August 25, 2014

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to First Grade! I am honored and privileged to have your child in Room 19. Our theme this year is “Fly Beyond… to be the BEST!” As your child’s teacher, it is my duty to empower him/her to fly beyond expectations and standards to maximize their potential to be the best that they can be. I’m super excited to see how high your child will soar this year. First grade is a critical year where children embark new ways of thinking and learning. This will be a year of important transitions, as well as one in which acquisition of new skills are accelerated. We’ll spiral through familiar concepts and encounter new challenges. Each child will progress at their own rate, acquiring skills as they are developmentally ready. You will begin to see changes in your child’s thinking as they become familiar with abstract concepts. It is extremely important to keep in mind that we all build on small successes. Maintaining each child’s self-esteem and building a secure foundation for future growth will remain priority in our class. Staying involved in your child’s education is the key to a successful year. Therefore, I’d like to invite you to Pinedale’s “Back-to-School Night” on Thursday, September 4th from 6:00PM-7:15 PM in room 19. During this time, I will further discuss my academic program, homework, grading, and discipline policy. Together, we’ll work as a team to encourage your child to “Fly Beyond.” Attached to this