Dear Parents, August 31, 2009

I would like to welcome your child to my fourth grade classroom. My name is Ms. Szczerba. I will also have a student teacher for the first half of the year. Her name is Lindsay Huff. This is a longer than average letter since there are so many things I want to let you know. I believe that communication with parents is extremely important. I promise that future letters will be shorter.

I love teaching in all areas, but I am particularly interested in science and technology. I have personally purchased and maintain a computer lab in my room. I hope to have students engaged in many exciting projects this year which includes utilizing the computer.

Using the Internet and my website, I am able to communicate with parents and students in my class. You can view your child's daily assignments, parent letters and the school menu. You can instantly communicate with me through email. You can view student work and classroom and school activities. You can even view the classroom during the day on my classroom webcam. The kids really like seeing their pictures and work. I will be updating my website for the new school year. Students will have the opportunity in the near future to learn to use the features of my classroom website. However, you may view last year's web pages to get an idea of what will be offered. If you have any questions about my website, feel free to contact me.

My website is www.my-classroom.org.

My email address for students and parents is:

czerba@hasd.tiu.k12.pa.us (School address)

teacher@future-edge.com (Home address)

I have attached a Classroom Internet Permission Form to a stapled packet of materials to be returned. This stapled packet is in the parent folder. It is very important to sign the form and indicate if you are connected to the Internet and also indicate yes to give permission to publish student work and activities. If you are connected, please write your email address for me. I really appreciate your help in this endeavor. Even if you are not connected to the Internet, students will be using computers in the classroom and in the computer lab.

When I receive all the Classroom Internet forms, I will send parents a password so you can view your child in the classroom on the classroom webcam and also view pictures of your childŐs activities throughout the school year. This password allows only you, the parents access. Access to the webcam and the class activities is denied to anyone without a password.

Every Friday, students receive a parent folder with memos, homework updates and corrected papers. Usually, I have a typed letter attached to the parent folder about school information from the week. This parent letter will also be published on my website.

The parent folder provides a way for me to communicate with you about your child. Since there are some many memos at the beginning of school, I am sending this folder home today. There is a stapled packet with all the memos to be signed and returned.

I stapled all these pieces together to make it easier to return them as a unit. The items that need to returned may include an enrollment form, emergency cards, an Internet classroom permission form for the classroom website, an Internet form for student usage at school, a field trip permission form, and a permission to photograph form.

If your child takes medication, please fill out the attached form and return it immediately. Also if your child has received free or reduced lunches, please fill out the lunch form. If these forms do not apply to you, tear them off the packet and discard them.

The parent folder also includes a menu. If you lose the menu, I do post the menu on my web site. There may be several additional memos that were distributed during the day. I have included a copy of my class rules in which I used the word "manners" to discuss acceptable school behavior.

I would greatly appreciate your help in returning the signed parent folders and memos that need a signature by this Thursday. I will need the folders by then to prepare them to go home again on Friday. Remember to sign the outside of the parent folder on the back and date it so I know you have seen it. This is also a space for comments on the folder. You may keep the parent letter itself.

The parent folder will be sent home every Friday. It is very important for this folder to be returned the following Monday. I am requesting that parents look at any papers inside the folder and sign the parent folder on the back and date it each week. If a student does not return the folder, I will most likely be calling you so that I know that the folder is getting home to you.

I have included a spelling list for the first week in the parent folder. The students are responsible for putting the list in their parent folder on Friday for the next week. Students can also take their spelling textbook home to study their words. Spelling tests are given every Friday. This Friday, students will have their first spelling test.

If time allows, I attempt to correct the tests on Friday so I can send the test booklet home in the parent folder. I am requesting that you sign the test and return the test booklet with the test left inside.

Everyday I have the class fill out an assignment notebook to take home. Ask your child to see it so that you are aware of the work that was covered during the day. Since this is the first week of school, students will have light assignments and should be able to finish them during class time. The classroom assignments will also be posted to my website each day.

Any class work that is not completed during the school day automatically becomes homework which is due the next day unless a student is ill or has valid reasons for not completing assignments. Students who do not complete work are asked to stay in for recess to finish assignments. I always give students time in class to begin work. Most students who use their time wisely are able to complete assignments in school.

The school does have a policy which addresses the issue of students who do not complete assignments. Parents will be sent a notice through the mail and an after school time will be sent up to assist students in completing work. This policy can be found in the parent handbook, along with other school policies and information. Please keep this handbook which is in the parent folder today.

I send home study sheets in the parent folder on Friday for tests such as science that require study time at home. The test is then given the following week so the student has a chance to study with parents.

In my classroom we have daily jobs. We talk about being a community in which we all pitch together and help. Each week different students do different jobs such as leader, messenger, paper passers, etc.

Again this year, students will have a goal of 28 books to read by the end of the year. When students complete a book, the fourth grade teachers have a requirement that students fill out a bookmark providing an overview of what was read. Students keep these bookmarks on a plastic ring. At the end of the year, they can take the bookmarks home.

I am recommending that parents buy their child a small pencil case for school. The school desks do not have pencil holders. It will be easier for students to find and keep their pencils and crayons if they have a container for them. I am distributing crayons, pencils and a three-subject notebook at the beginning of the year for students to use for classwork. Students may bring a pen to use. They may also bring a box of colored pencils and markers if they desire.

I am asking parents to buy a 2 inch 3-ring binder notebook, preferably with a plastic cover on the front and back so students can insert a cover for their book project. These can be purchased at the Dollar Store or Walmart for a minimal cost. Students will be creating a booklet with personal writings and pictures they have worked on throughout the year.

Parents will be able see these booklets at our WriterŐs Celebration later in the year. Students will take their notebooks home at the end of the year as a keepsake of their writings and pictures throughout the year. The reason I ask for the notebooks as soon as possible is because we will start working on writings to be placed inside the notebooks in the first weeks of school. I appreciate your help on this.

I look forward to meeting and working with all my students' parents this year. I enjoy meeting all parents at conference time. If you have any concerns throughout the year and would like to meet with me personally concerning your child, I would be happy to set up an after school meeting. Please contact me at school through the school office.

You may also contact me through email. This is perhaps the best way to communicate with me for an immediate response. I check my email every day and will quickly get back to you. Also donŐt forget that assignments will be posted to my website each day in the event your child forgets to write them down.

Remember to return the signed parent folder prior to Friday so that I can place any papers in it before sending it home again at the end of the week. I may call upon parents to volunteer some help throughout the year to bring in refreshments or assist with class activities. I will send out a memo if I need any assistance. I greatly appreciate your time and help.

Thanks for hanging in there to read the first letter of the school year. I promise future letters will be shorter. There is just so much to tell you at the beginning of the school year. I welcome your child and you, the parents, to my fourth grade classroom. I am looking forward to a great year!

Sincerely,

Ms. Szczerba

Please fill out and return to school. Thank you.

Child's Name: _____________________________________________

Parent's Name: ____________________________________________

Email Address: ____________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Telephone No.: (Home)______________________________________

Telephone No.: (Work)______________________________________

I have an Internet Connection at home. YES NO

The computer I am using is __________________________________

Email software package I have to communicate with you is

________________________________________________________

Word processing software package I use is

________________________________________________________

I give permission to have my child's class and school activities and pictures published to Ms. Szczerba's classroom web site.

YES NO

You may view my web site at: www.my-classroom.org

You may email me at czerba@hasd.tiu.k12.pa.us (school)

teacher@future-edge.com or czerba@future-edge.com (home)

Parent's Signature _________________________________________