1. Ms. Skura’s First Grade Class
Welcome, parents!

2. Welcome to First Grade!
Hi, my name is Kristen Skura and I am so excited to be joining the St. Agnes Family! I have been teaching for 5 years but this is my first year at St. Agnes. I was previously an AIS Reading and Math Teacher for 3 years. I received my Bachelors degree in Childhood Education at SUNY Old Westbury in 2013 and my Masters in Special Education at Touro College in 2017. 

3. My Goals
To give my students the academic and social skills they need to progress to second grade.
To provide a supportive and fun classroom environment.
To help them make new friends and discover new interests.
To further develop their relationship with God and the Church.
To have students work as a class community and be respectful to each other

4. School/Class Updates www.stagnes-school.org Tuesday packets
Virtus Training
Parent Portal
Scholastic Book Orders
Formed

5. School Procedures Absent Procedure:
Log into Pick Up Patrol in the morning and record your child’s absence.
Send in a note upon your child’s return stating the date and reason he/she was absent.
If your child is absent for two or more days and you want to pick up missed work, you can call the office for a work request. If not, work will be sent home upon the child’s return to school.
If your child was absent due to any contagious illness (strep, chicken pox, etc.) be sure to report it to the nurse.
If you are changing your child’s regular dismissal procedure you must log into Pick Up Patrol before 2:00 p.m. and enter the arrangement. Please also send a note to the classroom teacher.

6. Morning Arrival
Morning Arrival: 8:15 AM  Grades K-4: Students will receive a late pass from the main office when arriving to school after 8:15 A.M. Four lates/trimester will result in the student receiving an unsatisfactory rating in the growth code on the report card.  0 times Late = E  1-3 times Late = S  4-6 = I  7+ = N

7. Lunch Birthdays The first grade begins lunch at 11:10.
Students do not have snack time, except on half days.
Pizza-Tuesday, Chicken Nuggets-Thursday & Bagels- Friday
Bagel orders will be taken on Wednesdays and served on Fridays.
Birthdays
Birthday treats will be distributed at lunch. Some suggestions are cupcakes, brownies, or cookies. Treats must be in the office by 10:30

8. Gym
Gym is every Day F. As a result of our rotating schedule, gym will not be on the same day each week.
Students are to wear their gym uniform with socks and sneakers. On October 15, students should be wearing their gym sweatpants and sweatshirts. Please make sure sweatshirts are clearly labeled with your child’s name.
Students will not be excused from gym without a doctors note.

9. Class Subjects The subjects we cover during first grade are:
Reading and writing
Math
Religion
Science
Social Studies

10. Religion
Topics in religion include: Virtue of the Month, major feast days, Church seasons, Gospel reflections, the Rosary, and our involvement in the Church
Students will each receive an 8th grade buddy. Once a month students will go to Mass with their assigned buddies and complete various projects.

11. Sacrament Preparation Program
St. Agnes Parish has implemented a sacrament preparation program for 1st and 2nd graders. Each month, there will be an assigned weekend that will be designated as a “recognition day”. The children will be required to submit a stewardship card into the offertory basket. Cards will be distributed on the Friday before the given date. While the Grade 1 Mass will be held at the 9:30 a.m. Family Mass, cards may be handed in at any Mass that weekend.
Be sure to check the school calendar for the dates!

12. Reading Our series is literature based, integrated with leveled books.
The reading series focuses on the five dimensions of literacy: comprehension, fluency, phonemic awareness, decoding and vocabulary.
Students will be reading in whole group, small group, and individual settings.
Students will be introduced to a variety of texts including: fiction, non-fiction, poetry and fables.

13. Fundations & Vocabulary
Spelling words will be assigned weekly from our Fundations Unit.
Words will be listed on the weekly Homework sheet.
A spelling test will be given at the end of each week.
Sight vocabulary words will be assigned for each Reading unit.
Each week, students will be responsible for studying 10 sight vocabulary words.
The words for the Unit will be posted on our class webpage under “Reading/Vocabulary.”
The “Story of the Week” will be posted on our Homework sheet.
A Unit sight vocabulary test will be assigned when all five stories have been completed.

14. Writing
Students will be expected to write everyday, especially in their journals and other language arts based activities. However, reading and writing is integrated across all subject areas.
Students will progressively write: basic sentences, detailed sentences and paragraphs. They will also be writing in a variety of forms.
A language arts workbook will be used to strengthen the mechanics of writing. The students will be introduced to topics such as grammar, punctuation and parts of speech.

15. Math
Topics include: addition/subtraction, counting on, fact families, problem solving, geometry, fractions, greater than/less than, time, place value, measurement, and money.

16. Science / Social Studies/ Health
Each week, we will focus on a topic in either Science, Social Studies, or Health.
The topics being discussed will be listed on our class website.
Informal class assessments will be given periodically.

17. Folders Folders are important for the organization of each student.
Students must bring their folder home each night and back to school each day.
Important handouts, finished work, and a homework notebook will be placed in the folder. Please be sure to empty out the handouts and finished work each night.

18. Homework Homework began this Monday, September 16th.
Every Monday students will receive a homework sheet, listing the homework for the week. Helpful reminders will also be listed.
Each student will receive a homework notebook, which is to remain in the student’s folder at all times. The homework sheet will indicate which assignments are to be completed in the homework book.
Homework should be checked and signed.
Reading Log Books will begin in October and directions will be attached.

19. Assessments
Formal assessments in the areas of math, sight vocabulary, spelling, and religion will be given
You will be informed of any assessments one week in advance.
Hold on to any workbook pages that are sent home this way you can use them to review with your child before an assessment is given (especially Math sheets!)
Informal assessments will be given in all content areas.

20. Things to Look Forward to in First Grade
CoGat Testing- February 25-28th
Field Trips
Special People Day
May Mass hosted by First Grade

21. Assessment Cards
Assessment cards will be given out in December, March and June.

22. Please feel free to contact me at:
Let’s Have a Great Year!
Please feel free to contact me at:
ext 313
Or send in a note with your child and I will get back to you as soon as possible