August 15, 2011

Dear Families,

Welcome back!

Our Giles Street entrance will open on Tuesday, September 6^th to welcome 200 students in grades Kindergarten through third grade with 38 teachers and staff! The second floor classrooms have been beautifully painted thanks to volunteers from Citrix Online and Michael Bailey, our custodian. Our library has been moved to the first floor to better accommodate our 2^nd and 3^rd graders. Teachers, along with parent volunteers, have worked all year in drafting K-5 curriculum and Big Theme Projects and our Funtivitis~Aftercare staff has developed a schedule of exciting workshops.

What’s new this year?

Staff

Melissa Kundrath, 1^st Grade Head Teacher

Dorrey Bischoff, 2^nd Grade Head Teacher

Anjanette Martinez, 3^rd Grade Head Teacher

Michael Conti, Music

Stephen Campbell, Technology

We have been fortunate to have the funds from donations and grants to be able to place dedicated teacher assistants in K-2. We welcome the following certified teachers in this role:

Kinder: Cay Yoon (KA) and Vincent Leggio (KC)

1^st: Roseangela Baca (1M) and Jennifer Mesce (1R)

2^nd: Jo Rosa Rio (2B), Sharon Massod (2D), Natalie Zakarian (2T)

3^rd: Janel Sipala

Curriculum and Schedule

Big Theme Projects: To enhance our core curriculum, every class will have a fall and spring project centered on social studies themes and integrating all content areas: ethics, language arts, science, math, music, and art

Schedule:  First through third grade will have ethics education twice per week and all classes will have physical education twice per week.  Kindergarten students will have technology twice per week.

Lunch: The lunch hour from 11:30-1:30, supervised by TECCS staff is as follows:

• K and 1st: 11:30-12:30
• 2^nd and 3^rd: 12:30-1:30

What to bring on the Sept. 6^th:

v     backpack (see attached for free backpacks!)

v     folder (with all the attached forms completed)

v     healthy snacks~ 2 am/pm (fruit, juice/water, granola bar, pretzels,etc.)

v     lunch (if your child is not participating in the lunch program)

What’s Coming Up?

August 31^st 1-4: Meet and Greet Staff~Stop in for a few minutes to say hi to your teacher as they arrange their classrooms.

Sept. 10 evening: Parent Event~ watch for FSA invitation

Sept. 22 at 6-7 pm gym:  Back-to-School Night 

What do I need to do before Sept. 6^th?

• Fill out the forms and place in the backpacks
• Purchase, if possible, the recommended supplies
• Go to bed early, set the alarm clock, and look forward to a great year!

How can I be involved?

• Contact the FSA to volunteer to become a Class Parent, a member of the many committees and/or lunch and library helpers
• Watch for Classroom Helpers program to begin in October
• Read flyers and news from school sent home in backpacks

We can’t wait to see you in September and hear all your summer stories!

Enjoy the rest of August,

Marta Bergamini