September 2013
Welcome to Room 205,
I hope everyone is as excited to be back at school, as I am. I like my summer holidays, but I also miss the excitement of school and all the kids, so it is always nice to return in August/September. It is going to be a busy, busy year in Room 205, as it always is. We will be having lots of fun, but we will learn lots, too :-). I just wanted to touch base and let you know of some ways that you can stay in touch with all that we do in Room 205.
1. I have put together a handbook of information to help you and your child to become familiar with my expectations for the school year. As we are a tech-filled classroom and like to conserve paper, I will not be sending home a printed copy. You can access Room 205’s handbook on our class site (see menu on right hand side). Take a day or two to read through this information. Should you like to print a copy, you can access a 'printable' copy of it on our class web site under the Information Download link (also found on the right hand menu). Please DO read through it, as it will really help you to keep informed as to what happens in Room 205.
2. I will be sending home frequent ‘updates,’ but as I prefer not to use paper copies, I will be posting future newsletters on our ‘Newsletter’ site (Schoolnotes.com). Please see your handbook for more information, and take note of the ‘Notify Me’ feature.
3. Our class web site is quite extensive, and I suggest that you take some time to look through it (http://hawrylak205.blogspot.com/), and then bookmark it. I am sure you will find this a valuable tool for keeping up with Room 205, as it contains all sorts of information from our daily agenda, homework assignments and class calendar to sites we use and project links. It is a great place to keep informed about what we are doing. Between the students and myself, our site is kept very up- to-date.
4. My email address is jporritt@accesscomm.ca. If you need to contact me throughout the year, I prefer email, if possible. I check my email several times a day, and I will respond promptly. I would also appreciate being able to contact you via email, so please email me ASAP, so I can get your email address. I prefer you to email me rather than send your email with your child (in writing), as some of you, much like me, have handwriting that is hard to decipher :-), and even one little error in an email address ensures it will not get to you. When I receive your email, it is very easy for me to then add your email address to my Contacts.
5. I have some forms that require signatures that I am sending home with your son/daughter. Please look them over carefully, sign and return. We are a tech-filled classroom, so in the future (when I have your email addresses), you can expect to receive newsletters, forms, permission notes, etc. electronically.
It is going to be a GREAT year, and I truly look forward to meeting those of you whom I have not yet met during my many years at this wonderful school.
Jann Porritt
