Welcome

August 20, 2007

Dear Mom or Dad,

I would like to welcome all new families to Florenceville Elementary School. My name is Linda Lapointe and I will be teaching your child this year. We have 21 students at this time in our classroom. I have enjoyed getting reacquainted with the students this week and look forward to a great year. If you haven’t paid your student fee of $30, please send it in as soon as possible. Most of you have paid in the spring. I am sending home our “School Agenda” so that we may communicate back and forth as the need arises. We should both check them daily. Please respond or sign my notes so that I know you have read it. I will do the same. I am sending home a baggie with your child’s name. Please put **money and a note** inside telling the kitchen staff what he/she is ordering if you are buying hot lunch or milk for your child. Please leave the baggie in the front plastic pocket of the agenda. I will check there everyday. I send the baggies directly to the kitchen. They make change and record the orders. Also, it is easier for me if you want to put in your order for the week on Monday. I’ll know if there is no note and an empty baggie that your child has a bucket lunch. If your child does order hot lunch, please send in a couple of healthy snacks for recesses. We have 3 recesses most days of the week. Please send all snacks in lunch buckets each day rather than have loose food sit on the shelves and in book bags. Our **Library Day** is every Wednesday. The children will be able to sign out a book if .the previous one is returned. Mrs. Perry will be the teacher who takes them to library. Mrs. Smith will be teaching the children **Phys Ed** on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The children will wear their indoor sneakers. **Music** class is on Monday with Mrs. Longobardi. As you know from the Pre-Kindergarten sessions, the expectations in reading and writing have changed over the years. I anticipate that you will be pleasantly surprised at how much the children will grow as time passes. That is why Kindergarten is a rewarding level to teach. The children will have **home assignments**. They will not take a great deal of time but the children will benefit. I will start homework by sending home a poem/song next week that we have practiced in class and a couple of books. In the meantime, please read a minimum of 10 minutes a day to start the routine of having homework relaxing and enjoyable. All homework will be due back on Mondays. The children have really listened well and followed my directions. My goal for the next few weeks is to practice the classroom routines, lining up, indoor voices, speaking in turn, sitting “criss-cross apple sauce”, using the classroom equipment, playground, gym and bus safety. Moms and Dads should know that classroom rules are:


 * 1) Be polite
 * 2) Use indoor behavior
 * 3) Ask permission to leave the room

I am looking forward to a great year Mrs. Linda Lapointe