Important Reminders
*Picture Day: School picture day is on Friday, September 27. If you would like to order pictures, please return the picture packet with payment or order online. Additional picture packets are available in the school office.
*Popcorn Pencil Day: The Dirksen Parent Club will be selling popcorn and pencils the first Friday of each month for only $0.25 each. The first Popcorn Pencil Day will be Friday, October 4. Families can choose to buy one popcorn and one pencil each month for the entire year for $4.00. See the note in your child’s red folder for more information.
*Homework: In first grade, students are expected to read or be read to each night for approximately 20 minutes. On Monday, students will begin taking one book at a time home to read each night. The book will be located in their Take Home Reading Folder along with a list of questions. Thank you for taking the time to read with your child each night! You will be amazed at their reading progress this year just by reading 20 minutes each night.
*Sight Words: We have been working hard to practice the Kindergarten sight words students learned last year and we will soon begin learning a few new first grade words. You can find a list of the words on the back of this month's newsletter. There are also pages of sight word flashcards in your child’s red folder that they can cut out and use to practice reading and writing the words at home.
*Red Folders: Red folders go home every Friday and should be returned by Monday each week. The behavior calendar will go home everyday in their backpacks. Your child should be able to tell you why they moved their clip.
*Snack: Each child needs to bring a snack every day. We do not eat lunch until 1:00pm. No candy please.
*End of day changes: If your child's typical take home pattern is different, such as needing to pick them up early or they will be car rider instead of a bus rider like usual, please contact the school no later than 2:30 that day. You can send a note with your child, call the office at 477-4711, email me, or text me using Remind.
*Drop-off & Pick-up: During drop-off before school and pick-up after school there is only one lane of traffic through the drive in front of the building. Please drive cautiously and obey traffic laws in order for students to remain safe.
*The school day begins at 8:40am and ends at 3:10pm. Breakfast is served starting at 8:15am.
*Popcorn Pencil Day: The Dirksen Parent Club will be selling popcorn and pencils the first Friday of each month for only $0.25 each. The first Popcorn Pencil Day will be Friday, October 4. Families can choose to buy one popcorn and one pencil each month for the entire year for $4.00. See the note in your child’s red folder for more information.
*Homework: In first grade, students are expected to read or be read to each night for approximately 20 minutes. On Monday, students will begin taking one book at a time home to read each night. The book will be located in their Take Home Reading Folder along with a list of questions. Thank you for taking the time to read with your child each night! You will be amazed at their reading progress this year just by reading 20 minutes each night.
*Sight Words: We have been working hard to practice the Kindergarten sight words students learned last year and we will soon begin learning a few new first grade words. You can find a list of the words on the back of this month's newsletter. There are also pages of sight word flashcards in your child’s red folder that they can cut out and use to practice reading and writing the words at home.
*Red Folders: Red folders go home every Friday and should be returned by Monday each week. The behavior calendar will go home everyday in their backpacks. Your child should be able to tell you why they moved their clip.
*Snack: Each child needs to bring a snack every day. We do not eat lunch until 1:00pm. No candy please.
*End of day changes: If your child's typical take home pattern is different, such as needing to pick them up early or they will be car rider instead of a bus rider like usual, please contact the school no later than 2:30 that day. You can send a note with your child, call the office at 477-4711, email me, or text me using Remind.
*Drop-off & Pick-up: During drop-off before school and pick-up after school there is only one lane of traffic through the drive in front of the building. Please drive cautiously and obey traffic laws in order for students to remain safe.
*The school day begins at 8:40am and ends at 3:10pm. Breakfast is served starting at 8:15am.
A student receives an I-Care Message when I see them following the I-Care Rules in my classroom or being an I-Care friend. Ms. Lard will read the I-Care messages during Opening Ceremony and take the child's picture to be put into Dirksen's newsletter each month.
The I-Care Rules are:
Always follow the Golden Rule!
The I-Care Rules are:
- We listen to each other.
- Hands are for helping not hurting.
- We use I-Care language.
- We care about each other's feelings.
- We are responsible for what we say and do.
Always follow the Golden Rule!