Dear Parents,

My name is Susan Meserve and I am excited to be your child's Third Grade teacher this year. As many of you know I have been teaching Kindergarten  for the last ten years (before that I taught Third Grade for 24 years.)  I thought it might be helpful to have talk about some of the important “things” before the year gets under way.

Scissors, glue, pencils, crayons, and markers are all provided at school. If your child has some of his/her own, they are welcome to bring them, but it is not necessary. What is necessary is some type of backpack or book bag.  I will give each child a folder to bring papers, notes, and money back and forth in, so look each day for this. It will contain any papers we have done and any notices from me or the school. It is very important that the folder travel back and forth with your child, as I will check the folders every morning for any notes from home. The backpack should be large enough to handle shoes and a lunchbox along with the folder. Please put your child's name on anything you think might be confused with someone else's.

Please remember to send a note for any change in your child's routine – such as being picked up after school or being dropped off at someone else's house. The note needs to come to me first and then the bus driver (or send one note to me and one note to the bus driver). It is less confusing for your child if he/she knows of a change in their schedule before they get to school. No child will be allowed to go home with someone other than a parent (this includes grandparents and other relatives) without a note signed by the parent.

Also anytime a child is absent, school policy states that I must have a note explaining the absence.

There will be a snack time each morning at recess. I encourage you to send in snack or money for the snack cart (once it is up and running). Children may bring a drink(no glass or sodas please!) or buy milk or juice from the cart.

Breakfast (juice, milk, cereal,and toast) and lunch are served at school. The cost for regular lunch is $2.25. Forms for reduced and free lunches will be sent home the first week.

I will send home a weekly “Peek At the Week” newsletter on Friday. (I will also post the “Peek” on the website.) The “Peek” will tell you of any special plans, schedule changes, supplies needed for special projects, request for volunteers, when book orders are due, etc... I hope you will read this and keep it handy where you can refer to it. (I always found it helpful to tape mine to the refrigerator.) This is a major way I communicate with parents throughout the year.

Your child will have homework this year. It is due first thing the next day. If a student does not have his/her homework in by morning bell he/she will stay in recess for the day. I encourage you to look these assignments over- not do them- but look and encourage your child to do accurate, neat work.

Please keep in mind that I am also the Principal of Harrington Elementary. I will be in the Third Grade room until 1:30 each day and then another teacher will be in to teach Science and Social Studies.

I look forward to getting to know your child and you this year. I hope we will work together as partners to ensure your child has a successful year. As you are aware, your child will be expected to follow set routines – for both the classroom and the school as a whole.  If you have any questions or concerns about your child's progress please feel free to contact me using the e-mail link on my homepage or call the school at 483-6681.

Sincerely,

Susan V. Meserve