1. WELCOME TO FIRST GRADE PARENT ORIENTATION 2014-2015

2. Campus Administration Dr. Tonya Hyde, Principal (210) 368-8800 thyde@fshisd.netthyde@fshisd.net Mrs. Rebecca Herrera, Asst. Principal (PK-2). (210) 368-8805 rherrera@fshisd.netrherrera@fshisd.net Mrs. Laura Boon, Counselor (PK-2) (210) 368-8808 lboon@fshisd.netlboon@fshisd.net

3. First Grade Team

4. Dr. Morgan Educational Background Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies English Master of Arts in Elementary Education Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Post-Graduate Guidance & Counseling Certification Teaching Honors and Recognition 2013-2014 FSH Elementary Teacher of the Year 2013-2014 Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching 2014 Krispy Kreme Teacher of the Year 2nd Runner Up 2011 School Board Recognition for Lobbying on Capitol Hill for Wounded Warrior Families 2010-2011 Fort Sam Houston HERO Award 2007-2008 Rampage Teacher of the Game Texas Teaching Certifications EC-4 Generalist 4-8 Generalist EC-12 English as a Second Language EC-12 Technology Applications 8-12 English, Language Arts, & Reading 9 th Year Teaching at FSHE 11 th Year in Education

5. Dr. Morgan mmorgan@fshisd.net (210) 368-8800 ext 8027 (210) 646-4942 (text only) Conference Time Monday – Friday 1:30-2:15 pm

6. FIRST GRADE SCHEDULE  8:00-9:30ELAR (Reading/Phonics/Spelling/Writing)  9:30-10:15Specials #1/PLC (Staff Development)  10:15-10:50 Lunch  10:55-11:30Social Studies  11:30-12:30Math  12:30-12:45 Recess *Snack  12:50-1:30 RTI / IE  1:30-2:15Specials #2/Conference  2:15-3:00 Science  3:00Dismissal* [1 st bell PK/K; 2 nd bell 1 st /2 nd ; 3 rd bell 3 rd /4 th /5 th ] FSHE School Day 7:45 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Students are tardy if they are not in their classroom by 7:50 a.m.

7. First Grade Classroom Expectations  1) Keep your hands and feet to yourself [make smart choices]  2) Raise your hand to talk [Raise your hand for permission to speak]  3) No running or fighting [make smart choices]  4) Follow directions [follow directions quickly]  5) Stay on Task Students that meet these expectations will receive: Praise and Class Cheers Positive notes and stickers in their agendas Special Privileges Gold coin slips & other behavior rewards such as the treasure box Consequences: 1)Verbal Warning. 2)Move clip to yellow and lose 5 minutes of recess. 3)Move clip to orange and lose 10 minutes of recess. 4)Move clip to red. No recess and parents will be called. 5)Severe Clause-Student sent to the office. 6)Write ups in the agenda for numbers 2-5.

8. Communication between teachers and parents Our first line of communication with you will be through the use of your child’s agenda. Please make it a habit to check daily. Each day your child will bring home his/her agenda as part of their PIRATE notebook. Please take time to check for homework and/or important papers like progress reports, report cards, or notes from school in the “left at home” and “right back to school” pockets in the back of the pirate notebook. Also you may send notes from home, in this pocket as I check daily. If concerns arise, please bring them to our attention through a note in their agenda, or by email. We may not see phone messages immediately, but you may also leave a message by phone. Texting, Remind, & Class Website Behavior will be documented daily. A green dot means your child followed all school expectations and procedures. A write up will explain otherwise with the appropriate colored dot. Please sign your child’s agenda and return to school daily. Our goal is to establish a partnership to keep you informed about academic and behavioral success. Conferences may be requested by the parents or the teacher. There will be designated conference times for each child on Thursday, October 2 nd & Friday, October 3 rd..

9. Conduct Grades  Another important reason to check your child’s agenda daily is so you are always aware of what their conduct grade will be on their report card. Your child will receive either an “E”, “S”, “N”, or “U”. Those grades will be determined by the number of write ups they have. E=EXCELLENT 0-1 write ups in agenda S=SATISFACTORY 2-7 write ups in agenda N=NEEDS IMPROVEMENT 8-10 Write ups in agenda U=UNSATISFACTORY 11 or more write ups

10. Grades E=EXCELLENT 90-100 S=SATISFACTORY 80-89 N=NEEDS IMPROVEMENT 70-79 U=UNSATISFACTORY 69 and below

11. Assessments  Student assessments will be conducted in Reading (Istation) and Math (AIMSweb). The results will be shared with you at the fall conferences.  Informal assessments and sight word tests (Dolch and Fry Lists) will be conducted in class. This allows for goals to be established for each individual child.  Observational assessments of standards are made at the completion of a unit according to our curricular framework.

12. Homework  The purpose of homework is to reinforce skills that have been taught in class. It is recorded on the report card whether or not the student turns in their homework.  Spelling Words-Students will have a spelling test every Friday with a re-test on Mondays for students with a grade of less than 70.  Math-Math homework will be sent home to give students extra practice on what is being taught in class and/or what needs to be reviewed.  The students can complete their homework in any order they like. However, all homework is due by Friday morning. We require that parents take a few moments to look over the homework for accuracy and child’s name before handing it in.  Please make sure your child practices his/her spelling words and reads for at least 15 minutes each night. Giving your child practice spelling tests is a great way for them to practice for the real thing. Spelling tests are recorded on the students report card.  Start date for Homework is Tuesday, September 2nd!

13. FSHISD Attendance Policy  Regular school attendance is essential for the student to make the most of his or her education. Attendance is taken at 8:00 and 9:30 a.m. Students not at school at 9:30 are counted absent for the entire day. If a student is absent part of the day for a medical appointment, the student will not be counted absent if a note from the doctor documents the appointment. If your child is absent, please send a dated note from home/doctor. All notes must be received within three days or the absence becomes unexcused.  If a student will be absent from school three or more days, the parents need to call the teacher to make arrangements to pick up schoolwork. Parents should call at least one day in advance to give the teachers adequate time to gather the assignments and books. The completed assignments should be brought to school when the child returns or when the work is completed within the time frame allowed. Generally speaking, students are allowed one day to complete work for each day absent.  TARDIES- The tardy bell rings at 7:50. Please make every effort to make sure your child arrives on time. All tardy students must be signed in by a parent in the office before admittance to the classroom. Be aware that excessive tardies leads to “instructional recovery” or as we remember… after school detention. Students can be assigned after school detention to complete work missed in class if tardies become a problem. Please make sure you child does not get 3 or more tardies. If possible, have them ride the bus to and from school. Tardies count and will impact Attendance Awards.

14. Opportunities for Parent Involvement Don’t forget to turn in your Volunteer Background Check Form. It is mandatory for all volunteers.  Room Parents – We love our parent volunteers!  PTO (Parent Teacher Organization)  Field Trips and Special Events (ex: book fair)

15. Other Information:  It is recommended that all students wear tennis shoes to school. They cannot participate in the P.E. activities without them  LUNCH - - Lunch will be at 10:15-10:55 am. If you wish to have lunch with your child, meet your child in the cafeteria. Reminders: no sharing food at lunch.  Make sure your child has lunch money or a lunch from home each day. All accounts can be taken care of in the cafeteria or visit mylunchmoney.com.  Any money brought from home, please send it inside the pouch with a completed money for school note provided at the front of the PIRATE notebook.  Due to accidents that do occur unexpectedly, it is suggested to send a change of clothes in a labeled large zip lock-bag, to keep at school.

16.  BIRTHDAYS—Birthdays are special to us! Please feel free to send in a special treat such as cookies or cupcakes on your child’s birthday. Birthday goodies will be served at the end of the day at 2:15 to allow time to celebrate and honor the birthday child, enjoy the treat, and dismiss for the day.  We will celebrate summer birthdays at the end of the year.  Students can bring individual healthy snacks to eat after recess (12:45 p.m.).  BOOK ORDERS- A Scholastic Book Order Form will be coming home approximately once a month. If you choose to purchase books for your child, please make sure orders are placed in a sealed envelope with your child’s name on the front or placed online through our class link.

17.  VISITATION- We enjoy and appreciate our parent volunteers! Upon volunteering and visiting the classroom we ask that you please follow procedures. Unscheduled visits are disruptive to the classroom environment and student learning. Sign in at the office upon arrival and wear your pass where it is visible. When leaving please sign out in the office.  DISMISSAL- School dismisses at 2:52 daily. The parent pick-up line is very congested due to pre-k students who must be picked up by a parent. We ask that you please consider busing your child as it is the easiest convenience for all.  BUS- If your child will be using bus services, please be aware of a couple of things. Children are only allowed to ride the bus to their home address or after school care provider. If they have an after school provider, the address must be on file. Please keep the teacher and front office informed about any transportation changes. There is a change of transportation form in the back of the PIRATE notebook. Use it and place it in the right back to school pocket. I will replenish with new copies as needed. They are also available on the class website. Please discuss with your child the location for morning pick-up and afternoon drop-off. If your child will be going home a different way than the usual way we cannot take your child’s word – it must be in writing. There are no exceptions due to safety.

18.  Please do not send any valuables to school with your child.  Sometimes our classes get very cold beyond our control. If possible, have your child keep a light jacket, sweater/sweatshirt in school for those cold days in the classroom.  Don’t forget to sign up for Remind text alerts and check our class website frequently. Please read the student-parent handbook carefully. You may find the student-parent handbook on the Fort Sam Houston ISD page ~ www.fshisd.netwww.fshisd.net

19. Thank you for coming! Let’s have a great year!