Dear Parents and New First Grade Students,

Before you know it, September will be here and we will all be getting together in the First Grade classroom. It won't be as traumatic as the first day of Kindergarten now that you are familiar with the school. Students, there are quite a few changes you will experience in September, such as having your own desk, your own books, homework, and be expected to start to do things for yourselves.

Parents, First Grade is the foundation for your child's school experience. I believe in giving the children the chance to see what they can do, take pride in accomplishing tasks, and accepting responsibility for their things, their work and their actions. Having jobs to do at home goes a long way toward developing the sense of responsibility and accountability.

Students, one very important task that you can help your parents with, is choosing your own classroom items. Please follow the supply list exactly, otherwise it will mean purchasing something twice. The First Grade uses different items that the other grades. Your fingers are developing, so our pencils are fat, and the lines we use to write on are far apart in the beginning. Things get smaller as the year progresses. Be sure the folders have bottom pockets only. Be sure to mark everything with your name, even the Elmer's glue. We put the extras in the cupboard so you can get it out when you run out. Have a lot of glue sticks stockpiled at home as we go through them rapidly. Be sure your sweater is marked. It is part of the uniform and required for Mass. We now have a number of sweaters in the lost and found that are unmarked if you are missing one.

Parents, we will have a Parent Night at the beginning of school, so I can fill you in on all the details. This letter is mainly to go over the Supply List, and to let you know I am thinking about you, and will be spending time this summer getting ready for our year together.

Looking forward to our year together,

Peace in the Lord Jesus,

Mrs. Sue Hyder

First Grade Teacher

2011 – 2012 1^st Grade Supply List

_____5 folders – bottom pockets only – no side pockets

_____1 pair of sturdy scissors with points

_____2 (4 oz.) bottles of Elmer's glue

_____6/8 white glue sticks

_____1 Mead Composition book, 100 sheets (9 ¾ x 7 ½ in. - Wide Ruled)

_____1 Spiral notebook, 1 subject, wide ruled 70/100 sheets

_____1 plain ruler with inches and centimeters clearly marked – wood or plastic only

_____2 Ticonderoga #2 Beginners Pencil with eraser (After Christmas they can have the Laddie Pencil. By March they can begin using the regular #2 Yellow Pencils)

_____3 Pink Pearl type erasers

_____1 sturdy bookbag or backpack

_____3 large boxes of Kleenex Tissues

_____1 oversized paint shirt or any old shirt you have around the house that can be dirty

_____1 small box (non-scented), primary color, washable markers with wide points

_____1 box of 24 Crayons – basic colors only (no glitter or neon)

_____2 rolls of paper towels

_____1 large container of Clorox disinfecting wipes

These supplies will need to be replenished during the year. Glue sticks, markers, and crayons only last a few months.

Each and every item (i.e. each crayon) needs to be individually marked as they all look alike, and each child has their own supplies in a tub that I provide.

Required for P.E.: tennis shoes with laces are to be worn on P.E. Days along with shorts if the girls are wearing their jumpers. Water bottles are ok for the classroom and P.E.

Items that are NOT allowed: Trapper Keepers, white out, tape, small pencils, sharpeners, staplers, large sized scissors, yellow pencils, pencil boxes.