This Classroom Handbook page is designed to inform you of how everything works in our class.

It provides various information such as policies, procedures, and high expectations for the
school year.
Great communication is essential in making this exciting year a success! So lets work together!
I know we can work to bring your child to reach their highest potential! If you have any
questionsor concerns, please feel free to contact me using the following:
- through phone: 248-698-3240 ext. 116
- through email: akarl@stpwl.org
- or a note by putting it in your child's BEE book
Lets work together to make this a successful and fun-filled year! Its all about the kids!
Sincerely,
April Karl
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Newsletters are a great way to get a weekly update of the happenings in Room 116.
Newsletters will be posted on the classroom website at the end of each week.
School Newsletters distributed every Thursday (on school website)
School Handbook and Calendar (On school website)
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A successful school year begins with the whole school community taking responsibility- school,
teachers, parents and students. Regular attendance is very important.
School Hours:
First Bell: 7:40am- students can come into the building
* Students must wait outside of the school doors unless otherwise noted.
School officially begins: 7:50am- students need to be in their classroom by this time.
* Notice that students have 10 minutes to put their things away in their locker and come into
class.
- In the beginning of the school year, students will need LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of PRACTICE
with their lockers!!! Feel free to come in before or after school to practice this with your child.
School Dismissal: 3:00
Tardies and Early Check-out:
If your child arrives late, he/she must go to the office to check in.
Students leaving early need to be checked out from the office prior to leaving the classroom
with their parent/ guardian.

Absences
-Illness: If your child is ill, work can be sent home when the child returns. Work can also be sent
home by a sibling. Please contact me or the school through email or phone call as soon as
possible if you wish to do so.
** Student has one day for each day absent to turn in the work. If kept at school, the student
can do it during the day and then take it home for homework.
Specials Schedule
Monday: Library, Physical Education
Tuesday: Art, Music
Wednesday: Music
Thursday: Computers
Friday: Life Skills, Spanish
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Students are to be picked up at the church steps.
There are two ways to pick them up: Driving through the car line or parking at the end of the
church and picking up your child at the steps.
** Under no circumstances should the child walk to a parked car. This is to ensure the safety of
your child.
Transportation Changes:
Please notify myself and/or the office if your childs usual transportation has changed for the
day.
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I intend to enforce the dress code each and every day unless otherwise informed.
The school dress code can be found on the school website: St. Patrick Uniform Code
Some things to remember:
- A belt is to be worn with pants for boys and girls.
- Please remember to put shorts on your girls when wearing jumpers.
- On gym days, gym clothes can be worn all day. Students are not allowed to wear their gym
shorts ALL day. They can wear them to gym, but need to put on sweatpants or jumpers after
gym class is over.
- Casual Days:
* Donate one dollar to Student Council- encourage them to work for it!
*if you question it, caution on the safe side!
-Make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather! I know how tricky Michigan
weather can be, so its better to be prepared than sick!
- PLEASE LABEL ALL PIECES OF CLOTHING!!!
Please make every effort to follow the code. I hope not to interrupt your child's day in order to
make a phone call home.
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Parents should not at any time send any type of medication with their child. This
includes cough drops. Please go through the proper channels, starting in the office.
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My Philosophy
I am a teacher that believes in the power of Love and Logic. Love and Logic is an approach
working with students that:
-Teaches kids to think for themselves
-Raises the level of student responsibility
- Prepares kids to function effectively in a society filled with temptations, decisions and
consequences.
(Love and Logic, Fay and Funk)
The following is my philosophy on creating a positive learning environment where students are
free to grow and learn from their choices. All are inspired by Love and Logic.
Mistakes are opportunities for learning
Relationships are key to great classrooms and great learning
Empathy is the foundation of great relationships
People build strength through struggle
To develop great skills as a problem-solver, we must practice
In ensuring that the above guidelines are adhered to, I will operate with the following
principles as my guide:
I will treat you with respect, so you will know how to treat me
Feel free to do anything that doesnt cause a problem for anyone else
If you cause a problem, I will ask you to solve it (with guidance).
If you cant solve the problem, or choose not to, I will do the solving
What I do will depend on the special person, and the special situation.
IF you feel something is unfair, whisper to me, Im not sure thats fair, and we will
talk.
Classroom Rules:
1. Follow directions quickly.
2. Respect all the things God has made.
3. Feel free to do anything that does not cause a problem for anyone else.
4. Be Third and a bucket filler
We are bucket fillers!

Class Jar:
As a class, students receive a/multiple marble(s) for something they had completed or followed
well. After the marble jar is full, we have a small celebration.

Ticket System:
Individually, tickets will be given for positive choices theyve made. This will be at my
discretion. Students that have saved 10 tickets will get a prize from the prize box.
Behavior Cards
Students earn behavior cards that reflect their behavior and choices for the given school day.
They color in their behavior color in their behavior logs at the end of each school day. Parents
are to sign the bottom of the behavior log at the end of each month and return it to school.
Look to the Classroom Behavior Plan document for further explanation.
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The brochure is a brief outline of the curriculum covered in first grade.
* We are very blessed to have Ms. Cefai as another Reading Teacher. She will be working with
us during our reading time every day.
BEE Books
Students will be coming home with their BEE books each day. Please look through the
explanation and rules! This is an important communication and organization tool that we will all
use throughout the year.
Turning in Money: All money sent to school should be placed in a sealed envelope. Please write
the child's name, teacher's name, amount and reason (lunch money, bagel money, etc.) on the
front. Place all money in the child's homework folder. We do not encourage students to bring
large sums of loose money to school.
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Homework serves two purposes:
1. Homework's major purpose is to promote responsibility and accountability- two important
life skills. It is your child's responsibility to do their own work and return it on its due date. I will
continue to stress that homework is the student's responsibility not their parents'.
2. Homework's other purpose is to review and practice skills. The work given is review of
previous lessons- it will never be new information.
- Homework is given every Monday and is due the following Friday.
Homework will also be posted on the classroom website to refer to.
-Daily homework consists of review activities on math, reading and spelling.
-Each activity assigned should take around 10 minutes to complete
-Students are also required to read at least 10 minutes every night and record it in their reading
log.
- Students also be assigned special family projects throughout the year that correlate with what
we are learning in the classroom. These will be given specific due dates. Students should have
ample amount of time to do both weekly homework and these special projects.
* Not-yet-finished work:

Students take various amounts of time to do certain activities and assignments. To ensure that
they receive the proper amount of time they need, students have a Work In Progress (WIP)
folder to put unfinished work in. Students will be given some time to finish this work
throughout the week. If they do not finish by the end of the week, it gets sent home. Work is
due the next school day.
**** Please look out for this work at the end of each school week, as well as make-up work for
when students are absent.
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Report cards are based on a N, S, S+, O grading scale.
N= Needs improvement ( limited attainment of grade standards)
S= Satisfactory
( some attainment of grade standards)
S+= Above Satisfactory ( most attainment of grade standards)
O = Outstanding
( attainment of all grade standards) * At this given time
Grades are earned by multiple factors of a childs performance: formal and informal
assessment, observation, classroom progress, etc.
Report cards are distributed a week after end of each school quarter. Yellow envelopes are to
be signed and returned to the school soon after.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter.
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School Snacks:
Send in a nutritious snack for your child each day. Please avoid candy, chips, desserts, etc. A
healthy snack fuels the brain! Snacks should be packed separately from their lunch. Students
can only have ONE snack during snack time.
Water:
Students get regular water breaks throughout the day. They have the choice of either bringing
in their own water bottle or using the water fountain in the classroom. Water bottles MUST
have the squirt top lids. Students are responsible for their water bottles. They may only fill it
with water.
Allergies: Please report any allergies your child might have in their Emergency Form.
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We celebrate birthdays in this classroom!

- In celebration of birthdays, the student will choose an activity that the whole class can
participate in for 15 minutes. Examples: games, movie, recess, reading a book out loud, etc.
Due to allergies, we will not be celebrating birthdays through treats.
- Celebrations should be scheduled ahead of time
- Summer birthdays can be celebrated by scheduling a specific day.
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Each student will be chosen to be Student of the Week. Special activities will be assigned to the
student on each given day. Student of the Week will be announced the Friday before their week
starts.
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We are very fortunate to be able to have the 8th graders act as our special friends for the
school year. Each child is matched with an 8th grader. Our class will partner with Sr. Bernies
class.
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We have three MAJOR programs this year

-The First Thanksgiving with our 8th grade buddies
- Poetry Caf
- The American Dream
More information will follow as time arises
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We plan on having a number of field trips this year.

Our first one will be at Spicers- Turtle Creek Apple Orchard. Students will be picking apples and
pumpkins to coordinate with our apple unit.
More information and plans will come later in the year.
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There are many opportunities for you to be a part of our classroom.

First and foremost:
In order to participate in a field trip OR any activity with the children, you must have the
following 3 things in place: 1) Protecting All Gods Children, 2) Criminal Background Check, and
3) Insurance policy with correct $ coverage.
Protecting God's Children Classes
While many of the activities listed above are open to all volunteers, some do have a limit to
how many can participate. Please be aware at you will be able to participate in some but not all
activities so that all parents who wish to volunteer will be assured of a turn. If you would like an
opportunity to volunteer for a particular activity please contact me. If you have a special skill,
talent or occupation that you would like to share please drop me a note.
Class Parties: I need help preparing, setting up and helping out with the class parties this
year. I ask for a Volunteer Organizer for each party.
Field Trips: Volunteers that are able to drive and have appropriate seating will be taken
into major consideration
Help in Major Programs: I need a number of volunteers to help prepare, set up and help
out for each of the major programs. I also ask for a Volunteer Organizer to help run the event.
Class copier: I have various activities and assignments throughout the week that I would love
help with making.
Classroom Books: students make various books throughout the year that I need help cutting
and
binding.
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The following is a breakdown of the costs that will incur throughout the school year. Please
keep in mind that some things are not included. We have included as many costs as possible at
this time.

Classroom Parties
10.00
8th Grade Buddies- projects
3.00
Digital Pictures
3.00
Spicers Apple Orchard Field Trip
8.00
Polar Express (Indoor Field Trip)
4.00
Theatreworks Field Trip
9.00
Total
37.00
**** Some prices subject to change, due to price increase.

Thank you for your understanding in collecting some of this money in advance. It provides for
less confusion during the event time.
** Please make the check out to April Karl. DO NOT MAKE IT OUT TO ST. PATRICK
SCHOOL, CAUSES TOO MUCH CONFUSION. THANKS
** Some prices subject to change, due to price increase.
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