Teacher: Ms. Tia Lucchese
Teaching Assistant: Mrs. Bertha Cooke
First Grade Supply List:
small supply box
24-pack 0f crayons
24-pack 0f yellow pencils
4 pink erasers
6 glue-Sticks
1 Elmer’s glue
6 packs 0f baby Wipes
1 set 0f watercolors
ruler (w/ inches & centimeters)
1 fantastic and exciting coloring book (for after completing work!)
4 folders with pockets
1wide-ruled notebook scissors
1 pack 0f regular markers
1 box 0f Kleenex
1 roll 0f paper towels
1 box 0f sandwich Ziplocks
1 box 0f bandaids
bag 0f EXTRA CLOTHES(w/socks!)
*PS: You only need to label underlined items. We share most 0f our supplies, so it saves confusion and commotion if shared things aren’t labeled. That should save you little ink and time. Thanks!
*PPS: Please NO “Smelly” markers (i.e. Mr.Sketch)or plastic covered pencils (the plastic jams the pencil sharpener) – just plain yellow is great!
*PPPS: Also, Please NO rolling backpacks. They do not fit well in cubbies.
Have a great summer! If you have any questions feel free to email me at tlucchese@csdo.org I look forward to next year!
Peace, Ms. Lucchese
Welcome to First Grade! I am so excited to be back at St John the Baptist this year. Originally from Texas, I grew up going to a small Episcopal school and know and love the community such a school brings to one’s learning experience. I moved to California to attend UC Berkeley, receiving my BA in English and a minor in Music. I then attended SF State where I completed both my Multiple Subject and Special Education credentials. I am looking forward to a great year – blessings!
-Ms. Lucchese (“Loo-K-Z”)
The ABC’s of First Grade:
Allergies: Please notify me if your child has any food allergies that we should be aware of – with your help I aim to keep your child safe in my classroom.
Birthdays: We will celebrate all the birthdays of a month the last week of that month. Let me know in advance what you would like to do to celebrate your child’s birthday. Please see attached list of all the students’ birthdays. Note: Just a reminder that if you are giving out birthday party invitations please invite the whole class or mail them privately. Thank you!
Conduct: Please consult the family handbook for conduct expectations.
Folders: Please send the Home Folder every day and check it every night, as it is a vital channel of communication. I will send the homework in it every Monday and the First Grade News every Friday (unless there is a different school schedule that week). But if there are other important notes or notices that need to be sent home they will be in the folder as well. Also feel free to send me a note in the folder, and I will try my best to send a response that afternoon.
Homework: In First Grade homework should not take more than 20 minutes a night, if your child is consistently taking longer please let me know. Homework Packets will go home in the folders every Monday, and must be returned on Friday. Homework will include the week’s spelling list and a small practice packet. In addition, children should be spending 15 minutes every night reading to or with a family member. This one-on-one reading time is invaluable to your child!
Language Arts: In First Grade, Language Arts includes phonics, reading, writing, and oral language. We will be spending time every day on these skills, whether it be in reading groups, writing poetry, doing sharing at community circle, or as integrated into another subject area.
Math: First Grade Math encompasses many building blocks: simple addition and subtraction, telling time, money, measurement, graphing, patterns, even fractions and geometry! We will start every day doing some calendar math, but will also have group instruction and hands on experiences involving manipulatives.
Parent Help: There will be many opportunities for parents to pitch in – field trip chaperones, helping at school events, assisting in the classroom, donating items for the Endowment. Please refer to the family handbook for more PPP information and stay tuned for events!
Religion: In First Grade our Religious Studies center on the idea of being a part of the family of God and what it means to contribute to that community. We will learn about people of faith by studying saints. We will also be leading the Earth Day Prayer Service later in the year.
Science: First Grade Science focuses on two main units: starting with Air and Weather, and ending with Solids, Liquids, and Gases. We get to explore the world around us through very hands-on experiments and explorations.
Social Studies: In First Grade the focus is on a child’s place in time: comparing how people used to live to how we live now, learning about the symbols of our country, discovering where food and goods in our lives come from, and experiencing what it means to be a responsible citizen.
Specialized Staff: I will be integrating Art and Music throughout the curriculum, as these are two of my passions. However, First Graders also study Music with Mr. P, PE with Coach Mike, Spanish with Mrs. Rojas, and Computer with Mr. C. We are blessed to have such wonderful specialized staff to supplement our year! Also, Mrs. Cooke is our fabulous assistant, my right arm.
Spelling: Spelling lists will be handed out every Monday in the Homework Packet. Throughout the week we will do word work to give students the chance to manipulate the words. We will have Spelling Tests on Fridays, please review words with your child during the week.
Star Student: Every week we will have a different Star Student (going in ABC order). On Monday of their week they are invited to bring in photos, favorite memorabilia, or art from home to put up on the Star Board. On the Friday of that week they will be able to bring something for sharing! Please encourage your child to bring something meaningful that has an interesting story to tell.
Uniforms: Please consult the family handbook for guidelines on the uniform policy.
