THE ABC’S OF KINDERGARTEN

A If your child is absent, please call the school ( ) to let them know. A note stating the reason for the absence must be brought to school WITHIN 2 DAYS avoid an unexcused absence. We will have Art class twice a week!

B If you would like your child to eat breakfast at school, they may arrive at school no earlier than 7:45 a.m. Any student not eating breakfast should not arrive before 7:45 a.m. B.E.E. BINDERS (“Bring everything everyday”) help keep us organized. The three- ring binder houses newsletters, take home papers, snack calendars and other items that assist with communication between home and school. The Titles for Tomorrow program is a great way to celebrate your child’s birthday. I will have your child bring snack on his/her birthday, but please remember to keep the snacks healthy. Please do not send birthday party invitations to be distributed at school unless all children receive an invitation. I will send home book order forms for you and your child to look over every month. Book clubs offer books at reduced prices. It's a great way to build your child's home library!

Parent and Teacher conferences are held in the Fall and the Spring. Watch for information and reply accordingly. Half the class will have a formal conference in the fall, and half the class will have the conference in the spring. Communication is important. Feel free to contact me whenever you have a question or concern. The best way to contact me is via Calendar-Please refer to the SCS calendar for important dates.

D Discipline is simple. We work hard as a class to make the classroom a positive and safe place for all. A calendar will be in the B.E.E. Binder each day to show your child’s behavior. Please initial the calendar daily.

E My school address is I check daily. If you have an address that you would like me to be aware of, please be sure to put it on the information sheet. I communicate A LOT via . Please make me aware of any emergency changes promptly. If your home or work phone number changes, please inform the office and me.

F Information about field trips will come home in the B.E.E. Binders. Please send in any money and the per mission slip together by the date given. Fundraising at Richland this year will be done through donations.

G Our class will have a 30 minute gym (P.E.) class twice a week. I will let you know once the schedule has been given what the days are. The children are asked to wear athletic shoes on gym days. The girls may want to wear shorts on P.E. days.

H Students will have some homework in Kindergarten. Homework assignments will be given on the first of each month. Please keep packets in the B.E.E. Binder. All papers needed to complete the activities will be stapled to the assignment sheet. School hours are from 8-3. Students may arrive at 7:45. Students arriving earlier than 7:45 and not eating breakfast will be placed in OASIS and you will be charged a drop-in fee. We dismiss outside the red double doors at 3:15. Please be prompt to avoid drop-in OASIS fees. Your child is allowed in the building at 7:45 a.m. If you pick up your child, please wait in front of the classroom windows. You may walk your child to the classroom the first week of school. Beginning August 24th, please say your good-byes at the red double doors.

I Independence is a goal for students because it builds self-esteem and self-confidence. Kindergarteners are very capable of doing many things on their own and I encourage them to do as much as they can for themselves in the classroom. Please work on the following skills at home with your child: zipping, tying, dressing, reciting personal information.

J Writing takes place every day in kindergarten. One way we accomplish this is through free writing in our journals and through writer’s workshop. Encourage your child to write at home for a variety or purposes. Math journals also take place everyday. This is a time to reinforce and review math concepts in a creative way.

K Kindergarten Curriculum Social Studies - seeks to enhance students awareness of family, classroom, community and culture. - concepts and skills will be explored utilizing a literacy based, hands-on approach Science -focuses on the developing awareness of the world in which we live -science concepts and skills will be explored utilizing a literacy based, hands-on approach. Reading-Balanced Literacy Components: Read-Alouds Shared Reading Guided Reading-(Small group sessions) Literature Circles Modeled Writing-(Morning Message) Shared Writing Interactive Writing Guided Writing Independent Reading and Writing Math - provides students with mathematical experiences -helps to develop number sense -creates a positive attitude towards mathematics -many of our math concepts are covered through the daily calendar routine.

L Our class will visit the library each week. Our library teacher is Mrs.Ferkin. Your child will check out a book when we visit the library and return it within the following week. If your child forgets to return the book, they will not be allowed to check out a new book until it is returned. Our class eats lunch from 11:05-11:35. Literacy Workstations is a time for your child to experience opportunities for work independently. Literacy Workstations will take place most days. Literacy Workstations allow children to practice new skills taught. During Literacy Workstations, I will be working with small reading groups. Children learn through play and this is an important time, integral to the growth and development of your child.

M The children will have music class twice a week. If your child is to be given medication during school hours, it must be brought to the office by the parent.

N Please visit teacherweb.com. This is the site I will use to update our weekly newsletter. I try to update it each Friday to keep you informed about what is happening in our class.

o Open House at our school allows for many family fun events. During the school year we will have family science and math night, family reading night as well as many other family oriented activities.

P When picking up your child, please do so at the large concrete area on the East side of the building. We will have the following parties: -Thanksgiving Feast -Winter Party -End-of-Year Party We will need a room parent to help organize parties and special events that come up during the year. If you would like to volunteer,please let me know. Thank you very much!

Q Questions? Please feel free to call, , send a note or see me after school. Cell:

R Kindergarten report cards will be sent home 4 times during the school year, and progress reports will be sent home 3 times. Kindergarteners have recess everyday after lunch. Please send a water bottle to take outside! We will go outside from 11:35-12:05 each day.

S Schedule Journal Writing Welcome songs, Morning Message, Calendar Math Integrated Reading Block Lunch Recess Math Intervention/Enrichment/Snack Encore classes/Rest Afternoon Meeting/Dismissal Each child is asked to bring the snack once each month for the entire class. Administration encourages the use of healthy foods in the classroom. Examples are in the handbook.

T If your child has any changes in their transportation please let me know in writing, by . Tardies-If you are late, please escort your child the office. No one is allowed to leave between 2:45-3:15 or it will be considered a tardy. Testing-Formal Assessments – 3x per year Informal Assessments are done daily!

U Please refer to the Richland Handbook. Uniforms are worn each day. If your child is not in uniform, you will be called to change their clothes! Uniforms

V Volunteers and visitors must register in the office and pick up a badge.

W Wet and/or dirty clothes can be uncomfortable. Please send TWO SETS of clothing (shirt, pants, socks, underclothes) in a Ziploc baggie and keep these in your child’s backpack. YOU WILL BE CALLED TO BRING CLOTHES IF THEY ARE NOT IN THE BACKPACK!!! Wish List – donor’s choose donations, scrapbook supplies, composition books, spiral notebooks Web Page-The weekly newsletter is available on-line. Just visit the Richland web-site or teacherweb.com. You can also stay connected with our school by visiting our PTO website at

X Parents and family members may eXit and enter via the main school entry. eXtra supplies needed -Three pack of T-Shirts (At least a size 10-12) -Composition book -Spiral notebook -Playdough -Please see the website for additional supplies on our wish list.

Y

Z Zzzzzzz - Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. Setting and keeping a bedtime routine is a wonderful gift you can give your child.