frequently asked questions
1. Communication
We will communicate weekly through Thursday folders. We are also available through email or by phone. If there is anything important we need to share with you about your child, we will reach out. Otherwise, if you have questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to email us.
[email protected] 303-759-7808 ext.1434
[email protected] 303-759-7808 ext. 1301
2. How will parents know the academic progress of their kids?
Parents can access grades through Illuminate. In addition, “graded” work will be sent home in Thursday folders. As we are skill building in first grade, we will only send home completed work, but you should be able to notice teacher grade marks, or if your student has made several attempts at completing the work.
3. Website/parent contact times/Daily schedules
Our website is www.highline1stgrade.weebly.com. If you can’t find the site (or you forget it!), you can find it listed on the main Highline Academy staff page, under any of the first grade teachers. Our daily schedule is posted on the site. Our preferred method of contact is by email, but if you would like to meet with us in person, we will be happy to schedule a time that works for everyone.
4. Parent Support
The best way you can offer support is by ensuring that your child completes all of his or her necessary assignments, that they bring their planner and book baggie to and from school, and that they have adequate time and help practicing spelling, reading, and math problems. It is also imperative that they come to school well rested, on time to eat breakfast if they need it, and fully prepared for the day. In addition, please don’t hesitate to let us know if you feel like your child needs additional support.
5. Homework policy
Students will be given a reading response/spelling word practice sheet every Monday, with the expectation that it is returned completed, the following Monday. Additionally, each Math teacher will assign math HW when they feel their class is ready to complete a page for the lesson they covered. All homework will be in the inside pocket of the planner. Spelling words can be found glued inside the planner each week.
If needed, please send us an email or write a note on the homework sheet letting us know where your child is struggling. If this happens, we suggest putting the homework aside and either try to complete it at a different time or send it back and we will speak with your child about how we can help them. We definitely don’t want to create negative associations with homework or academics in general.
6. PBIS Restorative Approaches
We will be using a fluid clip chart as a disciplinary measure in our classrooms. Every student will start the day on GREEN, or “ready to learn”. From there they can move up to BLUE, which is “great work” or even PURPLE, “star student”. Additionally, they can move down to YELLOW, which is “make better choices” or RED, which is “parent contact/front office.” Students have the opportunity to move up and down along the chart for the entire day (meaning they could move from green, to red, and then up to purple) and you will only be contacted, if your student ENDS the day on red or if the student has landed on red, multiple times during the day or multiple days in a row. Your child will color in their planner at the end of each day for you to see how their day went.
We will also be using restorative approaches in our classrooms this year to “repair” relationships that have been damaged by poor choices or behavior. We will be using a restorative dialogue with questions such as, “What happened?”, “Who has been affected by what you have done and in what way?” and “What do you think you need to do to make things right?” We encourage you to use the same language at home in order to build a strong school to home connection. If you would like more information on restorative approaches, we have pamphlets and informational sheets, or you can visit http://www.transformingconflict.org/content/restorative-approaches-0.
7. Reading
We strongly suggest that your child read at home, every night. They should be reading for at least 15-20 minutes. We also suggest that you ask your child about the story they are reading to build their comprehension. Please use the questions on the book baggie contract for ideas and examples. If you need another copy, it can be found on our website or you can email us and we will send one to you.
8. Volunteer opportunities
You can contact Parents With Purpose (PWP) to find out about volunteering opportunities. We will also be reaching out via email if we need help. Our room parents this year are Kesa Sullivan and Gina Westberg. They will be reaching out to parents throughout the year and coordinating various events for first grade.
9. Literacy/Math
We are using the Eureka curriculum for math and National Geographic Reach For Reading for literacy. If you would like more information about our Math and Literacy classes you can visit the following websites:
Literacy: http://reach4reading.com/rfr_virtualtour/
Math: greatminds.net/parents
10. Social Studies/Science/Specials
Each specials teacher should have their own website, listed under their name on the staff page on Highline’s main website.
Spanish – Celise Ramos [email protected]
Music – Tiffany Davis [email protected]
Art - Ms. Enyert: [email protected]
Gym- Coach Harry Sledge [email protected]
Listed below are the topics we hope to cover this year in Science and Social Studies
Science:
Unit 1- Plant and Animal Parts
Unit 2- Light and Sound
Unit 3- Sky Patterns
Social Studies:
How do we get along in school?
Why is it important to learn from each other?
Why do we have rules in school?
Who works at your school?
How are we good helpers at school?
What is a map?
What was school like long ago?
What groups do we belong to?
How are families special?
What do families need and want?
How do family members care for each other?
How do families change over time?
Where do families live?
What are family traditions?
What do good neighbors do?
11. Best times to schedule appointments
Your child’s class schedule is listed on our class website. We suggest scheduling any appointments, AFTER lunch. While they may miss Social Studies, Science, or Spanish, we would prefer that they did not miss core subjects, during the first part of the day.
We will communicate weekly through Thursday folders. We are also available through email or by phone. If there is anything important we need to share with you about your child, we will reach out. Otherwise, if you have questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to email us.
[email protected] 303-759-7808 ext.1434
[email protected] 303-759-7808 ext. 1301
2. How will parents know the academic progress of their kids?
Parents can access grades through Illuminate. In addition, “graded” work will be sent home in Thursday folders. As we are skill building in first grade, we will only send home completed work, but you should be able to notice teacher grade marks, or if your student has made several attempts at completing the work.
3. Website/parent contact times/Daily schedules
Our website is www.highline1stgrade.weebly.com. If you can’t find the site (or you forget it!), you can find it listed on the main Highline Academy staff page, under any of the first grade teachers. Our daily schedule is posted on the site. Our preferred method of contact is by email, but if you would like to meet with us in person, we will be happy to schedule a time that works for everyone.
4. Parent Support
The best way you can offer support is by ensuring that your child completes all of his or her necessary assignments, that they bring their planner and book baggie to and from school, and that they have adequate time and help practicing spelling, reading, and math problems. It is also imperative that they come to school well rested, on time to eat breakfast if they need it, and fully prepared for the day. In addition, please don’t hesitate to let us know if you feel like your child needs additional support.
5. Homework policy
Students will be given a reading response/spelling word practice sheet every Monday, with the expectation that it is returned completed, the following Monday. Additionally, each Math teacher will assign math HW when they feel their class is ready to complete a page for the lesson they covered. All homework will be in the inside pocket of the planner. Spelling words can be found glued inside the planner each week.
If needed, please send us an email or write a note on the homework sheet letting us know where your child is struggling. If this happens, we suggest putting the homework aside and either try to complete it at a different time or send it back and we will speak with your child about how we can help them. We definitely don’t want to create negative associations with homework or academics in general.
6. PBIS Restorative Approaches
We will be using a fluid clip chart as a disciplinary measure in our classrooms. Every student will start the day on GREEN, or “ready to learn”. From there they can move up to BLUE, which is “great work” or even PURPLE, “star student”. Additionally, they can move down to YELLOW, which is “make better choices” or RED, which is “parent contact/front office.” Students have the opportunity to move up and down along the chart for the entire day (meaning they could move from green, to red, and then up to purple) and you will only be contacted, if your student ENDS the day on red or if the student has landed on red, multiple times during the day or multiple days in a row. Your child will color in their planner at the end of each day for you to see how their day went.
We will also be using restorative approaches in our classrooms this year to “repair” relationships that have been damaged by poor choices or behavior. We will be using a restorative dialogue with questions such as, “What happened?”, “Who has been affected by what you have done and in what way?” and “What do you think you need to do to make things right?” We encourage you to use the same language at home in order to build a strong school to home connection. If you would like more information on restorative approaches, we have pamphlets and informational sheets, or you can visit http://www.transformingconflict.org/content/restorative-approaches-0.
7. Reading
We strongly suggest that your child read at home, every night. They should be reading for at least 15-20 minutes. We also suggest that you ask your child about the story they are reading to build their comprehension. Please use the questions on the book baggie contract for ideas and examples. If you need another copy, it can be found on our website or you can email us and we will send one to you.
8. Volunteer opportunities
You can contact Parents With Purpose (PWP) to find out about volunteering opportunities. We will also be reaching out via email if we need help. Our room parents this year are Kesa Sullivan and Gina Westberg. They will be reaching out to parents throughout the year and coordinating various events for first grade.
9. Literacy/Math
We are using the Eureka curriculum for math and National Geographic Reach For Reading for literacy. If you would like more information about our Math and Literacy classes you can visit the following websites:
Literacy: http://reach4reading.com/rfr_virtualtour/
Math: greatminds.net/parents
10. Social Studies/Science/Specials
Each specials teacher should have their own website, listed under their name on the staff page on Highline’s main website.
Spanish – Celise Ramos [email protected]
Music – Tiffany Davis [email protected]
Art - Ms. Enyert: [email protected]
Gym- Coach Harry Sledge [email protected]
Listed below are the topics we hope to cover this year in Science and Social Studies
Science:
Unit 1- Plant and Animal Parts
Unit 2- Light and Sound
Unit 3- Sky Patterns
Social Studies:
How do we get along in school?
Why is it important to learn from each other?
Why do we have rules in school?
Who works at your school?
How are we good helpers at school?
What is a map?
What was school like long ago?
What groups do we belong to?
How are families special?
What do families need and want?
How do family members care for each other?
How do families change over time?
Where do families live?
What are family traditions?
What do good neighbors do?
11. Best times to schedule appointments
Your child’s class schedule is listed on our class website. We suggest scheduling any appointments, AFTER lunch. While they may miss Social Studies, Science, or Spanish, we would prefer that they did not miss core subjects, during the first part of the day.