Procedures

Homework

Homework folders will be sent home each day with your child. The folder must be returned EACH DAY along with the COMPLETED HOMEWORK, important forms such as field trip permission slips, book order forms, notes, etc. Your child will be responsible for returning their folder each day.
Homework will be assigned every day. It will consist of a reading log, spelling practice pages, and math skill pages.
Each Monday, there will be a new homework schedule in your child's homework folder. The weekly homework assignments will be written on the schedule so you and your child understand what is to be completed daily. All homework is taken for a grade so it is imperative that your child complete his/her homework and turns it in on time.
Your child's daily behavior will also be noted on the homework schedule. Please take note of it. Congratulate your child for good behavior and discuss poor behavior with him/her. Again, please leave the homework schedule in the folder ALL WEEK.
I will remove the old homework schedule and replace it with a new one every Monday. I will also clean out any other papers from your child's homework folder. Please go through the papers with your child and remove any papers you want to save before the new week.

Attendance

Your child needs to arrive at school by 8:25 AM every day. He/She should arrive earlier if they plan to eat breakfast at school. School begins at 8:30. If your child arrives after 8:30, please have him/her stop in the office for a tardy slip. It is important for your child arrive on time to school in order to establish a consistent routine.

 

Lunch Cards

All RCS students can eat breakfast and lunch for free this year.  Do not worry about sending in lunch money unless your child wishes to have an extra milk (or have a milk with his/her cold lunch).  Milk costs 35 cents.

Transportation

Please notify me and/or the office of any changes to your child's transportation home from school. You can send a note with your child or call the office.  We cannot take your child's word on changes in transportation so if you do not notify us, your child will be sent home the normal way he/she goes home.

Conferences

I believe a partnership between teachers and parents is essential to your child's success. I would be more than happy to meet with you to discuss any concerns you might have. I can be reached at the school before 8:30 am and after 3:00 PM. I also respond quickly to emails since I check mine several times throughout the day. My email address is joanna.willis@rcs.k12.il.us.  Please feel free to communicate through notes in your child's homework folder. I love to hear about successes at home so please share them with me!

Birthdays

Birthdays are a special day in our classroom! If you would like your child to celebrate his/her birthday at school, you may send a treat such as cupcakes, cookies, candy, or fruit. We usually have around 20 students in our class but this number frequently changes throughout the school year. I recommend sending 24 treats to be on the safe side. Please note that I do not keep plates, cups, or silverware in the classroom. Birthday cakes and containers of ice cream are not appropriate treats. Also, as it states in the student handbook, all treats must be in their original packaging from the store. Please do not send home-made treats. If inappropriate treats such as the ones mentioned above are sent in, they will not be passed out. If your child's birthday falls in the summer months, on a holiday, a weekend, or a school break, you may send in treats on a day of your choice if you let me know in advance. 

Book Orders

Once a month I will send home a Scholastic book order form in your child's homework folder. Book orders are due 1 week after they are passed out. I encourage you to look over the orders with your child because there is always a great new selection of books each month.
Please make checks or money orders out to Scholastic. If you choose to send cash with your child, please send in the exact amount since I do not keep cash in the classroom.  

Odds and Ends

*I send home a weekly newsletter on Fridays. This newsletter keeps you informed on current events in our classroom as well as important reminders for events coming up. Please take time to read these updates with your child so you can both be informed.
*If there are any celebrations or holidays you would like your child to be excluded from for any reason, please let me know in writing.
*Please inform me of any special circumstances (medical, allergies, etc.) that you feel I should know.
*Remember that accidents can happen at school. Please send a change of clothes that can be kept at school is needed.
*We have P.E. every day. Please make sure your child wears or brings gym shoes and socks every day so he/she can participate.