Mrs. Liedell’s Class Information
Contacting Mrs. Liedell
Please feel free to contact me with ANY questions and/or concerns. E-mail is usually the best way to reach me: tara.liedell@dcsdk12.org
Keep in mind that I am usually focused on teaching your kiddo during the school day but will get back to you as soon as I am able. If you need to contact me during the school day for something timely (such as changing where your child will go after school that day) you’ll want to call the front office and have them get me a message.
Parent Communication
I have three main forms of communicating class info to parents.
1. Students will have a “Take Home Folder” each Thursday with notes from school and graded work. Please review the contents of the folder and send it back empty the following day.
2. I will be sending out a weekly Newsletter via email. You can look for it on Saturday or Sunday so you’ll know what to expect the following week.
3. I will send out occasional text reminders using the Remind app. These are typically “night before” reminders so families don’t forget about special theme days, conference sign-ups, parties, etc. I HIGHLY recommend signing up for these reminders. Text @liedellpce to 81010
Donations
I often have parents ask what supplies we may need for the classroom. If you are interested in helping out please see my Amazon Wish List: Mrs. Liedell’s Wish List. I will also reach out throughout the year with supply requests for parties or special classroom activities. Please don’t feel obligated to donate. But I am so appreciative of anything you can provide.
Chromebooks and Tech Info
Each child will be assigned a PCE Chromebook to use for learning at school. Students will be learning safe and responsible technology practices during the first week or two of school. Soon, you will see login information inside your child’s Take Home Folder. This will allow your child to access some of our school online learning platforms at home.
Homework
We will begin assigning weekly homework assignments the 3rd or 4th week or school. Generally, first graders are expected to do about 10-15 minutes of homework per night (4-5 times/week). We believe homework is about learning responsibility and practicing skills that have already been learned. Therefore setting a regular time and place for your child to do homework each night will go a long way towards developing habits for the future and keep complaining to a minimum. Homework will be sent home on Fridays and is always due the following Friday (or the last day of the week if there is no school on Friday).
Breakfast
NO BREAKFAST will be provided this year. Please ensure your child has a healthy breakfast before coming to school.
Lunch
Students have the option to either bring a lunch from home or have the school lunch. School lunches will no longer be free of charge unless your family completes the Free/Reduced Lunch forms and qualify. Second helpings and additional snacks will be available for a charge. You can find monthly calendars with lunch menus at https://dcsd.nutrislice.com/menu/. You can put money in a lunch account for your child at myschoolbucks.com. Lunch is only 20 minutes. Please remind your kiddo to take that time to eat their lunch, rather than just talking with friends. We do our best to remind them, but appreciate any support you can provide at home. We do have a nut-free table for students with allergies.
Snacks
We will have time for an afternoon snack each day. Please provide one healthy, nut-free snack for your child each day (and provide any necessary utensils). We recommend something that the kids can eat in a few minutes so they can get back to learning. If your child’s snack requires refrigeration be sure to pack it with an ice pack. No candy or nut products for snack please.
Water Bottles
Each child should bring a full water bottle to school every day to use while in the classroom. Only water is allowed in the classroom. Please clearly label the bottle with your child’s name. Make sure it is a bottle that doesn’t leak and that your child can easily open and close on their own. We recommend the pop up or push button styles such as Contigo.
Library
Nikki Marx will be our new librarian this year. Our class will be visiting the library each week on Wednesdays. Students will be permitted to check out 1-2 books each week as long as their books from the previous week have been returned. Please help your child keep library books in a clean and safe place and to bring them back to school on or before Wednesday morning.
STAR Student
Each child will have an opportunity to be our Star Student of the week! During this time he/she will get to present a Star Student poster to the group so classmates can learn more about him/her. Students can also bring in a favorite book and 5-7 special items to display and discuss with the class. You can find your child’s week for Star Student on my Student Star Calendar.
Toys
Toys and jewelry can be a distraction and interfere with learning. It is just too tempting for kids to play with them at the wrong times. Please encourage your child to keep these items at home. We also wouldn’t want special items to disappear or get lost at school.
Birthdays
We LOVE to celebrate and make your child feel special on his/her birthday. I’ll have a birthday crown and special eraser for your child. Unfortunately, PCE policy is not to serve edible treats for birthday celebrations. As an alternative, some parents opt to let their child pass out a non-edible party favor but this is totally optional.
Specials
Students will participate in either STEAM, Health and Wellness, Art, Music or P.E. each day. We will visit each of these specials classes on a weekly rotating basis. I’ll always let you know which special is coming up in my weekly newsletter.
Morning Arrival
First graders will enter the front doors of the building each day. Students may be dropped off each morning after 8:25. You may use the Kiss and Go Lane to drop off your child if he/she can exit the passenger side of the vehicle independently, but please do not park or get out of your car. There is no supervision before 8:25 so please do not leave kids unattended. School begins and students may enter the building at 8:30. Any student arriving in class after 8:40 is considered tardy.
After School Plans
Students will need to know how they are getting home each day. If there are any changes please notify me by 10:30 or call the office for last minute changes. (For a first grade teacher, there’s nothing worse than finding out at 3:30 that a student’s plans changed and neither you nor the student are sure where he/she is supposed to go.) There are 3 choices.
- B.A.S.E. after-school child care program (must be signed up)
- BUS - Students will line up and walk to the buses with a staff member.
- Parent meet-up - First graders exit out the front door and meet parents in the front area of the building. Please arrange a spot where your child should meet each day (such as the flagpole or carpool lane). I will be walking kids out for the first few weeks of school.
Dressing for the Weather and Classrooms
Please help your student come to school with the appropriate clothing for recess outdoors. This includes hats, coats, gloves and of course boots when there is snow or water on the ground. Be sure to label your child’s belongings with their name. In addition, our classrooms are often chilly so sending a sweatshirt or sweater might be a good idea even on warm days.