Personal Belongings
Please be sure to label ALL belongings that could get lost: lunch boxes, backpacks, sweatshirts, coats, hats, gloves, water bottles, etc. You would be amazed at the number of unlabeled clothing and personal belongings that accumulate and are unclaimed over the year! I also recommend that you send in an extra change of clothing, including socks and underwear, for your child to keep in his or her locker.
School Hours
School begins at 8:55. Students may enter the building at 8:40. If you bring your child to school, please be sure he or she is in the building no later than 8:55. Any child arriving after that time must report to the office before proceeding to the classroom. We begin our morning activities promptly each day. It is extremely important to me that your child is in the classroom by 8:55 every day. First grade hands and feet often take extra time to walk down to the classroom and unpack their belongings, so helping them to arrive on time ensures their day is off to a great start!
Dismissal is at 3:10. Walkers and students being picked up by car will be dismissed through the front door. They must wait on the stairs until their grown-up comes for them or their car pulls up to the front of the line. If you pick up your child please wait outside and be prompt as first graders may get nervous if they do not see their parents right away. Parking is permitted at the church parking lot if you wish to walk over.
Recess
Weather permitting, the students will have about 15 minutes of outdoor recess every day before lunch. Recess begins at 11:20. Please make certain your child is dressed appropriately, especially in the winter, as all children must go out with the class.
Snack
Please send a snack with your child to school each day. There is a brief snack period for 10 minutes each afternoon around 1:40. Healthy snacks are encouraged. Please do not send candy or food in glass containers to school. If you pack a juice box or plastic container please help your child to practice opening it independently. If your child’s snack requires a spoon or fork, please remember to pack one. Since we have snack after lunch, it may be helpful to pack your child's snack in his or her backpack, rather than their lunchbox.
Lunch
Children are at recess and then lunch from 11:20-12:00. Please pack a lunch or send lunch money with your child to school each day. If your child buys lunch on a regular basis, you are welcome to send in a check at the beginning of the week to prepay his or her lunch account. This may be helpful for some families so that your child does not have to carry cash each day. If you wish for your child to carry his or her lunch money, you must send it in a plastic bag, envelope, or coin purse with his or her name on it. Your child is responsible for carrying the money from recess to lunch. Parents are also able to add money to their child’s lunch account online, using My School Bucks, or add restrictions to the quantities and types of food your child purchases, such as snacks. For more information about accessing your child's lunch account online, visit the Food and Nutrition Services site. You may also view the lunch menu online. In an emergency, if lunch money or lunch brought from home is lost or forgotten, money may be borrowed from the office. This money must be repaid the following day.
Specials
Sneakers must always be worn to gym. Be sure to dedicate special time at home to practice tying laces. Also, please send a smock or large t-shirt to school with your child to wear in art class to help keep his or her clothing clean. Library books may be borrowed from our school library each week and are due back the following week. For more information about Specials, please visit Our Schedule page.
Dismissal Routines
A note must be sent to school if your child’s dismissal routine changes. We cannot take a child’s word that “I am going home with my friend today.” To avoid confusion and sometimes tears, please remember to send a note whenever the normal dismissal routine is different. In the case of a last minute dismissal change, please be sure to call the main office. I do not check my email during school hours.
If there are two or three days each week that your child will be departing differently (religious classes, sports, dance lessons, etc.) then one note sent in at the time the routine is established is all that is necessary.
If you plan on picking your child up from school before dismissal time, please send in a note stating the time you plan to be at school for your child. Go to the office (not the classroom) and let the secretary know that you have arrived to pick up your child. Your child will be paged and will meet you in the office.
Supplies
Throughout the year, should you wish to donate items to the class, the following are always appreciated: saltine crackers, soft tissues for sensitive noses, disinfecting wipes, and absorbent paper towels.
Medications
Do not send medications to school with your child. This includes cough drops, nasal spray, aspirin, etc. You may speak to Mary Staulo, affectionately known as Nurse Dolly, in the Health Office to arrange for any medication you wish for her to dispense.
Vacations
To avoid disruptions in the learning process, please try to plan your family vacations during school vacation times. If that is not possible, please be sure to make me aware of your plans. It is the policy of Sharon Public Schools not to provide your child with work he or she will miss before your vacation. That work may be obtained when your child returns to school.
Birthdays
First graders are welcome to celebrate their birthday in school! Please know that food may not be sent in due to our school policy. If your child wishes to share something with the class as part of his or her birthday celebration, sharpened pencils, erasers, stickers, homemade items, or a similar token for each child, would be an appropriate alternative. (This practice is not necessary and seems to be less common.) We also include first graders with summer birthdays! We will celebrate summer birthdays on your child's half birthday. If your child is having a birthday party outside of school, please do not send invitations to school to be handed out unless all children in the class are invited. This can cause a few teary eyes and hurt the feelings of children who are not invited. If invitations are passed out to all children in the class, please be sure to write each child's name on the invitation. Thank you for your consideration.
Contacting Families
If you wish to contact another family in our class for the purpose of setting up a play date or sharing a birthday party invitation, I am not able to share parent contact information with you. One way to become connected with families is by joining the PTO. All PTO members get a copy of the Cottage Street School directory for free. The directory, which contains class lists and contact information for students, makes it easy for you to get in touch with other CSS families. If for some reason you are not able to find the family's contact information in the directory, I would be happy to forward the family an email from you with your contact information.
Join the PTO
The Cottage Street School PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) is a collaborative group made up of parents, teachers and staff who work to organizes a wide variety of programming to support the curriculum, build community and raise funds throughout the year to enhance student learning at Cottage Street School. These include events for kids, events for families, service to the school and community, and fundraisers to support CSS. The CSS PTO is most famous for its annual Fun Fair! I personally think CSS has one of the best PTOs around! I highly recommend that you consider becoming a member!
Volunteers
I warmly welcome parent volunteers to become actively involved in our classroom. As a volunteer you must report to the office upon arrival, sign in, and wear a visitor sticker. When you complete your time in the classroom, you must sign out at the office. All volunteers are required to have a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) check. A CORI check is valid for 3 years. Forms are available in the office or you may download the form below. Please do not send the completed CORI form to school with your child. You must turn in the form to Mrs. Frers or Mrs. Ruth Armas in the office so they may photocopy your ID. Some ways in which you may volunteer include reading with students, being a Mystery Reader and reading to the class, chaperoning a field trip, or helping with a special project. I will send out information prior to these events to inquire about availability.
Please be sure to label ALL belongings that could get lost: lunch boxes, backpacks, sweatshirts, coats, hats, gloves, water bottles, etc. You would be amazed at the number of unlabeled clothing and personal belongings that accumulate and are unclaimed over the year! I also recommend that you send in an extra change of clothing, including socks and underwear, for your child to keep in his or her locker.
School Hours
School begins at 8:55. Students may enter the building at 8:40. If you bring your child to school, please be sure he or she is in the building no later than 8:55. Any child arriving after that time must report to the office before proceeding to the classroom. We begin our morning activities promptly each day. It is extremely important to me that your child is in the classroom by 8:55 every day. First grade hands and feet often take extra time to walk down to the classroom and unpack their belongings, so helping them to arrive on time ensures their day is off to a great start!
Dismissal is at 3:10. Walkers and students being picked up by car will be dismissed through the front door. They must wait on the stairs until their grown-up comes for them or their car pulls up to the front of the line. If you pick up your child please wait outside and be prompt as first graders may get nervous if they do not see their parents right away. Parking is permitted at the church parking lot if you wish to walk over.
Recess
Weather permitting, the students will have about 15 minutes of outdoor recess every day before lunch. Recess begins at 11:20. Please make certain your child is dressed appropriately, especially in the winter, as all children must go out with the class.
Snack
Please send a snack with your child to school each day. There is a brief snack period for 10 minutes each afternoon around 1:40. Healthy snacks are encouraged. Please do not send candy or food in glass containers to school. If you pack a juice box or plastic container please help your child to practice opening it independently. If your child’s snack requires a spoon or fork, please remember to pack one. Since we have snack after lunch, it may be helpful to pack your child's snack in his or her backpack, rather than their lunchbox.
Lunch
Children are at recess and then lunch from 11:20-12:00. Please pack a lunch or send lunch money with your child to school each day. If your child buys lunch on a regular basis, you are welcome to send in a check at the beginning of the week to prepay his or her lunch account. This may be helpful for some families so that your child does not have to carry cash each day. If you wish for your child to carry his or her lunch money, you must send it in a plastic bag, envelope, or coin purse with his or her name on it. Your child is responsible for carrying the money from recess to lunch. Parents are also able to add money to their child’s lunch account online, using My School Bucks, or add restrictions to the quantities and types of food your child purchases, such as snacks. For more information about accessing your child's lunch account online, visit the Food and Nutrition Services site. You may also view the lunch menu online. In an emergency, if lunch money or lunch brought from home is lost or forgotten, money may be borrowed from the office. This money must be repaid the following day.
Specials
Sneakers must always be worn to gym. Be sure to dedicate special time at home to practice tying laces. Also, please send a smock or large t-shirt to school with your child to wear in art class to help keep his or her clothing clean. Library books may be borrowed from our school library each week and are due back the following week. For more information about Specials, please visit Our Schedule page.
Dismissal Routines
A note must be sent to school if your child’s dismissal routine changes. We cannot take a child’s word that “I am going home with my friend today.” To avoid confusion and sometimes tears, please remember to send a note whenever the normal dismissal routine is different. In the case of a last minute dismissal change, please be sure to call the main office. I do not check my email during school hours.
If there are two or three days each week that your child will be departing differently (religious classes, sports, dance lessons, etc.) then one note sent in at the time the routine is established is all that is necessary.
If you plan on picking your child up from school before dismissal time, please send in a note stating the time you plan to be at school for your child. Go to the office (not the classroom) and let the secretary know that you have arrived to pick up your child. Your child will be paged and will meet you in the office.
Supplies
Throughout the year, should you wish to donate items to the class, the following are always appreciated: saltine crackers, soft tissues for sensitive noses, disinfecting wipes, and absorbent paper towels.
Medications
Do not send medications to school with your child. This includes cough drops, nasal spray, aspirin, etc. You may speak to Mary Staulo, affectionately known as Nurse Dolly, in the Health Office to arrange for any medication you wish for her to dispense.
Vacations
To avoid disruptions in the learning process, please try to plan your family vacations during school vacation times. If that is not possible, please be sure to make me aware of your plans. It is the policy of Sharon Public Schools not to provide your child with work he or she will miss before your vacation. That work may be obtained when your child returns to school.
Birthdays
First graders are welcome to celebrate their birthday in school! Please know that food may not be sent in due to our school policy. If your child wishes to share something with the class as part of his or her birthday celebration, sharpened pencils, erasers, stickers, homemade items, or a similar token for each child, would be an appropriate alternative. (This practice is not necessary and seems to be less common.) We also include first graders with summer birthdays! We will celebrate summer birthdays on your child's half birthday. If your child is having a birthday party outside of school, please do not send invitations to school to be handed out unless all children in the class are invited. This can cause a few teary eyes and hurt the feelings of children who are not invited. If invitations are passed out to all children in the class, please be sure to write each child's name on the invitation. Thank you for your consideration.
Contacting Families
If you wish to contact another family in our class for the purpose of setting up a play date or sharing a birthday party invitation, I am not able to share parent contact information with you. One way to become connected with families is by joining the PTO. All PTO members get a copy of the Cottage Street School directory for free. The directory, which contains class lists and contact information for students, makes it easy for you to get in touch with other CSS families. If for some reason you are not able to find the family's contact information in the directory, I would be happy to forward the family an email from you with your contact information.
Join the PTO
The Cottage Street School PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) is a collaborative group made up of parents, teachers and staff who work to organizes a wide variety of programming to support the curriculum, build community and raise funds throughout the year to enhance student learning at Cottage Street School. These include events for kids, events for families, service to the school and community, and fundraisers to support CSS. The CSS PTO is most famous for its annual Fun Fair! I personally think CSS has one of the best PTOs around! I highly recommend that you consider becoming a member!
Volunteers
I warmly welcome parent volunteers to become actively involved in our classroom. As a volunteer you must report to the office upon arrival, sign in, and wear a visitor sticker. When you complete your time in the classroom, you must sign out at the office. All volunteers are required to have a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) check. A CORI check is valid for 3 years. Forms are available in the office or you may download the form below. Please do not send the completed CORI form to school with your child. You must turn in the form to Mrs. Frers or Mrs. Ruth Armas in the office so they may photocopy your ID. Some ways in which you may volunteer include reading with students, being a Mystery Reader and reading to the class, chaperoning a field trip, or helping with a special project. I will send out information prior to these events to inquire about availability.
Volunteer Brochure | |
File Size: | 368 kb |
File Type: |
CORI Form for Volunteers | |
File Size: | 92 kb |
File Type: |
Ways to help at home!
Keeping in Touch
If you wish to get in touch with me, you may send in a note with your child, leave a voicemail message, or send me an email. I try my best to respond to all messages within 24-48 hours. If you do send in a note with your child, please date the note and include my name and your child's full name. When I receive notes, I often share them with the office if they pertain to dismissal changes. Also, be sure to let your child know there is a note in his or her folder. Small notes often go unnoticed and may not be handed in to me.
Phone: 781-784-1580
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mrshoneysclass.weebly.com
- Be sure your child has an early bedtime. This is very important!
- Make time for your child to eat a healthy breakfast each morning.
- Establish a routine of emptying your child's folder each day and discussing his or her work together.
- Practice writing the alphabet in lowercase letters using the correct handwriting strokes.
- Practice counting to 100 by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s.
- Practice rhyming words.
- Practice tying shoelaces and zipping jackets.
- Try not to repeat directions more than once. This will help in the development of listening skills.
- Help your child become independent. This will ensure success in the classroom!
- Read to or with your child daily!
Keeping in Touch
If you wish to get in touch with me, you may send in a note with your child, leave a voicemail message, or send me an email. I try my best to respond to all messages within 24-48 hours. If you do send in a note with your child, please date the note and include my name and your child's full name. When I receive notes, I often share them with the office if they pertain to dismissal changes. Also, be sure to let your child know there is a note in his or her folder. Small notes often go unnoticed and may not be handed in to me.
Phone: 781-784-1580
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mrshoneysclass.weebly.com