1. First Grade Back to School Newton-Lee Elementary Miss Howland

2. About Miss Howland Northern Virginia native
attended Ashburn Elementary
graduated from Loudoun County High School
graduated from Radford College (now Radford University) with a B.S. in Early Childhood Ed.
is delighted to be working with you and your child this year

3. First Quarter Overview
Math
Calendar/collecting data
Count/Write numbers
Coin Values
Sort & Classify
Patterning
Geometry
Fractions
Science
What changes in Autumn
Sun & Earth

4. First Quarter Overview Cont.
Social Studies
Citizenship
Rules
Safety
Past, present, and future

5. Literacy Pathways Components:
Shared Reading, Read Aloud, Guided Reading, Independent
Reading, Word Study and Writer’s Workshop
Two main assessments (given in September & October)
DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment)
PALS (Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening)
These assessments help us find a starting point for reading and word study instruction.

6. Specials Art (50 minutes) Music (30 minutes)
P.E. (30 minutes)-Please have your child wear SNEAKERS on P.E. days.
Library (30 minutes)
Guidance (40 minutes)
SEARCH (50 minutes)-Enrichment program for grades K-3. Focuses on thinking skills and encourages students to develop an excitement for learning and discovery.

7. Homework Begins week of September 23rd Weekly reading log
-read for minutes each night
-discuss prompts
-find and discuss weekly word study feature
Promotes the development of good work habits and responsibility.

8. Attendance and After-School Plans
Please make sure that your child eats a healthy breakfast and arrives on time each day
Your child must have 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 !)
If you plan to pick up your child early, please contact the office BEFORE 12:00 or send a note in the morning

9. Classroom Citizenship
Every child will be expected to follow our classroom rules and is encouraged to make right choices:
Each child will begin the day with the opportunity to show excellent effort and cooperation
A child who is having 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.
Miss Howland will communicate to parents about classroom behavior on an as-needed basis.

10. Lunch Please practice student numbers over the weekend
Ice cream may be purchased on Fridays
Parents must send a request via to Mrs. Nichols 48 hours in advance to join their child for lunch
September menu is in your packet and includes payment information; menus are sent home monthly
Please discuss choices and monitor account!

11. Parties and Birthdays Classroom parties Three parties TBA later
Non-edible birthday items ONLY (please consider donating a game or book to the class)
Birthday invitations may ONLY be passed out at school when each child in our class is being invited.
Lunch with your child: Requires 48 hours notice via to Mrs. Nichols

12. Snacks Snack will be eaten mid-morning
Must be something that the child can open independently and eat in five minutes
Dry, non-messy snacks, please!
Students may bring water bottles
NO PEANUTS or NUT PRODUCTS!

13. Clinic Notes Mrs. Kreitzman is our school nurse
Students will be sent to the clinic for an illness, injury, or medical emergency
All medication must be labeled and kept in the clinic; this includes cough drops as well as any prescriptions
Mrs. Kreitzman’s

14. Communication Monthly School Newsletter
Monthly First Grade Newsletter (online on Team Page)
Weekly Newton-Lee Envelope
Daily Purple Take Home Folder

15. Special Activities Star Student Field Trip Begins in October
Star Student bag will come home on Thursday
Field Trip
Morven Park Leesburg, Virginia
Tuesday, November 13th

16. Classroom Supplies
The first grade team is requesting a few additional supplies
2 large boxes of tissues (boys)
1 large container of cleaning wipes (girls)
1 box of snack baggies

17. Volunteer Opportunities
Room Parents (help to organize three class parties)
Banking (every other Friday)
Computer Lab (every other week)
Reading and Math (every other week)
Special Activities (as needed)
Teacher Helper (as needed)
All parents MUST complete a brief training session with
Mrs. Nichols before volunteering in the classroom.

18. Conferences
Will be held for each family beginning the Week of October 21st
Assessments and first quarter progress reports will be discussed during this conference
Please schedule a conference this afternoon