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Congratulations!

You are the parent of a first-grader at Monroe School ! You will be amazed at just how much your child will grow this year. During kindergarten your child has had the seeds of reading, writing, and math planted. Now during first grade, those seeds will grow and blossom, making your child an accomplished reader and writer! You will see changes in your child's thinking, as he/she becomes familiar with new concepts and skills. The change will be dramatic -- just compare a tiny seed with a full-grown sunflower! That's the kind of growth you'll see this year!

Ways to Help Your Child Bloom

The most lovely flowers usually have the best gardener -- and that is you! Staying involved in your child's education is the key to a successful year. Engage your child in conversation about his/her day, but know that children won't always give out much information. I will send home a weekly newsletter called the "Growing and Learning Together " detailing our activities for the week. You can use this as a springboard for discussion; instead of saying "What did you do at school today?" (the answer is often "nothing!"), you could say, "Oh, I see you're learning about....what did you find out?" Some parents save these newsletters as a special remembrance of their child's first grade year. Another way to stay involved is to check your child's planner EVERY evening. You'll find notes about school and homework, projects, flyers, notices from the office, as well as notes from me. As hard as it may be, try to sort through them daily, and read each one; they often contain important information and reminders.

Your child should come to school the next day with an empty planner -- just homework or notes to me! Please be sure that you have signed their planner - next to that day's date .

A Few Procedures

To help keep things growing "weed-free", it helps to remember our class procedures. Here are some ways that you can help.

If you know that your child will be absent for some reason, such as a doctor's appointment, a note ahead of time in their planner would be TRULY appreciated! Please contact Terry in the office each day if your child is sick. The phone number for Monroe is 322-3559.
Your child might like a small, healthy snack each day, packed in a ziplock bag or small container. Please no cookies, candy or sugary snacks. Cut up vegtables, fruit, popcorn, goldfish crackers, and yogurt are fine. Lunches should be in a lunch box or bag with the name on the OUTSIDE. If your child is paying for their lunch, please send the money in an envelope with your child's name written on it. Sometimes children forget what they're buying!
Your child will need his/her backpack and Guided Reading Bags EVERY day.
Please check and SIGN your child's homework and Planner, and make sure that they place their homework in the pocket of their planner to be returned to school the next day. This helps develop Responsibility when your child handles these things for themselves. For more information on homework, click on the Homework pushpin on the left .

We will be doing many exciting things in the classroom and will take several study trips. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Please print and complete the Volunteer Form on the right side of this page if you are interested. Return it to me in your child's planner. You will be able to indicate times, days, and types of events that you would be able to help us with.

Please feel free to email me at home or school, call, or stop by our room before or after school. I will get back to you as soon as possible. Our ongoing communication is so important in your child's success in school. I am really looking forward to working with you and your child this year!

Mrs. Cindy Dunlap

dunlapc@davenportschools.org Monroe School

jcdunlap1@mchsi.com Home

Monroe School - 322-3559

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