August 2019
Dear Families,
I want to take a few moments to introduce myself. My name is Diana Hertzog and I will be your child’s Second grade teacher this year. I am originally from Connecticut and my family and I relocated to Cape Coral in 2004. I received my Bachelors and Masters degrees from Southern Connecticut State University. I am going into my 15th year of teaching, this being my 14th at Cape Elementary. I have taught Kindergarten, First and Second grade. I have two daughters, Francesca and Liliana. Francesca is in 11th grade at North Fort Myers High School and Liliana is in 7th grade at Trafalgar Middle School.
Please take a few moments to read over some of the areas listed below to give you some general information about our classroom procedures.
TRAVEL Binder: This is a three-ring binder that your child will use every day to develop organizational skills and learn responsibility. This book is a way of maintaining notes, newsletters, calendars, and homework as well as keep parents and students informed of important events and academic progress. The TRAVEL Binder is to go back and forth to school every day. Your child will carry it home every afternoon and must return to school with it every morning.
Inside your child’s TRAVEL Binder will be their Cape Elementary Planner. This is to stay in the three-ring binder at all times. This is a VITAL part of our communication to one another. Please sign your child’s planner EVERY DAY! I will be checking planners every morning as your child enters the classroom. Your child will write in the planner the color of behavior s/he ends on each day. I will keep you informed as to color flips. Please look at this every day and sign or initial! This is just part of my communication with you. If there is something of importance that I need to make you aware of, I will write you a note and place it in the TRAVEL Binder front pocket. If you have any questions or concerns that you need to share with me, feel free to send a note in this same pocket.
Behavior: Positive classroom behavior is another area of importance. I expect the children to be kind, considerate and respectful at all times. We will be using the “Behavior Ladder” program which is used school wide. At the end of each day, your child will record how their day was in their planner. If your child exhibits behavior issues or disrespect on a daily basis, we will need to schedule a conference to figure out the best way that we can work together to correct the problem. Negative behavior not only interferes with your child’s learning but also the learning of all the children in the classroom. Your support in this area is greatly appreciated.
Brown Envelopes: These envelopes will be called “Friday folders” by your children. On Fridays, your child will bring home the brown envelope with all of the work that they have completed for the week. Please review the work with your child, sign the front of the empty brown envelope and return it to school on Monday.
Transportation: Anytime there is a change in your child’s transportation, you must notify me in writing in the planner. If there is an emergency please call our school office (542-3551) by 1:30 PM. Changes from Parent Pick Up to Bus will not be taken over the phone. I am not able to go by a verbal statement from your child or from a sibling. This is for your child’s safety.
If you ever have any questions, please feel free to write me a note in the planner or call the main office (542-3551) and leave a message for me. I will get back to you as soon as I possibly can. If you would like to meet with me, please let me know. The most convenient times for me will be after 2:30 PM. But, please schedule ahead of time if possible because there are some afternoons throughout each month when school related meetings have already been planned. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. I look forward to a fabulous school year!!!
Sincerely,
Ms. Hertzog
Ms. Diana Hertzog