Welcome, parents!

1. Welcome, parents!

2. Communication The best way to communicate with me is through e-mail at htgarcia@cbe.ab.ca I will not answer emails after 5pm (school policy). You can also phone the school and leave a message for me. I will get back to you before or after school. If it is urgent, please tell the office and they will contact me immediately. The office sends out emails about special events and notices. The school website also has the monthly calendar, newsletter and important dates to remember. Please sign up for SCHOOL MESSENGER via the school website. My “Weebly” website will have updates from our weekly activities: htgarcia.weebly.com ***Please send me your email before you leave, so that we can communicate class messages. If you would like more than one email, please provide that as well.

3. Pick-up and drop off Supervision begins at 7:45. If you arrive before that time, you must stay with your child. If your child is dropped off after 8:00, please remind him/her to pick up a late slip from the office to bring to class. This ensures that all students are accounted for. If you need to pick up your child early, please email me so that I am aware. When you arrive at the school, please sign your child out at the office. If you are picking up your child early, and you did not know before your child left for school, please call the office. When you arrive at the school, head to the office and sign your child out. If we do not hear from you by 2:00, your child will be sent on the bus, as usual.

4. Absences Ifyou are planning a family vacation, or if your child is ill, please send me an email and contact office. If your child is ill, PLEASE ensure they stay home until they are healthy to avoid spreading the illness. All absences should be reported to the office.

5. Snack and Lunch Snack: 9:55 – 10:05 Please pack a small, healthy snack. Make it easily accessible and apart from the rest of the lunch. • Reduce garbage and the wasting of food; whatever is not eaten will be sent home with your child (school policy). Please send a Ziploc bag to keep in their lunch kit each day to avoid any mess. Lunch: 11:45 – 12:25 Students go outside first for a movement break. They then have 15 minutes to eat lunch. The lunch supervisors try their best to encourage students to eat their entire lunch but if that is your wish, please remind your child at home that it is the expectation to eat their entire lunch. Please LABEL all items!

6. Uniform To summarize: Green vest, green sweater, white shirt, blue tights. Crest must be showing. Please wear formal uniform each Monday and for any whole-school assemblies that you will be notified of in advance. Please ensure that all cardigans, vests, and shoes are labeled with your child’s name. Students need to have a pair of black dress shoes and a pair of non-marking gym shoes to be kept at school You may also choose to have one pair of solid black gym shoes. (labeled with your child’s name). If your child cannot tie shoes, please use Velcro shoes.

8. Homework Homework will begin the week of September 16th (due Thursday, Sept. 19th as there is no school for students on Sept. 20th). It will be posted online on my Weebly website on the 13th. The green folders and homework books will be sent home on Mondays and must be returned by Friday. If your child finishes early, feel free to send it in. It is the parents’ responsibility to check for completion and correctness. Personalizing Learning: As the year progresses, there will be more differentiation in Math and Spelling. You will be informed of which assignment your child is expected to complete according to their learning needs.

9. Weekly Homework will consist of: 1. READING: Students are required to read for 15-20 minutes (each night). They should be reading BOTH their Home Reading books and Raz-Kids books. 2. Assignments: EVERY Friday, homework assignments will be posted. The work must be done in the homework book and handed in on the following Friday (Thursday on short weeks). Math problems and Mathletics: You will receive log-in info later in the month. 3. Spelling Words: Tests will occur on Fridays so study them as much as you can throughout the week. 4. Character Education: Monthly For some assignments, you can choose to print off the pages or have your child do the work in the notebook. Please do not staple or glue any pages into the notebook.

10. Reading Homework

11. Volunteers Volunteers are needed to make these activities possible, and parents will be notified in advance if volunteers are needed. This will be done via my Weebly blog. We will have at least two out-of-school field trips, but we will also need volunteers to help with in-class activities. All volunteers assisting with students MUST have an up-to-date Police Security Clearance. Please see the staff in the office to help you get started.

12. What I need from you… Small Ziploc bags for food/garbage inside lunch kits Headphones (the ones that cover the ears are the best) Water bottle with closed top

13. Birthdays Treat ideas: - Send a healthy, nut free treat with your child to share - Examples: fruit, cheese string, veggie tray - An alternative to food treats would be special pencils, erasers, or stickers. Invitations: - Please have your child discreetly give me the invitation/ let me know they have them so that invitations can be placed into student backpacks without hurting any feelings

14. Fostering Independence • One way to encourage your child to be more independent is allowing them to practise routines on their own, i.e. zipping up jackets, tying shoes, zipping up backpacks • Guiding your child to be independent with routines at home will provide them with the confidence to try skills and routines on their own in other settings.

15. Thank you! I look forward to working with you and your child this year. My main goal is to inspire your child to love learning. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any comments or concerns. Questions?