Here's a guide to answer questions you might have about our classroom.
A
If your child will be absent from school, please send a note with your child when they return. If your child is sick, school policy states that they may not return to school until their temperature is normal for 24 hours. When your child returns from an absence you must send a note explaining their absence. If it was a doctor or dentist appointment you may send the appointment card. This information will be kept for our records.
If your child has any allergies to food or other things, please inform the school in writing so that we may be aware.
B
We will assume that your child will be riding their bus or walking home each school day. If there is a change in plans that you are aware of in the morning, please send a note. If your plans for the end of the day change once your child is at school, please notify the office by 2:00 pm. Anyone who has permission to pick up your child from school must be listed on their emergency form.
Breakfast is offered in the cafeteria at 7:40 every morning. If your child rides the bus they will have time to have breakfast before school begins. If your child misses the bus or walks to school, please be sure they are either by 7:40 for breakfast or have breakfast at home. It is important that your child have breakfast every morning, but they may not bring breakfast to eat in the classroom.
Your child's birthday will be a special day in our room! Each child can wear a birthday crown to celebrate their birthday and, of course, we will sing Happy Birthday! If you would like to send a birthday treat for the class you may, but it is optional. Remember, treats must be store bought and make sure there are enough to go around. There are currently 24 students in our classroom.
Book in a Bag is a special way to share reading at home. We will be starting “Book in a Bag” in October. “Book in a Bag” will go home every Monday through Thursday, providing that you return the book the following day. Your child will bring home 1-2 books each night to read with you and record on their reading log. Students will receive a sticker for each book they read. Our goal is to read over 100 books this school year! “Book in a Bag” is part of your child’s homework.
C
Your child will bring home all class work and letters in their communication folder. Please check the folder daily for any important letters from me or from the school. Please empty the folder daily, and please be sure your child brings their folder daily.
Please place any notes for me in the folder, including lunch money (in a labeled and sealed envelope or baggy). We suggest that when your child arrives home they tell you about their day, share their behavior sheet with you, and get their papers signed. Then return everything to their backpack so it is ready to go the next morning.
D
Kindergarten is a busy place that sometimes can get messy! Dress your child so they are ready for action! Sneakers must be worn for Gym. When cold weather comes we may still go outside, so please wear a warm coat and appropriate shoes. Please do not send your child to school in shoes that cannot get dirty. Sometimes the courtyard can get muddy. If we are going out during snowy days I will notify you before hand so your child can bring their boots, scarf, gloves, and snow pants.
Our school district has a strict dress code which is enforced. The dress code can be found on the district website under student code of conduct. It can also be found in the student code of conduct books. The dress code prohibits not wearing hats in school, spaghetti strap tank tops (straps need to be more than 1” wide), halter tops, and underwear must be completely covered by outer clothing. Flip flops are also a safety concern and not allowed to be worn by students.
E
Reading and homework should be entertaining. You can help to make learning fun by making homework and reading time an enjoyable time. You can model your enjoyment for reading and show your excitement as your child begins to sound out words and read with you. Show enthusiasm about working with them on their homework and recipes for family fun. Helping to make learning exciting and fun will help to excite your child about school and improve their future success.
F
Each child needs to have a folder with pockets
to hold important papers. (Yes, this is very important). The folder should come to school with your child and be checked after each school day. There will be a Communication Page inside your child’s folder. Feel free to use it to make quick comments about their learning at home or about something that happened while they were away from school. It is not meant to replace notes that inform us of absences or dismissal changes. It is meant to be a place for dialogue between teacher and parent.
G
We have gym on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Children must wear sneakers for gym or they will not be able to participate. Please make sure that your child wears sneakers on gym days. You may also send in a pair of sneakers for your child to change into on gym days. Please write your name in your child’s shoes.
H
“How was your day?” With this one question you can let your child know that you want to know how
school was that day. This question refers to the daily behavior sheet that goes home and must be signed by an adult and returned daily. It is another way of keeping communication open between parents and teachers. This is a quick way to let you know how your child is behaving in school. Your child is learning that they are “in the drivers seat” when it comes to their actions. All children begin the day on Green. If
they need 3 reminders about our classroom or school rules, they are moved to Yellow. If they “turn themselves around” and make good choices, they can return to Green. If they continue to need reminders about our rules, they are moved to Red. From Red they can move to Yellow and Green, depending upon their behavior.
Green – Good to Go. Keep Going! You’re following all the rules and doing a great job with our rules. Be
careful.
Yellow – Proceed with Caution! You’ve needed at least 3
reminders.
Red – Stop and Think! You’ve needed at least 3 more reminders about our rules. Let’s stop and think about our actions.
Homework includes “book in a bag” and a monthly homework sheet. It will be sent home on at the beginning of the month and should be returned by the end of the month. Monthly“recipes for fun” newsletters will also come home each month. These are engaging activities that are meant to strengthen the bridge between school and home.
I
Independent Reading - your child should spend time looking at books and be read to each day.
J
Journal Writing - we write in our journals almost every day. Your child will bring their journal home at the end of the school year.
K
Kindergarten is an important year full of fun and learning. Here are some important goals for the end of Kindergarten:
*Self Help skills - Your child can dress themselves and take care of their belongings. *Attention span and behavior appropriate for age level *Follows directions * Good fine motor skills *Basic Readiness Skills mastered (colors, shapes, all letters and letter sounds, numbers 0-31, counting past 31) *Language development - understands letters stand for sounds, letters together make words, can rhyme and understands how books work *Writing – can hold a pencil, form letters, draw a picture, label picture, begin to write sentences, tell a story across pages *Science – Your child can identify and use their 5 senses to explore the world, understand life cycles of plants and animals, classify and sort, and participate in simple experiments.
L
We have lunch every day from 11:00-11:40. Your child may bring his/her lunch to school. On occasion we will make snacks as a class treat or to accompany a lesson, so please be sure to let me know as soon as possible if your child has any dietary restrictions.
Please label everything your child plans to bring to school, such as jackets, shoes, bags, mittens, etc. That will help your child's things find their way home!
M
Mathematics is an important part of Kindergarten. We will use manipulatives to teach basic concepts. We will recognize and write numbers 1-31, order numbers, work on one-to-one correspondence, learn about shapes, put objects into sets and act out story problems, plus many more exciting lessons!
N
Occasionally, we will send notes home with your child. When we do we will place them inside their folder. When you send notes, please do the same. Then we will always know where to look!
O
We will send home book orders each month. Remember, they are completely optional. Please return the completed order along with a check made out to the book club in a envelope with your child's name on it within a week. You may also order online through the book club now.
P
Parent involvement - your child’s success is linked to your involvement in their learning. Please plan on being involved with our PTA and a variety of fun family nights. You will also receive a parent volunteer sheet where you can sign up to help out in the classroom. Parents also help to make field trips and class celebrations a success. Whenever there is room for parents on a field trip we will let you know and invite you attend.
Q
If you have any questions, you can best reach me by email or by sending notes. My email address is [email protected] and I will check folders daily for notes. If you need to leave me a message during the day our school number is 475-6850.
R
Recipes for fun will be sent home each month. Every month there will be a song, finger play, nursery rhyme, cooking activity, science experiment, craft, and game. Children grow up so quickly, and I know you want to enjoy this magical year by spending quality time with them each day.
The best way to help your child learn to read is to read, read, read to them. Model reading, take your child to the library, and schedule time every day to read. The “book in a bag” will have a reading log to record the special books you read with your child. You can also write down books that you read from your home library or local library on the sheet.
We are using The Daily Five and Words Their Way to teach reading in our district. We will read and discuss many books, poems and songs. We will introduce all the letters of the alphabet and their sounds. We will learn that letters stand for sounds and words are made of sounds. The children will have an opportunity to work at their level and participate in small group activities to strengthen their emergent reading skills. We will also learn sight word vocabulary to prepare for first grade.
S
Your child may bring a healthy snack for the morning. Please don't send candy, but crackers, raisins, fruit, cheese or carrot sticks are great. Keep in mind it should be ready to eat (peeled or sliced if appropriate.)
These should be small quick snacks they can have during the morning because our lunch is at noon. Desserts (cupcakes, brownies, and cookies) and candy will not be allowed during our morning snack time. Snacks are not a replacement for breakfast. Students should have breakfast before school begins. Students should not bring breakfast to eat in the classroom.
We have many wonderful specials throughout the week. Specials are taught by our special area teachers and are 30 minutes long. Our schedule of specials is listed on our website under specials.
Monday - Library & Art
Tuesday - Music
Wednesday - Gym
Thursday - Gym
Friday - Gym
We ask that students bring in school supplies as soon as possible. Crayons, glue, and scissors will be shared by the classroom. Folders will be stored in the classroom and used to replace their communication folders as needed. The marble notebooks will be used for journaling. Dry erase markers will be used during whole group and small group reading activities.
Supply List
*2 boxes of Crayola crayons * 3 glue sticks *2 bottles of Elmers glue *1 black and white (marble) hardcover notebook *1 pair of child safe scissors *3 2-pocket folders (the plastic ones last much longer) *1 box of gallon size plastic zip lock bags *3 boxes of tissues *1 backpack that is large enough to hold a folder or large project *Each child needs a change of clothes in a gallon zip loc bag with their name written on it. *1 container
of Clorox wipes *1 package of dry erase marker *If anyone would like to donate an extra box of tissues or disinfecting wipes it would be
greatly appreciated. Thank you!
T
School Times
Building opens at 7:40 a.m.
Our classroom routine begins at 8:00 am every day. Our class meets every morning in the small gym. I will pick up the class and begin the day at 8:00 . It is very distracting if your child arrives late. It is important for your child to learn the classroom routines and become independent. Parents should drop off their students at the school door, saying any “good-byes” there. This helps the child develop independence and an understanding that school is their “job” and the classroom duties (putting away their backpack, voting for their lunch, etc.) are their own responsibility (not that of the parent). Kindergarten is a time to build independence and confidence.
Bus students begin dismissal at 2:15. Walkers are dismissed at 2:30. If you pick up your child early please go to the office to sign them out. It is our school
policy that all visitors must sign in before entering the classroom and sign students out from the office.
U
At SPA, our students are encouraged to wear uniforms. They are easy to order, are an economical choice and wearing them shows school spirit! Polo shirts (short sleeve and long sleeve in navy or white), blouses, sweatshirts, sweatpants, dress pants, shorts, skorts, sweaters and vests are all available to order. School bags and t-shirts are also offered.
V
There will be opportunities for parents to come and help in our classroom. We will ask for volunteers as the need arises. Please fill out the volunteer form if you are interested in volunteering. If you are interested in visiting, let us know in advance and we will let you know when a good time would be. All visitors must sign in at the office when they enter the building. That policy is in effect to ensure safety for all students and staff.
W
Our Class Website is MrsLucianisKindergarten.weebly.com
Writing is important part of Kindergarten. It is taught through mini-lessons, shared writing, journal writing, and morning messages. During formal writing time students are taught a specific skill and then given independent time to practice, such as telling a
story across pages, using finger spaces, and listening for beginning sounds. Students are also taught to write a variety of genres, including small moments, how-to books, all about books, and poetry. Writing begins with learning how to draw and label pictures. By the end of the year students should be writing 3 page stories and using sentences with finger spaces. Cotinuing to practice writing at home is important for success. Fun ways that you can help with writing will be sent home throughout the year.
X
eXciting! We will have a fun filled and exciting school year. We may get messy while having hands on fun or
exploring outside. Please plan a set of eXtra clothes for your child and put them in a gallon size Ziploc bag with your child’s name. We will store them at school. Please include socks and underwear.
Y
The YMCA program takes place each afternoon. Students are dismissed at 2:30 from class to go to the cafeteria. Students have snack and then participate in activities such as tutoring sessions, time to complete homework, computer ctivities, opportunities to read, play board games as well as other activities . Students must be picked up no later than 6:00 pm.
Z
Zzzzz - help your child to get plenty of sleep each night so they are rested and ready for a busy day at school!
Now that you know the ABC’s of Kindergarten I hope you can use it as a quick reference when you have a question.
If your child will be absent from school, please send a note with your child when they return. If your child is sick, school policy states that they may not return to school until their temperature is normal for 24 hours. When your child returns from an absence you must send a note explaining their absence. If it was a doctor or dentist appointment you may send the appointment card. This information will be kept for our records.
If your child has any allergies to food or other things, please inform the school in writing so that we may be aware.
B
We will assume that your child will be riding their bus or walking home each school day. If there is a change in plans that you are aware of in the morning, please send a note. If your plans for the end of the day change once your child is at school, please notify the office by 2:00 pm. Anyone who has permission to pick up your child from school must be listed on their emergency form.
Breakfast is offered in the cafeteria at 7:40 every morning. If your child rides the bus they will have time to have breakfast before school begins. If your child misses the bus or walks to school, please be sure they are either by 7:40 for breakfast or have breakfast at home. It is important that your child have breakfast every morning, but they may not bring breakfast to eat in the classroom.
Your child's birthday will be a special day in our room! Each child can wear a birthday crown to celebrate their birthday and, of course, we will sing Happy Birthday! If you would like to send a birthday treat for the class you may, but it is optional. Remember, treats must be store bought and make sure there are enough to go around. There are currently 24 students in our classroom.
Book in a Bag is a special way to share reading at home. We will be starting “Book in a Bag” in October. “Book in a Bag” will go home every Monday through Thursday, providing that you return the book the following day. Your child will bring home 1-2 books each night to read with you and record on their reading log. Students will receive a sticker for each book they read. Our goal is to read over 100 books this school year! “Book in a Bag” is part of your child’s homework.
C
Your child will bring home all class work and letters in their communication folder. Please check the folder daily for any important letters from me or from the school. Please empty the folder daily, and please be sure your child brings their folder daily.
Please place any notes for me in the folder, including lunch money (in a labeled and sealed envelope or baggy). We suggest that when your child arrives home they tell you about their day, share their behavior sheet with you, and get their papers signed. Then return everything to their backpack so it is ready to go the next morning.
D
Kindergarten is a busy place that sometimes can get messy! Dress your child so they are ready for action! Sneakers must be worn for Gym. When cold weather comes we may still go outside, so please wear a warm coat and appropriate shoes. Please do not send your child to school in shoes that cannot get dirty. Sometimes the courtyard can get muddy. If we are going out during snowy days I will notify you before hand so your child can bring their boots, scarf, gloves, and snow pants.
Our school district has a strict dress code which is enforced. The dress code can be found on the district website under student code of conduct. It can also be found in the student code of conduct books. The dress code prohibits not wearing hats in school, spaghetti strap tank tops (straps need to be more than 1” wide), halter tops, and underwear must be completely covered by outer clothing. Flip flops are also a safety concern and not allowed to be worn by students.
E
Reading and homework should be entertaining. You can help to make learning fun by making homework and reading time an enjoyable time. You can model your enjoyment for reading and show your excitement as your child begins to sound out words and read with you. Show enthusiasm about working with them on their homework and recipes for family fun. Helping to make learning exciting and fun will help to excite your child about school and improve their future success.
F
Each child needs to have a folder with pockets
to hold important papers. (Yes, this is very important). The folder should come to school with your child and be checked after each school day. There will be a Communication Page inside your child’s folder. Feel free to use it to make quick comments about their learning at home or about something that happened while they were away from school. It is not meant to replace notes that inform us of absences or dismissal changes. It is meant to be a place for dialogue between teacher and parent.
G
We have gym on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Children must wear sneakers for gym or they will not be able to participate. Please make sure that your child wears sneakers on gym days. You may also send in a pair of sneakers for your child to change into on gym days. Please write your name in your child’s shoes.
H
“How was your day?” With this one question you can let your child know that you want to know how
school was that day. This question refers to the daily behavior sheet that goes home and must be signed by an adult and returned daily. It is another way of keeping communication open between parents and teachers. This is a quick way to let you know how your child is behaving in school. Your child is learning that they are “in the drivers seat” when it comes to their actions. All children begin the day on Green. If
they need 3 reminders about our classroom or school rules, they are moved to Yellow. If they “turn themselves around” and make good choices, they can return to Green. If they continue to need reminders about our rules, they are moved to Red. From Red they can move to Yellow and Green, depending upon their behavior.
Green – Good to Go. Keep Going! You’re following all the rules and doing a great job with our rules. Be
careful.
Yellow – Proceed with Caution! You’ve needed at least 3
reminders.
Red – Stop and Think! You’ve needed at least 3 more reminders about our rules. Let’s stop and think about our actions.
Homework includes “book in a bag” and a monthly homework sheet. It will be sent home on at the beginning of the month and should be returned by the end of the month. Monthly“recipes for fun” newsletters will also come home each month. These are engaging activities that are meant to strengthen the bridge between school and home.
I
Independent Reading - your child should spend time looking at books and be read to each day.
J
Journal Writing - we write in our journals almost every day. Your child will bring their journal home at the end of the school year.
K
Kindergarten is an important year full of fun and learning. Here are some important goals for the end of Kindergarten:
*Self Help skills - Your child can dress themselves and take care of their belongings. *Attention span and behavior appropriate for age level *Follows directions * Good fine motor skills *Basic Readiness Skills mastered (colors, shapes, all letters and letter sounds, numbers 0-31, counting past 31) *Language development - understands letters stand for sounds, letters together make words, can rhyme and understands how books work *Writing – can hold a pencil, form letters, draw a picture, label picture, begin to write sentences, tell a story across pages *Science – Your child can identify and use their 5 senses to explore the world, understand life cycles of plants and animals, classify and sort, and participate in simple experiments.
L
We have lunch every day from 11:00-11:40. Your child may bring his/her lunch to school. On occasion we will make snacks as a class treat or to accompany a lesson, so please be sure to let me know as soon as possible if your child has any dietary restrictions.
Please label everything your child plans to bring to school, such as jackets, shoes, bags, mittens, etc. That will help your child's things find their way home!
M
Mathematics is an important part of Kindergarten. We will use manipulatives to teach basic concepts. We will recognize and write numbers 1-31, order numbers, work on one-to-one correspondence, learn about shapes, put objects into sets and act out story problems, plus many more exciting lessons!
N
Occasionally, we will send notes home with your child. When we do we will place them inside their folder. When you send notes, please do the same. Then we will always know where to look!
O
We will send home book orders each month. Remember, they are completely optional. Please return the completed order along with a check made out to the book club in a envelope with your child's name on it within a week. You may also order online through the book club now.
P
Parent involvement - your child’s success is linked to your involvement in their learning. Please plan on being involved with our PTA and a variety of fun family nights. You will also receive a parent volunteer sheet where you can sign up to help out in the classroom. Parents also help to make field trips and class celebrations a success. Whenever there is room for parents on a field trip we will let you know and invite you attend.
Q
If you have any questions, you can best reach me by email or by sending notes. My email address is [email protected] and I will check folders daily for notes. If you need to leave me a message during the day our school number is 475-6850.
R
Recipes for fun will be sent home each month. Every month there will be a song, finger play, nursery rhyme, cooking activity, science experiment, craft, and game. Children grow up so quickly, and I know you want to enjoy this magical year by spending quality time with them each day.
The best way to help your child learn to read is to read, read, read to them. Model reading, take your child to the library, and schedule time every day to read. The “book in a bag” will have a reading log to record the special books you read with your child. You can also write down books that you read from your home library or local library on the sheet.
We are using The Daily Five and Words Their Way to teach reading in our district. We will read and discuss many books, poems and songs. We will introduce all the letters of the alphabet and their sounds. We will learn that letters stand for sounds and words are made of sounds. The children will have an opportunity to work at their level and participate in small group activities to strengthen their emergent reading skills. We will also learn sight word vocabulary to prepare for first grade.
S
Your child may bring a healthy snack for the morning. Please don't send candy, but crackers, raisins, fruit, cheese or carrot sticks are great. Keep in mind it should be ready to eat (peeled or sliced if appropriate.)
These should be small quick snacks they can have during the morning because our lunch is at noon. Desserts (cupcakes, brownies, and cookies) and candy will not be allowed during our morning snack time. Snacks are not a replacement for breakfast. Students should have breakfast before school begins. Students should not bring breakfast to eat in the classroom.
We have many wonderful specials throughout the week. Specials are taught by our special area teachers and are 30 minutes long. Our schedule of specials is listed on our website under specials.
Monday - Library & Art
Tuesday - Music
Wednesday - Gym
Thursday - Gym
Friday - Gym
We ask that students bring in school supplies as soon as possible. Crayons, glue, and scissors will be shared by the classroom. Folders will be stored in the classroom and used to replace their communication folders as needed. The marble notebooks will be used for journaling. Dry erase markers will be used during whole group and small group reading activities.
Supply List
*2 boxes of Crayola crayons * 3 glue sticks *2 bottles of Elmers glue *1 black and white (marble) hardcover notebook *1 pair of child safe scissors *3 2-pocket folders (the plastic ones last much longer) *1 box of gallon size plastic zip lock bags *3 boxes of tissues *1 backpack that is large enough to hold a folder or large project *Each child needs a change of clothes in a gallon zip loc bag with their name written on it. *1 container
of Clorox wipes *1 package of dry erase marker *If anyone would like to donate an extra box of tissues or disinfecting wipes it would be
greatly appreciated. Thank you!
T
School Times
Building opens at 7:40 a.m.
Our classroom routine begins at 8:00 am every day. Our class meets every morning in the small gym. I will pick up the class and begin the day at 8:00 . It is very distracting if your child arrives late. It is important for your child to learn the classroom routines and become independent. Parents should drop off their students at the school door, saying any “good-byes” there. This helps the child develop independence and an understanding that school is their “job” and the classroom duties (putting away their backpack, voting for their lunch, etc.) are their own responsibility (not that of the parent). Kindergarten is a time to build independence and confidence.
Bus students begin dismissal at 2:15. Walkers are dismissed at 2:30. If you pick up your child early please go to the office to sign them out. It is our school
policy that all visitors must sign in before entering the classroom and sign students out from the office.
U
At SPA, our students are encouraged to wear uniforms. They are easy to order, are an economical choice and wearing them shows school spirit! Polo shirts (short sleeve and long sleeve in navy or white), blouses, sweatshirts, sweatpants, dress pants, shorts, skorts, sweaters and vests are all available to order. School bags and t-shirts are also offered.
V
There will be opportunities for parents to come and help in our classroom. We will ask for volunteers as the need arises. Please fill out the volunteer form if you are interested in volunteering. If you are interested in visiting, let us know in advance and we will let you know when a good time would be. All visitors must sign in at the office when they enter the building. That policy is in effect to ensure safety for all students and staff.
W
Our Class Website is MrsLucianisKindergarten.weebly.com
Writing is important part of Kindergarten. It is taught through mini-lessons, shared writing, journal writing, and morning messages. During formal writing time students are taught a specific skill and then given independent time to practice, such as telling a
story across pages, using finger spaces, and listening for beginning sounds. Students are also taught to write a variety of genres, including small moments, how-to books, all about books, and poetry. Writing begins with learning how to draw and label pictures. By the end of the year students should be writing 3 page stories and using sentences with finger spaces. Cotinuing to practice writing at home is important for success. Fun ways that you can help with writing will be sent home throughout the year.
X
eXciting! We will have a fun filled and exciting school year. We may get messy while having hands on fun or
exploring outside. Please plan a set of eXtra clothes for your child and put them in a gallon size Ziploc bag with your child’s name. We will store them at school. Please include socks and underwear.
Y
The YMCA program takes place each afternoon. Students are dismissed at 2:30 from class to go to the cafeteria. Students have snack and then participate in activities such as tutoring sessions, time to complete homework, computer ctivities, opportunities to read, play board games as well as other activities . Students must be picked up no later than 6:00 pm.
Z
Zzzzz - help your child to get plenty of sleep each night so they are rested and ready for a busy day at school!
Now that you know the ABC’s of Kindergarten I hope you can use it as a quick reference when you have a question.