Welcome!

Hello,   I hope you’re having a fantastic summer and I would like to take this time to welcome you to my grade one classroom! As some of you may know this is now my fifth year teaching at SJA! I am excited to start this new year with you and your child. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me at the school or via email. Listed below is some information about the school year, please do not feel overwhelmed it is just meant to inform you and make you aware of things throughout the school year. Feel free to email back with any questions/comments/concern you may have!   Blog As a way to stay connected, see what we did during our day, or to find important dates/homework please check my blog daily: http://smithgr1class.blogspot.caplease take a look over the blog to familiarize yourself with it and on the left hand side under the picture of the star student enter in your email address in the spot that states follow by email. Every time I post a blog message you will get it straight to your email/phone.    Reading Homework In order to support students for their Developmental Reading Assessments (DRA), reading homework will be assigned every Friday. The levelled books sent home are based on your child’s DRA score. Students are asked to follow the instructions in their reading duo tang and return the duo tang with reading book on the following Monday.    Spelling Homework Spelling tests happen every Friday. Students will be given a new list of 10 words each week that they will record in their agendas. You will also be able to find this list on the blog. On Mondays students will bring home their spelling journals. They will be required to use each spelling word in a written sentence (10 sentences in total.) This will help them understand the meaning of each spelling word and how to use them in their writing. The spelling journal will be due back on Thursdays.    End of Unit Contact  Please email me letting me know how you would prefer to speak at the end of each of our Units of Inquiry, please keep in mind this will be 6 times of the year on top of our 2 parent/teacher interview times. Please let me know if you would like me to give you an update by email, phone or in person.    Orientation Night: Orientation night is a great way to start the new school year. On August 30th, at 6:00pm, all teachers and staff of SJA will welcome you to the school and give you a better understanding of what the upcoming year will look like.  It is strongly suggested that all SJA families – new and returning- attend orientation night this year as there are a number of new policies and procedures as a result of us growing. This evening will provide you with a program overview and all the fun and exciting things SJA has to offer. It is also a way to connect with your child’s teacher and ask any questions you might have. We hope to see you in attendance to kick-start our 2016-2017 school year.   Here is some important information for the first week of school:   Shoes - please ensure students have a pair of dress shoes and gym shoes to stay at the school in their cubbies. At no times are outdoor shoes to be worn in the school (helps to keep our carpets fresh)   Uniform - Mon and Weds is gym uniform day, Sept 7th is a Weds. Therefore, students will come dressed in their gym uniform as well as on every Monday and Wednesday.    Hot lunch program will be limited the first week back. In place of this students will be able to bring money to school on the 7th, 8th, and 9th to purchase pizza. (Please send this money in the agenda, and let your child know as well, also please indicate in a note cheese or pepperoni). One slice is $2, Two slices $4.  Hot lunch program will begin on Monday September 12th. We are excited for our new hot lunch program to roll out with some tasty new options. With this being said forms for hot lunch program have already been sent through the email you provided and will be due back with full payment by Sept. 9th by 4pm. IF you miss the due date unfortunately you will not be able to participate in the lunch program until the next program order form goes home. With the new cafeteria and cooking staff we cannot make any exceptions for late forms this year.    Student Handbook please read the attached document to your welcome email then sign page 30 and return to school in the student agenda by Friday September 9th.