September  1, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Thank you for entrusting your child to my care.  I have a nice group of 19 students and am looking forward to a good year.  Together you and I will provide your child the support s/he needs in order to have an enjoyable and productive year.

I am writing to explain some of the procedures I will be incorporating in the classroom this year.  Generally mornings will be spent on math, reading and language arts.  Afternoons will address social studies, geography, science and/or Open Circle.

Every Monday morning your child will be given a spelling pretest on that week's unit words.  Based on his/her performance, each child will bring home a home-study spelling list with a check next to the column(s) of words s/he is responsible for on Friday's test.  Every Thursday for homework your child should be given a test by you on his/her assigned words.  This homework should be signed by a parent or an adult.  If your child gets any words wrong, s/he must retake them until s/he receives 100%.  Otherwise they will be sure to get the word wrong again on the test the following day.   I will collect this homework on Friday before the final test is administered.  

I am requesting that each student bring in a homework assignment notebook.  At the end of each day, time will be set aside to allow students to record their homework in this notebook.  Homework will be assigned every Monday-Thursday and should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Typically you can expect two subjects per night; usually math and language/spelling.  Additionally, your child is expected to read aloud five nights per week for a minimum of 20 minutes each night.  I will go over all homework the day it is due. Any student who does not complete his/her homework or does not bring it to school will be required to complete the assignment(s) during recess that day.

Specials this year are scheduled as follows:  Monday-PE, Tuesday-Music and Computer Lab, Wednesday-Health, Thursday-Art, and Friday-Library.  Lunch and recess are from 12:25-1:05 P.M.  Every day at approximately 10:00 A.M. your child will have time to eat a snack.  Please limit your child’s snack to one healthy item plus a drink.  In keeping with the district policies on wellness and food allergies, the Kennedy School requests that no food item be brought into the classroom for birthday celebrations to be shared with the class.

I look forward to meeting each of you at Open House.  Third grade is a major transitional year for your child.  If we work together and each of us does his part to foster responsible and positive learning habits, it is my belief that your child will meet with success and thus enjoy a productive year.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at school at 541-5261 Ext. 2013 (voice mail) or jot me a note. I will get back to you within 24 hours.

I prefer not to communicate with parents via e-mail for several reasons.  If there is a question or concern, I believe it is best that we either discuss it over the phone or in person.  I am also often unable to check my email until after dismissal and some days the computer system is not operating.  Bimonthly I will post a newsletter to my website informing you of current curriculum as well as impending tests and projects.  Please be sure to read it.  I look forward to working with your child and you this year.

                                                                        
                                                                                    Sincerely,

                                                                                    Mrs. Polakoff    

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PLEASE DETACH - SIGN AND RETURN

We have read and discussed the letter dated September 1, 2010 regarding Mrs. Polakoff’s classroom policies and procedures.

________________________       _____________________________

• Monday-PE (don't forget your sneakers)
• Tuesday-Music and Computer Lab 
• Wednesday-Health
• Thursday-Art
• Friday-Library (don't forget your library books!) 

• Lunch and recess are from 12:25-1:05 P.M. 
   
• Every day at approximately 10:00 A.M. your child will have time to eat a snack.  Please limit your child’s snack to one healthy item plus a drink.
     
• Your child is welcome to bring in a class snack to celebrate his or her birthday.
             
• This year a child in the class has allergies to nuts and sunflower seed. 
   
• Strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction as the allergy can be life threatening. 
     
• In order to allow this classmate full participation in class activities, room 13 will be completely nut and sunflower
  seed free. 
     
• Since snacks are eaten in the classroom, they can not contain these ingredients.  However, since lunch is eaten outside the classroom, this rule does not apply for lunch. 
     
• For safety reasons, there is a special table designated as a “no peanut” table in the cafeteria.  Thank you in advance for your consideration to this request.  It is greatly appreciated.

• I am requesting that each student bring in a homework assignment notebook. 
   
• At the end of each day time will be set aside to allow students to record their homework in this notebook. 
     
• Homework will be assigned every Monday-Thursday and should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. 
     
• Typically you can expect two subjects per night; usually math and language/spelling. 
     
• Additionally, your child is expected to read aloud five nights per week for a minimum of 20 minutes.  I will go over all homework the day it is due. 
     
• Any student who does not complete his/her homework or bring it to school will be required to complete the assignment(s) during recess that day.

• I look forward to meeting each of you at Open House. 
       
  
• Third grade is a major transitional year for your child. 
      
• If we work together and each of us does his part to foster responsible and positive learning habits, it is my belief that your child will meet with success and thus enjoy a productive year.  
     
  
• If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at school at 541-5261 Ext. 2013 (voice mail). 
       
  
• I do not communicate with parents via e-mail.  If there is a question or concern, I believe it is best that we either discuss it over the phone or in person.