St. Theresa School

2015/2016

Class Picture

Goes in this Section

Welcome to 1st Grade*Our school theme for this year is WIN (worship, inspire, nurture).

These are some of the values we strive to see our students attain while

in our school. You will see trophies throughout the school to remind the students of this.

*A weekly newsletter will be posted on Friday mornings for the following week.

This will remind you off all upcoming events and will also have an overview of

what we will be doing in class each week. I strongly encourage you to print this

and hang it on your refrigerator each week.

*Remind 101 is a great way for me to remind you of something in our classroom

(ex-Tomorrow is a Dress Down Day) that may be announced last minute.

https://dashboard.remind.com/classes/mrslenig/instructions

*Be sure to check the student handbook for uniform policies. Students must

be in proper uniform each day (boys-including belts).

*If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email me.

Morning ArrivalStudents should arrive in full uniform, ready to start the day between 8:00 and 8:10. Please drop your child off at the door. Any large items to be sent to the classroom can be left at the office and brought down by a staff member. Security for our students is our first priority, so we like to keep unauthorized adults out of the building at all times.

*I grew up in Mechanicsburg, graduated from Mechanicsburg High School and Shippensburg University. I have a degree in Journalism and my PA Teaching Certificate to teach K-8.

*I did my student teaching in Australia (K) and at Highland Elementary (4)

*I was hired in 1995 at STS and have primarily taught 1st grade and 4th grade for a bit.

*I stayed home with my daughters for 6.5 years, but continued to substitute and run the Wish List during those years.

*My daughter Carly is in 9th grade at Cedar Cliff (a recent 8th grade grad. from STS) and my daughter Lindsey is in 6th grade here at STS.

*We have 2 cats, Harley and Angel, and 2 dogs, Chloee and Bella.

My Goals as Your Child’s Teacher

*to give your child the academic and social skills needed to progress to 2nd grade

*to provide a safe, supportive and fun classroom environment for your child

*to help your child make new friends and discover new interests

*to make sure your child enjoys his/her educational experience

The subjects we cover in 1st grade are:

ReligionIntegrated Language Arts (reading, writing, speaking, language skills)MathScience Social Studies

Classroom CommunityOur classroom is a community. In our community, we have rules to

help us get along with each other.These rules are reviewed daily with your child. If your child “breaks” one of these rules, we will review it at the time it is “broken.” If I have to remind them again of the “broken” rule, a note will be sent home to let you know that the rule had to be reviewed during the school day more than once. This is NOT a disciplinary note, but rather a way to again review the rule with your child at home. If a rule is broken repeatedly, I will have a discussion with your child and with you about rectifying the behavior. Students will receive a punch on their card on days they do not have to be reminded personally about a rule more than once. 10 punches=a prize.

1. Listen when someone is talking.2. Follow directions quickly and quietly.3. Raise your hand to speak.4. Respect others, respect yourself, respect your school.5. Be safe. Be honest.6. Keep your teachers happy!

Absent Students

If our child is sick, please allow him/her to stay at home. Not only does it allow him/her to heal, but it also helps to

lessen the spread of germs so others do not get sick.

If your child is going to be absent, contact the school office before 9 AM.

Missed work will be sent home or completed in class the day he/she returns to school.

Please be sure to write an excuse for your child’s absence. They are located in the back of the school

handbook.

If your child is going to be late or leave early, please write a note to let me know.

Please use the school tablet provided when possible.

BirthdaysStudents are allowed to bring in a birthday treat to share

with the class. Individually wrapped treats work best.

Pizzas and cakes are NOT permitted.

Your child can dress out of uniform for his/her special day. If it is a gym day, they can dress out of

uniform on a different day that week.

Summer birthdays can be celebrated at half birthday time or at the

end of the school year (your choice).

Please let me know a few days in advance if you will be sending in a

treat for your child’s birthday.

Birthdays will be celebrated at snack recess.

Morning Work

In the morning, students complete a paper about the day which

includes almost all aspects of the subject areas we are learning about throughout the year. They are also required to participate in a version of “The Daily 5” which encourages

students to do a bit of reading, writing, working with words, math and praying independently. While

they are doing this, I will be working with small groups and

doing assessing when necessary.

The Common CoreOur school’s curriculum follows

along with the Common Core, which is a

list of standards, or skills to be mastered, throughout the school

year. In 1st grade they are presented with “I can”

statements. This enables students and parents to be able

to understand the skill being mastered.

ReligionWe will be learning that God makes each one of us special.

We will learn about Jesus and the Holy Family.

We will create a prayer book.

We will learn to recite important prayers in our faith.

We will learn about a variety of Saints and Holy Days important in our faith.

We are excited to begin the second year in our newly renovated

science lab. We use a program called Lab Learner. The topics we will be covering are: Our Senses, Staying Safe, Liquids and Solids,

Discovering Life, Plants and Animals and Weather Changes.

Science will consist of a prelab lesson, Lab day and a post-lab

discussion.

I can use addition and subtraction to help me understand math.

I can use number sense and place value to help me understand math.

I can use measurement and data to help me understand math.

I can use geometry to help me understand math.

*Students will be having a Weekly Assessment of math facts each Thursday. They can be found on the newsletter and should be practiced. They practice them

daily in school, as well.

I can write different types of writing (opinion, fiction, informative).

I can make my writing better.

I can use research to help my writing.

ReadingI can read and understand fiction

and nonfiction.

I can use what I know to understand fiction and non fiction.

I can use phonics to help me read.

I can read fluently.

Language

I can use proper English when I write and speak.

I can figure out what words mean and use them in

different situations.

Social StudiesWe will learn about our families.

We will learn about American heroes, American symbols and

famous presidents.

We will learn about the globe and map skills.

We will learn about the 4 seasons and weather.

SpecialsYour child will have at least 1

special class per day. Check our newsletter for which special we

have on which day.

Students are required to wear their gym uniform on gym day. WHITE socks (w/o Nike swishes, etc…)

must be worn. During the colder months, a navy blue STS sweatshirt

and navy sweatpants will also be required.

Grade ReportsYour child will receive 3 report cards this year.

Students are also assessed 3 times each year using the DIBELS screening and DRA.

The first report card will be distributed in October. Please be sure to sign up for a conference

tonight.

Students are graded using the following marks:P (Proficient)

I (In Progress)

You are also welcome to visit Option C to see how your child is doing academically. You will also find P

and I grades here.

HomeworkYour child will have 10-15 minutes of homework each night Monday through Thursday. It will be in his/her Homework Folder. Homework must be colored and done neatly. Please let me know if homework takes any longer than this. Please send any correspondence back to school in an envelope to be placed into my mailbox in the morning or email me.

You should also be sure you are reading to your child or our child is reading AT LEAST 10 minutes each night. Reading Logs began in September. I recommend filling in the log daily after you read. At the end of the month, please return it to school. Students are required to participate in this activity each month. Students must also do 1 book report each month. It is attached to the monthly packet, on the back of the Reading Log.

Students will also be required to do a monthly speaking assignment. These are usually due during the last week of each month. Students are required to participate in this activity.

Access to a cd player will be helpful for listening to books on cd which will come home on Monday nights. Speller’s Choice will be homework each night before a Spelling Test (usually Thursday nights). Please help your child to find a way that he/she enjoys practicing their words. I do not need a paper copy of how they have practiced each week. A parent signature tells me they have done their work. We usually have Religion homework on Tuesdays and Math on Wednesdays.

Please practice the sight words (in the set of papers in front of you) and nonsense words (sent home monthly). These he[p your child to become a more fluent reader.

Students who would like a monthly challenge can research a topic and present a Webquest to our class. Please talk to Mrs. Lenig if your child is interested in doing a Webquest. Webquests can be presented on the first Friday of each month.

Be sure to sign your child’s homework book each night and

empty his/her bookbag.

At home online…There are a variety of online resources included with our Math and Reading books. Information will be sent home for you to access these sites using your child’s login information.

Your child will also be able to do Reading Eggs this year at home and at school. This is a great learning resource our school purchases for its students!

Please let me know if your child is unable to access the internet to do homework.

Please be sure your child has lunch money or a packed lunch for each school day. Lunch is from 11:20 to 11:45 daily.

Cafeteria school lunches cost $2.35 per day. Our school uses mylunchmoney.com to purchase lunches (fee assessed). You can also send in cash or a check in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s name, number and 1A on it to buy lunch (no fee assessed).

Packers can buy milk, lemonade or orange drink for 55 cents. Milk can only be purchased for lunch—NOT for snack.

Some students like to buy a lemonade or orange drink along with their bought lunch, these cost an additional 55 cents.

Students who are lactose intolerant must have a doctor’s excuse to receive water or juice with their bought school lunch.

Please practice your child’s lunch id code with them daily. It is on the front of their yellow folder that they bring home each night.

Please pack a daily snack and drink for your child in a separate bag. Your child will have snack recess in

the afternoon.

Please make your child’s snack healthy. Great snacks are fruits, vegetables, yogurt, jell-o, Wheat Thins, Triscuts, granola bars or cereal bars. Please

no chips, cookies, candy, etc…

Students may bring a drink for their snack.

Snacks are NOT to be shared with other students.

Snacks are not able to be refrigerated. Please send in an ice pack if it needs to be kept cold.

Afternoon DismissalIf there is a change in the way

your child is going home, please call the office before 2:45 to

inform them of the change, so it can be added to the afternoon announcements. Please do not email changes to me during the school day as I may not be able to check my computer before

dismissal.

Our school does many service projects throughout the school year. We collect various items to donate to

needy organizations. First grade students are responsible for the used glasses collection in February and the retired flag collection in May. Keep an eye out on the newsletter for the items we are collecting to help our

class win a variety of prizes throughout the school year. Always

be collecting Boxtops!

Please consider helping our school by helping with the PTO. KidsStuff books are going home tonight. We

earn thousands of dollars for purchasing these. They make a great gift if you do not need one. Just by

using the Weis coupons, you get your $25 back!! They do many fundraisers throughout the year. You do not need to participate in all of them, but please pick a

few to help our school.

We also need a representative from our class to attend monthly meetings, too.

The PTO provides money to sponsor fun events for our

students throughout the school year.

STS PTO

VolunteersIf you would like to become a volunteer in our

school you MUST get your clearances and badge to do so. Getting your clearances is HIGHLY

ENCOURAGED. Clearances are required to do any work with the students in our school (help

with parties, go on fieldtrips, etc…)

Visitors are able to come to our school to attend assemblies or events with their children.

Visitors must be signed in at the office and must wear a visitors badge at all times.

REPEAT VISITORS ARE VOLUNTEERS.

**I am looking for some volunteers to help to set up our resource/recess room across the hall. Please let me know if you can help!!**

Additional Supply ListAn additional supply list

was sent home. These items are class specific.

Thanks for providing them for your child to

have an excellent learning experience.

Wish ListPlease consider helping our classroom by picking a flower from the back of our door. These items help to create a fun classroom atmosphere and provide materials to be used while teaching.

Wish Lists will also be on weekly newsletters and are generated monthly through the school office and can be viewed online.

Before you leave…

Sign up to help out (on the board)

Sign up for a conference (on the board)

Check the Transportation Sheet to see if it is correct

Write your child a note on the toucan paper

Write a list of 10 books your child read over the summer for the

STS Summer Reading Program

Pick a Wish List Flower

You can fill out and return (into your child’s pocket) any of the pages

in your child’s green folder

Watch Mrs. Lenig demonstrate how to access our classroom webpage

Thank You...for taking the time to attend

Back to School Night!

I look forward to working with you and your child this year. It is going to be a wonderful year filled with

exciting learning activities!