Welcome to 1B!
September 1, 2017
Hello September!
Dear 1B Families,
Welcome to 1B! First grade is an exciting time as children embark upon new adventures in the world of learning. We are looking forward to a very exciting and productive year working with your child and will strive each day to make learning a fun and enriching process. However, we need your help in making this year as successful as possible! We believe that teachers and parents are a team working together to help your child develop emotionally and academically. You are the most important person in your child’s life, and you are also a teacher in your child’s life.
We are your child’s first grade teachers: Melina Garcia and Anastasia Bystrova. Here is some information about us:
Melina is one of the founding teachers and has taught Kindergarten and First Grade at BPCS. She hopes to make your child's experience a fun and exciting one, and to instill a love of learning that will last throughout the years of schooling. Melina has an 8 month old daughter named Luna and is having a ball watching her grow up. Melina is originally from Williamsburg, Brooklyn but now lives in Queens. Outside of school, she enjoys watching and playing sports. She is particularly fond of the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bulls, and the New York Mets.
Anastasiia has taught pre-kindergarten for the past three years. She also tutored pre-k through 6th Grade students in Math and ELA. Anastasiia is excited to share her knowledge and experience with BPCS students. She is an enthusiastic learner and practices various activities with her 5 year old son Enes. Anastasiia is originally from Udmurt Republic, Russia, and is proud of her ethnicity. Outside of school, she likes to try out various food recipes, she makes barbie doll outfits ,accessories from old clothes. She enjoys watching “Mike and Molly”.
We are so excited to begin this year of learning and growth with you and your child. As we begin our time together, we would like to learn about your child’s interests and unique personalities. Please write us a brief email about your child. We will forward your response to your child’s new teacher should he/she switch classes. We have included the following questions for your consideration:
What does your child love? Please tell us what your child is passionate about or share a topic on which he or she is an expert.
What are your hopes for your child this year?
As a family member, what supports do you need? How can we work as a team to create the best school experience for your child?
Will your child be school breakfast and/or lunch on a daily basis?
Is there anything else that you would like us to know about your child?
Our classroom email is dtes1B@brooklynprospect.org. Please send this information on or before September 14, 2017. Lastly, please send your child on the first day of school with their favorite book. We will use them as a jumping off point to share about ourselves and our interests. We can’t wait to meet you and your child!
Love,
Melina Garcia and Anastasiia Bystrova
Classroom Materials Reminder
Please note that all families with last names beginning in A-M will provide classroom supplies in September. Families with last names beginning in N-Z will provide classroom supplies in January .
Classroom Supplies
● 1 reusable water bottle. Please clearly mark with your child’s name.
● 2 rolls of paper towels
● 2 boxes of baby wipes
● 2 boxes of Kleenex or similar item
● 1 20 oz. bottle of hand sanitizer
● 2 containers of Clorox wipes or similar item
Learning Specialists
Dear Parents,
I hope you had a wonderful summer! Welcome to First Grade at The Brooklyn Prospect Charter School. My name is Danielle Ponce-Roden and I am the First Grade Learning Specialist. I am looking forward to meeting you and your child. I am sure that the year ahead will be an exciting and enriching learning experience for your child. I look forward to working together throughout the school year to help your child grow both academically and socially.
Here is a little about me…It is with great enthusiasm that I begin my first year at Brooklyn Prospect Charter School. I’m so excited to join this amazing team of Learning Specialists and educators. Although this is my first year at the school, it will be my 14th year as a teacher. I have experience as a classroom teacher in inclusion classrooms as well as Dual Language programs. I am looking forward to utilizing my dual Masters in General Education & Special Education and extensive training through Columbia Teachers College to work with your children this school year. I live in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn with my husband, our 3.5 year old son and our loving dog. I am coming back to teaching after taking time off to raise my son and couldn’t be more excited.
Thank you for your cooperation and support. Enjoy the rest of the summer. I am looking forward to meeting you and your child and having an enriching, productive and involved year!
Sincerely,
Danielle Ponce-Roden