Dear Parents,

Welcome to second grade!  My name is Karen Hammerquist.  This will be my 22nd year of teaching.  I am very excited to be your child’s teacher and hope this year will be a wonderful time. 

September is a “settling in month”. It takes time to adjust to everything.  Here  are a few pieces of information to help your school year go smoothly.

SCHOOL HOURS:     Breakfast is served in the cafeteria from 8:15 – 8:40.  Students can enter the classroom at 8:30 and dismissed at 3:00.

ATTENDANCE AND TARDIES:  Regular attendance and being on time are important in every grade.  They will be recorded and included on the report card.

BIRTHDAYS:    Your child’s birthday will be recognized in our class on or near his/her birth date.   We will sing “Happy Birthday” and do a special activity.  It will be up to you whether or not you want to provide a snack for the class.  Please remember that we are not allowed to serve homemade food. 

DISCIPLINE:    Every child is at a different social maturity level.   Therefore, I try to deal individually with behavior issues.  Our classroom rule is to be kind and respectful to others so that everyone can learn.  When a child does make an inappropriate choice about behavior he/she may be asked to sit away from the group for a short time, or may miss part of his/her recess.  If there are continuous disruptions, I will contact parents by phone or send a note of concern.  The final step is a “referral” that is sent to Mrs. Sundseth, principal, and she will meet with the student to discuss the problem.  Sometimes the school counselor, Mrs. Shaffer, is involved in helping the child make better choices.  I do not expect discipline to be a “problem” in our classroom.  The children will thrive in our positive atmosphere.

VOLUNTEERS:  All volunteers, including chaperones for field trips, must have a Criminal Background Form completed before working in any Salem-Keizer Schools.  You can get a form in the office.  Please contact me if you can volunteer in the classroom, for parties, or support the students any way you can. 

Thank you so much for sharing your child with me this year!  I’m looking forward to another great year at Cummings Elementary.

Sincerely,

Karen Hammerquist