Responsive Classroom
Social Emotional Learning
Cheshire Public Schools implements Responsive Classroom theories and practices into our every-day teachings and activities in addition to our Social and Emotional curriculum, which follows the Yale Ruler approach. We will spend the first six weeks of school building a classroom community through establishing our Hopes and Dreams for the year, creating a set of classroom rules and a classroom charter. We will also discuss and practice ways in which we can care for ourselves and others. We will plot our feelings on a Mood Meter and discuss how our moods affect our daily interactions. Our school guidance counselor will join us several times throughout the year for SEL lessons.
Dismissal Manager
Highland School uses a program called "Dismissal Manager" to ensure your child's safe departure from school. The school has sent home information as to how to use the program. Please make sure that your child's dismissal arrangements are recorded and updated onto Dismissal Manager every day or every two weeks (depending upon your child's schedule). Be advised that I cannot view the dismissal arrangements until after 3 pm. If you know in advance that your child will be an early dismissal on a particular day, update the information into Dismissal Manager and send a note to school with your child informing me of an early dismissal. This will make it more efficient for us to have your child ready to go when you arrive to pick him/her up.
Birthday Celebrations
Birthdays are an exciting occasion for any first grader, and we love celebrating your child's special day with him/her. We understand that it is natural to want to celebrate with cupcakes or another special treat. However, to keep in line with our district's Wellness Policy and to ensure the safety of our children with allergies, food is prohibited from all celebrations in Room 8.
Celebrations will be about 10 - 15 minutes and may include one of the following:
Party invitations will need to be mailed to our friends' homes. For families who choose to make their information public, addresses and phone numbers can be accessed through our Highland School Directory. Please contact the PTO for this directory.
Celebrations will be about 10 - 15 minutes and may include one of the following:
- Simple craft project
- Read aloud
- Game or activity
Party invitations will need to be mailed to our friends' homes. For families who choose to make their information public, addresses and phone numbers can be accessed through our Highland School Directory. Please contact the PTO for this directory.
Yellow Travel Folders
On the first day of school, your child will receive a yellow travel folder. It will be your child's responsibility to bring this folder to and from school every day. As we develop a deeper sense of responsibility and independence, your child will learn how to pack and unpack this folder (and backpack). This folder provides the main route and source of communication between school and home. When your child comes home with the folder, it will contain school work, drawings, notes from me and/or the school, and time-sensitive information that may require your signature and return to school. Clean the folder out every night and go through its contents. Any notes, lunch money, permission slips, etc. that need to be returned to me and/or the school should be placed in the pocket labeled "Notes from Home" and sent to school with your child. Your child will then unpack the folder and make sure I receive anything from home.
Homework
Homework will officially begin in October. However, as your child adjusts to first grade, it is highly recommended s/he practice their kindergarten sight words during the month of September and develop a nightly reading routine for up to 10 minutes. First grade homework will consist of at least 15 minutes of reading in addition to math and sight word review and practice. Homework will be sent home as a monthly packet, which will contain each night's assignment. The folder will be due at the end of the month. (The due date will be posted on the homework packet).