Welcome Letter

 This is the letter that was sent out to parents today. 

Welcome to Our Grade 1 Learning Community

Welcome to what will be a fabulous year in our Grade 1 class. Our names are Christine Nishimura (students can call me Ms. N or Ms. Nish) and Scott Graham and we are excited to be your child’s teacher this year! We are excited to get to know your child and what makes them unique and wonderful as we learn and grow together. 

Thursday, August 31, 2023: On the first day of school, we will be meeting students outside by the staff parking lot, my sign will be taped on my classroom window. we will also be wearing a safety vest. Please ask your child to stay with their teacher and their class while we wait for everyone to arrive. 

Starting on Friday, September 1, 2023 soft entry begins. Upon arrival between 8:05-8:15 am, students will enter the school using the Grade 1 doors (the door is near the staff parking lot) and begin working on a quiet, independent activity as the class unpacks, checks in, and settles in for the day. It is important that all students are on time as classes begin at 8:15am. Arriving on time fosters a positive learning environment. 

SCHOOL SCHEDULE: 

Copperfield School bell times are as follows: 

Monday to Thursday from 8:15 am – 3:05 pm Fridays from 8:15am – 11:45 am Students will be going outside for a natural recess break in the mornings. Around this break, students will be given time to eat a healthy snack. The students will be having their lunch break from 11:35 am – 12:22 pm. During their lunch break, students will eat their lunch in the Copper Gallery for 23 minutes and then be going outside to play for the remaining 24 minutes. School ends at 3:05 pm. Please pre-arrange a spot to meet your child that is near their designated door. Please leave space around the doors to allow for multiple students exiting at the end of the day. The designated Grade 1 entry/exit door is near the staff parking lot. What is required to thrive in a classroom setting? Our Grade 1 learning community has developed this document to highlight some of the processes and procedures that are particularly important to us for this school year. Please take some time to read through these. 

PICK UP AND DROP OFF: 

If you are delayed in picking up your child, please go to the office where students wait to be picked up. Parents/guardians are asked to sign students out at the office if your child is ill, or needs to leave during the day for an appointment. Please do not use the staff parking lot to pick up or drop off your child. There is designated parking along the streets surrounding the school. If you arrive after the bell, please bring your child through the front doors and have them check in at the office before they go to class. If you know your child will be late or absent, please email copperfield@cbe.ab.ca or call the main attendance line at 403-817-3512 to inform the office. 

DOORS: 

Our class enters through the Grade 1 doors by the staff parking lot. Staff will open the doors at 8:05 am to welcome students into the building between 8:05am – 8:15am. During pick-up, please meet your child at a pre-arranged meeting spot that allows for a safe exit. As we have some school staff who arrive and leave at different hour, we request that you do not wait or walk through the staff parking lot. Thank you for helping us establish this important routine. 

INDOOR SHOES: 

For daily physical education and inside use, ensure your child has a pair of indoor running shoes labeled with their name to keep at school. Students should be able to tie their own laces or use Velcro fasteners for safe footwear. When selecting shoes for school please keep in mind that the students will be participating in daily physical activities. 

NUTRITIONAL BREAK AND LUNCH: 

Maintaining our energy levels while becoming aware of the impact we have on the environment is very important to us at Copperfield School. Students’ snack and lunch should be nutritious. We actively encourage a reduced waste snack and lunch and encourage you to use environmentally friendly reusable containers. Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle with secure lids daily. Please make sure your child’s lunch bag is clearly labeled and that they have all the necessary utensils (spoon, fork) to eat their lunch. Please know we are a peanut/nut aware school as we have many students with severe allergies. 

EARLY DISMISSAL FRIDAYS: 

Students are dismissed on Fridays at 11:45am. There is still a natural break during the mornings and materials that may need to go home. Please send your child with a snack and back pack on Fridays. 

CHILDREN’S PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND TOYS: 

Students are provided with all materials required to complete classroom activities. Please ensure that personal belongings and toys are left at home as they can quickly become a distraction to learning. Throughout the year, students may be given opportunities to share or bring in items relevant to student learning. This will be communicated to families in advance. Supporting Student Learning: How can families support learning? 

VOLUNTEERING: 

Volunteers are required to have an up-to-date clearance in order to attend field trips and be in the classroom. Please visit the main office to obtain instructions on how to complete the volunteer clearance process. 

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING AT HOME: 

Grade 1 is a foundational year for learning how to read, write and develop their math skills. Setting up a daily 15 – 20 minute block of time in order to read, write and practice math concepts with your child will help establish a positive homework routine, ensure you know how they are doing as learners, and help them build confidence in the classroom. 

Communicating Student Learning:

DAILY MESSAGE: This year teachers at Copperfield School will be using “Blogger” to provide daily communication. Our class blog is accessed: https://grade1abcopperfield.blogspot.com/ 

COMMUNICATION: Feel free to email us. 

FORMAL MEETING TIMES: Throughout the year there will be several opportunities (Parent Teacher Conferences) to sit down and discuss your child’s progress. If you would like to set up a meeting with us, you can schedule an appointment with me by email. We look forward to a great year of learning together – “inspiring a passionate commitment to learning”! 

Sincerely, 

Christine Nishimura, chdang@cbe.ab.ca

Scott Graham, ScGraham@cbe.ab.ca