St. Mary's School Assignment Page

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  Miss Simmons

St. Mary's School
simmonsk@smsrockville.org


Welcome to First Grade!

Click for First Grade Webpage **SUMMERWORK for incoming first graders can be found on First Grade Webpage under the tab Important Links & Resources**

Check out Mr. Cardoza and Senora Silva's Homework Hero Pages!
Mr. Cardoza's Homework Hero
Senora Silva's Homework Hero

LABELS & BOXTOPS
Please collect Boxtops for Education, Tyson's Project A+, and Labels for Education over the summer. Please ask grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, and more to help collect for this school year!

Weekly Update for Parents  Dear First Grade Parents,
Thanks for a wonderful year! Have a great summer!
Thanks,
Miss Simmons

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Homework  Week of ___________

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday


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FIRST GRADE WEEKLY SIGHT WORDS
#1 the is on in was an
#2 are and make has to he
#3 I by down who too can
#4: no, there, where, with, this, does
#5: for, what, yes, have, put, said
#6: she, to, get, so, want, pull
#7: after, old, new, first, were, her
#8 laugh, my, of, out, will, would
#9 work, you, do, here, one, start
#10 be, like, from, good, made, went
#11 play, five, four, three, two, into
#12 into, off, see, think, both, wish
#13 ask, away, how, me, your, ride
#14 they, we, white, want, little, now
#15 been, could, live, over, very, good
#16 around, some, look, saw, eat, together
#17 being, give, once, please, use, read
#18 goes, again, today, live, look, carry
#19 done, about, every, come, pretty, our
#20 yellow, many, know, their, before, any
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Religion   Prayer for the Month of "SEPTEMBER"

Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

The Sign of the Cross is the most basic Catholic prayer. The first graders will learn to say it with reverence before and after their other prayers. For this assessment, children need to...
*Say all the words.
*Use right hand.
*Cross correctly touching left shoulder before the right.
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Prayer for the Month of "OCTOBER"
Glory Be to the Father
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
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Prayer for the Month of "NOVEMBER/DECEMBER"
Our Father
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name;
Thy Kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
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Prayer for the Month of "JANUARY/FEBRUARY"
Grace Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord,
and these Thy gifts,
which we are about to receive
from Thy bounty,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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Prayer for the Month of "MARCH/APRIL"
Guardian Angel
Angel of God,
My guardian dear,
To whom God’s love commits me here.
Ever this day be at my side
To light and guard
To rule and guide.
Amen.
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Prayer for the Month of "MAY"
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
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Schedule   Click here for the First Grade Weekly Schedule
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Dates to Remember

Friday, June 11
Last Day of School
Report Cards Distributed
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Specials
Monday--Art
Tuesday--PE & Spanish
Wednesday--PE, Library, & Technology
Thursday--PE, Art, Spanish, Library, Technology, & Music
Friday--Mass & Big Buddies
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Open Court Information   SIGHT WORDS
Sight words are words that students encounter frequently in reading and writing. It is critical that readers and writers develop automatic recognition of sight words, a skill that leads to fluency. Students need to be able to read their sight words “instantly” without hesitation.

Many sight words do not follow regular phonetic rules. They do not follow easy spelling patterns (example: cave, save, have) As a result, these words are more difficult for students to master. Asking a child to "sound it out" is pointless with this type of word and generally causes increased frustration for beginning and struggling readers. Young readers need to recognize these words as "sight words".

THE FOLLOWING ARE FUN WAYS TO PRACTICE SIGHT WORDS:

Uno, Dos, Tres
Materials: deck of sight word cards plus a few extra cards with BOO written on each of them; a paper and pencil for each player to keep score
Instructions: The deck consists of words to be read and an occasional Boo Card. Ask each player in turn, “Uno, Dos, Tres?” They respond, indicating how many cards they would like (saying either uno, dos, or tres). Deal out face up the appropriate number of cards for each player. The player reads each one, getting a point for each correct answer. Any card missed is given to the next to see if they can get it right, thus earning bonus points. If a player is dealt a Boo Card, he loses his turn. The winner has the most points at the end of the time. The players keep track of points with Tally Marks.

Oh, No!
Materials: sight word cards in container plus a few extra cards that have OH NO written on them
Instructions:Each player, in turn, draws a card. If they can read it, they keep it. If they draw an "Oh no!" card, they lose ALL their cards. If they cannot read their word, let the next player read it for an EXTRA turn. The winner has the most cards.

Go Fish
Materials: Deck of Sight Word cards with a duplicate of each word
Instructions: Each player is dealt 4 cards. Leftover cards form a draw pile in the middle. On a turn, the player asks someone in the group for a card (partner to one that they already have in their hand) For example, “Do you have glad?” They may NOT spell out the word; they MUST read it. If that person has the card, they must give it up. If not, they say “Go Fish,” and the asking player draws a card from the draw pile. If the asking player gets the card they asked for, either from another player or from the draw pile, they put the pair down and get another turn. To play, each player must have four cards, which they must replenish from the draw pile (except at the end, when everyone is running out). The winner has the most pairs.
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DECODABLE BOOKS
This year your child will continue to use the Open Court Reading series. To reinforce the reading instruction that will be given in school, your child will be bringing home his/her very own decodable books to share with you on a regular basis. With your help, these stories will give your child important reading practice, as well as an enjoyable shared reading experience. The stories in the decodable books reinforce the sound/spelling that was introduced that day in class. As you read the stories, please review that particular skill with your child.

We strongly encourage you to set aside 10-15 minutes every evening to read these stories together. Here are some suggestions you may find helpful:
*Do not expect your child to read each story perfectly, but concentrate on sharing the book together.
*Participate by doing some of the reading.
*Talk about the stories before, during, and after reading.
*Give lots of encouragement and watch as your child becomes more fluent throughout the year!

Your child will be bringing home these books in their decodable book bag. In the bag you will find a form to sign once you and your child have read the book together. Please return the bag each day because we will be adding new ones. As your child begins to master his/her books, we will send them home wrapped with a rubberband. Please keep these books in a special place at home. A shoebox works great. This collection will make a library of books that your child can read and reread.

Learning to read takes lots of practice! Sharing these stories is one way your child can gain that valuable practice and in turn build their confidence and a love for reading! Support your child with interest and enthusiasm about reading. You won't regret it!
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The ABC's of First Grade  A
If your child is absent, please call St. Mary's (301-762-4179) to let us know. When your child returns to school, please fill out an absent form stating the reason your child was absent. Forms can be found in the front of the Parent/Teacher Communication Notebook.

B
For birthday celebrations, it is perfectly fine to bring in a special treat. Cupcakes, cookies, and ice cream cups are all very popular in first grade. Children who have summer birthdays will be able to choose any school day during the year. Please inform me if there is a certain time that you would like your child to celebrate his or her birthday. Also, on your child's special day, he/she may dress down; however, please make sure that if it is on Friday (Mass) that they "dress up" or they choose another day to have "dress down". Thanks!

I will send home book order forms for you and your child to look over every month. Book clubs offer books at reduced prices. It's a great way to build your child's home library!

C
Conferences will be held on November 14. The schedule will be set up when the time gets closer.

D
Every day your child will be bringing home a Daily Folder. One side of the folder will have papers to keep at home and the other side will have papers that need to completed and returned to school. Every Monday a weekly newsletter will be sent home in the DAILY FOLDER. The newsletter will include this week's homework, school/class news, dates to remember, and more.

Discipline is simple. We work hard as a class to make the classroom a positive and safe place for all.

E
My school email address is simmonsk@smsrockville.org. I check email daily.

Early Release Days will take place on the first Friday of each month. Check school calendar for the specific dates. On Early Release days, students will not eat lunch and are dismissed at 11:30 AM.

F
A family envelope will come home each week that contains communications that aren't on the school website. Please read the information in this envelope and return the empty envelope to school on the following day. All responses to notices should be placed in the PARENT/TEACHER COMMUNICATION POCKET. Thank you!

G
Our class will have gym class every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with Mr. Murray. Students need to wear their gym uniform on these days. Read the St. Mary's Handbook for the specfics on uniforms.

H
All homework is a reinforcement or extension of class instruction. Look for homework Monday through Thursday and occasionally Friday. The homework that needs to be completed will be found on the RETURN TO SCHOOL side of the daily folder. Homework will be turned in each day by your child. A Homework Helper is needed to go over directions and make sure work is completed and returned to school. Please sign or initial your child's work.

I
Independence is a goal for students because it builds self-esteem and self-confidence. First Graders are very capable of doing many things on their own and I encourage them to do as much as they can for themselves in the classroom. Please work on the following skills at home with your child: zipping, tying, dressing, etc. Our first grade goal is that all students know how to tie his/her shoes by December. Please help your child accomplish this goal.

J
Writing takes place every day in first grade. One way we accomplish this is through free writing in our journals. Please encourage your child to write at home for a variety of purposes.

K
Keep updated by reading the classroom newsletter every week and checking Homework Hero every day for other notes and information.

L
Our class will visit the library on Tuesdays. Our library teacher is Mrs. Neumann. Your child will check out a book when we visit the library and return it within the following week. If your child forgets to return the book, he/she will not be allowed to check out a new book until it is returned.

M
The children will have music class every Thursday with Mrs. Martinelli. The children learn how to play instruments, read music, and sing many great songs. The children look forward to this class each week!

We will be going to Mass every Friday at 9:00 a.m. Please give your child a gentle reminder at breakfast on Fridays. This will help prepare them for a community celebration. Your child will be attending Mass with their 8th grade big buddy. We will be discussing our Mass manners and behavior prior to going to Mass. Please feel free to join us in this wonderful celebration. We ask, however, that you do not sit with your child. We are encouraging a relationship between the children and their big buddies. You may sit behind the class in church.

The first grade math curriculum provides students with mathematical experiences that help them develop number sense and a positive attitude towards mathematics that will continue throughout their school career and lives. Most often, for math class, students will be divided into groups and rotate through centers while I meet with small groups of children. These math groups will be fluid and flexible, changing from day to day or week to week, based on the needs of students.

N
Your child will have a PARENT/TEACHER COMMUNICATION POCKET. The pocket will be used as a communication tool between home and school. Inside the pocket, you will find a green notebook. Please write any notes in this notebook that will help me better understand your child. Information from home can include school absences, doctor appointments, early dismissals, classroom questions, and/or changes in family routine. By being informed, I can better assist your child. In addition, information from school can be sent home by writing in this notebook. The notebook will not be used as a daily progress report. If you have a concern or problem regarding your child, please write a note requesting a telephone conference or an appointment.

All office notes/responses, fieldtrip permission slips, and money should be sent to school in this pocket. We will not be checking your child's homework folder. Your child will be responsible for handing in his/her homework. Therefore, please send important information in this pocket.

O
Open House (Back-to-School Night) will take place on September 9th at 7:00 PM.

P
Many of you are familiar with St. Mary's morning drop off procedure and line up. New parents will be directed with the help of St. Mary's staff. Please read your Handbook For Parents for detailed instructions.

Children will walk to auditorium and wait in the first grade line. At 7:40 a.m., they will be escorted into the classroom. We will begin our morning meeting at 7:50 so please help your child arrive on time for school.

For dismissal procedures, the children will be escorted out of the building from the first grade back door. There is a gold line marked on the pavement. The children wait at that location for pick up. You may meet your children there at dismissal. No cars leave the parking lot until the bell has rung and students are dismissed by St. Mary's staff.

Q
Questions? Please feel free to call, email, or write a note in communication notebook. However, I ask that you do not stop by the classroom at arrival time. This is a time for both the students and the teachers to get organized for the day. If you have something you would like me to know first thing in the morning, please write a note in the PARENT/TEACHER COMMUNICATION NOTEBOOK. Mrs. Soisson checks it first thing and hands me the notes. Thanks!

R
First grade report cards will be sent home at the end of each quarter (four times) during the school year.

S
We will be asking each family to provide a nutritious snack for the class. Each family will have a scheduled day. Families will bring in a snack for 29 children along with a beverage (milk and juice, no soft drinks please). Please bring items that will be needed for the snack, such as napkins and cups. We would like you to consider sending in a snack that will help provide brain power to the children. Crackers, goldfish, string cheese, carrots w/ ranch dip, apples, and grapes are very popular. A monthly calendar will be sent home. Please feel free to make changes among families if there is a schedule conflict. If there are changes, please write us a note so we are aware.

The focus of the first grade science curriculum is on developing an awareness of the world in which we live. Science concepts and skills will be explored utilizing a literacy based, hands-on approach.

The first grade social studies curriculum focuses on the students and how they relate to others in their families, classroom, school, and community. Social Studies concepts and skills will be explored utilizing a literacy based, hands-on approach.

T
If your child has any changes in their transportation, please let me know in writing, by email, or by voice mail.

U
Please label everything that comes to school with your child, such as outer clothing, hair bands, belts, and ESPECIALLY SCHOOL UNIFORMS!!!

V
Family vacations are wonderful opportunities for your family, however, please be sure to let us know that you are planning on taking a vacation so we can prepare work ahead of time for your child. Thank you!

W
This school year most of St. Mary's school communication will be through the St. Mary's website and the school's Homework Hero website. I will have the Homework Hero website set up and available by the end of the school day each Monday. You will see the hard copy homework sheet on this website. If there are any special announcements or classroom updates during the week, we will post them on the Homework Hero. Please check this daily for updated news.

X
Parents and family members may eXit and enter via the main school entry (metro side of school).

Y
Your ideas are welcome!

Z
Zzzzzzz-Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give your child.

FIRST GRADE! FIRST GRADE!
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Click for Weekly Spelling List
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