1A 

The link for Blackboard, which teachers are using this year, is http://bb.stjohnlincoln.org/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp. You will then need to enter your child's user name and password.

Dear Parents,
I am excited to be your child’s first grade teacher this year!  Please allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Audrey Mattson.   I am a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a Specialization in Early Childhood.  I am beginning my 21st year here at St. John’s School. During my first two years at St. John’s I taught Kindergarten, and the rest have been in First Grade.  Previous to that, I was the Teacher and Director of a Pre-School in Omaha, NE.
My family is here in Lincoln.  I have a daughter who is a graduate of  Hamilton College-Lincoln, and a son who is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.  While my son was in high school I had the opportunity to travel to England and Scotland; so you could say by raising the money for the trip overseas, fundraising was my forte!  I also have two grandchildren who will both be attending St. John’s this year!  The baby in the family is my dog, a Teacup Yorkie named Trixie!!
One of the most import aspects of my philosophy of education is that I believe every child is unique in their own special way. I set high expectations for the children in my care. Every child has the ability to learn, and I will do my best to tap into whatever I can to help each child reach their full potential while they are with me.  Remember that just as children do not learn to walk or talk at the same age, nor do they learn Math or Reading at the same rate or in the same way.  Please do not compare your First Grader to their brother, sister, or friends.  Children need to be challenged but not pushed, they need to taste success, and also know that we all make mistakes, and that’s OK...that’s how we learn!
I believe all children should feel valued and respected as a member of our classroom family. Mutual respect enables a child to take risks which is a valuable part of our learning experience.  I want your child to enjoy the learning process, but also know that there are rules to follow to achieve this.
I have a very strong concept of lifelong learning and I want to instill a love of learning to my students.  It is for this reason that I take an active role of seeking out training workshops, and professional development courses on a regular basis that help me to remain current in my field.  This way I am able to bring what is considered to be best practices into my classroom to benefit my students.
I know that you may have questions that come up throughout the year and I am here to answer them.  Please feel free to contact me here at school and I will return your call as soon as possible.