Kindergarten ABC’s Mrs. Palomo’s Class

Contact Information: Phone:

Schedule: PE/MUSIC/Library: 12:30-1:15 LUNCH: 10:51-11:21 RECESS: 10:00-10:15

Absences - If your child is absent, you must send a note within 3 days to the school when he/she returns. Please include your child’s name, teacher’s name, date of absence, and the reason for the absence. Excessive absences hinder a child’s progress.

Assessment We use several instruments to assess students in Kindergarten. We give the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) in August/September and May. This assessment helps identify your child’s reading level. Report card assessment is done every nine weeks.

Arrival Your child should arrive at school no earlier than 7:15. Students are supervised in the main hallway until 7:30 am when breakfast students and kindergarten students are sent to the cafeteria and 1 st – 4 th are sent to their classroom hallways. Kindergarten students are assigned to tables according to their teachers and are supervised during this time. They can bring a book or coloring activity (no toys).

Birthdays You are allowed to send birthday invitations to school. Please send enough for the whole class or you may choose to invite all girls or all boys. Please do not send cupcakes or food for birthdays because of allergies in the class.

Backpacks Your child should bring their backpack to school daily. The backpack should be large enough to hold a pocket folder. Backpacks help your child carry folders, notes, projects, and books to and from school. Please check your child’s backpack DAILY.

Book Orders I will send home Scholastic book orders through out the year for you and your child to look over. If you want to place an order, please make checks payable to Scholastic (NO CASH PLEASE), Or you can order on line with a credit card.

Breakfast Breakfast is served beginning at 7:30 A.M. each morning. The cost of breakfast is $1.25 and parents are encouraged to pre-pay their meals by sending a check or cash to the cafeteria or by paying online. The cafeteria will be open tonight for you to place money in your child’s account, or to ask questions.

Conduct Folders Conduct folders will be sent home daily. Please review your child’s behavior with them. If they have broken a rule, a note will be sent home for you to sign and return. You should sign and return them to school on a daily basis. In the folder there will also be important notes from your child’s teacher, Challenger, or completed class work, so please check DAILY. Initial the box for that day in the folder. This allows me to know that you have checked it.

Conferences I will be scheduling conferences at the end of the first nine weeks to discuss your child’s report card with you. If you feel the need to contact me at any time, please call the school, send a note, or me to make arrangements for scheduling a conference. My conference period is 12:30- 1:15( Mon-Thurs)

Dress Code Students should be dressed in accordance to the P.I.S.D. dress code. Your child should have on a solid color, collared shirt. Girls should wear shorts under their dress. No light up shoes. Please label your child’s jackets and sweaters!

Dismissal Dismissal is at 3:00 P.M. Please do not come to the classroom to pick your child up. Your child will be dismissed by me and will go to the designated pick up locations with a kindergarten teacher. Parent Pick Up (PPU) out front. Please put name and grade on the green sign for the window. You must send a note or call the school by 2 pm if there are changes. If your child is a walker, PLEASE be waiting for them across the street (regular walkers) or at the bridge (bridge walkers). Parents must be waiting at the bus stop or your child will be returned to school.

Emergency Cards Your child will have an emergency card on file in the office and Nurse’s clinic. At least two working phone numbers are required in order to contact parents in case of illness or emergency. Please make sure the numbers stay current throughout the year

s My is You may me if you have a question or want to let me know something about your child for that day. I will not discuss any personal matters over . If you need to, you can me and I will call you after school or on my conference to discuss the matter.

Field Trips We will take a field trip this year. A permission slip will be required for the field trip. If we do not receive a permission slip, your child will not be allowed to go with the class. You must fill out a criminal history form in order to attend!

Fire Drills Your child will participate in frequent fire drills throughout the year. We will practice the procedures before our first fire drill so that your child will be prepared.

Going Home Going Home- If your child will be going home a different way than what I have in my files, you MUST call the school or send me a note. I will not let your child go with another adult or a different way unless you have notified me. Please make sure you receive confirmation from me if you do this by , if not please call the school. This is in case I may be out that day and do not receive the message.

Handwriting Handwriting-We use D’Nealian handwriting at Challenger Elementary. Please practice with your child. If you need practice pages, let me know. and handwritingpractice.net are great free websites where you can create and print out your own sheets for your child to practice at homewww.handwritingworksheets.com handwritingpractice.net

Homework Your child will have homework in their conduct folders each month. This homework is optional. It does not need to be turned in. It is extra review and practice for your child. This Homework is intended to be completed by your child with your assistance. Please do not complete your child’s homework for them.

Illness Please do not send your child to school if he/she has a fever. If your child becomes ill at school, you will be called to come and get your child. If your child needs to take medication during school hours, please send a note and I will make sure it gets to the nurse.

Journal Writing We will spend time most days writing in our journals. Your child will also use their journal for Stations, math and science. You will see a growth in your child’s writing throughout the year. Your child’s journal will come home at the end of the year.

Kindergarten Kids Kindergarten is a special time for your child. I want to make this experience the best possible. “Kids come first!”

Library Your child will attend our library once a week! Your child will begin checking out books through the library. Please help your child to be responsible with his/her book they check out. Please return your child’s book in their backpack each week so they can check out a new book.

Lunch Our lunch time is 10:51-11:21. The cost of lunch is $2.25 for your child. If you would like to purchase a lunch and eat with your child, the cost is $3.25. You are welcome to come and eat with your child or bring a lunch to him/her. Please sign in at the office and wait for us in the cafeteria.

Literacy Stations Literacy stations/Daily 5 is where students work while I meet with small groups of children for guided reading. Students will have various independent reading and writing jobs during this time.

Learning Centers We use learning centers in the classroom for active play. When we are in learning centers, we are learning to cooperate with others. These centers might include (art, computer, blocks, legos, playdough, etc.)

Math Tubs We use math tubs in addition to our math curriculum. Free discovery in math tubs is an excellent way to stimulate creativity. As the year goes on the students will have a “job” to do in each math tub.

Nurse’s Clinic Mrs. Cardenas is our school nurse. She will take care of your child until you can be reached to pick him/her up from school. She also administers all medications to students during school hours.

Outside Your child will have outside time (recess) daily, weather permitting. Please dress your child appropriately for the weather.

Physical Education Your child will participate in PE 2-3 times a week. Please send your child in rubber soled shoes on those days.

Peek of the Week The peek of the week is an information guide for parents. It allows you to see what we are working on in the classroom each week and has important reminders. The peek is located on our website, Pearlandisd.org. Click on campuses and choose Challenger. Under the heading team news you will find the site for Kindergarten. The Peek will be updated and available every week for you to view.

Parties We will have three parties throughout the year. These will include a winter party, valentines party, and a end of the year party. I will contact you to help with our celebrations if you are interested.

PTA (Parent/Teacher Association) All parents are encouraged to join the school’s PTA. They do so much for our school and the children. Information was sent out in their folders. If you did not receive it, let me know and I can get you another one.

Questions Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s education. I will make every effort to meet with you and discuss your concerns.

Report Cards We are on a nine-week grading period. Your child will receive a report card each nine- weeks. If you feel the need to discuss your child’s report card I will be happy to meet with you! A check stands for developing or we are currently working on it. An N is for needs improvement, and a + means they have mastered that area.

Read Read to your child daily and let your children see you reading daily. Reading folders will be sent home later in the year and your child will have a book or activity on their level that you are encouraged to work on with them at home. The folder will come back and forth to school. You are also encouraged to add books from home to the log in the folder that your child can read to you.

Restrooms We have restrooms in our classroom and your child is allowed to go when needed. Unfortunately accidents will happen so please have a change of clothes in your child’s backpack.

Sight Words There are 26 basic sight words that students in P.I.S.D. are required to know before leaving Kindergarten. I am sending home a set of these words so you can work with your child on them.

Snack Your child is allowed to bring a snack to school everyday. Please have a snack for your child daily. (Prefer dry foods, such as pretzels, crackers, etc…) Please pack separate from their lunch and label the snack with their name on it.

The specials color schedule will be in the newsletter sent home each month. I will also have it on my website so that you know where your child is going on each color day. I can also you a copy of the calendars if you would like. Just send me and and I will reply with an attachment. Our Color Days are as follows: RED, ORANGE, and GREEN days: PE BLUE days: Music YELLOW days: Library Specials

Tardies Students late to school (after 8:00 A.M.) are considered tardy. I keep a record of these tardies and will document them on your child’s report card. Please try and have your child to school on time so they do not miss valuable instruction.

Toys Toys from home are not allowed. This includes gameboys, Yug-IOH cards, etc. If I see toys at school I will take them up parents will have to pick them up in the office. If your child attends daycare and wants to take a toy to daycare it is fine if it stays in their backpack. They will not be allowed to play with it during school.

Volunteers We always need volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering at our school, please contact me or the office staff. You will need to fill out a background check on the Pearland ISD website under volunteers. We would love to have you! Please if you volunteer check in at the front office and get a tag.

Writers Workshop Writers workshop is a time during the day where your child concentrates on writing. There is a writing lesson and then an activity. All writing will be kept in their writer’s workshop folder. At the end of the year I will send it home.

Yearbook You will have a chance to buy a yearbook in the spring. What better way to capture those elementary years than with a yearbook. The kids love to get them signed by their classmates at the end of the year.

ZZZZ’s Your child should get plenty of rest each night. Kindergarten students require hours of sleep a day. It is so important for your child to be alert and ready to learn each day. Set a bedtime and be consistent.

Thanks for coming tonight! We are looking forward to a SUPER year!!