About Our Kindergarten Day! Your child will have a weekly folder that will come home on Monday. It will have a weekly newsletter explaining the week’s homework as well as skills we will be working on and weekly sight words. (Homework will begin in September and I do ask that their folder is returned on Friday with the weeks completed homework). We will also have planners that will be coming home in the near future. All other work and correspondence from school will come home on a daily basis, so please check your child’s bag nightly. I expect all children to use appropriate behavior on a daily basis. I do not send home daily behavior reports unless your child requires daily monitoring. You will also know when your child is doing a great job as I will call home or send a positive note on a random basis. Daily behavior charts are time consuming and often are not needed when your child uses “expected” good behavior daily. Young children often do need redirection at times throughout the day, but it is my job to redirect them. If I require assistance from home you will be contacted and an individual behavior plan will be utilized. Special Area
We will be going to special area from 11:05-11:50. The different special areas will work on three weeklong rotations. You will be notified when we have P.E so you may dress your child accordingly. Please make sure your child wears appropriate shoes during the weeks that we have P.E. Lunch
We will be going to lunch at 1:15-1:45. I strongly encourage you to send a packed lunch during the first weeks of school until the children get used to the lunchroom (it will be a busy place as it gets up and running!) It is an overwhelming experience for a young child. The line-ups are long and busy! They often do not get their full time to eat as they spend so much time waiting and choosing! If your child does buy lunch please help them learn their lunch number ASAP!If your child pays for lunch you must pre-pay in the lunchroom or send in money in a labeled envelope or baggie. Outdoor Gross Motor Time
This time will usually be held on the playgrounds in front of the school. Kindergarten teachers will supervise. Snack
Our lunch is very late this year. We will be having snack time at 10:45. I am asking parents to send in a bulk community snack monthly. In years prior I have done community snack and it has worked out much better than a personal snack. With a community snack the children have a consistent snack that takes the same amount of time to eat and children are not left out. If your child has particular dietary needs or is a fussy eater you are welcome to send in a personal snack with them daily. If they choose not to have our daily snack they can resort to what you have sent. If possible I am asking that you send in a snack as soon as possible as snack will begin on Monday August 18th.
Monthly I will send home a request to purchase a class snack. Items that have been successful in the past are:
Bulk bag of Fruit Loops
Honey Nut Cheerios
Cheerios
Animal Crackers
Graham Crackers
Pretzels
Cheez Its
Ritz Crackers
Gold fish (BIG Box)
Oreos
Peanut Butter Crackers
Any type of dry cereal
Vanilla Wafers
Teddy Grahams
ANY TYPE OF DRY SNACK!!!
PLEASE NO FRUIT SNACKS OR FRUIT ROLL UPS (they do not fill the children up )Please keep in mind that we have 20 children to feed daily, the bigger the snack the longer it lasts!) Fridays at the end of the month are always fun as I put out all of the leftovers and we get to have a mixed snack of choice!
School Time
School will begin at 9:10 each day and dismissal is at 3:20. If you need to take your student out early you must check him/her out through the office. If you are late you must check your child in through the office and receive a late slip. Dismissal
Dismissal is 3:20 for kindergarten. This is the most trying time of the day. It is imperative that I know how your child is to go home each day. If possible, please be consistent in this area. It is school policy that I must have a change of dismissal IN WRITING. I cannot let your child go home another way unless the office or I have received written authorization. Behavior
Behavior techniques are effective if they are reinforced at home. If your child is having a difficult time respecting our school rules you will be notified. Your child is expected to follow the school and classroom rules in order for all children to have an equal opportunity to learn. I encourage and expect positive behavior and your child will be reinforced for using expected behavior.I use a very simple chart. If they are unable to follow classroom rules after one warning they will move their clothes pin from the sun to a cloud. This means they will lose five minutes of free center time or outdoor time. If the behavior does not improve they will move their pin to a dark storm cloud. This will be a reason for a note or call home. If your child has been asked to move their pin to the cloud they always have a chance of returning to the sun if they get back on track.I do praise positive behavior and give incentives throughout the day to be the best person they can be. I also re-direct in many situations to help your child avoid possible negative situations.If you have questions or concerns about this please feel free to contact me.
Why Volunteer? We would all love your help. We have so much to do and learn in kindergarten and it is a great way to see your child interacting with their peers and be part of their day. I tend to have my volunteers help out with crafts, painting, organizing classroom materials, bulletin boards, filing and preparing fun projects (so be prepared to get a little messy!) The children will love you, your child will be so thankful and I will be so appreciative to have you help out in such a busy place! If you are interested there is a screening process that you must go through, but it is well worth it. We would love to have you anytime! If you are interested please fill out the required paperwork. Smile. Relax. We are going to have a wonderful kindergarten year together! Sincerely, Mrs. Stirling
