Mrs. Grefe’s First Grade Class

 

Dear Parents,

I am pleased to welcome you and your child to first grade at Cottonwood Canyon Elementary. This year promises to be exciting and rewarding as your child develops reading, writing, listening, speaking, and math skills through a variety of learning experiences and activities. I believe that every child has the potential to learn and be successful.  Our classroom will be a place where children are nurtured as individuals and encouraged to excel to their individual potential. It is also important for children to acquire the social skills that will enable them to be productive people in the larger world beyond school. To this end, our classroom will provide children with opportunities to excel independently and cooperatively. Finally, our classroom will exemplify positive character and academic achievement in a creative and engaging environment where children learn to believe in themselves and trust those around them.

About Me:I have taught at Cottonwood since it opened in 2002.  I have an extensive background in literacy and love working with first grade students as they learn to read.  I live in Canyon Hills with my two children, husband and many pets.  My hobbies are photography and gardening.

Homework

 Homework packets will be sent home on Fridays and due the following Friday morning. Homework includes a reading log, spelling activities, and reading comprehension. Students recite the poem out loud every Friday, so practice each night.  Students may read word lists and Phonics Library readers as a reading choice for the reading log. Please sign the packet and help your child be responsible to complete the packet each week.  Word lists and Homework Folders should be brought to class daily. 

Volunteers

If you are interested in working with small groups or attending field trips, you will need a Purple Volunteer Badge. You may pick up a Volunteer Application from the school office, have a TB skin test, apply for a background/fingerprint check, and wait for approval.  If you are interested in helping the teacher with other things you will need a Red Volunteer Badge.  You may pick up a Volunteer Application from the school office, have a TB skin test, and wait for approval. If you already have a badge from last school year, please contact the school office to find out if there is anything that you need to do to update your information with the school district.

Classroom Management

Students are expected to follow school rules and behave appropriately in the classroom.  Every day each child will begin in the green zone. Infractions will move the child down to yellow (a verbal warning), orange (time out), or red (a note to parents). Students have the ability to amend behavior and move their clips up to blue or purple, through positive actions such as, paying attention, participating, or following directions.  A daily color chart will be sent home daily for you to view behavior.

 

Communication

It is very important that you always have a way to communicate with me.  The most convenient way is through the school website.  You can access the website through ccecubs.com. My e-mail is Monica.Grefe@leusd.k12.ca.us. Another great way is to send a note with your child in their Homework Folder which is checked daily. All homework and daily work being returned from school will be sent home using this folder.  Therefore, your child will need to bring this folder daily. Please take the time to review and discuss the daily papers that have been corrected with your child.  This allows you the opportunity to assist your child if they are struggling in a particular area or congratulate them for a job well done.  

Suggested Supplies For Mrs. Grefe’s Class  

1.           Back Pack-labeled with child’s name and room number.  Please bring it daily.

2.            Lunch box-labeled with child’s name and room number. (If your child buys please pre-pay to avoid lost lunch money)

3.          Everyone:

1 ream of white copy paper

3-4 glue sticks

3-4 EXPO dry erase markers

1 pair of rounded tip, safty scissors

 

Donations for Mrs. Grefe’s Class

 

§   Colored Xerox paper- I send all parent notices on this type of paper.

§   Small items for our prize box. Ex. pencils, stickers, little prizes from birthday parties etc.

§   Box of quart size zip lock bags

§   Box of gallon size zip lock bags 

§   Brown paper bags

§    Clorox wipes

§   Kleenex tissues

§   Prang Watercolor-8colors

 

Classroom and School Events

For important dates please click on the link for Classroom Calendar on this page and the school calendar on the website home page.  You will find important events and assignments listed there.