September 9, 2011
Dear Parents/Guardians;
This school year has gotten off to a great start. We have all been adjusting well to our new classroom and to our new classmates. We have twenty-four students of which 14 are boys and 10 are girls. There are 9 students in Grade 3 and 15 students in Grade 4.
I have listed below some important information regarding our classroom schedules and routines.
SPELLING:
We begin a new lesson on Monday. Spelling lists are to go home on Monday. Students are expected to take home the Spelling Lesson on Wednesday for homework if it is not completed during school time. Generally, ample time will be given to complete the assignment at school.
Thursday is marking day for Spelling and all students are expected to have their assignments completed and handed in first thing Thursday morning so that they can be marked as a class Thursday morning.
Friday is Spelling Test.
WEEKLY MATH/LANGUAGE ARTS
Each week we will do a set of Daily Math or Daily Language. Students are given the booklet for the week on Monday. Class time will be given to work on this but if it is not completed by Friday it is homework. It needs to be completed and returned to school on Monday.
WEAR RED FRIDAY
Students are encouraged to wear red shirts on Fridays as a way to show respect for our troops currently involved in peace missions around the world.
TAKE APART CENTER
We will be doing Take Apart Center sometime during the cold winter months. If you have any small appliances (toasters, egg beaters, hair dryers, small shop tools, etc.) that no longer work we would be happy to have them for our take apart center. The students always have a lot of fun with this and can take apart a large amount of items in very short order! You may send items to school as you come across them and I will store them for later use.
BLOG:
I have a classroom blog at http://mrshugill.blogspot.com/ . You can access the blog through the link on the Benito School website which is http://www.svsd.ca/benito/ . I will use this blog to keep you updated on some of the activities that we are doing at school. It will be a useful place for you to access links that will be helpful for your child. The link for the Math online dictionary is an exceptionally good one and can be quite helpful for completing weekly Math booklets.
LIBRARY:
We will be visiting the Downtown Library on a fairly regular basis. We are planning to go every other Thursday at 2:45. The librarian will read to the class or on occasion have a special activity for the students. I will be encouraging all students to regularly take out at least one ‘chapter book’ and one book or magazine for looking at.
Students will have opportunity several times a week to visit the School Library in order that they can have plenty of reading material on hand for both home and at school. There are also books on the classroom library for the students to borrow.
AGENDAS:
Students are required to have their agendas at school every day and are required to show them to their parents/guardians every day. I will look at the agendas and initial them every morning and am asking parents/guardians to look at and initial them every day as well so I know that you have checked them.
MEETING DEADLINES:
Throughout the school year we waste a lot of time and expense in hunting for forms/making new copies/making phone calls/putting off projects etc.
You can help by checking agendas nightly and returning forms promptly and encouraging your child to gather the necessary supplies in a timely manner. Students are encouraged to “show” their parents their agendas after school (as opposed to 2 minutes before the bus comes in the morning, believe me I have been there as a parent!) and notify their parents that there are forms or that there is a request for “materials” for projects.
I will try to help by making sure that students are writing the necessary information in their agendas and placing letters/forms in their front pouches. I will also be posting information on my blog so that you can check there for important information, as well as check for extra copies of forms or letters.
This year there may be times when students will be unable to attend events or participate in projects because they have not met the criteria for participation.
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS:
Please feel free to call me either at school (539-2466) or at home (539-2588) if you have any questions or concerns.
I am looking forward to a great year and trust that this will be a successful year for your child.
Yours in Education,
Mrs. Hugill
