AJY

Behavior Plan

Birthdays

Chapel

Class Programs

Class Projects

Class Rules

Conferences

Field Trips

Homework

Lunch

Our Class Theme

Parties

Show 'n Tell

Supplies

Tests

Uniforms

Volunteers

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you."

--Psalms 32:8

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

--William Butler Yeats

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."

--Benjamin Franklin

"A teacher affects eternity."

--Henry Adams

"Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education."

--Martin Luther King, Jr.

"A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary." 

--Thomas Carruthers

"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself." 

--Chinese Proverb

"Whether you think you can, or think you can't...you're right!" 

--Henry Ford

“We must be the change we seek in the world.”

--Ghandi

"My heart is singing for joy this morning. A miracle has happened! The light of understanding has shone upon my little pupil’s mind, and behold, all things are changed."

--Anne Sullivan

"If you can dream it, you can do it."
--Walt Disney

"If your plan is for one year, plant rice;
If your plan is for ten years, plant trees;
If your plan is for a hundred years,
Educate children."

-- Confucius

"It takes a whole village to raise a child.'"

--African saying

"Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom." 

--George Washington Carver

"The whole world opened to me when I learned to read." 

--Mary McLeod Bethune

"Yesterday's history,
Tomorrow's a mystery,
Today is a gift,
That's why we call it the present."

--Unknown

"If you promise not to believe everything your child

says happens at this school, I’ll promise not to

believe everything he says happens at home."

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant."

--Robert Louis Stevenson

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" 

--Albert Einstein

"Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD."

--Psalms 32:11

"There are three ways to teach a child. The first by example. The second is by example. The third is by example."

 --Albert Schweitzer

"Genius without education is like silver in a mine." 

--Benjamin Franklin

"We worry about what a child will be tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."

--Stacia Tauscher

"The only things children wear out faster than shoes are parents and teachers."

--Unknown

"You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there."

--Yogi Bera

"Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects."

--Will Rogers

"The mediocre teacher tells.

The good teacher explains.

The superior teacher demonstrates.

The great teacher inspires."

--William Arthur Ward

"Knowledge comes; but wisdom lingers."

--Tennyson

"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eight. Anyone who keeps learning stays young."

--Henry Ford

"In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less."

--Lee Iacocca

^"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

--Matthew 28:19-20

Thank you for your support! 

I know this year will be great.

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I hope you will enjoy your hike around our site today. This page has lots of information for my students and their parents. Look and see all the neat things that will be happening in our class this year! I hope during your hike, any questions you might have will be answered!

~Mrs. Smith~

Our Class Theme

Our class theme is at the top of this page. We are hiking towards Heaven...and exploring God's world! It is a fun theme. Some of the things that tie into this theme include: our worship book, our behavior chart, our attendance chart, our hiker of the day, and some of the areas in our room (new for this year!). 

Click for larger picture of this Bulletin Board

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Class Supplies for 1st Grade

Consumable supplies (markers, crayons...) will be collected and put into group bins. They will no longer be the property of any ONE child. You do not need to put names on these kinds of items. Supplies that are not on this list are provided for in the classroom (scissors, rulers...).

PLEASE do not send any supplies not on this list!

2 pencil boxes

3 lg. pink erasers

2 boxes Crayola crayons - 24 count 

1 box Crayola colored pencils - 24 count 

1 box each: large and fine washable Crayola Classic markers

(basic 10 colors--no bold or pastels) 

10 glue sticks  

1 pkg. index cards – 100 ruled or unruled  

The following are NOT included in pre-bought supply packs:

Book bag 

1 box Kleenex (144 count or more) 

$10 for M.O.O.S.E. notebook & supplies

  1 Clorox or Lysol cleaning wet wipes

*1 roll paper towels for art

Boys – 1 package paper plates

Girls – 1 box sandwich size ziploc baggies (100 ct)

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Chapel

This year our chapels will be for K-4. We will meet in the church at 8:15 on Friday mornings. Feel free to join us! Our turn to lead out during chapel will be on _______.

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AJY

AJY stands for Adventist Junior Youth. Each student will be in charge of an AJY  worship. I will assign each child a time. If it is not a convenient time for you, you are welcome to switch times with another student. A reminder will also come home the week before your child's AJY. Your child will choose helpers at school for song service, pledge, prayer...etc. YOU will be in charge of a short (5-7 min.) nature nugget or Bible story. Visual aids are also encouraged and help keep little minds attentive! This year our AJY will be on ________.

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Lunches

We eat in our classroom. Your child can bring a lunchbox and drink, or order a lunch. You may purchase lunch cards through the front office or send into the classroom (purchased in $32.50 increments). The schedule of lunches is as follows:

Monday - Fazoli's Mac & Cheese, Drink

Tuesday - 6" Blimpie sub, chips, Drink

Wednesday - Rafael's Personal Pizza, Drink

Thursday - Fazoli's Spaghetti or Fettuccini Alfredo w/2 bread sticks, drink

Friday - VM meal, (rotates)

Skim, 2%, and OJ are also available and will be billed to your school account at $0.37 each.

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Show 'N Tell 

We have our show 'n tell time at the end of lunch every day. Up to five children can go a day. Those that have a "show" along with their "tell" will go ahead of those who will only have a "tell." Students may only have one time per week, allowing time for all who want to share.

Please follow these guidelines: Do not send toys! Do not send valuables! We encourage the kids to bring in things that remind them of a place or a person, something they are proud of (a craft or award) or something from nature. Also, your child is encouraged to be a "reporter" and bring in current events and newspaper clippings.

**Before you bring in a pet, please get permission from me! Some days are better than others. Also, pets tend to take a little longer to show.**

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Birthdays

A list of birthdays will be posted on our web page, sent home at the beginning of the year, and appear in our class newsletters.

If you are sending in treats, please let me know. You can send them in with your child, or bring them in at lunch. About 11:45 works great, as most kids are ready for their "dessert" at this time! :)

Summer birthdays will be celebrated the last week of school. 

**If you are sending invitations to class, please send enough for the entire class or all the boys/girls.**

**Also, I regretfully cannot attend ALL birthdays, so I make it a policy not to attend any, hopefully avoiding any hurt feelings.**

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Book Clubs

Every month your child will bring home a Scholastic Book Club order form. These forms have lots of selections for you to choose from. There are also selections that do not meet the standards of a Christian school. Please use your own good judgment in making your choices. A due date will be included when the orders go home, and posted in our class newsletter. Our classroom will receive free materials and books based on order points. I have received hundreds of dollars worth of books in the past! I feel this program is a win-win situation for both home and school! Happy reading.

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Book It!

We participate in the Pizza Hut® Book It! program. Students will receive a book log each month and are required to read/be read to for 10 minutes a night (40 minutes a week). Upon return of the reading log for the month, your child will receive a coupon for a free Personal Pan Pizza™ Those that meet the required minutes each week PLUS go over the required amount each month will be eligible for an Eager Reader Award at the end of the year. 

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Volunteers

We love to have volunteers in our class. At the beginning of school you will have an opportunity to fill out a survey of things you are interested in. 

See our wish list for ways you can help!

Online questionnaire is here.

Also, make SURE to get your volunteer paperwork turned into the office!

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Field Trips

We try to take our field trips together with the other 1st grade class. We are planning on a Fall Field trip (Apple Orchard and Fire Hall) and one or two Spring Field Trips (Creative Discovery Museum and possibly an IMAX movie and the Aquarium). We will also have a 1/2 day Outdoor Ed trip--1/2 day Fall party together at Hidden Hills Stables in Collegedale. In the winter (January) we have the Chattanooga Nature Center come out to the school and do a special program for us on how animals adapt in the winter.

Field Trip Uniform:

Please make sure your child has a red school uniform shirt. This will be our "field trip uniform," along with school uniform pants or shorts (**jeans for our outdoor ed trip).

Due to Tennessee laws, your child is required to be in a booster seat. On field trips where we do NOT take the bus, please send your child's booster seat to school with him/her. (This will be made clear on the permission slip that will go home for each field trip!)

Volunteers and Drivers must fill out the required paperwork available at the front office before going on any field trips!

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Parties

Parties for the year include a Fall Party, Christmas Party, Valentine's Party, Easter, and End of the Year Beach Party. Sign up sheets will go home at the beginning of the year and again before each party. See our party page for more info.

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Class Projects

We will have several home projects this year. Some examples: in January we do our Penguin research report. We will also do a poster during our America unit and a very fun Native American project. These projects need to clearly be the creation of the student.  All writing/drawing/coloring must be done by the student. Clear guidelines will go home at the time the projects are assigned.

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Class Programs

We will have several small programs throughout the year. Your child will have a small part to learn and perform. Notices will go home before each event. These programs will generally be held during school hours. We love to show off for our parents and family!

**Our USA program is at night and a very big production! You will want to invite grandparents and family to this event (usually in mid to end of March)**

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Uniforms

Uniforms are to be worn to school every day, including field trips (unless otherwise noted). To be in uniform, your child should: wear approved clothing from Educational Outfitters, tuck in shirts, wear a belt if clothing has belt loops, and only wear a uniform fleece or sweatshirt inside the school. (Coats for outdoor play can be any brand you choose.) There are usually at least two resale times when you can drop off your child's outgrown uniforms or go and look for something new! Look for information to come home In The Know.

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Class Rules

I like to talk with the class at the beginning of the year about what a GREAT classroom would be like. We talk about the types of rules that we would need to have to maintain that kind of room. After brainstorming these rules on the board, we sort and condense the rules down into one main rule: 

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

We also abide by these simple rules:

• Be Safe

• Be Respectful

• Be Responsible

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Behavior Plan

See this page: Star Board

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MOOSE books

See this page: MOOSE books

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Missed Assignments

My general policy is not to give out homework/assignments ahead of time. If your child has to miss school, I will put missed work in their cubby and send it home in their MOOSE books upon their return.

**Much of our curriculum is hands-on, which is hard to make up. Please try to keep arranged absences to a minimum, including doctor appointments and early pick-ups. I understand illnesses can not be avoided!**

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Tests

My policy is to keep all tests on file in the classroom until the end of the quarter or year. I will send the graded test home for you to look over and sign (letting me know you saw it). Then, PLEASE return it in your child's MOOSE book the next day. You are welcome to go over any errors with your child, but please do not make corrections on the test. Students that do not pass a phonics or math test (70%) will be given an opportunity to retake it at a later date.

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Homework

**Nightly: Spelling words, math facts, reading

**A math practice/review page will come home at the end of each chapter. Please go over the answers with your child even if they have completed it already. Sign it and return it the next day, which will be the test day.

**There may also be homework for your child individually if it was not completed during the school day. If this becomes a regular problem, I will need to conference with you.

**Also, papers marked REDO need to be gone over and returned in a timely manner!

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Conferences

Our school has two planned parent-teacher conferences, one after the first and third quarters. We will discuss your child's academic progress and social behavior at this time. I prepare a more detailed progress report that you will get in addition to each quarter's report card. 

In addition to the scheduled conferences, feel free to request a conference at any time. Just write a note in your child's MOOSE book, or email me. We can set up a time that is convenient for both of us. Generally it is not a good time to "drop by" at the beginning or end of the school day. These are both very busy times of the day where my attention must be on the children!

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