Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Dear Parents,
Greetings and welcome to my classroom. I want to give you some important
information. You may want to keep this letter to refer to throughout the year.
1st grade team: Here is a list of our regular classroom staff
Jen Hickey: Classroom teacher
Bethanie Perro: Paraprofessional
Jeanne Sorensen: Learning Center Teacher
Leah Fitzgerald: Speech and Language Teacher
Adrien Alford and Maggie Olson: Guidance
Jacque Puk: Nurse
James Lampron: Physical Education
Michelle Munson: Art
Brea Walters: Music
Jean Scanlan and Grace Fuller: Library
Curriculum Information:
Literacy: Our reading program is based on the Readers Workshop Model. Our
reading block takes place between 9:00- 10:00. This is an uninterrupted period.
The children will engage in large mini lessons that focus on reading strategies,
response journaling, and independent reading. There will also be a 60 minute
Writers Workshop built in from 10:00-11:00 as well as a 30 minute word block in
the afternoon. There will be large group, small group, and individual instruction.
RtI: This is a 30 minute block of time that will occur daily beginning in October.
Children will receive extra support or enrichment in literacy depending on their
needs as shown by specific data ( reading benchmarks and spelling inventories)

Science and Social Studies: These will be integrated into the reading and writing
blocks and will also be presented on Fridays each week. Many of our field trips are
organized around our science and social studies curriculum. In Science, to start
the year off, we will be studying the life cycle of the butterfly and pumpkins. In
Social Studies, we will be learning how to be a community and discussing the
classroom rules: Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful.
Math: We will be using the Chicago Everyday Math Program. Family newsletters
will come home at the beginning of a unit. Homework will come home daily beginning
on Lesson 1.8. I only send home homework Monday through Thursday.
Important: Please send in a backpack and homework folder each day.
Lunch: Caf lunch is $2.20 and reduced is .40, breakfast is $1.35 and reduced is .
30, and lunch milk is 50 cents. Please put the money in a sealed envelope and label
what your child is paying for. Please be specific with the item and date. You may
pay for the week or the day. (whatever works for you) Please place these
envelopes in the Return to School side of the Homework Folder. Folders will be
checked each day.
Always remember to call or e-mail me with any questions and/or concerns. I
realize as a parent myself that it can all be overwhelming. It is important to me to
have great communication with all of you
School: 692-2435
Home: (207)749-6493
e-mail: jhickey@sau56.org
I am looking forward to a fabulous year with your children and you!
Jennifer Hickey

Homework Folder
I want to take the opportunity to explain the homework folder.
The homework folder will go home every night. Please return it to school each day.
This is an important communication link between home and school.
Inside your childs folder are two pockets marked Keep at Home and Return to
School. Anything on the Keep at Home side should be removed, read, and kept.
This side will contain things such as:
*corrected work
*class newsletters
*school announcements and information
Many Return to School items will require a date and signature. This pocket will
contain things such as:
*permission slips
*homework assignments
*school surveys
*important home information forms
*behavior reports( a call will be made if one is sent home)
On the Return to School side there will be a classroom calendar. It will contain
important events. Please initial the calendar each day so I know you have looked
through all of the information in the folder. Please keep the calendar in the
folder. It is an important communication tool.
Thank you,
Jennifer Hickey

Mrs. Hickeys Fabulous First Graders Schedule

8:30 Attendance/ Morning Meeting
9:00 Readers Workshop
10:00 Snack
10:15 Writers Workshop
11:00 Math/RtI
12:15 Lunch/Recess
1:05 Special
1:45 Word Study
2:15 Literacy RtI
2:50 Dismissal

Specials
Monday-Gym
Tuesday-Art
Wednesday-Library
Thursday-Computer
Friday-Music