Welcome! My name is Marilia dos Santos and I am very excited to be a part of the St. Felicitas community. I look forward to meeting you and spending time with your child in first grade this year.

As we start the new school year, I want to inform you of my philosophy and goal for this year. Please take time reading this and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.

My philosophy of teaching is not just about standing in front of a room full of children, it is about being encouraging and nurturing. I believe that positive learning outcomes begin with strong Christian values, where students are able to learn and express themselves in a safe, nurturing and respectful environment, regardless of culture, age, religion, learning or language ability. I believe children should not fear failure. They should be encouraged to learn and ask questions without fear of being ridiculed. As a teacher, I want my students to succeed by exploring new avenues of learning and maintaining a higher level of thinking. I want my students to feel free to discuss their opinions and ideas on topics discussed in the classroom, knowing that each idea and thought is important and together we are able to come out with a better understanding and mastery of the subject at hand. I want to show my students that teaching and learning extend beyond the classroom and into every day life.

First grade is a very exciting and important year for your child. Not only will your child learn reading, writing, and math skills, but also social skills. Our goal for this year is to emphasize love, respect, and cooperation for the people around us. We will focus on taking responsibility for our own actions, while building self-confidence and self-control during our daily activities.

The success of a child’s education is due to the cooperation of the family, school, and community. With this in mind, I ask that you take part in your first graders year by reading letters sent home, discussing and encouraging class goals, and READING to your child every day.