Dear Families, August 2010
Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year! My name is Melissa Brown and I look forward to being your 1st grade teacher this year. Enclosed with this letter you will find some general 1st grade information, the 1st grade school supply list, and an information sheet for parents to complete.
A little about me . . . I was born and raised in Skagit County and live in Mount Vernon with my husband (Jeff), and our 2 wonderful sons. We have a little hobby farm with many pets: four alpacas, nine chickens, three cats, and a dog! I graduated from Western Washington University in 2002 with a BA in Elementary Education and English. I received my Professional Certificate from Seattle Pacific University five years ago and completed my Master’s degree in Elementary Reading and Literacy through Walden University three years ago. This will be my 8th year teaching at Conway and I look forward to it being one of the best yet!
We have a very exciting year ahead of us! First graders will learn many things this year, from becoming readers and writers to developing friendship skills that will last a lifetime. Students will have opportunities to learn one-on-one, in pairs, in small cooperative groups, and in whole class groups. We will work hard on creating a warm, respectful classroom environment in which students feel safe to work alongside their peers and take risks.
Having the support of your family this year will hugely impact the success of our children. Families can support their children by reading together for at least 10 minutes every night, assisting with nightly math homework, reviewing the daily work that is sent home, and contacting me about any concerns (or celebrations!) that arise. I welcome classroom volunteers, and I will send home a volunteer interest survey toward the end of September.
We would love for you to join us at the Back-to-School Parade on August 31st. It will be followed by the SOCS-PTA annual fundraiser BBQ. After the BBQ you will be able to tour the building and our classroom (Room 7). Students are welcome to bring their school supplies to Open House, or on the first day of school.
Please be sure to look through your child’s notebook on the first day of school for letters from me and/or the office . . . there are often beginning of the year forms sent home early on, and it’s important that they are filled out and returned promptly.
School starts at 8:30 A.M. on Wednesday, September 1st. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or if you would like to set up a time to meet before school begins. I look forward to meeting you and having a successful 1st grade year together!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Melissa Brown
Conway School: (360) 445-5785