Dear First Grade Parent(s),

    I am so very HAPPY to welcome you to our first grade family for the upcoming 2015-16 school year! I am truly looking forward to getting to know each of you on an individual basis and would like to familiarize myself to you as well...

    I am originally from upstate New York although beautiful North Carolina has collectively been my home for many more years. I graduated from Appalachian State University in 1974 (you have to scroll wa-a-y down to get to that year, I know...) with a dual degree in Special/Elementary Education. I have been teaching for a total of twenty-six years and have spent the last seventeen in a first grade classroom here at Griffth Elementary. I am the proud mother of one son who is currently a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill majoring in Journalism Media. Additionally, I have two furbabies; a Golden Retriever/Yellow Lab mix named "Wilbur" and an all-black kitty named "Jemma" (who by the way and myths aside, brings me nothing but the best of luck 24/7). :)

  For the first semester of this 2015-16 school year, we welcome Ms. Megan Darden to our classroom. She is majoring in Elementary Education at Winston-Salem State University and will be student teaching with us until the beginning of December. In just one short week, Ms. Darden has already proven to be a valuable asset to our children and and integral part of our school team.

  In the event that you have a timely question or concern that requires my immediate response, please do not hesitate to contact me via the school office at: (336) 771-4544 or by school email: ksemones@wsfcs.k12.nc.us  Although I rarely access my work email account while teaching during the school day, I will most certainly attempt to reply to your requests from home in the evenings as available. Otherwise, please communicate by note and I will be certain to atttach a response to your child's Daily Behavior Calendar.