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Groveland Park Elementary School
2045 St. Clair Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
(651) 293-8760
www.groveland.spps.org
Principal: Mrs. Becky Pedersen
School Hours
- 9:10 AM - 3:40 PM
- Breakfast will be available from 8:50 AM to 9:10 AM
- Please be on time for drop-off and pickup.
- Children who arrive at school after 9:10 AM are considered tardy. Please note that your child will not be released to an unauthorized person.
- If someone else is picking up your child, a note or a phone call from you is required. Please include the name and the phone number of the person picking up your child.
- If you are picking your child up before the end of the day you MUST check in with the office.
Without proper notification, a note from home or a phone call,
your child will be sent home in his/her usual manner.
School Attendance
If your child will be absent or late coming to school, please call the school at (651) 293-8760 to report the absence before 9:00 AM. When your child returns to school, he/she must bring a note explaining the absence. There are established guidelines and intervention procedures when students are absent or tardy. Your child’s regular and prompt attendance at school is crucial to his/her success. Please value school attendance as a priority and ensure that your child attends regularly.
S’More Fun
Groveland Park Elementary School provides a before and an after school program that children are able to attend. For further information please contact the S’more Fun office at (651) 695-3715.
Information Changes
Please notify both the school office and myself if there is a change of address and/or telephone number. It is important that we have accurate information.
Health Issues
Any medications must be cleared through the nurse. This includes any over-the-counter medicine. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Mrs. Pedersen or Mr. Finger, school nurse.
Please keep us informed of any emotional or health problems that may develop during the year. Every child treats stressful situations differently. We need your input on any developing issues so that we can be better prepared to help your child keep on learning.
A Good Night’s Sleep
It is important to remember that your child may be tired at the end of the school day. Due to the long day that your child experiences, it is even more important for your child to get a good night’s sleep.
Bus Safety
Each student will receive bus safety training as mandated by the State of Minnesota even if he/she walks to school.
Birthdays
Birthdays are special occasions for children. We will recognize birthdays at school. If you wish, your child may bring a treat for the class on his/her birthday. Please remember that the state health law requires that these treats MUST be store purchased and unopened.
Please do not send birthday party invitations to school unless the entire class has been invited. Although it may seem convenient to distribute invitations in this manner, it can result in hurt feelings for those not invited.
School Supplies
1 sturdy, large backpack
1 Plastic pencil box or zipper pencil case
1 box Crayola Crayons (24 pack)
1 pair Fiskar school scissors
1 pink eraser
1 package pencil cap erasers
1 package #2 pencils (No mechanical pencils)
1 box Crayola Markers (8 pack)
1 set Crayola water color paints
1 package Dry Erase Markers
1 old sock (to use as an eraser)
1 ruler - 12” (inches and centimeters)
4 large glue sticks
5 (3-prong pocket) folders (plain color)
4 spiral notebooks
1 composition book
1 pair of tennis shoes for Phy. Ed.
$5.00 for the official school planner
Items I will ask for as needed:
tissues
paper towels
ziplock bags
grocery bags
Occasionally I will include classroom needs in the monthly newsletter.
These items will be used for various classroom projects and learning centers.
Money
Occasionally it will be necessary for your child to bring money to school. Please send money/check in a sealed envelope with the following information written on it:
- Your child’s first and last name.
- The amount of money.
- The purpose for the money (book order, lunch, etc.).
- Teacher’s name and room number.
Scholastic Book Orders:
Your child will be bringing home a form to order books once a month. If you wish to order, fill out the form and send it back to school in an envelope along with a check or money order made payable to Scholastic Book Club. I cannot accept cash.
These orders are provided as a convenient way for you to add to your home library; you can buy quality books for your child at a very low price.
Library
Students will visit the library once a week to listen to a story and to check out books. Please help your child take care of the books and return them by library day. Children must return their books in order to check out a new ones the following week.
Specialists
Children will be on a weekly rotation for Physical Education, Science, and Music for fifty minutes each day. Please make sure that your child is wearing tennis shoes for Physical Education.
Water Bottle
Your child may bring a water bottle (with a sports cap) to school. They need to be brought home at the end of the week for a thorough cleaning. Water bottles left on the floor at the end of the day will be tossed by the custodians.
Curriculum
Groveland Park is part of the St. Paul School District’s “Project for Academic Excellence.” Third graders are taught a standards based curriculum using best practices to guide instruction and implement the curriculum.
Writers Workshop:
Writers Workshop aims to support students in their journey as developing writers by introducing them to strategies that make writing effective. Each writing session begins with a brief mini lesson about a new writing craft or strategy. Students have the opportunity try out the strategy they learned during their independent writing time. As students write independently some students meet one-on-one with their teacher to discuss their writing. A group share closes each writing session. Third grade writers complete the following units: Narrative, Nonfiction Informational writing, Persuasive and Friendly letters, Procedural writing, and Poetry. Students' authorship is celebrated after each unit.
Readers Workshop:
Readers Workshop provides students a variety of literacy experiences. All students participate in Guided Reading and Independent Reading. Students are also involved in Literature Circles (latter part of the year) and Guided Reading groups. Each day students have the opportunity to self-select literature. Weekly visits to the library support in class reading.
Skills Block:
During the Language Skills block students are engaged in various activities that teach: phonics, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and handwriting.
Math:
We use the district math curriculum, Everyday Mathematics. Additional curriculum and activities are supplemented when needed in order to extend learning and meet the needs of all students. The third grade curriculum emphasizes concepts such as: Data & Probability, Geometry, Multiplication & Division, Measurement, and Problem solving. The concepts are taught through small and large group discussions and math games.
Your child will be issued a Student Reference Book that will give information about math topics. This book will help your child answer questions on the homework assignments.
Planners
Please check your child’s planner daily for homework assignments and sign/initial it after your child has completed his/her homework.
Homework
Homework is a necessary and integral part of the learning process. Therefore, in accordance with district policy, it is expected that all students receive regular homework. It is important to set up a routine for nightly homework such as a special place and time to study. In general, homework is given in Math and Spelling. Third graders are expected to read 20 - 30 minutes outside of school daily. Your child may read independently, read aloud to another individual, or another family member may read aloud to your child. Homework will be given Monday through Thursday. Fridays and weekends are observed as family time.
http://saintpaulreads.spps.org
A central goal of Saint Paul Reads is to help students improve their reading skills. Research shows that reading improves a student’s comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary skills. This in turn improves a student’s capacity to learn in all areas. The goal for third graders is 30 books.
Behavior Expectations
During the first few weeks of school we will work together to establish our classroom rules based upon our “Hopes and Dreams” for third grade. Respect and responsibility are key components of our classroom expectations. Good rules will help us to learn, care for each other, and work together in our community. Student behavior will be reinforced with reminders, redirection, and logical consequences. There are three kinds of logical consequences: You break it -- You fix it, Loss of Privilege, and Take-A-Break.
Classroom Rules
- Respect other people and property.
- Be safe.
- Stay where you belong.
- Do your best job.
Logical Consequences
- You Break It-You Fix It.
- Loss Of Privilege
- Take A Break
- Take A Break (Student directed)
- Take A Break (Teacher directed)
- Buddy Classroom
- Go To The Office
Electronics
Students may NOT bring any electronic equipment (ipods, gameboys, tamagatchis, pagers, cell phones, etc.) to school. The school is NOT responsible for lost or stolen items. If a student brings one of the above mentioned items, it will be confiscated and kept locked up until a parent/guardian comes to get it.
Clothing
Students may NOT wear heelies (shoes with wheels), hats, bandanas, or bring purses. If children wear jewelry to school, it needs to remain on his/her body or it will be confiscated.
We will be going outside for recess everyday unless it is raining hard or really cold. It is expected that students are dressed appropriately for the weather
Field Trips
Third grade will be going on several trips throughout the year. Every student will be required to turn in a signed field trip permission form that will be good for the entire year. You will be notified ahead of time of the field trip dates.
Parent/Teacher Relationship
A good parent/teacher relationship is necessary for your child’s success in school. Throughout the year I will keep you informed about your child and classroom activities through phone calls, e-mails, classroom web sites, volunteer opportunities, Groveland community functions, monthly newsletters, and Fall and Spring conferences.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns at any time. Please send a note, an e-mail, or call me at (651) 293-8760.
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