Welcome
Dear Parents:
WELCOME to the 2022-2023 school year and third grade! My name is Emily Iwata and I am absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to work with you and your children this year. I am excited for the start of a new school year and as we head into 3rd grade, I’d like to thank you in advance for your active interest in your child’s education. I am looking forward to being partners in supporting your student this year.I hope you all enjoyed your summer and are ready for a great 3rd grade year!
This is my 21st year teaching with Fremont Unified. I received both my credential and my Masters in Interdisciplinary Education (emphasis in Reading) at Santa Clara University. While there, I also completed my coursework for a 2nd credential as a CA certified Reading Language Arts Specialist for grades K-12. I am a mom to three boys, who remind me daily that all students are unique and have individual learning needs!
An important part of my class this year will be to work with families to create routines and expectations for the students to be successful in an unprecedented time of uncertainty. One key component of this will be that the students feel physically and emotionally safe as they return to school in person. Children often take their cues about how to feel, from the way adults around them speak and behave. I ask that you please reinforce and review the guidelines and safety protocols determined by FUSD and MSJE and know that we are in this together! Your child’s safety and social-emotional well-being is my utmost priority this year. I plan to build in many safely-distanced mask breaks outdoors (for those who choose to mask), limit the sharing of school material supplies, and continually evaluate practices in the classroom with safety in mind.
Students will also be learning that organization and giving your best are essential to being a successful student in my class. This is difficult for most third graders at the beginning of the school year, so I ask for your support in helping them maintain an organized binder and work space at home. I still feel strongly that third grade is a very important year for the children; it is as much academic preparation for a higher level of learning, as it is a time of approaching various developmental and social changes as well. My personal philosophy of education is that teaching is not only about effectively conveying subject matter and the desire to learn, but about guiding maturing young adolescents along the way. My goal for the year is to build an open and positive learning environment that will enable us to foster well-rounded proactive students.
You can email me at eiwata@fusdk12.net and I will do my best to respond within 24 hours.
I am excited to partner with you in your child’s education. I am always open to scheduling a call with you regarding concerns or questions you may have about your child’s progress. I feel that communication between parents, students, and teacher, are essential to a student’s success in school.
To start off the year, I like to ask parents to fill out a form regarding any information you feel is pertinent for me to know about your child. I encourage you and your child to fill out this form together! This will help me get to know your child. Please go to:
https://forms.gle/yyEMUHRcagyNrYf1A
I am looking forward to meeting with all of you online at Back to School Night on Tuesday, August 30th when I will be able to share about our third grade goals and policies in more detail!
Warmly,
Mrs. Iwata
Third Grade
