First Grade Information 2016-2017

Welcome to first grade! I am excited to be working with you and your child
this school year.

I would like to welcome back families I have previously

worked with. I am also happy to make connections with new families. Chapman Elementary, as
many of you already know, is an exciting place to learn due to our excellent staff and families.
I am grateful to be teaching for over twenty years, mostly in the early elementary grades. I am
a mother of four adult children. I am also a grandmother to four grandchildren. I have studied
at the University of Michigan/Dearborn in Early Childhood Education for my Bachelors Degree
and an Inclusion Specialist for my Masters Degree. Go Blue! But I also have to say, Go
Hoosiers, since I have a daughter who has graduated from Indiana University. I am also a
proud parent of a Navy daughter and son-in-law, who reside in Denver.
First grade, in my opinion, is the largest period of academic growth. My goal this school year is
to guide your child toward academic, social, and emotional growth within a positive learning
environment.

The first grade curriculum is aligned to meet the National Common Core

Standards for education. Literacy is our key focus. Literacy includes guided reading, shared
reading, word work, writing, and many other learning activities. Math is also a part of our daily
schedule. Science and Social Studies are included in our curriculum, however not on a daily
basis. I will update you on a regular basis about our learning.

Communication Sheet
There will be a weekly communication sheet in your childs green GO folder. Please read
both sides and keep the communication sheet in the Return to school pocket of the
folder. The sheet will include your childs daily behavior, reminders, sight words for the
week, and other useful information. I will collect the sheets the following Monday
for a homework grade based on the reading log.

Contacting Me
Please contact me whenever you have questions or concerns, no matter how small.
Communication is a key to your childs success. Our relationship is also important for your child
to develop a positive school outlook. I am available most days before or after school. You can
also reach me by school phone before or after school. The easiest method is through email. If
you have an emergency and need to get a hold of me, please call the school office. Looking
forward to a great year and working with you!

buscemc@gibdist.net
734-379-6380

Drop Of
School begins at 8:48 a.m. except for Mondays in which we will begin at 9:48 a.m.
Arriving on time helps your child prepare for his/her day and sets the tone for a great
day. The school breakfast program is also available at 8:30 a.m. Our Champions
program is available to any students needing to arrive before this time. I will greet
students in our gymnasium five minutes before the start of our school day. Please help
your child start the day right by getting him/her to school on time.

Attendance
Please make sure your child attends school regularly. The majority of our learning takes place
in the classroom, engaged in hands-on activities , beginning at the start of the day. Limited
homework may be available to make up on days your child is absent, however, there are days in
which homework will not be available. Make sure to report your childs absence to the school
office for an excused absence. Unreported absences are marked unexcused. Tardies are
also noted.

Pick Up
We dismiss students at 3:53 p.m. through the Kindergarten hall and out the doors to the
front of the school building. Students will only be released to people listed on your
emergency card. Please make sure that proper identification is also available until we
get to know you and your family. If there are any changes to your childs normal
dismissal routine, PLEASE send a note. A students notification will not be sufficient for
a change in dismissal. Phone calls to the office will be accepted until 3:00 p.m. for a
change in your childs dismissal. Students who ride a bus home will be escorted to their
bus by an upper grade safety.

Snack Time
We have two snack times each day. Please send your child with two healthy snacks. Healthy
snack suggestions include yogurt, granola bars, crackers, fruit, vegetables, cheese, veggie
straws or pretzels. Fruit snacks, sweets, cookies, honey buns, chips or doritos, and pop-tarts
will not be permitted at snack time. Beverages are not permitted during snack time with the
exception of water. Snack time is a time to re-energize the brain, and provide the needed
nutrients for brain function. Thank you for your cooperation!

Water Bottles
Water is important for appropriate brain function. Water bottles are acceptable in the
classroom, preferably a water bottle that will not spill if accidentally tipped. Other
beverages will not be permitted, including flavored water due to the stickiness. Water only
please!

Lunch Time
Our lunch time is at 11:35 a.m. Protein is a great way to keep the brain working and ready for
learning throughout our school day. School lunches can be purchased on a daily basis. When
sending in lunch money for your child please make sure it is in a marked envelope with your
childs name and lunch money. If your child is running late to school please let the kitchen
know his/her lunch choice by 9:30 a.m.
Birthdays
We follow the Districts Wellness Policy. This is the result of growing concerns about food
allergies and dietary needs for children throughout the district. This means that students are
no longer able to bring in food or treats of any kind for their birthday. However, this does not
mean that we will not acknowledge your childs special day. If your childs birthday falls on a
day we are not in school, I can coordinate a special day for him/her.
***Please do not send invitations with your child to be passed out, unless you have one for every student
in the class. If you need to make arrangements for something else, please contact me.***

Supply List
Here is a suggested supply list and some items that your student may need. Please label all items with
your childs name.

Quantity
1 box

Item Needed
10 Count Standard size
Washable Markers- No larger!

2 boxes

24 count(or less)
Crayons- Regular or Mini-Twistable

Large Glue Sticks

Description/Picture
Crayola or Rose Art. Standard colors
only please!
Crayola or Rose Art
brands Standard colors only
please
Any Brand that dries Clear

1 pair

Two pocket folder

3 hole punched
No brads please
Blunt End Childrens scissors

Dry Erase Markers

Large Pink Erasers

3 Ring binder
1 inch with 2 pockets

Standard Size Pencil box

10

Standard Pencils No.2

Hand Held Pencil Sharpener

(Optional)

Headphones for computer lab

Plain or with designs

The more durable the better!
No sharp ends please!
Black Only!
Low Odor please!
Any Brand

White with clear overlay for insert

Any Color or brand.
Dimensions: 8in x 5 in
Tool and tackle boxes are not
permitted.
Preferably Yellow- No plastic covered or
decorated pencils please!!! They do not
work in our pencil sharpener.
Must have an enclosure to catch shavingsNO Mechanical sharpeners

no wireless please

70 sheet spiral notebook

1 subject

Wide Ruled

Composition Notebook

If supplies need to be refilled during the year, I will notify you. Items that are toy-like in nature and
make noise are not permitted.

Communication Sheet
Every Monday your child will receive a communication sheet for the week. The sheet includes
behavior, spelling words, reminders, notes, and a reading log. Make sure to read both sides! I
will collect the communication sheet the following Monday for a homework grade based on the
reading log.

Get Organized Folder

The GO folder will be your childs communication folder between home and
school. Your childs communication sheet will be kept in the keep at school pocket. Notes can
be written right on the communication sheet. Any money sent to school should be in a marked
envelope (with your childs name and purpose) then placed in the folder. Any work marked with
a grade or a T in a circle (which means completed together), should be kept at home. Please
check the folder daily and return it to school for the very next day. I will check the folder
daily. Thank you!

Homework
Homework will be sent in the GO folder at different times throughout the week. Homework is a
review of daily learning and will include nightly reading, spelling words, math, and occasionally a
social studies or science project. Please return the homework by Friday of that same week.
The reading log is the primary homework however. It is located on the communication sheet.
Each night the reading log can be completed from reading the reading bag book or another book
at home; this is considered nightly homework. Reading is the foundation of learning and the
more children practice the more fluent (proper pacing and voice) they become. Each trimester,
a homework grade is reported on the report card.
Asking for Help/Fostering Independency:
Students are greatly encouraged to ask for help once they have worked to
complete a task on their own. There will be a few times that I may not be able to
help him/her. These times are due to your child taking a test/assessment, or when
I am working with a small group, or other individual child. Strategies will be taught
to help your child work through times of difficulty.
PBiS Behavior Chart:

Students who make good choices during the day get to clip up from
the Ready to Learn space for positive behavior. Students not making
good choices will clip down from the Ready to Learn. Students will
have opportunities to clip up after a clip down. The final behavior will

be reported on your childs communication sheet by your child. Please

make sure the behavior circle is colored in each day.

Clip on the teacher=Absolutely wonderful! Your child has gone above and beyond a
model student for the school day.
Red= Wow! Your child has had an awesome day! He/she has made many good choices
during the day.
Orange= Students are continuing to make good choices.
Yellow= Students are making good choices.
Green= Students start here every day.
Blue= Think About It= a warning.
Purple=Teachers Choice= a Think Sheet and loss of privilege.
Pink= Parent Contact= an office referral and form that will be sent home for
parents to sign.

Classroom Expectations
As a class we will go through the process of generating rules and discussing the
expectations that will help us reach our goals for the year. It is my expectation that
students treat each other and their environment with respect and kindness. My
philosophy is that we treat others the way we would want to be treated. We will learn
how to respect and care for each other and our school environment. When classroom
rules are broken, there will be clear and logical consequences to help them learn from
their mistakes. We will be working very hard to create a safe and nurturing environment
where all students can be successful! This will include class meetings and community
building activities.
Students who display positive behaviors will have opportunities to choose coupons to
redeem in class. Students will earn coupons from each clip up they make. When
students reach ten points, they will earn a coupon of their choice. Some examples
include: Cool Cat (wear a hat to school), Fluffy Friend (bring a stuffed animal to school),
or use Teacher Supplies (Choose from teachers fun supplies).
At Chapman Elementary all students are responsible for following the same three rules
in all areas of the building:
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Safe

Although these are general rules, we will be learning specific ways to follow these rules
in each area of the building.
I am hoping to provide the majority of information here in this letter. Again, I welcome you and
your child to First Grade! Any questions or concerns please contact me!!!
Thank you for your time!
Mrs. Colleen Buscemi
buscemc@gibdist.net
734-379-6380

Specials Schedule
Monday-Art
Tuesday and Wednesday-Gym; please wear gym shoes.
Thursday-library and computer lab; please return your library book.
Friday-Music