5th
Grade is a Breeze!
August 8, 2005
Dear Parents/Guardians,
As you send your child to
school on the first day, I hope you savor those memories of excitement,
hesitation, eagerness, and fearfulness.
It’s a curious mixture of feelings all rolled into one special morning
each school year. How powerful an
experience it is! Please know teachers
experience those very same feelings. No
matter how many years we have taught, there is still that excitement mixed with
anxiety. As we begin our school year here
at Kemp, we will all learn and grow together.
Let me take this opportunity
to welcome you and your child to my class for the 2005-2006 school year! This is my fourth year at Kemp and
eighteenth year as a teacher. I am looking
forward to working with you and your child.
There are several questions that usually arise with the beginning of a
new educational year. Below, I have listed some common questions and answers to
help guide you and your child to a wonderful year at Kemp Elementary
School.
What are the school hours at Kemp?
Students
may enter the building at 7:15, however, school officially begins at 7:45
am. If a child arrives after 7:45,
he/she must get a tardy slip in the office before reporting to class. School dismisses at 2:15 pm. Parents may not
pick up their child from class. The office will call for your student in the
classroom. Please remember that
there will be no early dismissals after 2:00. All visitors must sign in at the office and obtain a visitor’s
badge or sticker.
Lunch
money can be prepaid in the cafeteria on Monday or Tuesday morning of each week
or paid on-line. If your child is
tardy, there is now a gray box in the lunchroom for lunch money
to be placed. The cost of a student
lunch is $1.60/daily.
All other money should be sent in a payment envelope with your child’s first and last name, teacher’s name, grade level, and what the money is intended for on the front. Your child will be responsible for dropping this envelope in the black drop box (located beside the Media Center).
Every Wednesday, your child will be bringing home weekly graded papers and other important school information in a red folder located in the G.O. Notebook. Review the work with your child and keep it at home. Please sign the attached sheet in the red folder. This will show me you have seen what has been accomplished. In this manner, we will be in communication about your child’s weekly academic and behavioral performance. Along with the agenda, this folder can be used for communication between home and school.
What is the procedure for homework?
Your
child will be given daily homework assignments. Homework will be written in your child’s agenda each day. Please
review the agenda nightly to check for any notes, initial and return it the
following day. I use homework as a
preview of upcoming skills as well a review of skills they have learned. There may be long range assignments such as
book reports, research projects, and science and social studies
assignments.
Remember
that homework is the responsibility of each child to complete and return to class in a timely manner.
Your
child may bring a healthy snack (cereal bar, pretzels, crackers, etc.) to
class. Please remember to keep candy or
snacks requiring utensils or refrigeration at home. If your child desires, he or she may bring a water bottle to
school to have throughout the day. Please
do not allow them to bring soda, Gatorade, juice, etc. as this stains our
carpet.
How do I change the mode of transportation after school?
Please
be sure to sign the transportation list that will inform me of your child’s
standard mode of transportation in the afternoons. If your child’s after school transportation changes, we must have
written notification from you. This is
for your child’s safety and protection.
If
your child needs to take any
medication at school, we must have written permission. An adult must bring the medicine to the
school office. The medication will be
kept and administered by the office.
What do I do when my child is absent?
If
your child is absent from school, please send a note the day of return,
explaining why they were absent. Your
child will be responsible for any assignments missed due to absence. Please refer to the Kemp handbook for
further information.
How can I help you?
I
would love for every parent to help in the classroom. However, I know that it’s impossible due to busy schedules and
jobs. If you can help, please fill out
the volunteer sheet and return it to me.
Please remember that the administration has requested that when you come
volunteer that you arrange care for all younger siblings.
How can we celebrate my child’s birthday?
If
you would like to bring in special treats for your child’s birthday, it must be
done during lunchtime. Please let me
know if you are planning to do this ahead of time, so that I can make arrangements.
If
you would like to pass out invitations at school to your child’s birthday
party, please give one to all students or wait until a time after school so
that we don’t hurt anyone’s feelings.
How
can I best communicate with you?
If
you need to contact me, please feel free to contact me at school 678-594-8158
ext. 460. I check my voice mail daily
and will return your call as soon as possible.
You may also wish to contact me via email Judith.Peters@cobbk12.org. This is the quickest way to get information
to me. Agendas will be another major
source of communication this year. Each
student will receive his/her agenda with their new G.O. Notebook
provided by our wonderful PTA. It is
his/her responsibility to keep it up to date and have it signed nightly. Your child will write down the day’s
assignments, homework, and important upcoming events. You may communicate with me through the agenda if you wish.
Please keep in mind that the
fifth grade teachers are still working out the best educational plan for our
students. Therefore, some things may be
modified or changed during the course of the year, but I will be sure to let
you know of the changes as soon as possible.
Again, I look forward to working and learning with you and your child
this year! Please contact me if you
ever have a question or concern. We
work best for your child as a team!
I am looking forward to
working with you and your child this year!
Judith
Peters
P.S. – Please make sure
your child brings a book from home for silent reading time on the first day of
school.