Greetings First Grade Families, 

Welcome to first grade! It has been such a pleasure to finally meet and get to know your children these past few days. I know the year will be a fun and exciting experience for everyone and we are already off to a terrific start!

In our monthly newsletters, I hope to keep you informed about the classroom curriculum, themes, and activities as well as special school events and dates. I hope you will find each letter a useful source of school-home communication. Please visit the school’s website to access my webpage for our monthly newsletters.

Important Dates and Reminders

Tuesday, September 1: No School, Professional Development

Monday, September 7: Labor Day

Thursday, September 10: Bus Evacuation

  Tues., Wed., Thurs., September 15, 16, 17: Vision and Hearing Screenings

Wednesday, September 23: 1st Grade Open House 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM

Friday, September 25: Picture Day!

Nitty Gritty Facts

Birthdays

In first grade, I will acknowledge each child’s birthday in a special way. Presently, our administration has asked that you refrain from providing any food items. Other options might be a pencil, fun erasers, stickers, etc. if you so choose. To date, we have 21 children in our class. Regarding home birthday parties, please do not send in birthday invitations unless the entire class is invited. This will prevent any hurt feelings. Thank you!

Scholastic Book Club

Order forms from the Scholastic Book Club will be sent home each month. If you would like to place an order, please order/pay online, our code is: YGCX2 . Cash will not be accepted. Thank you. Also, note the order deadline date on the order form. Delivery is generally within two weeks. I am happy to put the ordered books aside for gifts, just please let me know so that I may send them to the office for you to pick up.

Specialists for Our Class

     Our class will have Art, Music, PE/Gym, and STEAM with one special occurring twice each week should we have no days off. The special calendar can be found on my webpage (specials calendar) or on the calendar I send home at the beginning of the month. It will come in handy as a reminder to wear sneakers on gym days.

Morning Break

Just a reminder that our first graders will be given a 10-minute morning snack/bathroom break to stretch our legs and to help quiet our rumbling tummies. One small and healthy snack is recommended to provide an extra boost of energy. Thank you for your help and consideration when preparing snacks for your child in school. All classrooms will be peanut-free during snack time.

Into Reading

This month our class will learn that making new friends and learning new things can help us grow. We will read books about making new friends and taking on new challenges, and we will become familiar with new words and different activities about school. 

Writing Workshop

During the month of September, children will learn how to tell a story and tell one about a special moment in their lives. 

Eureka Math

Our unit of study begins with Module 1. In this module, students will be learning to organize data to help make counting and comparing numbers easier, and then advance to apply counting on as a strategy for addition. Students will compare equivalent ways to make the same total and reason about the meaning of the equal sign.

Social Studies                                                                                                                     

The first month of school focuses on getting-to-know-you activities and community building. We will be brainstorming for happy and safe bus ideas, and classroom and playground rules. Each month we will also be discussing and reading about a famous and important person in American history. This month’s “person of distinction” will be Johnny Appleseed.

Science

This month we will be talking about changes in the weather, how trees change and grow, and how we all change over time. 

 Labels, Labels, Labels

Please be reminded to label your child’s outerwear,  backpacks, water bottles, and lunch bags as things do get misplaced/lost frequently. The Lost & Found rack can fill up pretty quickly, especially in the winter!

Changes in Dismissal

If there is any change in your child’s regular dismissal procedure, please remember to email me in the morning, send a note in your child’s blue communication folder, and/or call the office. This helps to alleviate any stress and worry during a very hectic time of day. Please refrain from a change of routine via email in the late afternoon as we may not have time before dismissal to check our email or perhaps I may be out of the building for some reason. Please call the office for sudden/important schedule changes. Thank you! 

Looking forward to a great school year!

Very Best,
Corey Macaruso 🍎