First Day of School Letter home to parents

First Day of School Letter home to parents
By Mark Ventura

St. Mark Catholic Elementary School
1209 St. Mark Street
Windsor, Ontario
N8W 3E9
Phone: (519) 250-5555
Fax: (519 250-5050

I.M. Yerfriend, Principal M. Steno, Secretary
L. Staudt, Superintendent of Education P. Keane, Trustee

September 2009

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It is my pleasure to welcome you, your child and family to another exciting school year at St. Mark! I look forward to implementing some great ideas in our classroom to make learning fun, interactive and inspiring! I will strive to use new teaching strategies in balanced literacy and math programs and individualize instruction to meet the diverse needs and interests of my students. Please contact the school (519) 250-5555 to set up mutually convenient times for parent/teacher meetings, as necessary.
Childhood is a journey, not a race! Classroom activities will provide a variety of opportunities for students to explore, investigate, question, discover and share ideas in a cooperative, supportive and safe environment. We will be building a TRIBES COMMUNITY based on four established agreements: 1) Listening with your heart and minds, 2) Mutual respect, 3) The right to participate and, 4) No put downs. This plan will help to recognize, celebrate and embrace each other’s differences and encourage students to take responsibility for their decisions and actions. During our first week of school we will be getting to know each other through TRIBES activities, discussing and implementing classroom rules and consequences, daily routines, schedules, homework routines and organizational strategies.
An important key to success for your child this year is the partnership parents and their families form with the teachers and staff at St. Mark School. Communication between home and school is vital. The student agenda is an excellent educational tool full of valuable reading material. Using the agenda everyday will improve your child’s organizational skills and teaches them to take greater responsibility in their learning.
Continued…

Parents, each day, please check the laminated portfolio “Homework Memos, School Notes…” that should be kept with the agenda. (It has more room for papers than the small pocket in the agenda). Your child will be utilizing a 2” binder to hold the agenda and other important and permanent memos, study sheets, daily homework routines etc. that are kept in sheet protectors. We call this binder the M.O.O.S.E binder (which means: Management of Organizational Skills Everyday!) Parents, please sign your child’s agenda each day to let me know that you viewed homework and school memos, etc. You may send medical notes etc, in the agenda pocket or taped to the daily page in their agenda.
Throughout the year your child will receive special rewards, free time, stickers, certificates or edible treats. Please inform me and the school if your child has any allergies, medical conditions or other health or family matters that we may be able to assist you with. There will be many forms and questionnaires sent home in the first couple of weeks. Please complete these carefully and return them to school as soon as possible. It is very important to update us with any new information that concerns the health and welfare of your child.

Please refer to the attached suggested list of items that would greatly assist your child in the classroom this year. Please note that most items can be found at a dollar store. It is helpful to label your child’s belongings with permanent ink.

In the best interests of creating a partnership for teaching and learning with your child, I look forward to the new school year with great enthusiasm.

Yours Sincerely,




Mr./Mrs. ______________





SCHOOL SUPPLIES

1 2” binder
1 Pencil box and a special case that clips into their binder
$2.00 for the school agenda (our P.A.C is already covering the additional cost of the agenda)
4 tennis balls for legs of their chairs (reduces noise levels, is safer and easier for students to move in and out of their desks)
One pair of indoor running shoes for Physical Education. RULE: To participate SAFELY students must come to phys. Ed. Class wearing non-scuff running shoes, loose t-shirts, safely hemmed pants or shorts, and longer hair tied back)
Sharpened pencils….keep spares at home
1 sturdy pencil sharpener and pink rubber erasers…keep spares at home.
10 thin plastic binders or duo-tangs.
3-holed lined paper (a package can be kept at school, refill all duo-tangs/binders as needed)
3 large glue sticks
1 package of portfolios to be used for homework and school notes and should be kept in their binder with he agenda…to keep notes neat and organized
2 yellow highlighters and 2 other colours
Coloured pencils and coloured markers
1 calculator and a protractor from a math set
1 pair of scissors
3 dry erase markers (dollar store)
3 packages of sheet protectors
1 large scrapbook for My Remembering Book in Religion/Family Life
2 plastic covered note books (dollar store)
A letter sized clip-board
1 box of Kleenex
1 container of anti-bacterial wipes (no alcohol contained in them please-dollar store)
Daily snacks AM/PM example: fruit, vegetables, trail mix
A dictionary and a thesaurus