1. Kindergarten Meet & Greet 2019-2020

2. Our Kindergarten Team Elizabeth Moran Laura Klein Jessica Sanchez
Annie Herrera
Principal: Idalia Suarez
Lead Teacher: Laura Rodriguez

3. The First Day of School
It is okay for your child to be nervous, even cry. This is normal.
You may walk your child in for the FIRST WEEK ONLY.
Make your drop off timely, lingering can make the transition tougher.
Allow the teacher to engage the child once you’ve said your goodbyes.
Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep on Sunday.
Make sure they eat a good breakfast on Monday morning!
Kindergarten is a great place for your child to make friends, learn about the world, and grow in their love for learning!
Our Kindergarten team is dedicated to YOUR CHILD!
Please be in an active and on-going relationship with your child’s teacher!

4. Teacher Communication
Your child’s teacher will let you know how she communicates with parents.
Some Samples are:
Class Dojo
Remind
Group
Notices/Flyers
Text Messages
Phone Calls
Parent – Teacher Conferences (by appointment only)
Our Kindergarten team is dedicated to YOUR CHILD!
Please be in an active and on-going relationship with your child’s teacher!

5. School Hours Kindergarten class time is promptly 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM.
Morning Care is available for a charge starting at 7:00 AM
After Care is available for a charge until 6:00 PM
MORNING DROP OFF STARTS AT 7:50 AM. You may not drop them off earlier unless you have enrolled in Morning Care.
If your child arrives after 8:25 AM, they may be marked tardy.
Please, make every effort to be on time.

6. Drop Off Procedures
Starting at 7:50 AM, Student drop-off is ONLY permitted in the front entrance (NW 17th street) of the school by car.
Parents must drive east on 17th street and drop off their child on the north side of the school.  Please wait in the car drop-off line until you reach the front entrance.  The Somerset City Arts Conservatory’s security guard and safety patrols will be there to greet you and assist your child into the school.  Please be patient and remain in an orderly line for the safety of all our students.
We strongly encourage that parents only make a right turn on Krome Avenue.  By doing this, we may reduce the chance of unnecessary traffic gridlock. 

7. Dismissal & Pick Up Procedures
Dismissal is at 2:00. You may want to arrive a little early due to traffic.
Students who ride a bus will be escorted safely to the bus that they ride.
Students in the after school care program will be taken to their after school care locations.
Students who will be picked up by a parent or guardian will be called from their classroom once you arrive at the school. HAVE YOUR CAR PLACKARD IN THE DASH OF YOUR CAR. TWO HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR YOUR FAMILY.
School officials and assistants will guide students to the dismissal area.
Remember, your child can only be picked up by those that you have listed on your emergency contact card. No exceptions!
If your child is not picked up by 2:15, you will be called, they will be sent to after school care, and you will be charged a fee.

8. Uniforms are Mandatory
Our uniform policy is strictly enforced.
Please make sure that your child wears the required uniform every day.
Students must wear khaki bottoms (pants, shorts, or skorts) and navy or orange polo with school logo.
Uniforms may be purchased at All-Uniform Wear located at 27495 S Dixie Hwy, Homestead, FL.
Kindergarten Spirit Shirts are available for purchase online. They are required for field trips, Field Day, and Fridays.
Label all your child’s items: jackets, uniforms, lunch boxes, back packs, water bottles, change of clothes, headphones, and any other personal items.

9. Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks
Breakfast is free daily until 8:15 AM, FOR EVERY STUDENT!
Kindergarten lunch time is 10:20 AM to 10:55 AM.
Paperwork for our lunch program will be sent home this week.
Lunch payments are now online:
You can pay for lunches with cash, but only on Mondays, in the office.
Students will have a chance to eat a snack daily at 1:30 PM.
Parents provide the snacks for the classroom on a rotation basis. Your child’s teacher will explain how they do it in their classroom.
You may send individual snacks in a lunch box for children with allergies.
Students will not be allowed to share snacks.

10. LUNCH – the First Week ONLY
Every family needs to fill out the LUNCH FORM and RETURN by Wednesday!
The first week, school lunch will cost $3.25 per day.
You may pack a lunch the first week.
You may visit Selva in the Cafeteria if you need assistance.

11. Enrichment After School Program
Forms will be sent home next week.
Soccer
Piano
Karate
Football
Basketball
Dance
Cheerleading

12. Home Learning
A reading log will be sent home weekly and is to be completed daily.
Home Learning is to be kept in the homework folder and it should come to school completed and in the back pack each day.
Completed packets will be collected on Fridays.
Reading Logs are graded weekly and count as 10% of the Reading grade.
Additional information on Home Learning will follow in the next couple of weeks as we streamline our process.

13. Become a Volunteer Today!
Anyone who comes in contact with Somerset City Arts students NEEDS to be a REGISTERED volunteer.
Register at the M-DCPS website:
Registration is required yearly, so if you have already gone through this process you will need to renew.
A Volunteer Number is required for EVERY ADULT who attends:
Field Trips
Field Day
School Activities during School Hours
Birthday Parties
Our Campus for ANY OTHER REASON.

14. Water Bottles
The drinking fountains are outside so having a water bottle in the classroom allows them to hydrate whenever the need arises.
Please send your child with a NON-PLASTIC water bottle daily.
Please purchase a metal or plastic washable bottle – write their name!

15. Supplies
Please bring all supplies EARLY on Monday morning if you haven’t done so already.
Ask you teacher for a Supply List or check the Somerset website.
Please use the brands that are listed (Crayola, Elmers, Lysol, etc.)
Primary Journals, not Composition Notebooks.
Do not write names on any supplies.
EXCEPT: headphones, backpacks, water bottles, & clothing.
Please make sure your child has a change of clothes (shirt, shorts, underwear, even socks) in their backpack, in case of accidents.

16. Absences and Tardies
Absences: If your child is absent due to illness or emergency, please send a note of explanation the following day.
Once your child has been absent three days in a row, you must submit a note from the doctor.
After five unexcused absences, teachers are required to submit a referral to administration and M-DCPS.
Tardies: Students must be on time every day – seated and ready by 8:30 AM.
If something unexpected happens and you must be late, please send a note of explanation, otherwise ALL tardies are UNEXCUSED.
After five unexcused tardies, a warning will be sent home.
After ten unexcused tardies, teachers are required to submit a referral to administration and M-DCPS.

17. Classroom Behavior Charts
Each teacher has their own classroom behavior system. Each teacher will explain how their classroom works when you meet with them.
We use a basic 1-5 behavior chart in our classrooms to manage behavior.
If your child exhibits unbecoming classroom behavior, your child’s teacher will make contact via phone, written note, text, or .
A Sample Scale:
5 – It was an excellent day/All expectations were met.
4 – It was a good day/We are back on track.
3 – Some challenges/Tomorrow we will be back on track.
2 – Everyone has a rough day. Details will be included.
1 – There will be follow up communication to address the day.

18. Our Kindergarten Team Laura Klein – Room 15 Jessica Sanchez – Room 16
Elizabeth Moran - Room 17
Annie Herrera – Room 18
Please no strollers in the classrooms (space).
Leave any supplies in the Gallery, they will be delivered later.
This is a Meet & Greet – if you have matters of concern, please schedule an appointment to conference in person or on the phone with your child’s teacher.