Welcome to First Grade! 2021-2022

Welcome to First Grade!
                         2021-2022

General Information
Email- Sweepe.Kylli@cusd80.com
Phone- 480-424-8552
Website Address- www.cusd80.com/Domain/9782

Absences
If your child is going to be absent, please call the school (480-424-8500). If your child
is going to be absent for an extended period of time (a week or more) please notify me
as well as the front office.

Tardies
When your child comes to school late, they must be taken to the office for a tardy slip.
Please help your child get to school on time because instruction will start right away.
School hours are as follows: 8:35-3:05. Please be sure your child does not arrive on
campus before 8:10 a.m. as there will be no supervision before that time.
playground.

Dismissal
Please fill out the transportation form and turn it in ASAP. If there will be any changes
in the usual transportation arrangement, please be sure to contact the office at least
an hour prior to dismissal.

Dress Code
The dress code provided in the CUSD handbook will be strictly enforced. Spaghetti
straps are not allowed. Please have your child use the 2-finger test when determining if
a strap is wide enough. Also, hats are not permitted inside the classrooms but may be
worn outside. Shorts should be a moderate length.

Communication
Weekly newsletters will go home each week telling about upcoming events and what
your student will be learning. Please call or email if you have any questions, concerns,
or changes to your student's schedule. Also, in your student's binder, there will be a
communication sheet. I will be checking this every morning. If you have any questions
or notes for me, you can put them here as well.

Supplies
Below is a list of items that we will need in our classroom.

•   12 pack of #2 pencils (Dixon Ticonderoga preferred)
•   8 Elmer’s glue sticks
•   2 Elmer’s glue bottles
•   4 boxes 24 count Crayola crayons
•   1 pack 8 count Crayola markers
•   1 blue plastic pocket folder
•   1 wide ruled spiral notebook
•   1 wide ruled composition notebook
•   1 pair of headphones (in a baggy labeled with your student’s name-these will be
    returned)
•   1 plastic school supply box

Optional Donation Items:

•   Black Expo Markers
•   Starburst
•   Ziplock bags- Gallon/Sandwich
•   Small treasure box items
•   Baby wipes

Backpacks
You child needs to bring a backpack labeled with their name every day. It should be
big enough to fit their folder and papers they will be bringing each day. No toys.
Students are required to bring water bottles; please do not send any colored liquids.
Please be sure your child’s lunchbox, backpack, water bottle, jacket, etc. are labeled
with their first and last name.

Lunch Money
The USDA has approved free meals for all students for the entire 2021-2022 school
year. This means all students can receive up to one breakfast and one lunch FREE
each school day. Students do not need to apply or sign up to receive meals at no cost
this year; simply come through the line in the café.

Snacks
Students may bring in a small “on-the-go” snack to eat in the afternoon.

Book Orders
Encouraging reading is one of the most important things we can do to help your
child succeed. It can be tough finding the right books to keep them interested, which
is why I am so excited that our class is participating in Scholastic Reading Club this
school year. Book orders will come home almost monthly in your child’s homework
folder. If you choose to order, please order online using our class code.

Volunteers
The front office will send out a signupgenius for you to come in and help with
copies/prepare activities in the staff workroom if you are interested. Volunteers will
not be able to work in classrooms until further notice. We are grateful for our
volunteers and appreciate your time!

Birthdays
We love celebrating birthdays! Individually wrapped/store-bought treats and/or
goodie bags may be brought in on the day of your child’s birthday.

Class Dojo
Class Dojo is a great way for you to see what is happening in our classroom. We
will post weekly pictures to the ”story” page for you to see all of the fun projects
and activities we are doing. Individual pictures will also be posted to student
portfolios. Please sign up using the Class Dojo app so you can see all of the fun
things we do at school!

Take Home Binders
Your child will be taking home a Take Home Binder every night. The left will
contain papers that may be left at home. The right pocket will contain homework and
papers that need to be returned to school. In this binder you will also find our
weekly newsletter and your child’s behavior calendar. The binder must be returned
daily. Also, homework will be sent in this binder on the first day of each week.

Homework
Every week your student will have two homework packet in the right pocket of their
binder. Homework packets will be sent home on Monday and are due Friday. As a
part of the homework, your child is expected to spend 15 minutes reading EVERY
night. Students should also practice reading their sight words (we read-spell-read as
a strategy in class). Please work with your student to make completing their
homework a priority.

Sight Word Lists
Your child will start keeping a list of high frequency words in their binders. Please
have your child practice these words until he/she can read each word in less than 3
seconds. When you feel your child is ready, sign the bottom of the paper and I will
test them. When passed, he/she will be rewarded and will move on to the next list.

Newsletters
A weekly newsletter will be coming home every Monday in your child’s Take Home
Binder. Please make sure you read this newsletter to be informed about what your
child is learning each week and other class/school information.

Progress Reports/Report Cards
Students will receive a progress report mid-quarter. Report cards will be sent home
at the conclusion of each quarter. Conferences will be held in August and February.

Test Days
Reading - We will take two tests every Friday. One in reading that covers the
vocabulary and comprehension of the story-of-the-week and one
phonogram/spelling test. The students will receive their new spelling words every
week. Expect 6-10 spelling words each week.
Math – Assessment of your child’s progress occurs frequently. We will strive for 80
percent mastery on all math assessments. Missed objectives will be reviewed and
retaught. Math fact assessments will begin the second week of school.

Classroom Behavior Plan
Behavior in the classroom and at specials will be managed using a clip chart. Each
day all students will start out on green or “Ready to make great choices”. They can
move up to blue by going above and beyond without being asked (helping a friend,
cleaning up a mess they didn’t make). Students who end the day on blue will receive a
sticker on their sticker chart. Students will be able to choose from the treasure box
after every 5 stickers they earn. Inappropriate choices during the day will result in a
student moving their clip to yellow and then red. These students will be encouraged
to make better choices throughout the day in order to move their clip back up. If
they are on green or blue each day of the week, they will be able to participate in
Fun Friday. If they have 2 yellows or 1 red during the week, they will not be able to
participate in Fun Friday.

Fun Friday
The students can participate in Fun Friday by earning green or blue stars each day
in a week. Fun Friday is a special time for them to choose their own activity and
interact with other students. It is a great incentive for great behavior.

Whole School Behavior
R- respectful
I-inclusive
S-safe
E-engaged

Students will earn Rhino Rewards throughout the day for demonstrating these
behaviors. They can "buy" rewards in the classroom using these tickets.

Treasure Box
The students can earn a visit to our “treasure box” when they earn 5 stickers or on
Fridays if they have enough Rhino Rewards. The treasure box is filled with small
toys that the kids enjoy. Please feel free to provide anything you think the kids might
like throughout the year. This is another great incentive for great behavior, and they
just love it!

Specials Schedule
All children will participate in Music, P.E., Technology, and Library on a six-day
rotating schedule. Please help your child remember to wear tennis shoes on P.E. days
and return library books on the correct day. For a calendar of specials please see
the attached schedule.

Specials Schedule
**Please see the attached Block Calendar for the 6-day Specials Rotation.

                              10:10-10:40

                     Day 1                    Library

                    Day 2                      Music

                     Day 3                       PE

                    Day 4
                                                Tech
                 10:40-11:20
                    Day 5
                                               Music

                     Day 6                       PE