Procedure Letter
Welcome to first grade at Washington Elementary School! I am so excited to have your child in our class this year. Your child is going to have a very exciting and busy year learning new things! Our days will be spent exploring, working together, growing, and having fun while learning. I expect students to always follow classroom and school rules, try their hardest, respect themselves and others, use manners, and above all else, be kind to one another.
General Information: School begins at 9:00 a.m. and students are dismissed at 4:00 p.m. Students will be allowed to enter the building at 7:30 a.m. through the main doors. Prior to 7:30 a.m. no supervision is available. Our principal is Dr. Sheri McFarlane, and our secretary is Mrs. Stephanie Ranta. The school phone number is (906) 635-6629.
Arrival Time: Upon arrival, students should enter through the main doors and then go to the lunchroom if it is before 8:30 a.m. or they are having breakfast. Breakfast is from 7:50am-8:55 a.m. Otherwise, students will go directly to the playground. Students may come down to their cubbies to drop off their backpacks. If your child is late, please walk with your child into the office. When the bell rings at 9:00 a.m., all first grade students will line up outside by the back parking lot and wait for their teachers to get them before entering the building. Due to safety precautions, parents will not be permitted into the building besides going into the office when needed.
Dismissal Time: If your child will be a parent pick-up, please pick up your child outside the front of the building at 4:00. Please wait outside for your child due to safety concerns. Children walking home will leave the building through the main doors. Bus riders and after school program students will go to the gym to wait for the buses. If there is a change of plans about how your child is getting home, please call or email the office and let them know. They will contact me with the changes.
Early Dismissal Time: If you need to pick up your child early, please go to the office and sign out before leaving. Please send me an email with any prearranged absences. Pickups before 3:45 will result in an absence for the afternoon. I will be teaching until 4:00 daily, so please limit early pickups unless absolutely necessary.
Clothing: Please label ALL clothing items including jackets, shoes, gloves, boots, hats, snow pants, etc. Many things can be easily misplaced or mistaken. Please also send your child in clothing that is appropriate for the weather. Recess is very important for your child’s body and mind. The children rarely miss recess due to weather conditions. If possible, please send a pair of shoes that can be left at school and used for P.E.
Lunch: This year, breakfast and lunch are free to all students. Milk is $0.70 if purchased separately. Our lunch time is 1:00-1:30 p.m. Lunch account information can be found in the MISTAR Parent Portal. You may place as much money into your child’s account for the year as you wish. This may be done online with a credit/debit card or by having your child deliver money or a check to school. Please keep it current with funds. If sending lunch money to school, use an envelope with your child’s name on it and put it in your child’s Home Folder. If you have questions, please email sas-homeconnection@eupschools.org or call 906-632-5686. Please go to the website below to access your child’s lunch account. https://mistar.oakland.k12.mi.us/saultschools/parentportal/
Toys: The children are strongly discouraged from bringing toys and items from home to school. We do not have show-and-tell time and personal items tend to break, get lost, or may possibly be stolen. Keep these items safe at home.
Stay-Tuned: Please ask your child about what we are learning in school and look in their backpack every night. Students will be bringing home many things each night.
Home Folders: Students will be bringing home a Home Folder every night. Inside the Home Folder will be newsletters, notes, completed work, and any homework your child has. Students are expected to turn in completed homework assignments the next day. Our weekly newsletter will help you keep up with important happenings in our classroom. Please send any notes, lunch money, or any other home-school information to school with your child in the Home Folder. In addition, Home Folders need to be returned to school every day.
Home Work: Your child will have homework. These take 5-10 minutes and will be sent home almost every night. They are a quick review of concepts taught in class. If your child is ill, they are required to complete any missing assignments. In addition, your child should read and practice sight words each night for 20 minutes. Your child will be bringing home a Sight Words Bag with sight words and sentences to practice reading every night.
Ask Questions: If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to call, email me, or come in to talk to me at a scheduled time. I welcome all concerns, ideas, and feedback that affects your child or our classroom. If something is not working, I am more than willing to find a solution.
Absent: If your child is absent, please call the office at (906) 635-6629 to let Mrs. Ranta (school secretary) know. Please also send an excuse for your child’s absence when he or she returns to school. When your child is absent, homework assignments are expected to be completed and returned in a timely manner.
Snack: All students need to bring a nutritious snack to school every day. Snack time will be mid-morning. If you choose to send a bottle of water, please try to send a bottle with a nozzle, as screw tops tend to get lost or broken. Your child will have the opportunity to refill a water bottle as needed. If the water bottle becomes a toy or a distraction, it may be sent home. Please label your child’s water bottle. Also, keep snacks small so your child will eat lunch.
Birthday Celebrations: Birthdays are very special to children. Birthday treats must be individually wrapped and from a store. No homemade treats will be allowed this school year. You may choose a treat of your choice and drop it off when convenient. Students will enjoy the treat at the end of the day.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. If you need to contact me, please email, call, or set up an appointment. I look forward to working together to make this a successful and terrific year for your child! Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Martina Markstrom
(906) 635-6629 ext. 5617