The first bell rings at 7:15 every morning. At this time, students are allowed into the building and may go to class. The second bell rings at 7:45. This is the official start to our instructional day. If your child arrives after 7:45, please check them in at the office and they will be marked tardy. To ensure your child gets settled in, we recommend arriving before 7:45 to unpack.
Birthdays
To ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all of our students, including those with dietary restrictions, only food that is pre-packaged and has attached labels are permitted to be brought in for classroom treats. These items must also be free of any nuts, including peanuts and tree nuts. A list of school approved snacks is located at www.snacksafely.com Popular classroom treats in the past have been store bought cupcakes, donuts, and packaged items. Please notify me ahead of time if you plan on bringing in classroom treats to celebrate a birthday. All birthday celebrations will be done during our lunchtime block. Non food items such as pencils and stickers are also great options.
Cafeteria & Lunch Visitors
Students are able to pay for their lunch with check, cash, or online using www.paypams.com We encourage students to practice table manners while in the cafeteria. Lunch visitors are always encouraged to come during your child's assigned lunch time. Students are allowed to bring 1 friend to have lunch with you at the round tables in the cafeteria. During this time, you are responsible for that child. The courtyard, right outside the cafeteria, is another great place for lunch. Student's cannot bring a friend to the courtyard. Please be mindful of your volume to respect the learning of classrooms surrounding the cafeteria.
Communication
The green PTA folder will also be used as the first grade communication folder. This folder will contain a monthly calendar of events that are happening during the month as well as our academic focus. Transportation changes should be noted in the folder or emailed to the teacher. PTA information will go home on Wednesday's. Please check this folder daily- there will be times where important documents go home on a day other than Wednesday's.
Dragon Houses
The Dragon Houses were created in 2009 when Dilworth Elementary was re-established as a neighborhood school. There are four dragon houses: Denim Blue Drakes, Hunter Green Hydras, Lemon-Lime Lindorms, and Orange Ouroboros. When new students and teachers come to Dilworth, they are inducted into a dragon house by selecting a colored stone from a velvet bag without looking. Each person's dragon house is a surprise!
Within each dragon house students are paired with reading buddies from other grade levels. This partnership gives each student in the school an opportunity to meet new friends, establish lasting relationships, and build character together. The dragon house teachers are responsible for supporting and encouraging good buddy reading practices and facilitating an understanding of the character education traits twice a month.
Dragon Dollars are given to students for exhibiting "On F.I.R.E." behavior and strong character. Each house collects the dragon dollars quarterly. The dragon house earning the most dragon dollars is the keeper of the coveted Dragon House Trophy until the next quarter. At the end of the year, the trophy goes to the dragon house that earns the most dragon dollars for the entire year!
Homework
This year, first grade homework will consist of reading for 20 minutes every night. We are asking that you or your child write the title of the book onto the yellow reading log in your child’s take home folder. These will be checked weekly.
PTA
If you haven't done so already, please consider joining and donating to the Dilworth PTA. The Dilworth PTA sponsors all of the first grade field trips, our SPARK t-shirts, and many other important committees that keep our school running. We are very fortunate to have a PTA like ours. Whether it is donating your time or money, please check out the PTA website at www.dilworthpta.org to see how you can volunteer your time.
School Wide Behavior Plan
Dilworth Dragons have high expectations throughout the school day. "On F.I.R.E." behavior creates a nurturing school atmosphere where students are able to be challenged, make mistakes, and succeed! F- being FAIR I-showing INTEGRITY R- showing RESPECT & being RESPONSIBLE E- being EXCEPTIONAL
Snack
Due to the late lunchtime, students will eat a snack mid-morning. Parents may provide a nut-free, healthy snack for your child each day; children that do not bring a snack will be given Goldfish. Parents will be asked to donate Goldfish as needed.
Testing
mClass Reading 3D instantly analyzes your child’s development in grade-appropriate foundational reading skills. Teachers use this data to focus their instruction around your child’s specific needs in areas that may include:
Hearing and using sounds in spoken words (Phonemic Awareness)
Knowing sounds of letters and sounding out written words (Alphabetic Principle)
Reading words in stories easily, quickly, and correctly (Accuracy and Fluency)
Understanding what they read (Reading Comprehension)
After each assessment period you will receive a letter outlining your child’s specific assessment results and progress as a reader. The letter includes easy, fun activities you and your child can together do at home to reinforce skills learned at school. The teacher’s efforts in school, combined with your support and encouragement at home, will ensure your child reads with mastery and confidence.
MAP Testing MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive test. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. This type of assessment challenges top performers without overwhelming students whose skills are below grade level. MAP Growth uses a RIT scale to accurately measure what students know, regardless of their grade level. It also measures growth over time, allowing you to track your child’s progress throughout the school year and across multiple years. Once your child completes a MAP Growth test, they receive a RIT score. We will test this in the fall, winter, and spring.
If there will be any changes to your child’s transportation, please mark it in their green take home folder. If there is a change during the school day, notify the teacher AND Katherine Harper, our front office secretary, via email to ensure your child gets home safely. All transportation changes must be communicated before 2:00. No exceptions! Mrs. Harper's email - [email protected]
Volunteers
We are excited to have you as a member of our class community! There will be many ways to volunteer during the school year. Open house will allow you to share your availability with your teacher. If you are not able to volunteer weekly, don’t worry! There will be other opportunities for you to pop in as a Mystery Reader, Character Education, Field Trips, etc. Your teacher will be reaching out individually as the year begins! Whether you will be a frequent visitor or not, you must sign up through CMS to be a registered volunteer. Click here to register!