Welcome to the Kindergarten Ready, Set , Go Night! August 17, 2017

The Kindergarten Team We are anticipating on having six classrooms in the Kindergarten wing-Mrs. Kern, Ms. Hatfield, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Lobuzzetta, Ms. Torgalski and Mrs. Violanti. Each teacher has their own balloon color. You will be getting a bus tag soon-please attach to your child’s backpack securely! We work closely with the school counselor Mrs. Parker, Curriculum Extension team, related service providers, support staff and each other.

Our VERY Busy Day!!  Monthly thematic units are taught that incorporate reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. VERY academic program! We have a lot of large and small group activities that take place throughout the day. More information and specifics will be shared at Kindergarten Open House on Monday, September 11th at 6:30 p.m.

Ways to help your child get ready: Be able to read and write my first name Know my address, phone number, and birthdate Recognize and write the upper and lower case alphabet letters Name the shapes and find them around me Count and recognize numbers to 20 (or more!) Rhyming words-read and sing old-fashioned nursery rhymes Help them to know their personal items-jackets, backpacks, lunchbox, etc…. To correctly use school tools: crayons, markers, glue sticks, scissors, backpack, how to open lunch containers, etc. Label your child’s individual belongings

Communication Communication between school and home is vital, especially for Kindergarten! Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher at any time with any questions or concerns throughout the year. Email addresses will be shared and collected at Open House Timely response/teacher reply

Ways that social development and social skills will show in a classroom include: Is the child able to share and take turns? Can the child maintain eye contact? Can the child greet and speak with another child or an adult? Is the child polite, cooperative and respectful? Can the child follow rules and directions without constant reminders? Does the child play with others?

Tips and tricks for the start of the year! ~Concentrate on establishing routines NOW-start with going to bed early and having a healthy breakfast. ~Maintain structure and routine during the school year-snack time, homework/reading time, set bedtime, etc... ~Practice for the big day-getting up, dressed, setting out clothes and backpack, practice being responsible for their things ~Normalize the routine-take a walk to bus stop and/or visit the playground. ~Create back to school rituals.

For the first week of school… We encourage Kindergarteners to bring their lunch the first week of school. This helps with the transition of going to and from the cafeteria. We encourage prepayment (done online) for lunches if possible! Know how your child is going home each day and be ready to share that information with the teacher at our Kindergarten Previsit on 8/29 from 1-2 p.m. Notes for dismissal changes are required. Please label and pack your child’s healthy (and peanut-tree nut free) snack separately. Check your child’s Home Folder nightly for important information!

The BIG Day separation anxiety- yours and theirs….

Change is hard…. We have several things in place to support students and parents: Before school begins, we have the supply drop off day for students to meet their teacher and see the classroom. For the first few days of school we greet the students outside the door and show them how to get down to the classroom. We have several adults that help with dismissal and getting to the bus/afterschool program.

We will get through this TOGETHER!  We are here to help! September is tough for everyone! Within a few weeks, your child will be so much more comfortable and confident with coming to Kindergarten that you will be amazed! The Kindergarten teachers are here to support you and your child in any way that we can. We will get through this TOGETHER! 

The Next Step….. The August Letter This letter will come next week and will include: Classroom teacher and room number Beginning of the year information Kindergarten bus tag Supply drop off Tuesday, August, 29th 1-2 pm. You will be able to meet the teacher and see the classroom.  Kindergarten Open House will be held on Monday, September 11th at 6:30 p.m. Bus numbers and bus stop time will come separately from District Office the last week of August.

Additional questions about your child’s first few days?

Thank you for coming and we will see you very soon! 