This Class R.O.C.K.

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(Respect, Order, Communication, Kindness & Safety)

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Arrival: School begins at 8:45am. Please be sure to make sure that your child is at school on
time to take part in learning. Students may enter the building at 8:30
Absences & Attendance: If your child will absent or tardy, please call the attendance line at
517- 333-7371. The attendance line is open 24/7.
Art: Our Wonderful art teacher is named Mrs. Yerby. Please support her as she delivers
fantastic Art Education throughout the school year.
Backpack: Be sure to check your childs backpack each day for announcements, books, art
projects and personal items.
Behavior: We operate on a color system that encourages good choices. Students begin on
Green ( Ready to Learn) Blue( Warning/ Need Improvement) Red (Parent Contact) *Orange
( SuperSTAR- exceptionally great behavior)

Birthdays: I welcome any birthday celebrations, but please know that it is strictly voluntary. It
is up to you whether or not your child celebrates his/her birthday in the classroom. Your child
may bring in a healthy snack for the class to help celebrate his/her birthday. I do ask, however,
that the snacks be nut-free. Also, if you do decide to bring in a special treat, please also bring
napkins and other appropriate utensils. There are currently 23 students in our class. Birthdays
will typically be celebrated during afternoon snack.
Please reference the healthy snack sheet regarding appropriate snack items. Due to student allergies in
the classroom, I ask that you please try to adhere to the healthy snack guidelines. Please try to refrain
from cupcakes and other sugary items. Please also know that as long as your beliefs permit it, I will
recognize student birthdays with a special book and center choice of the childs choosing. In addition,
students will be my helper for the day and have the coveted position of line leader! If you are unable to
provide a class snack, your child will still certainly feel celebrated on their special day!
Breakfast: School breakfast can be purchased for $1.40 and is served between 8:15-8:45am
each day

Bus: If your child rides the bus regularly and for any reason their transportation method
changes, please write a note informing me of the change, be it permanent or temporary.
Communication: you may send a note in your childs folder, email me Janell.hall@elps.us or
call to leave a voicemail message in our classroom @ 517-333-7391
Celebrations: I love to celebrate our class and causes that are special to me. Please look for
information in your childs folder for each event.
Calendar: We will send out a monthly calendar so that you may keep track of all of the special
area classes and classroom events.

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Dolphin Pride: We are proud to be Donley Dolphins and will abide by Donley Elementary
School Code of Conduct.
Dismissal: is at 3:44 each day. We will assemble the students that are to be picked up or are car
riders outside in front of the west doors of the school. Look for the STAR
Encourage Effort: I will encourage students to put forth their very best effort each day.
Email: Janell.hall@elps.us
Friends: First grade is a wonderful time to make new friends and in some cases, lifelong
connections. I will encourage positive and productive friendships in our classroom. This is a
great time to develop and practice making friends and fostering good choices.
Family: Family is made up by the people that love you. We celebrate all family units.
Facebook: We have a CLOSED group Facebook page. Its closed to ensure the privacy of our
families, but also allow Facebook using families to have instant access to a snapshot of your
childs day. Its also a great way to connect to other classroom families (if you wish) and share
and respond to classroom events in a way that classroom websites dont allow. Please look for
instructions and information as to how to join our classroom page in future correspondence.

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Good Work: Your first grader will be keeping a portfolio of good work as well as evidence of
growth

Homework: I feel homework is truly important. Not only does it teach students responsibility,
it also serves as a great way to reinforce and give extra practice on concepts we have covered in
class On Monday, your child will receive a homework packet that will be due on Friday of each
week. The homework packet will contain a variety of math worksheets that correlate to what we
are covering in class as well as the Reading Street Family Times, which list a variety of activities
for you to complete with your child. Please note that the answers to the Everyday Math
homework are included in the Everyday Math Family Letter, sent home at the beginning of each
unit. Additionally, your child will receive a reading log at the beginning of each month to keep
track of reading done at home. Please read to/with your child 5-7 days a week for at least 15-20
minutes per night. The reading logs are to be returned at the end of each month.
Illness: Please be mindful in sending your child to school in the midst of illness. In the event of
illness, you will be notified to come pick up our child. If your child is experiencing the following,
they may be considered to be ill:
Fever of 100 degrees or greater
Pink eye
Vomiting
Uncontrolled diarrhea
Rash/hives
Severe allergic reaction

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Just Ask: if you should every have a concern or question concerning your child or our
classroom, please ask.

Kindness: As one part of our R.O.C.K.S. acronym and class motto, we will operate with
kindness each day.

Label: things get lost easily and quickly in first grade, and many items look alike, so if there is a
space to label your childs personal belongings please do so. ( book bags, shoes, supplies, glasses,
lunchboxes etc)
Library: we will have a designated library time each week. These books should be well cared for
and kept away from pets, younger siblings, and food/water. A reminder for library days and
book return will be sent out each week. Our Librarian is Mrs. Johnston!
Lunch: Our lunch period is from 11:30-12:16. Students will go out for recess first this year from
11:30-11:50 and Cafeteria lunch time from 11:50-12:16
Math: We will use Everyday Math. Please expect to have home link activities and parent letters
that accompany each unit of study.
Music: Our music teacher is Mrs. Ross.
Morning Meetings: are times for us to come together as a class to set the expectations and
tone for the day.
Money: If you are sending money to school with your child for any reason, please label a sealed
envelope and include it in your childs homework folder. You may also send me an email, so that
I may look for any money that need to be accounted for.
Make Up Work: In the event of an absence or appointment, your child will have a folder of
both class work and homework collected from the duration of their absence. It is not expected
that your first grader make it all up at once. I will highlight activities/ skills that I feel are most
pertinent to the standards that we are working on at the time of their absence.

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New Students: We always welcome new Hall-Stars to the Rockin First Grade Classroom. We
will work quickly to make them feel a part of the Dolphin and HallStar Family.
Newsletters: I will share newsletters of classroom events and updates Every 2 weeks
Order: As the second value of our R.O.C.K.S.tar theme we will establish an order for classroom
behavior, procedures and managing supplies.
Outdoors: If your child is well enough to come to school, it its expected that they are healthy
enough to be permitted outdoors. Please dress and plan accordingly.
Ouchy Box: The Ouchy boxs use was for minor injuries, and comfort in the classroom.
Additionally, there is a thermometer to determine whether or not a child has an elevated

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temperature, before sending to the office and calling a parent. The rationale behind this is
because we do not have a school nurse. Mrs. Cannon is extremely busy in the front office with a
myriad of duties and dispensing prescription and pertinent medicines to well over 100 students
daily. All of the items/ medicines in our Ouchy box are over the counter and intended to keep
the child in class, and out of the office for minor needs like, dry skin, chapped lips, mosquito
bites, minor cuts and scrapes, and cough. In the case of severe anaphylaxis, and extreme injury,
illness or need for medical care, the front office, 911 and medical personnel will be contacted
immediately.
Please look for a formal release for administering over the counter medications, aides and
remedies in your childs folder.
P.E. Our P.E. Teacher is Mrs. Skubina
Portfolio: Each student will maintain a portfolio of tests, assessments, writing samples
excellent work, and evidence of improvement.
Quick and Quiet: When parents are entering the room during the instructional school day, we
ask that hellos and greetings among parents & children be Quick & Quiet as to not interrupt
instruction.

Rainbow Words: Are a sight word incentive that divides all 220 Dolch sight words into
color groups based on a rainbow hierarchy of difficulty
Red List- is made up of sight words that have 1-2 letters (is, am, in, it, me)
Orange: 1-3 letters (and, the, for, his)
Yellow: 4 letters
Green: 5 letters
Blue:6-8 letters
Purple: 8+ letters and includes compound words
Pink: 8+ letters and includes 3rd grade sight words
Respect: Our classroom will operate on mutual respect of all learners, teachers, and guests.
READ! READ! READ! Please read with your child for at minimum 20 minutes each night.
Book Logs and reading incentives will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.

Rules: Although we will create specific rules for our classroom this year, they will be based in
these classroom Standards:
Treat All People with Manners &Respect
Raise your hand if you wish to share
Follow directions the first time theyre given
Hands and walking Feet to yourself
Snack: We will start the year off having both a morning and afternoon snack each day.
Morning snack is scheduled for 10:15am with afternoon snack at 2:00pm. We do a lot of active
learning in first grade and we sure do get hungry! Please provide your child with 2 healthy
snacks each day. Due to student allergies in the classroom, I ask that you please adhere to the
healthy snack guidelines, whenever possible. Please be aware that our classroom is nut-free.
Snacks containing nuts will be returned home for the safety of all learners. This is the first year
for twice daily snacks, as students have had difficulty getting through the afternoon without an
extra snack to hold them over. If parents express difficulty in providing two snacks each day, we

will revert to having only a morning snack. I appreciate your support in this initiative to keep our
learners energized throughout the day. A parent snack donation sheet is available to sign up to
donate one weeks worth of snacks for the classroom. Thank you in advance.
Safety: It is my responsibility to keep students safe at all times. We will practice safety
procedures (Fire, Tornado, Intruder,) in all areas of the school. Should your childs safety
become a concern or compromised, you will be contacted as soon as possible/permitted.
Scholastic Book Orders: When we order books from Scholastic, please submit payment
directly to the website for our class orders (instructions will be included to do this) or make it
payable to Scholastic Books directly.

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Supplies: If your childs supplies are running low, I will send a note indication what needs to
be sent to continue your childs productive work habits.
Testing: There will several different types of testing that occurs in our classroom. Some of the
more formal testing practices will be preceded by a letter encouraging proper rest and nutrition
before and during the testing process. Other informal or ongoing tests, (like AIMS web) will be
conducted periodically throughout the year.
Technology: The Hall-Stars will be using IPad and mobile laptop computers to integrate
technology in the first grade classroom and curriculum.
Unique: Each student is unique from anyone else in the world. We wish to celebrate their
individuality in positive and productive ways.

Volunteers: I welcome any parents or guardians who would like to help out in the classroom.
Throughout the year, I will ask for help during special activities, prepping for special events
and/or center choices (this can be done outside of the school day) field trips, centers, etc. Please
look for these announcements in your childs Take-Home folder, the bi-weekly newsletter, and
on our class website. Finally, if there are any activities you would like to do with the class (read a
book to the students, a special project, etc.), please let me know as we would be happy to have
you! While, I welcome a large family/community presence in our classroom, please adhere to
scheduled visits. Volunteering typically begins mid-October, after weve had several weeks to
learn our daily routines and procedures! We look forward to having you!
Weather: In the event of inclimate weather we will have an indoor recess. We will not be
permitted outside with a wind-chill of -0 or in the case of rain.
Wish List: you will have an opportunity to donate items that we may need in our classroom
throughout the year. We will also post items we need at Curriculum Night/Open house.
WDSA: William Donley School Association is our parent/ school association. If you would like
more information please visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/donleyWDSA

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Xtra Special: The children that I teach and the families that I serve are eXtra special to me.

YOU: You are an important teacher and role model in your childs life. We are partners in this
educational process. YOU are an integral to the success of this learning community.

Zero the Hero: Zero the Hero will visit our classroom every 10th day of school to help us count
down to the 100th day of school. If you would like to help Zero prepare treats please see Ms.
Hall
ZZZ: make sure that your child gets enough (8-10 hours) of sleep each night

Ms. Hall

s the Hall-Stars