“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.” C.S. Lewis

Greetings!

I wanted to take a minute to introduce myself. My name is Jenna Holloway, and I am excited to be your child’s first grade teacher. It is going to be a great year filled with lots of learning and new adventures. I can’t wait to see what these next months have in store for us. I want to know ALL about you, but first I’m going to tell you a few things about me.

I was born and raised in Pennsylvania and I have two sisters and two brothers. When I graduated from high school, I moved to Marion, Indiana to attend Indiana Wesleyan University. I majored in Elementary Education with a minor in music. I met my sweetheart, Nathan Holloway, while at college. Nathan is a PTA for Hillcrest of Raleigh and does photography on the side. We have been blessed with two children, Tucker and Olivia. We also have two Puggles – Copper and Lily. I’m sure you will hear lots of funny stories about them all during our time together. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading, baking, and working with children.

I taught for six years in Indiana, before staying home with our children. During those six years, I had the opportunity to teach various grade levels and serve in different roles within the school. Our family relocated to North Carolina three years ago to be closer to family and to enjoy the warmer temperatures. I taught second grade for the last 1.5 years at Wilton Elementary and am so thrilled to be at Mt. Energy this year teaching first grade.

I am so excited to be your child’s teacher and look forward to how we will grow and learn together in these next several months. Please use my email to contact with any questions you may have. hollowayjm@gcs.k12.nc.us

Smiling,

Mrs. Holloway ☺

Here are a few of my favorite things:
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Season: Fall
Favorite Food: Cheddar Cheese Chex Mix or Twizzlers – YUM!
Favorite Drink: Dt. Mtn. Dew
Favorite Animal: Dogs and Manatees (when I was little I saved up all my allowance to adopt a manatee – ha!)
Favorite Book: “Oh the Places You Will Go,” Dr. Seuss
Favorite Song: Anything by Michael Buble or Harry Conick, Jr.
Favorite Hobby: Playing the flute

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” Chinese Proverb

WELCOME! ☺
I want to welcome both you and your child to first grade!! It is going to be a fun year filled with lots of learning and new adventures. I can’t wait to see what the year has in store for us.

Homework Packet:
Your child’s homework begins with this packet. This Packet needs to be read and discussed with your child.

Homework Procedures:
Homework is an important part of a student’s education. It reinforces learning by giving students the opportunity to review and practice the concepts and skills taught in class. It is recommended that your child have a ‘homework routine’ each day where they have a quiet place to work without distractions. Your role, as a parent, is to check over homework to be sure it is complete, to see if it is your child’s best quality work, and to remind your child to turn it in daily. Homework habits are evaluated on your child’s permanent Report Card.

Car Riders:
Drop off and pick up of students will be done at the front entrance of the school. Staff members will be on duty to help show you where and how to safely drop off your child each morning. Dismissal Procedures: We ask that you please remain in your vehicle and move through the car line. When traffic clears, you will be directed to the next available cone. Please pull all the way forward and a staff member will assist your child in entering your vehicle. You must place your car tag in your front window so that you can be identified easily. For the safety of your child, if you do not have your car tag when coming through the car line, you will be asked to park, go into the office, and show your ID to pick up your child.

Transportation Changes:
If you know prior to sending your child to school that there will be a change in their afternoon transportation, please notify me by placing a written note in your child’s take-home folder. For the safety of all of my students, I am never able to take a child’s word that there is a change in the afternoon transportation. I must receive a written note. If plans change during the school day, please call the main office and they will relay the message to me. Please do not email me during the school day with transportation changes. I may not see your email until after school.

Entering the Building
We always welcome you into our school building. However, whenever you enter the building you must go directly to the main office and check in and receive a visitor’s pass. Visitors will not be permitted into the classroom or have access to any child without a visitor’s pass. Please understand that this rule protects the safety of all of our children here at Mt. Energy.

Volunteering
According to GCPS policies, anyone who wishes to volunteer in our schools or on field trips must have a background check done by GCPS. Your background check must be approved before any volunteering (including field trips) can occur. A new background form must be complete EACH school year and needs to be done online at the GCPS website. No paper/pencil forms will be accepted.

Lunch
Parents wishing to pay for more than one day’s lunch are asked to send payments in on Mondays. All bookkeeping of lunch accounts are done by the cafeteria manager. Please send in any money in an envelop with your child’s name and account number on it. If you wish you join your child for lunch, please check in at the school office for a visitor’s pass. I am unable to access your child’s lunch account, please direct all questions and concerns to the cafeteria manager.

Snack
Students will be allowed to bring a nutritious snack every day. We will have a designated snack time during the day. If your child would also like a drink they are welcome to bring water. Due to spills we do not allow Gatorade, soda or any type of juice for snack, water only.

Communication
The best way to reach me is by email at hollowayjm@gcs.k12.nc.us. I will return all emails within 24 hours. Please do not email during the day with emergencies. I may not see your email until after school. Instead contact the school office and they will relay your message to me.


Take-Home Folder
I have purchased the folder that your child will use daily and it will be called our “Take-Home Folder.” The take-home folder will be brought home daily. It will be the primary means of communication between home and school. All correspondence (notes, lunch money, office forms, etc.) sent to school should be placed in the take-home folder. I will check the folders every morning for any notes from home. Students are responsible for removing the take-home folder form their book bag every morning and placing in the take-home folder basket. All correspondence from school will be sent in the take-home folder daily. Please check your child’s folder daily for any notes sent home.

Behavior Calendar/PBIS
Our school will be using a positive behavior system called PBIS. Monthly behavior calendars are part of the Take-Home folder. The behavior calendar is my way of communicating with you about your child’s daily behavior. Every day is a new day and begins with a smiley face. IF your child has a difficult time following rules and expectations the following steps will be followed.

Eye contact from the teacher
Verbal reminder from the teacher
Student flips their clip
Student moves clip to yellow (Smiley marked out with yellow)
Student moves clip to red (smiley is marked out with red and a referral is written).

Please be sure to initial the behavior calendar EACH night so that we can work together to help encourage, praise, and motivate your child to be the best that they can be!

Birthdays
Birthdays are specials occasions for our little ones. You are welcome to send in cookies or cupcakes for your child’s birthday celebration. All snacks sent to school must be store bought and in the original packaging. All birthday snacks will be served at lunchtime. Please let me know ahead of time if your child will be bringing a birthday snack to school to share with the class.

Medications
For the safety of all of our students, school personnel are not allowed to administer medicine unless we have a Physician’s School Medication Form completed and signed by a doctor. Only office personnel are allowed to administer medication in the office.


Anything Else?
I know that this is a lot of information to take in at one time, but I have attempted to cover all the basics. Please feel free to contact me at the school if you have any questions! I am here to help your child in any way that I can. Our communication is vital for a successful first grade year! I am so excited to be working together with you this year to make your child’s first grade year the best one yet!

7:35-8:00 Morning Meeting
8:00-8:15 Phonics
8:15-8:45 Reading (Whole Group)
8:45-9:15 Reading Workshop
9:20-10:05 Specials
10:05-10:20 Restroom/Snack
10:20-10:50 Reading Workshop
10:50-11:15 Writing
11:15-12:15 Math (Whole Group)
12:15-12:45 Lunch
12:45-1:15 Math (Stations)
1:20-1:50 Recess
1:55-2:35 SS/Science
2:35 Dismissal

***Specials***
Monday - Library (please remember library book)
Tuesday - PE (please wear tennis shoes)
Wednesday - Music
Thursday - STEAM/Art
Friday - Library

*Friday Special will rotate quarterly ( Q1 - M, Q2 - Tues., Q3 - Wed., Q4 - Thurs.)

Rule #1: Follow Directions Quickly!

Rule #2: Raise Your Hand for Permission to Speak

Rule #3: Raise Your Hand for Permission to Leave Your Seat.

Rule #4: Make Smart Choices! Glorious Kindness, Leadership, Courage, Invincible Grit, Creativity.

Rule #5: Keep Our Dear Learning Community Happy!

Diamond Rule: Keep Your Eyes On The Target

Dear Parents,

I wanted to share with you what my literacy block looks like in your child’s classroom. It is my hope that your child has come home excited about reading and talking about “The Daily Five.” The purpose of this letter is to fill you in on what The Daily Five is all about, so you don’t have to just nod your head while wondering what in the world your child is referring to.
The Daily Five is a way of structuring the reading block so every student in actively and independently engaged in meaningful literacy tasks. These research- based tasks are ones that will have the biggest impact on student reading and writing achievement, as well as help foster children who love to read and write. Students receive explicit whole group instruction and then are given independent practice time to read and write independently while I provide focused, intense instruction to individuals and small groups of students.
When it is up and running smoothly, students will be engaged in the Daily Five, which are comprised of
• Read to Self
• Guided Reading with Mrs. Holloway
• Read To Someone
• Listen to Reading
• Word Work
There are very specific behavior expectations that go with each Daily Five component. We have spent the last two weeks working intensely on building our reading and writing stamina, learning the behaviors of the Daily 5 and fostering our classroom community. I have also spent time learning about your child’s strengths and greatest needs as a reader in order to best plan for each student’s instruction. One thing you’ll notice that may be a change for you is a decrease in the number of worksheets your child brings home. While worksheets keep students busy, they don’t really result in the high level of learning I want for your child. Instead, your child will be taught to select “Good Fit Books,” or books they can read, understand and are interested in, which they will read during the Daily 5. They will be spending most of their time actually reading, which research supports as the NUMBER ONE way to improve reading. I anticipate the motivation and enjoyment of reading will skyrocket when this gift of choosing their own books is accompanied by extended practice and reading instruction for each individual child.
As you can see, I am excited about giving your child the opportunity to be involved in a structure that will have a positive effect on their education.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me. I’d love to share more information with you.

Please join Mrs. Jenna Holloway class on Bloomz!

Bloomz is a new app that works both on your smartphone as well as on your computer. You will receive quick updates and photos of class activities, be able to access our class calendar, and more. All in a private and secure environment.

New Bloomz Parent
1. Download the “Bloomz" app from the AppStore/PlayStore and click "Create Account". If browser, go to bloomz.com and click on "Join Bloomz"
2. In the text box, enter 9VJGZK
3. Create your account

Existing Bloomz Parent
1. Log into your Bloomz account
2. Click “+Add Class/Group” on the left navigation. 3. In the text box, enter 9VJGZK
4. Click next

... or join using text messaging instead Text @9VJGZK to 1-858-BLOOMZ1 (1-858-256-6691) to
receive 1-way text messages from your teacher
Need help? Go to support.bloomz.com or email us at support@bloomz.com