Back to School Afternoon 2012-2013

Mrs. Koch1st Grade

About Mrs. Koch

• Northern Virginia native• Graduate of Radford University, 1993• Taught in Fairfax County 10 years• Lives in Leesburg with her husband

and two children

First Quarter Overview

Math• Number Concepts/Addition• Calendar• Patterns• Graphing and DataScience• Changes in Autumn• Sun & Earth

First Quarter Overview Cont.

Social Studies• Citizenship• Rules• Safety• Past, present and future

Literacy

Two reading assessments during first quarter:

• DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment)

• PALS (Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening)

These assessments help us choose appropriate books for Guided Reading Groups and find a starting point for reading instruction.

**We will discuss results during first quarter

parent-teacher conferences.**

Specials

• Art (50 minutes)• Music (30 minutes)• PE (30 minutes)-Please have your child

wear SNEAKERS on PE days.• Library (30 minutes)• Guidance (50 minutes)• SEARCH (50 minutes)-Enrichment program

for grades K-3. Focuses on thinking skills and encourages students’ creativity.

Homework

• Beginning week of September 10th

• Used to reinforce skills taught in class

• Develops good work habits, time management and participation

• Should take no more than 30 minutes

Attendance and After-School Plans

Attendance• Please make sure that your child eats a healthy

breakfast and arrives on time each day.

• Your child must bring a note in the morning in order to change after-school dismissal arrangements.

• If there are last minute (during the school day) changes to your child’s after-school transportation plans, please contact the office (DO NOT RELY ON EMAIL!)

• If you plan to pick up your child early, please contact the office BEFORE 12:00 or send a note in the morning.

Classroom Citizenship Every child will be expected to adhere to our

classroom expectations and is encouraged to make responsible choices:

• Each child will begin the day with the opportunity to show excellent effort and cooperation.

• A child who is having a difficult day will be encouraged to make positive changes and reflect on his/her behavior.

• Every child has the right to be happy and safe in school. If another student is extremely disruptive to the well-being or safety of others, he/she will be sent to the office.

• Mrs. Koch will communicate to parents about classroom behavior on an as-needed basis.

Lunch• Please practice lunch numbers over the

weekend.• Ice cream may be purchased on Fridays.• Parents must send a request via e-mail to

Mrs. Nichols 48 hours in advance to join students for lunch.

• Menu is in packet and includes payment information; menus are sent home monthly.

• Please discuss choices and monitor account!

Parties and Birthdays

Three classroom parties• TBABirthdays• Non-edible birthday items ONLY• Donate a game or book to the class : )• Lunch with your child: Requires 48 hours

notice via e-mail to Mrs. Nichols.

**If you are going to pass out invitations at school, you MUST pass them out to

everyone.**

Snacks

• Snack will be eaten mid-morning.• Must be something that the child can

open independently and eat in five to ten minutes

• Non-messy snacks, please!• Students may bring water bottles.• NO NUTS!

Communication

• Monthly School Newsletter• Monthly First Grade Newsletter

(online on Team Page)• Weekly Newton-Lee Envelope• Daily Purple Take Home Folder• E-mail: Jennifer.Koch@lcps.org

Special ActivitiesStar Student Begins in October• Star Student will bring in poster,

items to share, and a mystery show and tell.

Field Trips• National Zoo Thursday, October 4• Mount Vernon Thursday, March 7

Classroom Supplies

The first grade team is requesting a few additional supplies.

• 2 boxes of tissues (boys)• 1 container of baby wipes (girls)• 1 box of plastic resealable bags:

Gallon or sandwich

Volunteer Opportunities

• Thursday Folder Volunteer (weekly)• Literacy Center Volunteers (daily)• Room Parents

All parents MUST complete a brief training session with

Mrs. Nichols before volunteering in the classroom.

Conferences

• Will be held for each family on the teacher workday; Monday, November 5.

• First quarter progress report will be discussed during these conferences.

• Please sign up for your conference TONIGHT!

CLARITY

• Parent Portal for Grades K-2 will open in January.

• Additional tool for communicating student progress

• Mrs. Winters will be hosting meetings to explain the system and answer questions.

• Information is available on school web page.