Policies & Procedures

Mrs. Subhani’s First Grade Handbook

2018-2019

Contact Information

amberin_subhani@roundrockisd.org

(512)704-0600 (office)

Class Website

Hi!

My name is Amber Subhani and I am so happy to be your child’s new teacher.

This is my sixth year teaching, but first at Patsy Sommer.  I am passionate about

teaching! I believe very strongly in a child-centered classroom. Throughout this

year, we will stay very busy with engaging, hands on-learning activities that

meet the needs of all children.  Activities will include Reading Workshop,

Writing Workshop, Math Problem- Solving and Inquiry- Based Science.

Here are a few quick pieces of information you might find helpful to get the year

started. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. This will be an

exciting year together.  I know you will be amazed and excited to see how your

child learns and grows.  I look forward to working with you throughout the year!

Communication

Good parent/teacher communication is essential for a successful year. I want to make

sure that you always know what is going on in class.  I have a teacher blog that has lots

of information. This is the best way to get information about our class!

http://mrssubhani.blogspot.com/

I will also be communicating through Class Dojo and will give you more information on

this at Parent Night. I will contact you through phone calls and notes home when necessary.

If you have any questions,  e-mail is always the best way to contact me. I check my

e-mail several times a day. If you have an emergency, contact the office, and they

will contact me immediately.  

Please be sure to sign up on "Follow By Email" on my classroom blog and the first grade

team blog. This is a great way to keep up with what is going on in our classroom and

the entire team!

Folders
I will send home a daily folder every day. Please check it for important information

, homework, notes and information from school.  You may also use the folder to

send any notes or information back to me the next day. Please make sure

you send any important notes (or money) in an envelope or Ziploc bag.

Things in first grade pockets or backpacks tend to disappear. Thanks!

Money

Please do not allow your children to bring money to school unless it is

for a specific reason (book order, field trip, lunch money, etc).

Please put the money, along with a note indicating the amount,

into their daily folder.

Transportation

For your child’s safety, please notify me in writing if there are any

changes in the way your child will be going home from school.

Without written instruction from you, your child will be sent

home in the usual manner (we cannot accept verbal changes

from your child or a sibling). If a last minute transportation change

arises, please call the front office before 1:30pm and they will notify me.

Behavior Plan
As you know, good behavior and learning go hand in hand.

Patsy Sommer follows the Positive Behavior Support model—a

school-wide system that focuses on positive, as opposed to negative, reinforcement.

Our Stallion Star Expectations (for the both the whole school and our classroom) are:

1. We are safe.

2. We are respectful.

3. We are responsible.

4. We are cooperative.

5. And we always do our best!

If you would like to read more about PBIS, you can visit the school webpage.

 

Toys

Please do not send toys of any kind to school. Occasionally, children will be

allowed to bring in items for “Show-and-Tell,” but you will be notified beforehand.

Arrival

Attendance is very important to your child’s progress.  The doors will be

unlocked at 7:10 and students will go directly to their classroom hallway every

morning.  Teachers will supervise the children.  At 7:30, all students will proceed

to the classroom and instruction will begin promptly at 7:40.  If your child arrives at

school after 9:00 am, you must sign them in at the office before proceeding to the

classroom.

Please note that final good-byes from parents are made prior to entering

the first grade pod.  Parents will not be allowed in the pod before or after

school. This makes the transition to the classroom much easier for all students.

It is essential for your child to be in the classroom by 7:40, as we will have just

a short time before broadcast begins.  

Dismissal Definitions

Your child is a Walker if:

You will WALK up to the black top to pick them up.

OR

An older sibling will walk them home.

*if you are parking your car and walking up to the building, your child is a Car Rider,

not a walker.

Your child is a Car Rider if:

You will drive up to the curb, stay in your car, and your child will get in your car.

Please help your child memorize his/her car rider number to help dismissal run

more smoothly.

Your child is a Bus Rider if:

Your child will get on a yellow RRISD School Bus.

Your child is a Daycare if:

Your child will meet a representative from a Daycare facility (not just a neighbor

or friend) and will board Daycare Transportation at the school, or YMCA.

Lunch

We eat lunch from 12:07-12:37. Please note the time in case you would like to visit

for lunch.  

There are 4 lunch choices every day. Please be sure your child knows what he/she is

eating for lunch each day.  The menu will be read to the class daily, but once your

child selects a choice, that selection is served.  Keep in mind that extra food is not

prepared, which makes it difficult to allow students to change their mind once

lunchtime begins. You may, of course, send a lunch from home, but please be

sure to label lunch boxes clearly!

Student lunches are $2.80. Student breakfasts are $1.50. You may pay for lunches online at:

http://www.pamslunchroom.com This is the BEST and safest way to pay for lunches!

If you choose to send in a payment, please make sure it is in a Ziploc or envelope in their

daily folder! Please try to pay for lunches ahead of time, and not daily. Our mornings can

be hectic and there isn’t always time to check for lunch money before lunch (which, as

you see, is early).

If you plan on eating a school lunch with your child and need a lunch for yourself, please

send a note with your child or call the office and order your lunch by 8:00.  Please wait in

the lunchroom if you arrive early as we will be still having class.

If you choose to eat lunch with your child, we ask that all final goodbyes are given in the

lunchroom.  This makes our transition from the lunchroom to our classroom much easier

for the children.  

Water
Please make sure to send a water bottle (labeled with name) to school with your

child every day. It gets very hot during the day and proper hydration is essential for

good learning. Water bottles need to be ones that seal to avoid spilling. Juice or

Gatorade type drinks are not allowed in the classroom.

Illness
If your child is sick, please keep them at home! Washing hands and hand sanitizers are

great, but the best thing we can do to keep our classroom healthy is to keep the bad

germs out to begin with! Your child must be fever-free (without medication) for 24 hours

before they return to school!

Snack

Students will be allowed to eat a snack from home every day. Only healthy snacks are

allowed at school. Suggestions include pretzels, popcorn, graham crackers,

animal crackers, goldfish, fresh fruit or veggies. Please do not send any drinks other

than water. As we will be eating snack in the classroom, please do not send anything

sticky or messy (i.e. yogurt).

Birthdays
We love them and love to celebrate them! The state law allows us to celebrate birthdays

in our classroom. We do a short celebration at the end of the day. If you would like to

provide treats for your child's birthday, feel free to send them in the morning and they

will be shared at the end of the day. We will celebrate summer birthdays during the last

few weeks of school.

*the birthday snack in the classroom is meant to be a quick snack, it is not meant to be

a small birthday party.  

Homework

Please have your child read aloud with you daily for 15-20 minutes. After reading with

them, have a discussion with them about what they read.

This is one step families can take to help build strong study skills at home.  Parents are

encouraged to support their children's efforts, however, please be sure your child

does the work!

In addition, please talk to your child everyday about school. This will help them internalize

what they learn and develop their oral language skills. Examples of questions include:

1.      What did you do in (science, math, reading, etc.) today?

2.      What did you play today?

3.      Who did you play/work with today?

4.      Did you like that? Why or why not?

5.      What was your favorite thing about today?

It’s important to ask them specific questions, because if you just ask “What did you

do today?” they’re going to say “Nothing” or “Played.”  We do much more than that!

Field Trips

Throughout the year, we will schedule various field trips to enhance our learning.

Permission slips and cost information will be sent home prior to each trip. We always

need volunteer chaperones on field trips, so if you are interested, please let me know.

Unfortunately, siblings are not allowed to accompany us on field trips.

Clothing

Please make sure your child wears kid-appropriate clothing everyday (remember—we

like messy things—paint, playdoh, sand!) In addition, the district dress code must be

followed at all times. Dressing in layers is always a good idea here in central Texas

. It might be chilly in the mornings, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be downright hot

by recess). Tennis shoes are required for PE days, but are a good idea everyday.

(The playground is covered in tiny little pebbles). Please, please, please…label all

of your child’s coats, jackets, gloves, hats—any article of clothing that can be removed.

If something gets lost (and it will), please check the lost and found.

It is a good idea to keep an extra set of clothes in your child's bag which should include

underpants and pants/shorts.

Finally…

Encourage your child to discuss school activities with you. Talk positively about school.

The way your child perceives your feelings about school and teachers will have a direct

effect on how he/she feels about them. I am delighted to have your child in class and

look forward to working with you to make sure your child has a super school year!    

I am very excited to have your child in my class this year!