:45. Front doors open at 8:30. Students can arrive between 8:30-8:45. Students who arrive after 8:45 are considered tardy and must report to the office to get a tardy slip before coming to class.
Dismissal is at 3:15. Walkers will be dismissed at the doors near the music room. Students going home by car will be standing at a designated colored cone in the car loop. A teacher will be with them.
Please have your Bobcat badge with you every day at dismissal. This is for the safety of your child/children. If you forget your Bobcat badge, you will be asked to show your identification. This is school policy and for the safety of all children.
I will need to be notified of any changes in your child's dismissal. The best way to do this is by calling the main office OR sending in a note. Do not send an email. I might not have a chance to check my email before the end of the day. If I am not notified by a phone call or note, you child will be put in their regular line for dismissal.
Please remember that the arrival and dismissal procedures are in place for the safety and well being of your child.
7. Communication: I send home newsletters stating what we have learned; in addition to, the list of sight words your child is learning. If you need to contact me, the best way is to send in a note in your child's folder. Otherwise you can call the main office and leave a message. I will return your call at my earliest convenience. My email is lynchc@stratk12.org.
8. Water bottles can also be brought in to keep in their cubby. Students are encouraged to send in an extra pair of clothes in case they have an accident of some kind.
9. If there is a delayed opening, breakfast is NOT served. Please make sure your child has eaten something before coming to school. We have the last lunch wave which runs from 12:51-1:21. On early release days we will still have snack.
10. Donations of tissues, Clorox wipes, gallon size, sandwich size and snack size Ziploc bags are always welcome.
I hope this answers some of the questions you might have. I look forward to a great year!
Thank you for being an active partner in your child's learning!