The ABCs of First Grade

A Attendance
Please make sure your child attends school every day. Attendance laws apply to all students, so please make sure to
send in a written excuse or doctors note when your child returns to school. The tardy bell rings at 8:20 a.m. each
morning.
Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS)
The AKS are standards for academic excellence for all students in Gwinnett County Public Schools and are based
on the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS). The AKS contain the curriculum which teachers are expected to
teach and students are expected to learn.
B Birthdays
Birthdays can be celebrated with treats for the class. Please send in individuals items that can be easily passed out
in the classroom. Summer birthdays will be celebrated in the month of May.
Bubbilicious Reading
In order to encourage nightly reading at home, each student has a bubblegum machine outside the classroom with
their name on it. Each time your child reads 10 books they will put a sticker up on their bubble gum machine and
receive a piece of bubble gum as a special treat that day.
C Conferences
Conferences will be held twice a year in October and February; however, if you have any concerns about your childs
progress you may email me to set up an additional conference.
D Dismissal
Dismissal begins at 2:40 p.m. If you need to check your child out early, he/she must be checked out in the office
prior to 2:30 p.m.
E Excellent Behavior
A reward will be given to those students who demonstrate excellent behavior. They must remain on green (good
behavior) or blue (excellent behavior) to receive punches on their punch card. Once they have received 15 punches,
they will be able to shop in the reward catalogue. Please reinforce the school and classroom rules at home to
ensure your child gets to receive special rewards.
F Field Trips
We will send field trip notices home approximately 2-3 weeks before the day of the field trip. Please send back
the permission slip and money as soon as possible.
G Grading Scale and Graded Papers
Letter grades (E, S, N, U) will be given to your child in 1
st
grade, and the grade will follow the Gwinnett County
grading policy. Graded papers will be sent home every Friday in your childs Friday folder.
H Homework
Homework is a great way to keep you involved in your childs education and provides you the opportunity to review
and reinforce what has been taught during instructional time at school. Reading is very important in 1
st
grade.
Please remember to read to/with your child every night!
I Illnesses and Medication
All medication must be given in the clinic, and all medication must be brought to the clinic by an adult. Please do not
send any medicine or cough drops to school with your child.
J Journals
Students will be keeping several journals throughout the year. This is an exciting way for them to develop their
writing and grammar skills in order to become better readers.
K Kindness
Being kind is very important. Students are expected to treat everyone with respect each day.
L Lunch
We have lunch at 11:30am. You are welcome to join your child for lunch. Simply sign in at the office and sit with
your child at one of the designated visitor tables.
M Money
Your child will be bringing money to school to pay for field trips, lunch, breakfast, etc. Always send the money in a
sealed envelope or Ziploc bag. The following information needs to be written on the envelope:
Childs first and last name, amount of money, teachers name, and the purpose of the money (lunch,
breakfast, etc.).
N Newsletter
I will send home a weekly newsletter in your childs Friday folder in order to keep you informed about class events
and school news.
O Outdoor Time
We will have recess every day. We will remain inside if it rains or drops below 40 degrees. Dress your child
appropriately for the weather. Be sure to write your childs name on hats and coats in case they get lost.
Open-Door Policy
I love to have guests and parent volunteers. However, in order to limit classroom disruptions, it is necessary that
visits are arranged in advance. All guests must check in at the office to obtain a visitor sticker. This is a county
policy and keeps our campus safe.
P Positive Rewards
Our class can earn Patriot Bucks for excellent hallway, lunchroom, or specials behavior. When the class earns five
of these bucks, they receive one letter to spell S-H-I-L-O-H. Once Shiloh is spelled, the class earns a
celebration!
P.T.A.
P.T.A. is a great way to get actively involved in your childs education.
Q Questions
Please do not hesitate to call or email me with any concerns, questions, or compliments. A message may be left for
me at the front office or you may email me at julie_calaicone@gwinnett.k12.ga.us. I will do my best to respond
within 24 hours.
R Report Cards
Parents will receive a student report card at the end of each nine-week grading period. The back of the report
card envelope should be signed and returned as soon as possible.
S Snack
Please send a snack to school with your child every day. It should be small and healthy. Please no sweets and no
red drinks!
Scientist of the Week
Students will have the opportunity to be our Scientist of the Week. A folder will come home when it is your childs
turn to perform an experiment for the class. He/she will choose an experiment from the folder and practice it at
home prior to bringing it to class. The experiments are all fun and easy and most do not require any special items.
T Transportation
If your child needs to ride a different bus or change the way they go home on a specific day, WRITTEN
PERMISSION must be provided by the parent.
U Unique
All children are unique. Please let me know if there is information about your child that may be helpful for me to
know. It is very important that I am aware of any food or insect allergies.
V Volunteers
Volunteer support can be given in many ways. This may include assisting in the classroom or at home by cutting,
sorting or helping with special projects.
W Weekly Folder (Friday folder)
Your child will bring home a weekly folder every Friday. It will contain graded papers, newsletter, and information
from the school/county. Please sign the behavior sheet and remove all papers. Return the folder to school with your
child on the following school day.
X X-tra set of clothes
You may want to send an extra set of clothes to be kept at school in case of a bathroom, playground, or cafeteria
accident. Put your childs name on each piece of clothing and place in a gallon zip loc bag with their name on the
outside of the bag. This is optional, but it may be a good idea.
Y You
You the parents are an integral part of your childs education. It is important for you to be involved on a daily
basis making sure your child gets sufficient sleep and eats nutritiously, checking homework, and giving
encouragement.
Z Zeal
Zeal is the trait required of teachers and parents to reach the potential in every child. By working together, we
will have a successful and memorable school year!