August 21, 2003

Dear Parents:

     Congratulations! You are now the proud parent of a first grade student at Our Lady of Refuge School. What an exciting time for you and your child! Just think, by the end of the school year your child will be reading, writing, and doing math! There's no doubt about it; first grade is a huge and magical year in your child's life.

     My name is Ms. Diane Kopilchack and I will be your child's first grade teacher. Before the year gets underway, I would like to take this opportunity to let you know how happy I am that your child will be in my class. I am looking forward to helping your child meet the many challenges of first grade.

    I have an exciting year planned for your child. In addition to reading, phonics, spelling and math, we will be exploring a variety of science and social studies themes throughout the year. We'll be doing lots of hands-on learning, as I believe that children learn best when given opportunities to explore, discover and create. I also believe that technology plays an important role in education and will be integrating technology into our first grade curriculum.

     Please join us for Orientation Night on Wednesday, August 27th, at 7:00 p.m. I have so much to share with you regarding our classroom procedures, our first grade curriculum and my high expectations for your child.

     Thank you for sharing your child with me this year. I look forward to providing a safe, supportive, Christ-centered learning environment for your child.

Sincerely,

Ms. Diane Kopilchack

cc: Sr. Alice Ann