1. 1 st Grade Information Night Duane Engleman Classroom #7 denglema@grandblancschools.org

2. Communication  If you need to get in contact with me please email me or call the classroom and leave me a message.  denglema@grandblancschools.org denglema@grandblancschools.org  810-591-4149 Classroom  810-591-4100 Office  A newsletter will be sent home each week containing important dates, information, and concepts. I will be sending newsletters through email on Friday’s.  “Friday Packet” comes from the office containing information that is happening at Indian Hill. This goes home on Friday’s as well.

3. Bus Policy / Parent Pick up  In the event that your student will be a “parent pick-up,” please write me a note in their planner.  If I do not have a note, and there is not an adult present when school is dismissed, your student will be put on the bus to go home.  If you pick up at dismissal, please meet your child outside the K-2 wing.  Please note only you or the people on your emergency card can pick up your child.  If you are transporting your child to school each morning, the doors for breakfast will open at 8:30am. Otherwise children will enter the building at 8:40am.

4. Lunch  You can pay in advance for lunch here at school or online and it will be stored in a computer with the cafeteria.  I ask that all parents send lunch money in an envelope with their student’s name and “lunch money” on the outside.  You can access your child’s account as well as lunch prices online: http://grandblanc.schoolfusion.us/ http://grandblanc.schoolfusion.us/  Lunch calendar will be sent home at the beginning of each month.  If for some reason you are dropping your child off after school has started. Please remind them to make their lunch choice before they walk down to the classroom.

5. Snack/Water Bottles  Students are responsible for bringing their own healthy snack daily.  If you would like to buy a box of pre-packed snacks to have your child's keep in their locker that is fine as well.  Water bottles are encouraged. Please try to have your child bring in a water bottle that does not have a removable lid because children spill a lot.

6. Behavior Plan  We use an online system called Class Dojo to reward positive behavior as well as noting the negative behavior of each individual student.  Each day your child starts with 3 points.  If your child misbehaves or makes a bad choice, they are given a warning.  If your child continues to misbehave they will be asked to take one of their points away.  As I catch your child doing a positive behavior they will be asked to add a point. This way they can be noticed for making good choices instead of always focusing on the negative.  If your child loses all 3 points in a day they will miss some of their Free Time Friday.  If this behavior continues you will be notified.

7. At Home Reading  Students will check out a book from me every Friday. They will be given a reading bag with their name on it along with a reading log. The student are asked to return their book bag every Friday. They can only check out a new book if they turned in the one from the week before.  They are NOT books that we have read at school they are books they are interested in reading.

8. Word Study  Word Study – given a pattern for each week: word families, rhymes, long and short vowels, blends and vowel patterns, etc.  Sight Words- two each week; review these words and then place them on our word wall.  My focus is to teach the students to use strategies while reading and writing.  We monitor their progress with word study, we do not do a formal weekly test.

9. Report Cards / Conferences  Grading Scale S- Secure P- Progressing as Needed N- Needs more practice at home and school AC- Area of Concern  Report cards are sent home 4 times a year.  Conferences are held twice a year in November and March.  You can sign up for a time tonight or anytime in the main hallway.  They are only 15 minutes long.

10. Birthday Celebrations  Please write me a note or contact me a week in advance if your child is going to bring in a “Birthday treat” to school so I can schedule it into our plans for the week.  Birthday treats have to be a healthy snack.  Examples are:  Jello  Fruit  Cheese and crackers  Popcorn  Muffins  If they can be prepackaged this would help with easy handout and clean up. Thanks!

11. Book Orders  This is a cheap way to order books to build your at-home library.  You can do this online. In an upcoming newsletter you will receive the email along with the directions on how to do this.

12. Field Trips  The PTO funds our school field trips. We try to go on atleast 3 throughout the year.

13. Volunteers  We welcome volunteers!  A parent volunteer form from the website must be completed and returned to the office prior to volunteering in our building. Thanks for your support to help keep all GB students safe.  I will send home a volunteer sheet closer to the end of September beginning of October.

14. Fundraiser  Every year we do a Walk-a-thon fundraiser to support Indian Hill events.  Your Walk-a-thon info will be coming in the next few weeks. We are looking for 100% participation no matter the amount to help with this event.  Go Jaguars!!

15. Homework  Homework will go home each Friday.  Homework must be turned in by the following Friday.

16. Planner  Your child will receive a planner that goes home every night informing you of the next days activities. Please sign and return in their folder daily.  You can also communicate with me through the planner, as I check it daily.  The planner will inform you of the next days events.

17. Headphones  Throughout the year your child will be using laptops to listen to books, work on xtramath, take reading tests, etc.  We are asking for you to have your child bring in a set of their own headphones to keep in the classroom all year so they will be able to use them during computer time.  They will be stored in their lockers.