Welcome To Our Third Grade Class
Dear Third Grader,
Hello! My name is Mrs. Ward and I will be your third grade teacher this year. This letter will give you and your family some of the information needed to get the school year off to an excellent start, so please have an adult read it with you and keep this in a safe place in the case that you need to check it again.
My name is Tracey Ward and this is my seventeenth year teaching in Lancaster. I taught both third grade and first grade at Central Avenue School. This is my fifth year teaching third grade at Como Park School.
I live in an old farmhouse in the country with my husband and my two sons, Alex and Austin. We have some pets that I will tell you lots of stories about at school, along with the stories of the farm animals that live near us. I love spending time with my family, shopping, going to the beach, reading good books, traveling, and of course teaching!
Make sure that you read the “Summer Activity” included in this packet and bring it to school with you on the first day, so that we can all learn more about you too!
Your “Can’t Wait To Meet You” Teacher,
Mrs. Ward
Information for Parents
This will be a year of encouraging your child to grow in independence and responsibility. The PTO will be providing an agenda for each child. We will be using this agenda daily. Students will also have a take-home folder. It is your child’s responsibility to make sure his/her agenda is given to an adult to check over. An adult must sign the agenda each night. Agendas and take-home folders need to be returned to school every day.
Information about our specials schedule, homework routines and calendars for sharing will be sent home the first week of school.
Information for Parents Continued…
Please contact me if you ever have a question or a concern (personal or otherwise). I would rather help or try to correct a situation proactively instead of having it become a stressor, which is not beneficial to a child, parent, or teacher. Knowing about family circumstances, (seasonal allergies, changes in medications, illnesses, loss of a pet, etc.) will help me to understand why your child may not be acting as usual, and can be kept confidential if warranted. My e-mail address is .
Request
Due to allergies and sensitivities, I am requesting that the children do not wear perfume, cologne, or strong smelling lotions.
Snack
We eat lunch very late in the day (about 1:00). Sending in a healthy, easy to eat snack with your child each day is essential to ward off those hungry bellies.
Toys, Electronics and Jewelry
Do not bring toys, hand held electronic games, or trading cards to school. We have several games and activities that the children will participate in when time is available. Also, refrain from wearing large amounts of jewelry (bracelets, necklaces etc.). The children are not allowed to wear them to P.E. and they can be lost, broken and be quite a distraction.
Transportation
If your child’s transportation is different than usual, please write a note to let me know. I want children to arrive at their destination safely each day. “Change of transportation forms” are included with this letter. Please copy the form, or let me know if you need extra copies throughout the school year. These forms are not for permanent changes in bussing. Please contact the transportation department or the school office for those.
Birthdays
I love to celebrate birthdays but…it is important that you keep a few things in mind when sending in treats.
- Only send in individual servings (cupcakes, cookies). Do not send in cakes or cookie cakes.
- If you would like to send in healthier alternatives, fruit and veggies trays, cheese and crackers, or even a small treat that is not a food item are all welcome. Historically, fruit, veggies, cheese and crackers are big hits at our holiday classroom parties.
- Please include napkins. If plastic ware, or plates are needed, please provide those. Drinks are not necessary, but if you choose to send one in, please send in individual juice boxes, pouches, or water bottles.
- If you are having a party for your child outside of school and wish to send in invitations, I will only put them into mailboxes if everyone in the class is invited, all the girls are invited, or all of the boys are invited. We do not want any broken hearts.
- I will send home a calendar each month that will include any dates that we will celebrate birthdays. Summer birthdays will be celebrated in the spring.
Our Classroom
It gets VERY WARM in our classroom in the fall and spring. We do not have air conditioning. If it is chilly in the morning, please send you child in with a sweater, or sweatshirt that can be removed as it warms up. Students may bring in water bottles. Water bottles will be sent home at the end of each day to be cleaned.
There are occasions when I use food as part of a learning activity, incentive, or prompt. I do try my best to keep it healthy, but there are times when a sweet treat is presented. If your child has diet restrictions, or you have concerns, please let me know.
Summer Activity
**Please return the following items the first day of school.**
We want to know ‘The Scoop’ about you! The following items will help us to get to know you better in September.
- Please send in a photo of something that you did over the summer. We will be using it for several activities at the beginning of the year.
- Please send in copies of additional photos/pictures that represent you. We will be using these photos to ‘scrapbook’ the cover of our writing folder, so be sure the photos are copies that can be cut and glued. You may also cut pictures out of magazines, or print them from the computer.
- Be ready to tell us about your favorite book.
- Practice writing personal information about you. (address, phone number, birthdate)
See you soon!
Mrs. Ward