Note #2
Dear Parents and Guardians, September 14, 2018
We are well on our way and off to a great start!
We are busy building a safe and caring community; and learning routines and expectations, as well as, setting up a number of systems to ensure a smooth running classroom.
On the first day of school, each student was given a brand new Agenda for the 2018-2019 school year.
Please note that this will be a tool that I use with the students to communicate with you on a daily basis. May I please trouble you to initial the Agenda each night and to check for important news and information coming home.
Your child is now in the habit of recording a daily “Ask Me About” in his or her Agenda. The purpose of this is to help you to know what we have been up to each day and to facilitate discussion with your child about his or her learning at school.
I am hoping that when you ask about your child’s day, he or she will be able to tell you a few important details about the topic or concept recorded. This will help to consolidate his or her learning as he or she has to explain and “teach” the concept to you.
If you notice your child is not able to do this, please leave me a quick note in the Agenda and I will be sure to revisit this with your child the next day.
I would like to take this opportunity to share with you my thoughts on homework for the school year.
It is recommended that students in Grade 3 do approximately 30 minutes of homework each night.
I would like to assign a few items each week for Language and Math.
I appreciate that lives are busy and families differ in the amount of time they have for this work. I also understand that students have homework assigned from other teachers and are involved in important after-school activities, including play, rest and spending valuable time with family.
I would like to propose the following:
1. Ask Me About (Daily)
2. Read With Me Club (Daily)
&
3. Spelling List (Review)
4. Writer’s Notebook (Catch Ideas)
5. Math Bags (Math Game)
I would like to ask you and your child to do the Ask Me About and Reading on a daily basis (or as often as possible).
I will provide class time for working with spelling words, catching ideas in a writer’s notebook and playing math games but… if you have time at home for any of these latter activities, your child will certainly benefit from your support and interest.
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
Warm regards,
Serena
Note #1
September 4, 2018
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I would like to welcome you and your family to Grade 3. My name is Ms. D’Costa Dolan and I will be your child’s teacher for the 2018-2019 School Year for Language and Mathematics. The students will call me Ms. D’Costa and/or Ms. D. :) I invite parents and guardians to please feel free to call me Serena.
I have worked as an elementary teacher with the Ottawa Carleton School Board for the past 18 years, mostly at grades 2, 3 and 4. This will be my fifth year teaching at Stonecrest ES. I am thrilled to be able to work and live in this great community.
It will be my goal as your child’s teacher this year to provide him or her with the opportunity to learn in the way that is best suited to his or her individual strengths and needs. I will strive to develop and facilitate a relevant, age-appropriate, cross-curricular program that is designed to help your child reach his or her full potential in a safe and caring learning environment.
There are a few ways to contact me at school. For my immediate attention, please send a written note to school with your child. I will encourage the students to hand in all notes and forms at the beginning of each day as part of our arrival routine.
You are also welcome to email me. My email address is serena.dcosta@ocdsb.ca . Please note there is no apostrophe. I will check this email at the end of each school day and reply as soon as I am able to do so. You may also reach me by phone. The school’s phone number is 613-832-5527.
I look forward to meeting all of you in person either at the Meet the Teacher night or at our earliest convenience.
Our partnership in learning will greatly benefit your child’s success at school.
Our classroom door is always open!
Warmest regards,
Serena D’Costa Dolan