Miss Bloodworth (Miss B.)

Miss Bloodworth (Miss B.)

Room 305

Home of the Busy Bees!

2200 W. Maya Way
Phoenix, AZ85085

Office #623-445-8200

Welcome aboard! We are looking forward to getting to know you and your firstgrader. We want our students to feel that school is a pleasant and exciting place to learn and have fun! The 1stgrade team at Norterra Canyon believes that teachers and parents must work together to provide a safe and nurturing environment for academic success. We are thrilled to start this adventure together!

Arizona law requires that public schools provide supplies required for academic success. This list represents optional, supplementary items which you may supply, at your discretion. If you have questions, feel free to contact the school.

The following items are not required, but would be appreciated:

(Don’t label these items with names, because they will be shared with the entire class.)

2 boxes of tissue
2 packs of 24 count Crayola crayons
2packages of fine-tipwhiteboard/dry erase markers
6 glue sticks

1set of watercolor paints

1 package of Clorox antibacterial wipes

1 roll of paper towels

Boys- 1 box of sandwich or snack sized Ziploc bags
Girls- 1 box ofgallon sizedZiploc bags

• The school will provide “take-home/homework” folders for each child. Please do not send other folders to school.

Please do not send or allow your child to bring other items to school. It creates contention and distracts from educational time. Your first grader will have homework in reading, word work (spelling) and math; involving writing, drawing and coloring. If you have already purchased a lot of extra school supplies, set up a “Homework Study Area” in your home. It is a great way to begin good study habits! Thank you for understanding!

On the first day of school, Monday, August 10th, please bring your firstgrader to the circular courtyard or the classroom (room 305). I will meet them by our line spot at 8:10am when the first bell rings. Look for our line sign. We will line up at line # 5 each morning and then walk back to the classroom.

/ Classroom guidelines:
We show respect for people and property.
We work as a team.
We focus on manners and cooperation.
We always do our best.
/ Attendance
If a student is going to be tardy, please call the office or send a note. K-8 students arriving after 8:15 AM must report to the office for a pass before going to their classroom.
/ Take-home/homework folder
We give each student a take-home “Pirate” folder with his/her name on it. The inside pockets are labeled, “Leave at home” and “Return to school.”
It is brought home every night.
It must be returned to school every day.
Be sure to check your child’s folder every night. There will be homework and important notices in it.
/ Homework
Your child will have weekly homework in math, reading, and word work (spelling).
First grade homework will be approximately 25 minutes per night.
Please check homework folders each night.
A detailed note will be sent home before we start homework to explain procedures. Homework will not start the first week of school. Math homework will start the second week of school and reading usually begins the first week in September.
/ Reading
Whole Group, small group, project based learning model using Reading Street
We have weekly sight word assessments.
We have daily phonics practice and instruction.
Curriculum compacting/Gifted Clustering with supplemental materials as needed.
Homework: The children will be using the computer program, RAZ-KIDS for their daily reading practice. Please have your child read using the RAZ-KIDS program for at least 10-15 minutes each night.
Math: The children will have a practice math page each night to review the daily lesson.
/ Writing
We will use the Reading Street Rubrics to grade writing.
We have weekly sight words that are used in our spelling instruction/assessments.
For spelling instruction, we will be using the “Words Their Way” program.
Writing portfolios updated quarterly.
/ Math
Along with theCommon Core State Standards, we will be using the District’s adopted math program, Engage NY.
We will incorporate critical thinking skills, math reasoning, and computation.
 Math Homework: Math facts and a practice/enrichment page (Xerox copy).
Time / FirstGrade Schedule
Monday / Music @ 1:30
Tuesday / PE @ 12:45
Wednesday / Music @ 12:45
Thursday / PE @ 12:45
Friday / Art @ 1:30
/ PowerSchools
We will be using PowerSchools to enter your child’s grades in our gradebooks.
You can access your child’s grades online through the PowerSchools website: ps.dvusd.org/public
Grades will update weekly.
/ Love and Logic
Our school uses a “Love and Logic” philosophy to create a positive learning environment, address behavioral issues, and teach students to have greater responsibility, self-discipline and problem-resolution skills. Love allows children to grow through their mistakes. Logic allows children to live with the consequences of their choices. Love and Logic is a way of working with children that puts parents and teachers back in control, teaches children to be responsible, and prepares young people to live in the real world, with its many choices and consequences.
The first grade classrooms have a common rule: No one has the right to interfere with the learning, safety, or well-being or others.
Following the Love and Logic philosophy, if disruptions or problems occur, your child may choose to go to the classroom “recovery area” in order to reflect on his/her behavior and to fill out a “Thinking Sheet”.
A monthly behavior calendar will be stapled to your child’s Pirate Folder. If they need to fill out a “Thinking Sheet”, the calendar will be signed by the teacher and include a short note regarding the behavior issue.
Further disruption, serious rule breakage, or constant disruptions will result in the student visiting the school administration. Deer Valley Unified School District’s Discipline Guidelines for Grades K-8 will be followed, which may lead up to and include suspension/expulsion. Please refer to the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook.
/ Lunch
The price for lunch is $ $2.60
If your child will be buying lunch, we recommend that you put money on his/her cafeteria account.
You can put money on the account before school in the cafeteria or through the website You can put any amount of money on your child’s account. When he/she buys lunch, the moneyis deducted from the account in the computer.
If your child will be buying lunch on the first day of school, please put the money on the account in the cafeteria before school. After the first day, you can just send a check with your child to give to us. Please make it out to NorterraCanyon. We will make sure the cafeteria gets the check.
Late lunchboxes (or any late items) must be dropped off in the front office. We will retrieve the items from the office later in the day.
Please put your child’s name and room number on lunchboxes
/ Toys
Toys distract from instructional time and are not allowed at school. Please be sure that your children do not bring them to school in their backpacks.
Scooters, roller blades, skateboards, and wheeled shoes are not allowed at school.
/ Parking Lot
Please make sure that you park in a real, designated parking spot in the parking lot before and after school or stay in the blue pickup lane.
For the children’s safety, be sure you don’t double park or leave your car idling at the curb.
Parents must stay in their vehicles when picking up students by the curb.
/ Morning schedule
No students are allowed on campus before 8:00 AM unless eating breakfast or in Pirate’s Cove.
At 8:10 AM, the children will line up outside in the courtyard area and wait for the teacher to bring them to the classroom. Line spot #5.
/ Classroom Treats & Birthdays
All treats must be store-bought and unopened. Due to health department regulations, we can no longer enjoy home-made goodies.
We do not host a birthday party for your child at school. However, if you would like to send in a small treat for each child on your child’s birthday, you may send it in with your child in the morning or leave it in the office. Please do not send in complete cakes or items that need refrigeration.
Birthday treats will be handed out at the end of the day (2:40).
/ Parent Volunteers
We welcome scheduled parent volunteers to work with students or to help with classroom preparation
If you would like to help, please see the volunteer schedule in your child’s classroom.
If you can’t help weekly, but would like to help with parties, please sign up for the party committee in your child’s classroom.
Parent volunteers need to complete the district class before they may work in the classroom or attend field trips.
Volunteer schedule will start in September.
District Volunteer classes will be held soon-TBA.