Our

Mission

DGF

The mission of Rota Elementary School is to

provide an exemplary education that inspires
and prepares all DoDEA students for success
in a dynamic, global environment.

Welcome to our classroom! As your childs teacher, I hope you will be an active
member of our teaching team. I am looking forward to working with you and
your child and getting to know you both this year. Please read over the packet
and feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding our classroom.
Parents
The best way that you can help your child with reading is to read with him/her
daily. It is also important for your child to see you reading, writing, and using
your math skills. Visiting the library is a great family habit to begin if you have not
already done so. Our base library is a wonderful resource in our community.
The childrens section has a good selection of books. I always try to remind my
students that just because it is a picture book does not mean it is an easy book.
You are your childs first teacher and will continue to be throughout his/her life.
What you do is important as you model for your child on a daily basis, helping
them to relate to their world. Remember that more is caught than taught!
Curriculum
The curriculum is based on DoDDS standards in all subject areas. The standards
outline what students should know, understand and be able to do when they
advance to the next grade. They have been designed to prepare your child for
the world that awaits him/her. School is the place where the environment is
created for the child. The purpose is to guide a child to construct meaning of
their world, to build on prior knowledge when making connections with new
information, and to solidify and deepen their understanding of current
knowledge. Integrating the curriculum is essential in helping children make
sense of their world and seeing connections in their learning experiences with
previous knowledge. Best practices for learning include authentic experiences,
modeling, understanding the process, and developmentally appropriate
activities. Children learn best when it is relevant to their world, has personal
meaning, and through interaction with others. Curriculum starts where a child is
at and stretches a child to move to a higher level of understanding.
I plan and teach the curriculum thematically and integrate subjects. For
example, when we study the science standards on weather, we will have

lessons planned in reading, writing, and language arts, as well as science

activities built around the weather theme.
Grading
Our grading policy is consistent with the DoDEA report card. Assessments may
include; written and oral activities, projects, writing, published tests, observation
and anecdotal notes. For grading daily work, I usually use smiley faces, stars,
stickers, etc. Every opportunity will be afforded for your child to experience
success. If your child is having difficulty, a parent conference will be set up. If
we decide that more help is needed then various specialists may be consulted.
Homework
Homework will consist of reading, practicing spelling words, occasional math
reinforcement, and projects. Reading should occur nightly for at least 20
minutes. Students will be given a Reading Counts book at his/her independent
reading level. Students will also be given and account for and have access to
RazKids, an online reading program which will have books at their reading levels
and beyond. The 20 minutes of reading nightly can also be reading together,
reading library books, or reading favorite books from home. The important thing
is to read, read, and read some more.
Spelling words will come home weekly on the back side of the CHAT sheet.
Students are to practice the spelling words nightly in preparation for the spelling
test at the end of the week.
Math homework will come home occasionally this will not be a nightly.
I send home homework because.
Its a daily opportunity to have a positive impact on your childs future and
education.
It effects achievement in school as students who consistently do it perform
better academically and both low and high achievers improve in all
academic areas.
It teaches responsibility to get homework to and from school as well as
develops independent skills.
It is a link between home and school.
In order to establish good homework habits.
Set up the proper area with supplies your child will need.
Be sure the area is free of distractions and where you are close by to help.
Start establishing the good habit of getting homework turned in when it is
due.
Try to establish a routine of when and where and dont change!
Go over the directions with you child, be sure things are ready and allow
him/her to do as much as possible with little help from you.

There will also be reading included in the homework assignments. Have your
child read to you daily. It is also essential that you read to your child. It
introduces them to higher level of vocabulary, increases his/her attention span,
and models how good readers read. A section on the CHAT sheet will ask you to
write the amount of minutes spent reading each night.
Discipline Policy
At DGF Elementary we work towards students taking responsibility and being
responsible. We tell them that means doing what is right, even when no one is
watching and without reminders. We will work together to establish classroom
rules. We will be working all year on making appropriate choices, practicing
good manners, and developing support, encouragement and respect for each
other. Each student begins the day with their clip on Ready to Learn. If your
child follows the rules then his/her clip will remain on Ready to Learn. Behavior
going above and beyond expectations will be moved up the chart. After a
couple of warnings the student will be told to move his/her clip to a Think About
It. If inappropriate or disruptive behavior continues then the clip will be moved
to Teachers Choice, and if needed, Parent Contact. If your child reaches Parent
Contact, then I will be calling so that we can formulate a plan to best help your
child choose to make good decisions and appropriate choices. We have found
with parent follow up and support at home that this plan is much more effective.
Please know that a student can move up and down on the behavior
chart. If you child comes home on Ready to Learn it is a perfectly acceptable
place to be at the end of the day. Anything, below Ready to Learn means they
had difficulties during the day that continued through the end of the day.
Daily Dismissal
I walk all students to their bus, parents, bikes, or other means of transportation to
get home. 1st grade students are allowed to walk home by themselves if they
live on base. If your child walks home daily please provide me with a note
stating that you give them permission to walk home. If you pick up your child,
please do so at the Ramada and picnic tables on the playground. I like to see
each parent before I release students to go home. If your child will be going
home another way other that the normal way, you need to send a note or email the day before or that day to inform me of the change. Without a notice of
change in routine, your child will go home as previously planned.
Communication:
Every week your child will have a C.H.A.T. (Communication between Home And
Teacher) sheet in his/her Take-Home folder. This is a form of daily
communication between school and home. Please initial it daily and return it in
the Take-Home folder. I can always be contacted by e-mail
Matthew.Pfund@eu.dodea.edu or by phone at 727-4185. The office will not
connect you during class hours but will send a message for your call to be
returned. I will also send home a monthly calendar so you know how to dress

your child on PE days. The calendar will also inform you of any events for the
month.
Notes should be sent in when there is any change in your childs routine; i.e.
another person will be picking him/her up, going home with a friend, etc.
Please keep me informed of any changes. I am responsible for your child and
take the responsibility seriously. A phone call to the office is also acceptable as
emergencies do occur. Your child will not be released to another person
without permission from you.
Nuts and Bolts: Below are important tidbits of information that will tie up some
loose ends.
Snacks
Our lunchtime is 11:20 and I have found that the students get hungry around
9:45 10:00 timeframe. We will have a working snack time each morning.
Please send your child with a Healthy snack each day-no cookies or candy
please.
Backpacks
Have your child bring his/her backpack and take-home folder daily. Be sure to
check it as notes and letters come home on a regular basis.
Volunteers
If you would like to volunteer please let me know. The best time for volunteering
is the mornings. I would love to have your help and have found that volunteers
make a positive impact on the students achievement. Please remember to
stop by the office to get a visitors pass before coming to the classroom.
Birthdays
We love to celebrate birthdays and they are a big deal!! If you would like your
child to bring in a treat to share with the class, just send in a note to set up a
time (afternoons usually work best for this.) We always write letters to the
birthday boy or girl about what we would give them and during our writing of
the letter is a great time to share a birthday treat. Dont worry if your child has a
summer birthday. We always celebrate everyones birthday some time during
the year. I have students pick an Unbirthday day to celebrate with the class.
Lunch
You can set up a lunch account at the NEX. . We do have lunch/lunch recess
from 11:20-12:05 (you are always welcome to have lunch with your child.)

I have tried to include areas of importance to you. If you need

further information, please send in a note, e-mail, or give me a call
at school. Im really excited and looking forward to a great year!

Matthew PFund