Happy Thursday! I wanted to update you on how our first week
and give you some news to note.
Our class has had a fantastic
start to the school year! Thankfully,
everything has gone very smoothly and there have been no tears or mishaps. We
have been working very diligently to establish new procedures and routines,
form bonds as a class family and get to know our new students, all of whom are
just lovely. We even celebrated a birthday. Yasmine, turned 9 and had a very
happy day with students sharing verbal “gifts” of kindness.
The “Me Bags” were a big success as children shared their interests and things they love. It was truly a pleasure to see their personalities shine through and make connections to each other through shared interests, experiences and passions. What an impressive bunch!
Next week, we will dive into the real meat of our curriculum and the academic rigor will increase a bit. (Sunday is Day 6 on the schedule.) I have no doubt that this group is ready to jump right in. I’m already looking forward to the great things they will produce and achieve.
Here are some important items to note:
Healthy Snacks
It is important that your
child comes to school with a healthy snack for morning break. The best
snacks are nutritious; this means that they are low in sugar, fat and salt.
Fresh fruit, vegetables and foods that contain whole grains and protein
are also good choices. Follow this link for ideas on healthy school snacks.
Absences
Please inform me if he/she is or will be absent in the future. We will make a note in
the system and count it as an excused absence. If your child is sick, please inform me before 8 am so that
I am aware of the situation and can complete the attendance properly. Feel free to communicate by email or a
note in the passport.
Uniforms
Students are expected to be
in proper DAA attire throughout the school day. They should be in either their
formal DAA dress or their DAA PE uniforms. Both outfits should be coupled with
appropriate shoes (either mostly black or mostly white shoes). Sweaters worn at school should also follow the DAA dress
code. (Please send sweaters to school as our classroom tends to get chilly and I do not control the A/C.) Also, in light of the Dubai heat, students are not required to wear their ties with their uniform until after the Eid holiday.
Parent Communication
Student passports are used to communicate with parents on a
regular basis and should be checked and signed every evening. Feel free to send
an email with any questions or concerns you may have. This is the best way to
communicate any emergencies or other urgent matters. Also, please keep in mind
that time before class is often very limited, and I may be
unavailable to have a conversation about your child at that time. A
conference time can be arranged via email or passport.
Homework
The Grade 3 expectations
for homework are as follows: 20 minutes reading every day. Students
will work on their Math Home Links daily, as well as complete additional
material (this can include Grammar, Writing, Science and/or Social Studies).
The time allotment for these subject areas is 10-15 minutes. Homework will usually require approximately 30 minutes every night (except on weekends), although our official DAA homework policy is currently a work in progress. More on this on our Back to School Night on Sept. 17.
I think that’s it for now.
I wish you each a very restful and happy weekend. :)
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