First Grade

Back to SchoolNewton-Lee Elementary

Miss Howland

About Miss Howland

• Northern Virginia native• attended Ashburn Elementary• graduated from Loudoun County High

School• graduated from Radford College (now Radford

University) with a B.S. in Early Childhood Ed.• is delighted to be working with you and

your child this year

First Quarter OverviewMath• Calendar/collecting data• Count/Write numbers• Coin Values• Sort & Classify• Patterning• Geometry• Fractions

Science• What changes in Autumn• Sun & Earth

First Quarter Overview Cont.

Social Studies• Citizenship• Rules• Safety• Past, present, and future

Literacy

• Pathways Components: Shared Reading, Read Aloud, Guided Reading,

Independent Reading, Word Study and Writer’s Workshop

• Two main assessments (given in September & October)

DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment)

PALS (Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening)

These assessments help us find a starting point for reading and word study instruction.

Specials

• Art (50 minutes)

• Music (30 minutes)

• P.E. (30 minutes)-Please have your child wear SNEAKERS on P.E. days.

• Library (30 minutes)

• Guidance (40 minutes)

• SEARCH (50 minutes)-Enrichment program for grades K-3. Focuses on thinking skills and encourages students to develop an excitement for learning and discovery.

Homework

• Begins week of September 23rd

• Weekly reading log -read for 15-20 minutes each night -discuss prompts -find and discuss weekly word study feature

• Promotes the development of good work habits and responsibility.

Attendance and After-School Plans

Attendance• Please make sure that your child eats a healthy

breakfast and arrives on time each day

• Your child must have a note in the morning in order to change after-school dismissal arrangements

• If there are last minute (during the school day) changes to your child’s after-school transportation plans, please contact the office (DO NOT RELY ON E-MAIL!)

• If you plan to pick up your child early, please contact the office BEFORE 12:00 or send a note in the morning

Classroom Citizenship Every child will be expected to follow our

classroom rules and is encouraged to make right choices:

• Each child will begin the day with the opportunity to show excellent effort and cooperation

• A child who is having difficult day will be encouraged to make positive changes and reflect on his/her behavior

• Every child has the right to be happy and safe in school. If another student is extremely disruptive to the well-being or safety of others, he/she will be sent to the office.

• Miss Howland will communicate to parents about classroom behavior on an as-needed basis.

Lunch• Please practice student numbers over

the weekend• Ice cream may be purchased on Fridays• Parents must send a request via e-mail

to Mrs. Nichols 48 hours in advance to join their child for lunch

• September menu is in your packet and includes payment information; menus are sent home monthly

• Please discuss choices and monitor account!

Classroom parties Three parties TBA later

Birthdays• Non-edible birthday items ONLY (please

consider donating a game or book to the class)

• Birthday invitations may ONLY be passed out at school when each child in our class is being invited.

• Lunch with your child: Requires 48 hours notice via e-mail to Mrs. Nichols

Parties and Birthdays

Snacks

• Snack will be eaten mid-morning• Must be something that the child can

open independently and eat in five minutes

• Dry, non-messy snacks, please!• Students may bring water bottles• NO PEANUTS or NUT PRODUCTS!

Clinic Notes

• Mrs. Kreitzman is our school nurse• Students will be sent to the clinic for

an illness, injury, or medical emergency

• All medication must be labeled and kept in the clinic; this includes cough drops as well as any prescriptions

• Mrs. Kreitzman’s email Alyson.Kreitzman@lcps.org

Communication

• Monthly School Newsletter• Monthly First Grade Newsletter (online on

Team Page)

• Weekly Newton-Lee Envelope• Daily Purple Take Home Folder• E-mail: Gail.Howland@lcps.org

Special ActivitiesStar Student Begins in October• Star Student bag will come home on

Thursday

Field Trip• Morven Park Leesburg, Virginia Tuesday, November 13th

Classroom Supplies

The first grade team is requesting a few additional supplies

• 2 large boxes of tissues (boys)

• 1 large container of cleaning wipes (girls)

• 1 box of snack baggies

Volunteer Opportunities

• Room Parents (help to organize three class parties)

• Banking (every other Friday)

• Computer Lab (every other week)

• Reading and Math (every other week)

• Special Activities (as needed)

• Teacher Helper (as needed)

All parents MUST complete a brief training session with Mrs. Nichols before volunteering in the classroom.

Conferences

• Will be held for each family beginning the Week of October 21st

• Assessments and first quarter progress reports will be discussed during this conference

• Please schedule a conference this afternoon