WELCOME

Dear Parents

Welcome to Grade One! I look forward to a happy and exciting year ahead. I would like to make your child’s first year of Elementary School a memorable occasion. To achieve this, it is important that I, the teacher, you, the parent, and the children work together as a team.

I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Robyn Wood and I will be your child’s classroom teacher for this school year. I am from South Africa and I have been in Taiwan for two and a half years and will be starting my third year at HIS. I believe in creating the best classroom atmosphere for every child to reach their true learning potential. Not all children are Grade A students but they are all successful as long as they are giving their best and achieving their potential in any of a variety of areas.

I am looking forward to teaching your child and getting to know their individual needs in order to help them reach their highest potential in Grade One. I am also looking forward to getting to know the families so that we can work together to meet each student’s academic needs both in the classroom and at home.

As part of our routine, we have a healthy snack break that takes place at 10 am daily. Please help to promote good eating habits by providing your child with healthy snacks such as fresh fruit, vegetables, crackers and granola bars. To encourage this routine I ask that no candy be included in your child’s snack.

To increase our communication throughout the year I have created a blog for our class. Please visit this website every week: http://gradeonehis.blogspot.com/ Should you need to write me a note, there is a notebook in your child’s Hero folder.

Listed below, you will find the classroom supply list for your child to be prepared to start the new school year. Please ensure that they also have a set of stationary at home so that they don't need to take it back and fore daily and risk the chance of either leaving it at home or at school.

Pencils – 5

Erasers – 2

Coloring pencils – set of at least 12

Scissors

Markers – set of 12

Glue stick

Pastels

No-spill water bottle (please fill with water only)

School bag

A folder to be used for homework (I have shown your child, what I require; please feel free to come to my class and I can show you.)

Individual white board with 2 markers and an eraser

One warmer shirt/sweater to be left at school to help your child when they find themselves chilly in the classroom. This will assist the class in meeting the individual comfort needs of each student.

Cap or hat for PE

Box of tissues

A top to be used for protecting clothes when using paints throughout the year.

* Please label all items clearly.

Your assistance with homework is essential to your child succeeding this year, as it is the consolidation of work covered in class. It is a good idea to get your child into a routine of packing his/her own schoolbag before going to bed, so that nothing is left at home. Please do not do your child’s homework for them but rather help them when needed.

I am a firm believer in having an open-door policy in my classroom, so please do not hesitate to come to me with any questions or concerns. If you have a question about your child’s work, please come as speak to me, as I am the one who sets and grades your child’s work. Please also feel free to contact me via e-mail at wood.his@gmail.com.

Best Regards,

Ms. Robyn Wood

Guidelines when doing homework

• Your child should sit at a desk or table of appropriate height and should try to do homework at the same place each day.

• In order for your child to concentrate on the task, there should preferably be as little noise as possible, e.g. the T.V. should be switched off.

• Supervise your child’s homework otherwise it could end up taking longer than necessary.

• Homework must be done every day.

• Routine and structure is vital in creating a happy and stress-free homework environment. Get your child into a routine as soon as possible, and homework will be a breeze.

• A homework sheet can be found in the STAR folder, please ensure that you check off the work once it has been completed. Please ensure that you initial the page every day.

• If your child has a tutor who helps them after school, please free to give them my e-mail address so that we can communicate in order to change your child’s weakness into strength. My e-mail address is wood.his@gmail.com

If you have any concerns, please contact me, as we both have your child’s best interests at heart.

Ms Wood