Grade 1 Classroom Overview – 2025/2026

👋 Welcome!

We are so excited to begin this new school year with your child! Our Grade 1/2 teaching team includes Ms. Caitlin (Room 149), Ms. Hermann (Room 150), Ms. Haggart (Room 151), Mrs. Phat (Room 152), and Mrs. Sylvester (Room 153). We are committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and engaging classroom environment where every child feels valued and supported. Together, we look forward to a wonderful year filled with learning, growth, and fun.

📚 Our Learning Focus

This year, students will focus on building strong literacy and numeracy skills every day while also exploring science, social studies, art, and health in engaging ways. Learning will take place through hands-on projects, outdoor experiences, the use of technology, and mindfulness activities that encourage focus and well-being. We want students to see themselves as curious learners who are confident in sharing their ideas, asking questions, and solving problems in different ways.

🔢 Math (Numeracy)

In math, students will strengthen their understanding of numbers and how they work together. They will practice mental math strategies such as doubles, making tens, and skip counting, while also exploring patterns, shapes, measurement, and data. Our goal is to help students develop strong problem-solving skills, use math vocabulary in meaningful ways, and build the confidence to explain their mathematical thinking to others.

✏️ Literacy (Reading & Writing)

In literacy, students will grow as confident readers and writers through daily practice. They will explore a wide variety of texts, including stories, nonfiction, poetry, and shared reading experiences. Reading instruction will focus on fluency, comprehension, and strategies for sounding out unfamiliar words. Writing lessons will encourage students to express their ideas clearly, add descriptive details, and organize their thoughts. Phonics will also play an important role in helping students understand letter-sound relationships and spelling patterns. Each day, students will participate in activities such as read-alouds, independent reading, word-building, and guided writing.

🌎 Inquiry and Beyond

In addition to literacy and numeracy, students will take part in inquiry-based projects that connect to science, social studies, art, and health. They will learn about their local community and the world around them, celebrate cultural traditions, and explore seasonal changes through outdoor learning. Technology will be used to support research, creativity, and problem-solving, while mindfulness activities will help students develop strategies to manage their emotions and stay focused.

📲 Communication

All Grade 1/2 classrooms use Seesaw to keep families connected to classroom life. Teachers will share important updates, reminders, and snapshots of student learning. Please make sure you are connected to your child’s Seesaw journal using the Seesaw Family app. If you need help setting this up, reach out to your child’s teacher—we are happy to support you.

🍎 Other Helpful Information

Each day, students will have a morning snack before recess, so please send a nut-free snack that your child can enjoy at this time. If your child is part of the lunch program, please pack their lunch separately from their snack to make things easier during the day. We also ask that students bring a refillable water bottle each morning. Staying hydrated helps with focus and energy, and bottles can be easily refilled at our school water stations. Please label all personal belongings (jackets, lunch kits, water bottles, etc.) with your child’s name to help avoid mix-ups.

✉️ Contact Us

We value strong partnerships with families and encourage open communication throughout the year. If you ever have questions, concerns, or celebrations to share, please connect with your child’s teacher through Seesaw or by email:
 
Room 149 – Ms. Caitlin (cbadillo@wsd1.org), Room 150 – Ms. Hermann (nhermann@wsd1.org), Room 151 – Ms. Haggart (khaggart@wsd1.org), Room 152 – Mrs. Phat (rphat@wsd1.org), and Room 153 – Mrs. Sylvester (shsylvester@wsd1.org)

✨ We are looking forward to a fantastic year of learning, growth, and connection. Together, we will make this a memorable and successful year for your child! ✨