Laurelhurst School

Greetings! My name is Tina Jacobs, and I am thrilled to be your child’s first grade teacher this year!

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself. This will be my second year here at Laurelhurst. Before joining the staff here at Laurelhurst, I taught both 1st and 2nd grade at Whitman Elementary. I am an animal lover, and I have a cat named Sabrina. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, cooking, scrapbooking and traveling with my husband.


The seed for my wanting to teach was planted in the fourth grade, largely as a result of my favorite teacher, Miss Gillette. However, I chose a different path and became a Radiologic Technologist (X-ray tech). Even though I had a promising medical career, the thought of becoming a teacher weighed heavily on my mind. I have always loved children and enjoyed interacting with them both personally and professionally, so I finally decided to combine that with my desire to teach.

I would describe myself as a firm, yet loving/caring teacher. I am a dedicated, enthusiastic, high-energy educator who believes in making learning as much fun as possible. My classroom is a warm and supportive environment that is conducive to learning. I have very high expectations for both myself and my students. Students in my classroom are expected to do their best to achieve their highest potential.


I am confident that this will be a year filled with learning and discoveries. Our curriculum focuses on reading, writing and math. Your child’s 1st grade experience will also include science, social studies, P.E., library and of course lunch and recess. First grade students will have art with Ms. Martin eight times throughut the school year.

Classroom/School Rules:

• Be Kind (do not threaten to hurt another person, and do not say or do mean things to another person)

• Be Safe (keep our hands, feet and objects to ourselves, and do not leave the room without permission)

• Be Responsible (do our best work, and do not interfere with other student’s learning)

• Be Respectful (show respect to all people – staff, students and visitors)

Students who follow the rules and behave appropriately will be verbally praised and earn plastic play money to be traded-in for prizes. Extra whole-class privileges will also be rendered to reinforce positive behavior.

I expect that individuals are safe, kind, respectful and responsible.

Classroom Discipline Plan

I would like to take this opportunity to let you know about the discipline system that I will be using in my classroom this year. This discipline system incorporates specific, gentle techniques to stop undesirable behavior, as well as encourage positive behavior. Please take a few minutes to carefully review this information with your child.

Undesirable behavior is managed by counting to 1, 2 or 3 and in conjunction with a visual (green, yellow, orange and red index card) system. When a student is doing something that he/she should not be doing, he/she will get two chances to follow the rules before receiving a consequence. On the count of 3, the student or students who are breaking the rules will have the following consequences in the order as they appear (unless indicated by *):

• On the count of 3, the student(s) will be asked to replace their green card (a green card indicates good behavior) with a yellow card. At this time the student(s) will spend 5 minutes of their recess with a recess duty person or pay a 5 cent (plastic coin) fine.

• The student(s) who continues to misbehave after receiving a yellow card and counting to 3 again will be asked to replace the yellow card with an orange card. The student(s) earning an orange card will also spend 10 minutes of their recess with a staff member or a pay a 10 cent token fine (plastic coins).

• If a student is still disobeying and breaking the school/classroom rules after receiving an orange card and counting to 3 once again, they will be asked to replace the orange card with a red card. Loss of privilege, spending recess with Laurelhurst personnel or a 15 cent token fine is the consequence for student(s) who earns a red card. In addition, a phone call will be made or a note will be sent home if a student receives a red card. A discipline referral may be sent to our assistant principal Mrs. Osterhagen or principal, Mrs. Pinder, if necessary.

• *Students who are violent in any way or make threatening remarks will automatically earn a red card and be sent immediately to the office with a written discipline referral.


Birthday Celebrations

Laurelhurst policies governing food use will not include food treats of any kind during birthday celebrations. Students may be honored through song and you may send non-edible treats if you wish.

Lunchboxes/Snacks

Your child will put his/her lunchbox in a white basket, along with the other lunchboxes, in the hallway. If you choose to send a healthy snack, please send it with your child each day. Snacks will be kept in your child’s desk until snack time (around 10:00 am).

 

Weekly Folders

Each student will have a homework/communication folder that will go home every Friday. Homework is due the following Friday (or last day of the school week)


After School Arrangements

Your child’s safety is first and foremost. If you have a change in the after school plan, please inform me verbally or send a written note giving permission for your child to go home with friends or be picked up by another adult.

 

 

Tardies and Early Dismissal

District policy requires that all students arriving after the last morning bell (9:45) must report to the office. Students must sign in and enter our classroom with an admit slip in hand if they are tardy. Please place the admit slip in the marked basket (located on the top shelf on your right as you walk through the door). Students leaving early for any reason must report to the office to check out.

I will be keeping in touch with you regularly throughout the year via weekly newsletters.Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, concerns or information to share regarding your child. You can reach me at school before 8:45 am or after 3:00 pm Monday through Friday, or you can also send a note to school with your child. My email address is tjacobs@pps.net



Sincerely,


Tina Jacobs

tjacobs@pps.net
(503) 916-6210