First Morning!
It is our tradition at Queen Anne Elementary to start the first day of school with an all school photo. The bigger we get the harder it is to make this happen efficiently, so here are some easy to follow instructions. In front of the wooden building, affectionately known as the Treehouse, we will have taped off a large rhombus. David Elliott and staff will greet everyone from the stairs. Please be on the playground at 9:30AM. After a few words, it will be time to take two pictures. The first will be EVERYONE; parents, students and staff. You will need to be inside the taped lines to be in the shot. Look up to the second floor windows, find the big camera and smile. When Tony, our photographer, has captured that shot, he will hold up two fingers to signal it is time for the second picture; the student/staff picture. All parents then exit the rhombus and take three giant steps back. Tony will snap a few shots and it will be time to find your child's teacher and classroom.
Please go directly to our classroom after the photos and meet me there. If you are not sure of where our classroom is, there will be volunteers near the building entrances to help.
You are welcome to walk your child into our classroom and greet students and family members. Our cubbies are in the hallway, please help your child find his/her name. I will ask the students to wave goodbye to their family members and come sit with me on the teaching carpet. Please do your best to say goodbye and leave quickly. It is usually much harder for the parents than the students! Before leaving the building, please take time to look at the "how do we go home" chart hanging on our door. Make sure your child’s pin is in the correct spot (if you gave me the information at Open House). If your child is not on the chart, please find their pin and place it where it belongs (pick-up, Kids Co...etc.).
After the welcome, and students have headed to their classrooms, the PTSA will host a reception in the cafeteria for all parents/guardians. It is a time to get acquainted or reconnect with other parents in our community. Someone will be there holding a sign with your teacher's name on it, so you can find your grade level compadres more easily. But of course you are free to wander, nibble on the breakfast treats and chat. If you have any questions please contact Lindsey Carrillo at: l[email protected]
Before School
After the first day, you are welcome to drop your child off at the playground 15 minutes before the first bell rings (9:10). When the bell rings, students will line up and I will come out to greet them and lead them into the building. Teachers are very busy in the minutes leading up to the start of school, so please remind your child that he/she may not enter the building before the first bell to hang backpacks or greet teachers.
After School
You may pick your child up near the exit door of the brick building closest to the library. I will walk students to their bus, Kids Co or after-school clubs. I will let each child go home with the person you have specified they are to go home with. Please contact me via email or letter to school with your child if they are going home with someone different for that day. I cannot send anyone home unless they are listed on your child's emergency card. Before taking your student, please make sure you make eye contact with me so I know they are safe. Thank you for your understanding, this will ensure the safety of all.
Classroom Supplies
Instead of having students bring school supplies, our school asks for a $50 supply donation from each child. Supply fees are used to buy classroom materials in bulk. Using community supplies teaches students to share with others and treat materials with respect so that they last longer. Checks will be collected the first week of school and can be made out to Queen Anne Elementary. Remember, this is a donation. If you are financially unable, just let me know.
There is also a “Giving Tree” in the hallway of the brick building with much needed supplies written on apples. If you are able and willing, take and apple and return the item(s) to school when you have a chance.
Snack
Children need to pack a healthy mid-morning snack each day. We eat lunch about an hour after snack, so one easy to eat/open item is more than enough. We have several children with life threatening nut allergies, so please pack a nut-free morning snack.
Parent/Family Communication
We are embracing technology as a means of communication here at QAE. In order to get the most out of your student's year, follow our classroom website and Twitter account. These two places will be where I post photos, videos and student comments. Email is the best way to get a hold of me. Please don’t leave a voicemail on our classroom phone.
http://mrsdiller.weebly.com/ #MrsDillerQAE [email protected]
At Curriculum Night, I will walk you through our classroom website and the resources it contains. I will also introduce you to your student's e-folio and teach you how to edit it so you can help me capture your student's growth this year!
Birthdays
At QAE we love birthdays. We love to celebrate them and realize this is an important part of elementary school. We also believe that we can celebrate them in a meaningful and fun way without filling our kids with sugar. Therefore, if you choose to celebrate your child’s birthday at school, you may do so by donating a book in their name to the classroom. We will sing happy birthday, read the book and celebrate without treats, snacks or gifts. Teacher birthdays will be celebrated the same way.
Lunch Money
Please go to the office and put money on your child's lunch account. I cannot take money. Each child has a lunch code. Please review this code with them if they are buying lunch.
Homework
We will talk about this more in depth at curriculum night. However, the kindergarten and first grade teams believe that 5 to 7 year olds work very hard throughout the day at school, and should be free to play and unwind at home. We expect families to read with/to their child for at least 20 minutes a day. At times we will provide families with ideas/activities (both on-line and off-line) that can be done at home to help students’ learning, but it will not be required.
Spirit Days
Every Friday we show our school spirit by wearing our Queen Anne Explorer colors (orange and purple).
Orange Folders
Each child will have an orange folder that they will bring to and from home daily. They will bring home their daily work to show to you, as well as field trip forms, etc. Please get in the habit of checking this folder daily. If you have anything for me, please send it back to school in the orange folder as I check them daily.
Volunteering at Queen Anne Elementary
I hope that all of you find a way to help out at our school this year! It is a lot of fun for the kids and for the adult volunteers! If you are able to make the commitment to volunteer regularly in the classroom, fabulous. I love having the help! At Curriculum Night (date coming soon) I will have a way to sign up for time slots. When you sign up for a spot, I will work with you to determine what classroom work you are most comfortable doing. Ways to help in the classroom include working directly with the students, helping prepare for upcoming projects (cutting or copying paper), scanning student work for e-folios, emptying/stuffing go-home folders, etc.
To work in the classroom on a regular basis, you must take a volunteer training session. (See school website for schedule into) In the training you will learn about classroom expectations, adult boundaries, addressing discipline, and how to use equipment and find supplies.
You will also need to fill out background check paperwork, now required by the Seattle Public Schools for all volunteers who have any contact with children. Carla Kirch, our Administrative Assistant in the main office, can help you fill out this paperwork.
In addition to regularly scheduled classroom volunteers, there will be lots of opportunities for volunteers to help out. You can sign up for a single time slot, volunteer for one of the classroom parent jobs (see list below), chaperone a field trip, attend a literacy celebration or school assembly, teach us about a special talent or skill you want to share, etc. If you can't get to our campus, you can visit the work we are doing on our classroom website and your student's e-folios and make comments from your home.
Parent Classroom Jobs up for Grabs
- Orange folder Assistant- I need a volunteer to check/fill our orange folders each morning/afternoon. You can do one to 5 days a week, just let me know your preference. It should take about 2 to 10 minutes each day.
- Room parent- Help organize classroom volunteer schedule and be the classroom liaison for all school events and information.
- Auction liaison/project coordinator- Keep the class informed of important auction information, and plan and help create our class auction project.
- Party planner- Help and plan our class parties.
- Class photographer- Take and collect class photos throughout the year to be used for the yearbook and website photo albums.
- Technology coordinator (download pictures, scan & post student, work to student e-folios, blog with kids)
If you have any interest in taking any of these on, please let me know! Thank you in advance for all of the support you will provide this year. It is invaluable!
Thanks,
Mrs. Diller