Welcome to Mrs. DiProspero's 
First Grade Class! September 2, 2008 Dear Parents and Caregivers, Welcome to our class! I hope you’ve had a wonderful summer! I specifically wrote ‘our class’ because I believe that you, as parents and caregivers, are an integral part of your child’s education. I look forward to working with you and making this an interesting and successful year for your child! First, please scroll down on this website to see our specials for this year. Children will need to wear sneakers on Monday for gym with Miss Soda, and girls should wear pants or shorts. Your child will take home a library book each Tuesday beginning sometime this month from Mrs. Valunas if he/she returned one the previous week. Any outstanding books from last year will prevent the taking out of books this year until any outstanding books are returned or paid for. On Wednesdays your child will have music with Mr. Skelton. On Thursdays they will have computer with Mrs. DuFresne. Your child will participate in Art with Mrs. Elwell on Fridays. Please send in an old shirt that can be left in school with their name on it, to be used as an art smock. You will need to provide your child with a healthy snack each day. Suggestions are: cheese and crackers, yogurt, fruit, cottage cheese, granola bars, etc. A drink is not necessary as children will be allowed to visit the water fountain each day at snack time provided they demonstrate responsible behavior at the fountain. Children are welcome to bring in a water bottle to use throughout the school day, again provided that they are responsible with them. As far as I’ve been told we have no known food allergies in our class so far this year, so peanut butter is not a problem. Each student has been provided with a yellow take home folder, a pencil box, glue stick, crayons, a blue or green school folder, and 3 notebooks. The yellow folder will be used to transport work and notices to and from school each day. Your child will be responsible for putting all of the letters, notices, and homework into the folder each day. Please encourage your child to take on that same responsibility at home. Please check this folder on a daily basis to keep up with homework and other notices. The children’s desks at school hold a limited amount of things, so I’d appreciate it if other notebooks, etc. be kept at home. Starting next week I will be giving homework most every night except Friday. Children are expected to read or be read to every night for a minimum of 15 minutes. Also, please know that I look over homework carefully when it is returned to class, but I do not generally return it to you, as I use homework for reinforcement of concepts already learned in school. If there appear to be misunderstandings with the concepts or more than a few errors I will return it with a note. I may also return homework that I deem exceptional. If you on occasion would like homework returned, please drop me a note letting me know. I give one day of grace on homework, that is, if it is not returned the day it is due, I give one more day, and then if it is still not returned the child will make up the work in school. Please feel free to contact me with your question or concerns through a note, by email diprosperoca@watertownctschools.org or by calling the school during school hours, especially if your message requires immediate attention. Thank you for your support! Sincerely, Carrie DiProspero You may check this site to find classroom rules, specials, things to practice, and upcoming events. Just click on the links below. 
Classroom rules and expectations 1. Walk except at gym and recess 2. Raise hand before talking 3. Keep hands/bodies to oneself 4. Use manners 5. Keep feet under desk, bottom on seat, chair on floor, and sit criss-cross when on the floor Things to Practice 1. Read 15 minutes every day! 2. Notice things in your environment to which you can relate school activities, i.e. I'm noticing the sun looks lower in the sky, but I know the sun's not moving, it's the earth that's moving that makes it look like the sun is lower in the sky. 3. Use 'math talk' in daily discussions with your child, i.e. ask how many more pieces of silverware are on the table than number of plates. 4. Practice social skills, i.e. looking at people when talking to them, using "I" messages if someone is bothering you. Specials Mon. Gym 11:20 - 12:00 Tues. Library 9:50 - 10:30 Wed. Music 11:40 - 12:25 Thurs. Computer 11:30 - 12:10 Fri. Art 11:20 - 12:00 Newsletter/Upcoming Events Welcome to the 2008-2009 school year! Open House for our class will be on Tuesday, September 24. Please mark the date so you will be able to attend. I look forward to meeting you then. Sincerely, Mrs. DiProspero |