General Information
Backpacks
To help your child organize school materials, it is strongly recommended that your child bring a backpack to school each day. This backpack should be labeled with your child's first and last name. It should be large enough to accommodate large projects and folders. Parents should check the contents each day.
Classroom Visitors
It is a school policy that all visitors must check in at the office before visiting any classroom. Unscheduled visits in a classroom can be distracting. Please make arrangements to schedule time in class if you choose to volunteer. If you just need to drop something off for your child, you can leave it at the office and we will be contacted.
Clothing
Please send your child to school in comfortable clothing that is appropriate for indoor and outdoor play. Children will interact more readily when they are not afraid of ruining their clothes. We do a number of messy art activities as well, so don't send your child to school in clothing you don't want to get dirty. All outerwear should be labeled with your child's first and last name including hats, mittens, boots, and sweaters. ** Every child should have a COMPLETE set of extra clothing at school (to be left on their hook in a small labeled plastic bag) including shirt, shorts/pants, underwear, and socks. These will be sent home periodically for fit and seasonal appropriateness.
**Please also send in a labeled, over sized t-shirt that can be use as a smock for messy projects.
Lunch
Children are each given a lunch card that is swiped at the lunch counter each day. You must send in money that is put onto your account by the cafeteria staff that allows for your child to purchase their lunch items. You can update your account online as well. I encourage you to please go over your child's lunch choice with them each day as this decision needs to be made BEFORE coming to school. Your child will be responsible for identifying their lunch choice as part of their morning routine, and it is easier for them to remember if they have been told in advance.
Parent-Teacher Communication
Please make sure that your child is aware of any notes, papers or other items that you have put into his/her backpack or folder. I will check the folders each morning but will also communicate with you through letters, e-mail and/or telephone throughout the school year. **Please note that ANY dismissal notes need to be WRITTEN the morning of the change. This is for safety reasons and is a school policy. If for some reason I am out, substitutes do not have access to my e-mail. FOLDERS should be checked and returned each day. Ultimately, checking folders for notes becomes your child's responsibility. I urge you to go over anything you put in the folders that I may need to see.
Parent Volunteers
Parent participation is welcome in the classroom. This includes volunteering to help with classroom activities, sharing a talent, or helping to prepare materials at home. Whatever you can do is greatly appreciated. A CORI (Criminal Offense Record Information) disclosure form must be completed BEFORE volunteering in the classroom. This is for ANY adult wishing to volunteer (mom, dad, grandparent, adult sibling etc.). This CORI check must be filled out in person at the office and a driver's license is required to process forms. If you know you would like to volunteer, I urge you to fill out the paperwork at the beginning of the school year as it can take some time to process. Please let me know if you are interested in volunteering and I will inform you of available time slots. If you are unable to make one of the scheduled center times that many parents wish to volunteer for, please let me know and we can work out another time block.
Scholastic Book Club
Each month an order form will be sent home with your child in order to purchase books through the Scholastic Book Club. You are not obligated to purchase anything. The total class purchases provide the teacher with bonus points that can be used towards free books and/or additional classroom materials. If you choose to order, please make checks payable to Scholastic Book Clubs. I cannot accept cash or any checks made out to me. Your check and order form should be sent in an envelope clearly marked with your child's name by the date on the back of the form. You can also order online. Our online access code is HF7CJ.
Snacks
Children need to bring a small, healthy, PEANUT FREE snack and drink (no soda or candy please) to school each day for our snack time. Snacks should be packed and clearly labeled separately from lunch. Please refer to the ingredients on the label for "safe" snacks. The children cannot eat anything that is manufactured in a plant that processes peanuts or tree nuts. If you are packing something without ingredients (i.e. goldfish in a plastic bag) you MUST include the ingredients with the snack each time.
Toys
Children should not bring toys of any kind to school unless specifically requested by the teacher. It is distracting to the school experience and encourages other children to do the same. Toys will be sent home with a note reminding you not to allow the child to send them back. Children will be given an opportunity on their birthday and other specific days which you will be notified ahead of time about to share items from home.
Notes for Being Absent
Please note that if your child is absent from school you must call the school to notify them and a note must be sent in with him/her the day that they return. This is for office documentation. If your child has been out with a contagious illness they must bring in a doctor's note saying that they are okay to return to school.
Notes or Paperwork from Home
Please send ANY and ALL notes and paperwork in your child's folder. This way I am able to keep track of who returned/who still owes paperwork. If you have papers for the nurse or office, please label that information and I will send it to the appropriate place. This also keeps loss and confusion to a minimum.
Holidays
We celebrate ALL holidays in the classroom so as to expose children to a variety of cultures and traditions. If you and your family celebrate any special holidays that you would like me to know about, please let me know and we can incorporate them into the curriculum.
Allergies
If your child has any allergies (particularly food allergies) or health concerns that I need to know about, please drop me a note. Please be sure that you also let the school nurse know.
Wish List
Parents are often asking about materials they can contribute to the classroom. Items are listed on the website throughout the year and are posted at Open House. We can always use the items listed here throughout the year. Thank you for your generosity!
My Educational Assistant
I am very fortunate to have Kerry Feyler as my educational assistant. Mrs. Feyler is an asset to our classroom and we are so lucky to have her!
Materials
Throughout the year, you may be asked to send in specific materials for projects and assignments.
Contact Information
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns throughout the year. It is my goal to develop a positive home/school relationship with you based on effective communication. I can be reached before and after school by phone and am always willing to set up appointments to meet with you in person. You can always e-mail me or send me a note as well. I look forward to working with you to create the best possible instructional opportunities for your child!
Thank you for your support.
Mrs. O'Connor
To help your child organize school materials, it is strongly recommended that your child bring a backpack to school each day. This backpack should be labeled with your child's first and last name. It should be large enough to accommodate large projects and folders. Parents should check the contents each day.
Classroom Visitors
It is a school policy that all visitors must check in at the office before visiting any classroom. Unscheduled visits in a classroom can be distracting. Please make arrangements to schedule time in class if you choose to volunteer. If you just need to drop something off for your child, you can leave it at the office and we will be contacted.
Clothing
Please send your child to school in comfortable clothing that is appropriate for indoor and outdoor play. Children will interact more readily when they are not afraid of ruining their clothes. We do a number of messy art activities as well, so don't send your child to school in clothing you don't want to get dirty. All outerwear should be labeled with your child's first and last name including hats, mittens, boots, and sweaters. ** Every child should have a COMPLETE set of extra clothing at school (to be left on their hook in a small labeled plastic bag) including shirt, shorts/pants, underwear, and socks. These will be sent home periodically for fit and seasonal appropriateness.
**Please also send in a labeled, over sized t-shirt that can be use as a smock for messy projects.
Lunch
Children are each given a lunch card that is swiped at the lunch counter each day. You must send in money that is put onto your account by the cafeteria staff that allows for your child to purchase their lunch items. You can update your account online as well. I encourage you to please go over your child's lunch choice with them each day as this decision needs to be made BEFORE coming to school. Your child will be responsible for identifying their lunch choice as part of their morning routine, and it is easier for them to remember if they have been told in advance.
Parent-Teacher Communication
Please make sure that your child is aware of any notes, papers or other items that you have put into his/her backpack or folder. I will check the folders each morning but will also communicate with you through letters, e-mail and/or telephone throughout the school year. **Please note that ANY dismissal notes need to be WRITTEN the morning of the change. This is for safety reasons and is a school policy. If for some reason I am out, substitutes do not have access to my e-mail. FOLDERS should be checked and returned each day. Ultimately, checking folders for notes becomes your child's responsibility. I urge you to go over anything you put in the folders that I may need to see.
Parent Volunteers
Parent participation is welcome in the classroom. This includes volunteering to help with classroom activities, sharing a talent, or helping to prepare materials at home. Whatever you can do is greatly appreciated. A CORI (Criminal Offense Record Information) disclosure form must be completed BEFORE volunteering in the classroom. This is for ANY adult wishing to volunteer (mom, dad, grandparent, adult sibling etc.). This CORI check must be filled out in person at the office and a driver's license is required to process forms. If you know you would like to volunteer, I urge you to fill out the paperwork at the beginning of the school year as it can take some time to process. Please let me know if you are interested in volunteering and I will inform you of available time slots. If you are unable to make one of the scheduled center times that many parents wish to volunteer for, please let me know and we can work out another time block.
Scholastic Book Club
Each month an order form will be sent home with your child in order to purchase books through the Scholastic Book Club. You are not obligated to purchase anything. The total class purchases provide the teacher with bonus points that can be used towards free books and/or additional classroom materials. If you choose to order, please make checks payable to Scholastic Book Clubs. I cannot accept cash or any checks made out to me. Your check and order form should be sent in an envelope clearly marked with your child's name by the date on the back of the form. You can also order online. Our online access code is HF7CJ.
Snacks
Children need to bring a small, healthy, PEANUT FREE snack and drink (no soda or candy please) to school each day for our snack time. Snacks should be packed and clearly labeled separately from lunch. Please refer to the ingredients on the label for "safe" snacks. The children cannot eat anything that is manufactured in a plant that processes peanuts or tree nuts. If you are packing something without ingredients (i.e. goldfish in a plastic bag) you MUST include the ingredients with the snack each time.
Toys
Children should not bring toys of any kind to school unless specifically requested by the teacher. It is distracting to the school experience and encourages other children to do the same. Toys will be sent home with a note reminding you not to allow the child to send them back. Children will be given an opportunity on their birthday and other specific days which you will be notified ahead of time about to share items from home.
Notes for Being Absent
Please note that if your child is absent from school you must call the school to notify them and a note must be sent in with him/her the day that they return. This is for office documentation. If your child has been out with a contagious illness they must bring in a doctor's note saying that they are okay to return to school.
Notes or Paperwork from Home
Please send ANY and ALL notes and paperwork in your child's folder. This way I am able to keep track of who returned/who still owes paperwork. If you have papers for the nurse or office, please label that information and I will send it to the appropriate place. This also keeps loss and confusion to a minimum.
Holidays
We celebrate ALL holidays in the classroom so as to expose children to a variety of cultures and traditions. If you and your family celebrate any special holidays that you would like me to know about, please let me know and we can incorporate them into the curriculum.
Allergies
If your child has any allergies (particularly food allergies) or health concerns that I need to know about, please drop me a note. Please be sure that you also let the school nurse know.
Wish List
Parents are often asking about materials they can contribute to the classroom. Items are listed on the website throughout the year and are posted at Open House. We can always use the items listed here throughout the year. Thank you for your generosity!
My Educational Assistant
I am very fortunate to have Kerry Feyler as my educational assistant. Mrs. Feyler is an asset to our classroom and we are so lucky to have her!
Materials
Throughout the year, you may be asked to send in specific materials for projects and assignments.
Contact Information
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns throughout the year. It is my goal to develop a positive home/school relationship with you based on effective communication. I can be reached before and after school by phone and am always willing to set up appointments to meet with you in person. You can always e-mail me or send me a note as well. I look forward to working with you to create the best possible instructional opportunities for your child!
Thank you for your support.
Mrs. O'Connor