Gilmore, Faye

• Welcome to Mrs. Gilmore & Mrs. Magee's Class!

  3rd grade is a fun year and we are going to learn so much together! 

• We have been at Switlik getting our classroom ready, and we are excited to start the new school year. We hope that you feel the same way when you return on Thursday, September 9th. 

  We both always have a few butterflies the night before school starts, and we bet you do too. This year will be no different. Rest assured that we will be taking things slowly in our first few days together. Our focus will be on getting to know each other and all of the new routines that come with the new school year. 

  It is important that you bring your charged laptop to school with you on the first day of school and every other day! Our Google Classroom will be the hub for your learning, and we will be setting it up on our very first day together. 

  We will see you at Switlik on Thursday, September 9th. Until then, enjoy the rest of your summer!

Communication:

We believe that a great parent-teacher relationship is necessary for a successful school year. 

Our Emails:

Mrs. Gilmore:  fgilmore@jacksonsd.org

  Mrs. Magee:     semagee@jacksonsd.org

Class DOJO: We will be utilizing Class Dojo for an easy messaging system, class story (so you as a parent/guardian can see some of the things we do each day), and as a behavior management tool (ability to earn points towards rewards) All invite information will come home the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.  Please join as soon as possible!!!   It is a GREAT place to message us with anything you may need.

Google Classroom: Our google classroom is where assignments and lessons will be posted throughout the year and where students will submit their assignments if they or the class needs to go virtual. We will be using it for other assignments within the classroom as well.

Please make sure you join our Google Classroom ASAP!

Class Page: Our class page will be updated with any important information that is happening in the classroom and announcements that pertain to the class, school, and community. 

*PARENTS:  Please send me an email (fgilmore@jacksonsd.org) so we have the BEST email to reach you at throughout the year.*

8:55-9:20 Morning Meeting

Literacy/Writing/Fundations

 Math 

 SPECIAL

 SS/Science/ELL 

WIN

 Gym

   Library

 Music

Computers

  Art

Charged Chromebooks MUST come to school EVERY day!!! 

Please make sure they are fully CHARGED. 

Leave chargers AT HOME.

 Please come to school with your PLANNER every day. 

Planners will be used as a DAILY form of communication.  Your child will be responsible for writing homework, assignments, and tests in their planner each day.  

We have provided everything your child needs to have a successful year in 3rd grade. If you would like to bring in a small pencil case to keep inside their desks please make sure it is labeled with their name on it. It is also recommended to have an extra mask or 2 kept in your child's backpack incase one gets misplaced or dirty. Please remember that it is mandatory that children wear masks all day. 

The students are also encouraged to bring in a water bottle each day. We will not have access to the water fountain due to the current situation, so we kindly ask that a water bottle be sent in everyday (must be water, juice will be allowed in the lunchroom).  

Chromebooks: Please bring your charged chromebook to scool each day. 

Binder: We will be providing a binder for stundets within the first few first days. This binder is to come back and forth with them to school everyday. We will keep all of of work in this binder, Please do not remove any papers from the binder, we will remove papers in school when they can stay at home.

 Homework Folder: We will be providing a folder for students on the first day. This folder is to come back and forth with them to school everyday. Please use this folder to send in important notes and/or homework. 

Art Smock (optional): Please label with their name

Since our desk storage space is limited, we ask that students refrain from bringing in large binders or multiple notebooks, folders, and supplies. Also, please no toys.

*Please try to encourage your child to memorize their bus number and student id number*

The best gift that you and I can give your child is the support that they need to MEMORIZE their multiplication facts. Memorization of facts frees up all of their working memory so that they can concentrate on the bigger task - solving the real problem before them. 

If your child is absent, please send in a note. If they are sick and see a doctor, please send in a doctors note to have it be excused. Thank you! 

 

 

 

DIRECTIONS TO ACCESS TO PEARSON WEBSITE: 

Pearson Math Access!

Please use the following while you are at home:

Free Educational Sites 

Wonderopolis: Every day this site shares a new wonder, submitted by kids, and the answer, in an article with a video.

National Geographic Kids: Games, articles, and videos about animals and nature.

Mystery Doug: Video science lessons and activities

Typing Club: Use your time at home to learn keyboarding skills!

Scholastic Learn at Home: Daily learning projects from Scholastic, geared for different grade levels

Explore Animal Webcams: Observe animals live on webcams from around the world

Virtual Museum Tours: Take a free virtual museum tour of a famous place, like the British Museum in London

Hour of Code: Learn coding skills with an hour of code activity.

Design Squad Global: Watch PBS Design Squad videos, to learn about science and engineering challenges

Khan Academy: Free online video lessons in math and other subjects

Crash Course Kids: Elementary school science videos

Family Activity Ideas

Indoor Activities for Kids Stuck at Home: Buzzfeed lists 27 fun activities for kids home from school

70 Educational Activities: A former homeschooler shares 70 educational activities you can do when you're stuck indoors.

Podcasts: Listen to a podcast together. Common Sense Media curated this list of best podcasts for kids.

Cosmic Kids Yoga: Stay active as you practice yoga together.

Distance Reading Book Bingo: Read together and complete this bingo board!

A NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL 

LET ‘S WORK TOGETHER:

      Student Safety is always paramount at Switlik School. We are asking for help in allowing our staff to focus on our shared goal of keeping our children safe and focused on learning. We appreciate your continued support and collaboration with us in ensuring that all students are safe.

ENTRANCE PROCEDURES:   THERE WILL BE NO UNSCHEDULED VISITS THIS YEAR.  If you do visit the school, you will be asked several COVID questions before entering the building.  Valid Photo Identification is required each time you visit the school. We ask that you wait 20 minutes after student arrival to approach the building to be signed in for your visit. (Exceptions are made for scheduled appointments approved by your child’s principal/teacher/counselor.

• All visitors will notify the receptionist using the buzzer by the visitor doors.
• At the buzzer, all visitors are required to present their valid photo identification to the camera, state the purpose of their visit and/or specify with whom they have the appointment or which student they are picking up.
• At the second set of doors, buzz again for access to reception.
• This includes drop off and pick up for morning and aftercare

Please do not hold the door open for others behind you​. We realize this feels awkward and against the rules of good manners, but it’s important that each visitor be acknowledged individually through the buzzer system.

• If the appointment and/or purpose is verified, the visitor will be buzzed in and must present themselves to the receptionists immediately upon entry.
• The visitor’s ID will be held until the visitor leaves the building and the visitor will receive a guest badge. This procedure helps us to know that the visitor has departed by ensuring they leave the same way they arrived.
• Please limit “dropped off” items to only those items your child truly needs during the school day (e.g. necessary clothing changes, important schoolwork or lunch/items that are required for that day). Using the buzzer by the visiting door, inform the receptionists these items are on the cart outside the visitor door.

ARRIVAL PROCEDURES:  Please be advised at no time should any vehicle be entering or exiting through our bus ramp during arrival or dismissal times. Please review and adhere to the following:

Arrival Time: 8:50-9:05 a.m.  We will not have staff on duty before this time.

• No child should be left off at the school without a staff member in attendance.
• Morning arrival for children is located at the back of the building (gym vestibule entrance).
• Parents who choose the “Kiss and Drop” loop should adhere to the following safety procedures:
  • Stay in the right lane along the curb, pull up to the red line:
    • Pull up to the gym vestibule entrance doors to drop off your child.
    • Parents are to remain in their vehicles at all times.
    • Students must exit from the passenger side door.
    • Parents will not be permitted to enter the building during drop off arrival time.
    • Do not pass other vehicles while children are exiting from vehicle, this can create a dangerous situation.

After 9:05 a.m., the start of the school day, parents dropping off their children must park in the main parking lot and escort them inside to the main office receptionist desk in order to sign them in.  At this time, children are considered late. Valid Photo Identification is required each time you visit the school.

No child is to be dropped off at the main entrance without a parent/ guardian signing them in.

Parent Pick Up:

• Doors at the back of the building (gym vestibule entrance) for parent pick up will open at 3:05 p.m.
• Present your valid photo identification to the receptionists prior to signing your child out.
• Follow instructions of receptionists as to where to stand while waiting for your child to arrive.
• Please do not park in the bus lane during this time.

Child Care:

• Parents wishing to pick their students up from childcare may begin to do so at 3:15 p.m. We ask that parents wait until dismissal is complete before signing out childcare students.

EARLY DISMISSAL: will conclude at 1:15 p.m.  Any parent who wishes to sign out their child after 1:15 p.m. will wait until dismissal at 3:10 p.m. Please refer to the Switlik School Handbook.

If you will be picking your child up early, we prefer you notify the school as early in advance as you can, but at least by the morning of pick up. This can be done through a note sent in with the child, or an email to the teacher and principal. In the event of a true emergency, please contact the school reception desk by phone (732) 833-4650 extension 4135, prior to arrival if possible. We realize there are often instances where early pick-up is necessary (medical or other appointments), but we respectfully ask that you limit early sign-outs to only times when they  are necessary.

As per school district rules-- NO BIRTHDAY INVITATIONS CAN BE GIVEN OUT IN SCHOOL!

We will be dancing during our "Brain Breaks." These breaks give us a chance to move and focus our brains for the next task. We use GoNoodle which is a website with different fun videos to get us moving! You and your family can try it at home. Here is a link:  https://www.gonoodle.com

 

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In our classroom, we will work hard to be "Bucket Fillers", not "Bucket Dippers"!

But what are "Bucket Fillers" & "Bucket Dippers"?

We're going to read the book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

This book tells the story how everyone, all over the world, carries an invisible bucket with them. The way that we treat others can fill their buckets when we are kind, or we can dip from their buckets when we use unkind words and actions. Other people can fill or dip from our buckets too.

In the first few days of school, we will spend time learning how we can fill other peoples' buckets and learning how to avoid dipping from them! You'll be able to fill your friends' buckets in our classroom by writing positive notes to them and using kind words!

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