Welcome to Mrs. Hofkamp's Third Grade Class!
Parent/Teacher Relationship
I believe that a good parent-teacher relationship is necessary for maximum school success. Throughout the year I will communicate with you through notes, telephone calls, progress reports, report cards, emails, my website, and parent-teacher conferences. Your child with have a "Home Folder" that will be a place to look for important papers and to return things to school in. Please check your child's folder on a nightly basis. I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns at any time. You can call me at school (582-8010), send a note, or email me at Kristin.Hofkamp@k12.sd.us
Parent Participation/Volunteering
Throughout the school year there will be a variety of special classroom activities and celebrations. I encourage you to attend these functions when possible and to support them by sending needed supplies or treats if possible. Your support of school activities makes your child feel important and sends that message that you value school.
Change in Transportation
If you wish for your child to take another form of transportation home than the usual, you must send a written note. This includes if someone different is picking up your child. Please do not rely on your child to tell me this information, because children often become confused and relay messages incorrectly. If no written note is received, your child will be sent home by his/her usual method of transportation.
Classroom Behavior
We have five simples rules in our room:
1) Listen when others are
talking.
2) Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
3) Follow directions.
4) Work quietly and do not disturb others.
5) Be respectful of school and personal property.
We will use a stoplight system in our classroom. Every child will start the day on green. If a child chooses not to follow a rule, they will move their card to yellow, orange for a second offence, followed by red if a problem continues. A yellow card is a 5 min. loss of recess, orange equals ten, and red equals fifteen. If a child exhibits great behavior, they can turn their card to purple! At the end of each day, children who remained on green will be paid one 'jungle buck'. Students can use their money to buy special privileges or prizes.
It is necessary to have all students display appropriate behavior for learning to take place. It is difficult for a teacher to teach a skill if a student is not paying attention. If a student is playing with things, talking, or just not listening, they will miss what is being taught. They may have good intentions, but if they are not listening, they will not succeed. They will also distract others and they too may miss what is being taught.
Please talk to your child about his/her behavior. If children see that you take interest in their behavior and are aware of their daily behavior, then they are more likely to demonstrate positive behaviors in class. They can not afford to miss learning skills because of behaviors that are not appropriate. Please talk to your child often about this so that together we can make sure that your child has every opportunity to succeed.
Outdoor Recess
The children will be going out for recess everyday unless it is raining or extremely cold. Please keep this in mind when helping your child to select clothing for the day. For the most part, if your child is well enough to be at school, he/she is well enough to participate in outdoor recess, if properly dressed. However, on those occasions when you feel it is best for your child to stay indoors, please send a written note and I will make arrangements for your child.
Money
On occasion it will be necessary for your child to bring money to school (lunch, book orders, ect.). Always send money in a sealed envelope with their first and last name, amount of money, purpose for the money, and my name. With 20+ kids to keep track of and several reasons to collect money, this helps me out tremendously and reduces the likelihood of errors. Also, if the envelope is left on the bus or dropped in the hallway, this information will help the money be returned to me.
Book Orders
Your child will be bringing home a form to order books periodically throughout the year. If you wish to order, simply fill out the form (with your child's name!) and send the correct amount of money or a check made out to Book Clubs in an envelope. Please make sure your child's name is on the envelope. At times I will be sending home more than one Book Club form. You may order from multiple forms if you wish and write out just one check made payable to Book Clubs. These orders are provided as a convenient way for parent to buy quality books for their child at a low price. As an added bonus, for every dollar that is spent on books, I earn bonus points which are used to purchase books for classroom use. Of course, you are never under any obligation to order. You may also place your orders online at www.Scholastic.com/bookclubs use activation code:GJM2W . The Scholastic website can offer you many more book options that are in the flyers. Check it out sometime!
Birthdays
Birthdays are special occasions for young children. If your child wishes, s/he may bring treats for the class on the day of his/her birthday. They may bring store bought treats that are wrapped. They may also bring non-food treats if they wish. Some ideas are bubbles, plastic sunglasses, pencils, erasers, or any small toy or trinket children like. Most of these items can be found at a very reasonable cost at the dollar stores.
Milk Break
Every morning we will be having milk break prior to 9am. Students may order milk and it will deducted from their lunch account. If they do not want milk, they may bring a bottle of water.
Lunch/Snacks
Our class will be
PEANUT and EGG SAFE this year! Please do not send snacks with
your child that contain eggs/peanuts/nuts/peanut oil! Thank you for
understanding the importance of keeping every child in our room safe. Your
child may bring peanut or egg products for
You are welcome to eat lunch with your child. Please sign in with the office when you arrive.
In closing, I would just like to say that I am looking forward to a great year working with your child! Thank you in advance for your concern and support throughout the year!
Mrs. Hofkamp