Important Information

• Backpack - please make sure backpacks are labeled somewhere on the inside with your student's name
• Lunch (if bringing one from home). Please label lunch boxes with your student's name.
• Snack 
• Water bottle (labeled with your student’s name). We do not have a drinking fountain in our classroom, so if your student gets thirsty, they will have to walk to the drinking fountain down the hall. While it's not far, it does take away from students’ learning time.
• Comfy shoes with a closed heel (no flip flops)
• Shorts worn under dresses
• Clothes that make it easy for students to use the restroom (no difficult buttons/snaps/buckles)

• Toys (unless students have permission to bring them)

• Electronics

• Loveys or stuffies 

• Anything that is not essential to their academic day.

• Be kind to others, yourself and the classroom.

• Be polite, take turns, and share. 

• Be a good listener and follow directions .

• Be safe and use materials the right way.

• Be on task and finish your work. 

• Keep our classroom a happy place.

SNACK

• We have a snack break built into our daily schedule. It will be from 9:25 - 9:45 and will include time for play. Please send your child with a nutritious snack in a clearly labeled bag. Please no soft drinks, candy, or desserts. I encourage students to have a water bottle (clearly labeled) as well. 

LUNCH AND BREAKFAST

• Breakfast is available before school (starting at 7:30) and must be finished before students come to the classroom. 

• Our regular lunch time is from 11:25-12:00. This includes a recess. 

• Student breakfasts and lunches may be purchased online (the link is on the Cottage Hill website, upper right hand corner) or in the office. Lunch and breakfast menus are available online.

• BREAKFASTS & LUNCHES must be ordered the DAY BEFORE they are needed. If your child has a change to their typical lunch schedule and needs to order one, please notify the office in the morning.

Overview:

• School starts at 7:55 and dismisses at 2:00PM Monday through Thursday and at 1:00PM on Fridays. 

Arrival:

• Students can be dropped off beginning at 7:40AM and will go directly to the playground. I will pick them up here when it is time for our school day to begin. Please, no students or parents in my classroom in the morning, unless you have scheduled a meeting with me - I need this time to prep for the day.

• On rainy morning, students will come to the classroom instead of the playground . 

• If your student arrives after the 8:00AM tardy bell, please take them directly to the office for a late check in. Please do not send them to the classroom, because I will have to send them right back to the office to get a late slip. It is so important that your student is on time each day to set them up for success. 

Dismissal:

• Please be on time to pick up your student. Students get very distressed if there is nobody waiting for them after school. After 2:10, students will be walked over to the office to wait for their pick up.

Changes in Pick Up:

• In the event that you need to make a last minute change to the way your student is getting home, please contact the front office directly. I am often unable to check my email consistently throughout the day, and I would hate to miss your message. Also, please do not send notes with your child explaining a change in pick up plans. Students often forget, and notes get lost. 

Absences: 

• If your student will be missing school, please contact the office and let them know so they can account for that in their daily attendance. While it always helpful if you email to let me know, please also send any email communication regarding absences to the office staff as well (Shelly Bennett or Michelle Evans)

• Students mussing more than 10% of school days are considered truant. 

Independent Study:

• If you know of a point in the year where your student will miss 3 or more consecutive days of school (vacations, trips, etc.), consider requesting an independent study contract from the office (no more than 15 days). Independent studies must be requested at least 2 business days before the student's first scheduled absence to allow me enough time to pull materials together. I will provide school work for your child to complete during their scheduled absences, and once completed and returned, I will let the office know of the credit earned. In this way, your child's absences will be counted as days of instruction.

We love celebrating each child's birthday in the classroom. We always sing a Happy Birthday song, share what we love about the person, and the birthday boy or girl gets special privileges throughout the day. 

A new first grade policy that we are enforcing this year is no birthday treats for the class. We are asking for this for several reasons. First, many first grade students (and teachers!) have some severe allergies that we need to be mindful off. Second, we are trying to minimize disruptions to our school day due to the lack of time, space, and materials - its a lot to manage! Lastly, we do not want any families to feel pressured to bring anything for fear of their students feeling "left out." 

If you would like to send a birthday treat just for your student, please have that for them in their lunch box. 

Thank you for your understanding and for helping us to keep focused on learning!