WELCOME TO FIRST GRADE!
Hello, First Grade families!
I'm Mrs. Murray and I'm so grateful to be your child's teacher! We're going to have an incredible year of learning, growing, and making good friends along the way. I will be using the Seesaw app, my webpage, and e-mail as my main modes of communication. Each student has a “Take-Home” folder that will travel to and from school. Please check the folder nightly to ensure important papers and updates are being sent home. You can send any notes back to school in the folder. Your child will also receive a fluency reading bag that will go between home and school daily. Please practice reading these books together!
**Remember to call the office at 815.469.3366 if your child will be absent for the day. Thank you.
We have P.E. everyday from 9:45-10:15. Please remember to wear gym shoes!
Recess: 11:15-11:35
Lunch: 11:35-11:55
Each month we focus on a character pillar. Here is the schedule for the school year.
Monthly Pillar:
September is Enthusiasm - wear white on Thursdays to show support.
October is Trustworthiness - wear blue on Thursdays to show support.
November is Respect - wear yellow on Thursdays to show support.
December is Caring - wear red on Thursdays to show support.
January is Attitude - wear sports apparel on Thursdays to show support.
February is Perseverance - wear stripes or patterns on Thursday to show support.
March is Responsibility - wear green on Thursdays to show support.
April is Fairness - wear orange on Thursdays to show support.
May is Citizenship - wear purple on Thursdays to show support.
Fast Bridge Assessments
We will take Fast Bridge Assessments three times during the school year. This is a computer--based benchmark assessment for reading and math. The assessments will be administered in the fall (September), winter (January), and spring (May).
Erin’s Law
We are required by Erin's Law to provide lessons on sexual abuse and prevention education. Grand Prairie Elementary School Social Workers will be teaching a lesson in your child’s classroom about the "Think First and Stay Safe" program. The lesson in December will cover the concepts of "Using My Built In Computer: Staying Healthy and Safe." The lesson in January will cover "Laws Help Protect Me: Kids Have Rights Too!" and "Listening to My Instincts: No Secrets".
Bullying Presentations
The Second Step program teaches children important skills for getting along with others and doing well in school. It also helps our school be a safe, respectful place where everyone can learn. To further help our school be a safe and respectful place, we are also going to use the Second Step Bullying Prevention Unit. In the lessons, your child will learn specific skills to help stop bullying. Students will learn how to:
• Recognize when bullying is happening
• Report bullying to a caring adult
• Refuse to let bullying happen to themselves or others
• Be a bystander who stands up and is part of the solution to bullying
In addition, your child will bring home simple, fun activities called Home Links that will help you understand what your child is learning about bullying at school. They also give your child another chance to practice skills for handling bullying. This is not required homework. There is a spot for a parent signature on the home link page in which you can ignore. We are not requiring the home link to be returned to school.
1/15/24-No School (MLK holiday)
1/23/24-Fast Bridge Reading Assessment
1/24/24-Fast Bridge Math Assessment/FSP hot lunch (Tony's Villa Rosa)
1/25/24-Education Foundation hot lunch (Aurelio's)
1/26/24-End of 2nd quarter