Field trip forms are due next Wednesday the 7th and that day is also a late start day so no breakfast will be served.
There will be a math test on Friday the 9th, A study guide will be sent home on Wednesday. Please have your student do it and then check it, then go over anything they had trouble with.
Hi Parents,
A filed trip form was sent home along with a schedule of all our field trips. Please return by next Wednesday, October 7. Also a reminder went home for tomorrow’s event with our WATCH D.O.G.S. An announcement in regards to Snow’s first PTA meeting is also in their folder (this Thursday, October 1st at 6pm in the cafeteria). Please be sure to sign your child’s reading/behavior log and make sure they complete their daily homework.
Thanks,
Mrs. Kearney
Hi,
Just wanted to let your know that your child has been working hard, and they seem to miss those summer days! We completed our Fall NWEA testing and will go over the results at Parent Teacher Conferences. Some of you were unable to make it to Open House so I’ll send you a time slot and you can let me know if it works for you. Over these past two weeks we have been working on following directions, creating rules, and practicing routines. When students return we will begin the PBIS color system for behavior. Your child will be marking their color on their reading/behavior log. Please sign it nightly. We will only be using the behavior section of it next week. The following week we will begin keeping track of their reading minutes. You will have to write the title of the book read and the minutes read (many of them are good at printing and can fill it out themselves, you will just have to sign it. Green is a great day. Yellow they had a warning, Orange they haven’t fixed their behavior yet, and Red, they are having a rough day. If a student is on red they have to fill out a form and it will be sent home and signed. Depending on why they got to red, you may also receive a phone from me. I’m going to be changing spelling homework, instead of a tic- tac- toe students will receive a worksheet on Monday (due Tue.), one on Tuesday (due Wed) and one on Wednesday (due Thur.), and Thursday they should take a practice spelling test.
It was nice meeting everyone at Open House and don’t forget we have the rest of this week off. Eid Mubarak!
Have a Great Night,
Mrs. Kearney
Open House is this Thursday, September 17. It starts at 5:30 pm and ends at 7:00 pm. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone, see you soon!
Dear Parents,
Welcome to first grade! My name is Bridgette Kearney and I am your child’s teacher. I’d like to share a few personal things with you so that you know a little about me. I graduated from U of M-Dearborn in 2005 and have been teaching for 10 years. This is my 5th year with Dearborn Public Schools and I really love teaching in this district. Currently I’m back at U of M-Dearborn working on my ESL endorsement. On a personal note, I have two daughters- my oldest, Autumn, is a senior in college, and Ella, my youngest, is a college sophomore. In October my husband and I will be celebrating our 23rd wedding anniversary! I also wanted to share with you that I’m allergic to scented products such as perfume, scented lotions/hand sanitizers, etc… I have unscented lotion in the classroom available for students to use if none is available at home. I have students wash their hands before snack and the lunch ladies make sure they wash/sanitize after their lunch recess, before they eat. These products affect my head, nose, and chest. Any support in this matter is truly appreciated.
As a teacher, I am committed to creating a safe environment where your child can grow academically, socially, and emotionally. I do not tolerate bullying or teasing in the classroom and it will be addressed immediately. We will follow the district wide Response to Bullying Program and continue to use the PBIS behavior framework so that discipline and consequences are similar in every classroom throughout the building. Also this year we are beginning our endeavor as a “Leader in Me” school. We will be using Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to guide and grow our students into leaders.
ELA-We use the Daily-5 format to teach reading so your child will receive 2-3 mini-lessons a day which focus on reading strategies to build comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and vocabulary skills. I will meet with students in groups and individually throughout the week to reinforce and /or reteach specific skills that have been taught. As I meet with groups other students will be working on reading independently or with a partner, they may also listen to reading, work on writing or do word work. To gauge their reading growth and level, DRA’s will be given a few times a year. Spelling tests will be given every Friday. We will do writers workshop daily as well.
Math- Math will be taught similar to the Daily-5 format where there will be a whole group lesson and then students will work in groups rotating to different math activities that support state math standards. One of their rotations includes working with me.
Homework-weekly spelling, reading, and math homework will be given.
Communication- On Fridays my Blog will be updated with various information that you will need to know. Their spelling list will be posted and they will bring a handwritten one home as well. We will use a blue folder which works as our Teacher/Parent communicator. There are two sides to the folder, “return to school” and “keep at home”. During Open House my computer will be set up so that you can put your email address into my blog and then receive emails for any posts I make. You can reach me via email at kearenb@dearbornschools.org or call the school at 313-827-6250. I believe every student has his/her own challenges and strengths. Because I believe in educating the whole child, I will call with any questions or concerns regarding academic, social, emotional, and or physical concerns. Please know that I am calling so that we can work together on helping your child be the best he/she can be. If you have questions about anything, please feel free to contact me and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Snacks-Please send in one of these healthy snacks for your child. I’m asking that you stick to the list because using the words “healthy snacks” means something different to everyone. These snacks will support brain function and help keep energy levels balanced throughout the day. Cheese, yogurt, fruit, vegetables, crackers, or chocolate free granola bars. They may bring in a water bottle with water in it, to keep on their desk.
Birthdays-We love to acknowledge Birthdays because it is a very special day. I do celebrate them at the end of the day, we have 21 students. To avoid any allergy issues, I recommend items such as, pencils, stickers, erasers, etc.
Student of the Week-Every week a student is chosen randomly to be the Student of the Week. They will bring a bag home on Friday if their name gets pulled, with a daily “Things To Do” list for the week.
Class Parties-We will have some low-key holiday parties.
Field Trips-We are trying to plan for 3 field trips this year and forms will be sent home in advance. If you would like to chaperone please make sure you fill out a background check at least 2 weeks prior to the trip. They are good for 3 years.
Breakfast-Snow School offers breakfast in the classroom except on “Late Start” days. A note was sent home yesterday in regards to that program. A breakfast typically consists of cereal, milk, juice and graham crackers.
Lunch-Children can bring their own lunch or buy it from school. There are two choices daily, with only the first choice changing on a daily basis. Second choice is the same for the entire week. Monthly menus will be sent home and are also available on the district’s website. Free and reduced lunch/breakfast applications can be picked up in the office. This year snacks are not available for purchase.
Change of Clothes-Sometimes students have an accident and need a change of clothes. Please put a change of clothes in a large Ziploc bag that can remain in thier backpack. Check occasionally to make sure the clothes still fit and are appropriate for the season.
Arrival-please have your child line on the sidewalk along the outside of the kindergarten wing. I will meet them at 8:35 when the bell rings and walk them to class. Any tardy students (8:40am or later), MUST be taken to the office by an adult and signed in.
Dismissal- Pick your child up at the same location they were dropped off at. The bell rings at 3:35pm or 11:45am for a half day.
Specials Schedule-as of right now our schedule is the following:
Monday: Music Tuesday: Physical Education Wednesday: Math Enrichment
Thursday: Media and Art Friday: Music
Wear or bring gym shoes on Tuesday
Thank you for your support and I am looking forward to a great year!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Kearney
Dear Parents,
I just want to say thank you for sending your child to school everyday to spend the day learning with me, growing with me, and establishing relationships with one another all year long. It seems as though it ended in a blink of an eye but when I think back to when they all walked in here with most of their teeth in their mouth and looked at them as they left with new teeth or missing teeth I saw how much they physically have grown. Then as I compare their reading, writing, and math abilities from then to now, I see how much they have grown academically so I know it was not in a blink of an eye. Every single one of them has worked hard to get to where they are and neither them nor I could have done it without your support so thank you. Have a great summer and I hope to run into you in the halls next year.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Kearney
