Dear Parents and Students,

Hi and welcome to 5
th
grade! My name is Mrs. Mary Perkins and I am thrilled to
be working as a 5
th
grade teacher at Sigonella Elementary. I am beginning my
23
rd
year of teaching and I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and
Masters of Education from the University of Hawaii. I taught 5
th
grade last year
and also have been Language Arts/Reading and Math throughout my career
Elementary. I have taught many places throughout my career and I have loved all
of them! My career has involved teaching in Hawaii, Oak Harbor/Olympia
Washington, Vicenza Italy, Azores, Portugal, and Sigonella, Italy. My husband and
I came to Sicily two years ago with our daughters Alyah (fifth grade) and Zoey
who is in seventh grade. We love Sunny Sicily and enjoy attending the many
festivals and cultural activities the area has to offer. My personal interests are
traveling, reading, kayaking, history, art museums.

I am looking forward to an exciting and productive 2013-20014 year! Fifth
grade is a wonderful year. You will experience an incredible amount of growth
and have many opportunities for great success throughout the year. I am happy
to have you as part of my class this year. Fifth grade is very unique because it is
the last year in Elementary School. There will be challenges, but together we can
meet those challenges, while having some fun along the way. Two of the things
that we will be working on as a class is respecting yourself/others and being
responsibility for your actions, assignments, and behavior. I will strive to provide
you with a solid academic foundation based on our standards, as you prepare for
the big leap to middle school next year. My expectations will be high, but my
approach will be to meet the needs of all my students in a positive caring learning
environment. I am looking forward to wonderful growth as we begin the journey
through Fifth grade.

Our Sigonella Elementary Mission is:

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

Your support as parents is greatly appreciated throughout the school year. If
there is a need to discuss your childs progress or special concern, please feel free to
contact me via e-mail (mary.perkins@eu.dodea.edu) or leave a message with the
office 624-4406. If you have an emergency or change in your childs dismissal on
a given day, please contact the office directly. I teach straight through the
afternoon, so I do not check my e-mail until dismissal. You can also send a note
with your child with any dismissal changes.

I am very excited about working with you this year and I am confident that it be a
wonderful year of growth and learning!



Sincerely,



Mrs. Perkins