Mrs. Peiffer’s Class
Welcome to First Grade at “Elkhart Elementary: Where Learning Runs WILD!” This will be a wonderful “Safari” for all of us. I am excited to get to know you and your child! My name is Shellie Peiffer. I am married with two sons, one in 3rd grade and one in 12th grade. This will be my 10th year teaching.
Here are a few things you should know about my class.
Daily Folder:Your child will be responsible for their Daily Folder both at home and at school. The Daily Folder will contain very important information including office notes, newsletters and notes from me, homework, and a behavior calendar which is a way for me to communicate with you about your child. Please ensure that your child gives you his/her Daily Folder each day. Please read any notes/newsletters, oversee homework, and sign the behavior calendar EACH DAY. The students will be required to take their Daily Folder out of their backpack and return it to the folder box in the classroom EVERY MORNING. I will check them daily. This is a simple, yet effective form of communication between home and school.
***Each Monday: I will send home a Weekly Newsletter that contains the spelling words (and homework check list), high frequency words, vocabulary words and other information about our week. I will also send home a spiral notebook that will be used for Spelling homework and a Math packet to be completed during the week and returned on Friday. The students will also have library books (AR) to read each night.
I will give a grade of 95% each week for both Math and Spelling homework if completed and turned in on time. If turned in late, they will receive a 70% and if not turned in at all, they will receive a 0%.
Snacks and Water:
Students may bring a “healthy” snack each day if desired. I allow students to have a sport top (the kind with pull-up and push-down tops) water bottle at their seat. NO SCREW ON CAPS!! Please write their name on the bottle. WATER ONLY!
School Supplies:
I DO NOT allow pencil sharpeners, mechanical pencils, pens, rulers, or highlighters in class. Only the required supplies from the first grade school supply list will be needed and used.
Arrival and Dismissal:
Students may enter the building at 7:30 a.m. They will go straight to the gym (unless having breakfast in the cafeteria) until school begins at 8:00 a.m. If a car rider arrives after 8:00, they will be required to go to the front office and receive a tardy slip to be admitted into the classroom. I begin teaching promptly at 8:00 a.m. so please make sure your child is at school on time.
Dismissal:
School is dismissed at 3:20 p.m. All car riders will be picked up at the covered sidewalk by the lower elementary building. Porch/Walk-up pickup will be behind the elementary at the back corner door at the 1st/2nd grade building opposite from the nurse’s office. We will not send students down the stairs alone, please come up the stairs to meet them. ANY ONE PICKING UP THEIR CHILD FROM THE CAR RIDER OR PORCH PICK UP AREAS MUST HAVE THEIR SECURITY TAG WITH THEM. NO EXCEPTIONS…YOU WILL BE SENT TO THE FRONT OFFICE TO CHECK OUT YOUR STUDENT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE SECURITY TAG. THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS.
IMPORTANT!!!
If your child needs to make a transportation change (buses, car riders, or porch pickups), you MUST send a note to your child’s teacher.
If the change comes up midday, you may call the office BEFORE 1:30 to ensure the message gets to your child.
Parent/Teacher Conferences:
We will have a report card pick-up/parent conference in the Fall and again in the Spring. If you need to meet with me any other time please send me a note or an email and I will set up a time to meet. My email is .
Discipline Management Policy:
I aim to foster a sense of family, independence, and responsibility in my classroom. Good behavior will be specifically praised and rewarded with both intrinsic rewards and extrinsic rewards. Elkhart Elementary has a wonderful reward system for good behavior! The students are always recognized for doing the “right thing.”
If behavior becomes a problem, I will talk with the student to help him/her refocus and make the right choices. Beyond that I use a color system. Each child has a number on a card and the card will start on Green (Great Day) each day. Depending on the behavior and frequency, the child’s card may be moved to Yellow (challenging day) or Red (parent contact). Consequences include (but not limited to) time-out in classroom, at recess, silent lunch, loss of privileges, phone call or note home. Any color movement will be noted on their Behavior Calendar. The Behavior Calendar will document the conduct grade.
***IF PROBLEMS PERSIST, AND ALL OTHER MEANS HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED, A VISIT TO THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE WILL OCCUR. AS A RESULT, THIS MAY INCLUDE PADDLING OR IN SCHOOL SUSPENSION.
Please discuss each day’s behavior with your child. Holding your child accountable for their choices will help them to grow into productive, responsible, and respectful citizens!! Praise them for their positive behaviors too!