Kindergarten Handbook
Important Information for Parents
Backpacks
Backpacks are very important for little ones to carry. The backpack (or "book bag" as some lovingly call it) makes them feel grown up. We would like for the backpack to be sent to school every day so we can send home necessary items. Please send a regular sized backpack that will hold traditional folders, notebooks, etc. There will not be anything too heavy for your child to carry. Also, the smaller character backpacks (turtles, ladybugs, teddy bears, dogs, etc.) do not hold folders and other school items. ****Absolutely no backpacks with wheels.
Homework Folders
Your child will be bringing home a homework folder every afternoon. This will contain any homework or notes that are important. Please check the folder everyday and return it the following school day. Encourage your child to take good care of the homework folder.
Communication/Notes from home
If you are sending a note to school for me or any other person at school please put the note in your child's homework folder. These folders are checked every morning. If you should every need to talk to me, please call the school and leave a message in the office, I will get back to you as soon as I can. You can also call me after school in between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. The phone number is 293-4150 ext 304.
ALSO: Feel free to email me at school. My address is lcontreras@sallieb.net I check my email three times a day and I will respond as soon as I can.
Clothing
It is necessary that you label your child’s uniform, jackets, lunch boxes or any clothing item. Sometimes they leave them out of the classroom or get sick and we washed them at school. For P.E. classes they need to wear tennis shoes or sneakers (Tuesdays and Thursdays).
Conferences
I will be meeting with you some times during the school year for parent/teacher conference. We will discuss your child's progress, strengths, areas in which to improve, and much more. If you should feel a conference is necessary at any time, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Snack Time
If you want your child to bring any snack to school do so please. We are going to have snack time at 10:00 a.m.
Snacks need to be small and healthy. Avoid candy or chocolates please.
Birthdays
Birthdays are a big deal for little ones! If you would like to send in treats as a special birthday snack to celebrate the big day, please do so! You can send cookies or cupcakes and a drink. We like to ask that you DO NOT send in the big cookie cakes or sheet cakes because it’s difficult to cut and serve in a timely manner. Birthdays will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m.
We also have to ask that birthday invitations CAN NOT be send to school. Not only does it cut down on hurt feelings, but due to liability reasons, we cannot pass these out at school.
Lunch and Lunch Money
Your child will be eating lunch from 11:00-11:30 a.m. Children that choose to buy their lunch from school can either bring lunch money or have it deducted from their lunch accounts. The beauty in this is that parents can deposit any amount of money into their child's account at any point during the school year. Once the child goes through the lunch line, money is automatically deducted from the account. You are welcome to come and eat lunch with your child any day!
At the beginning of the year if your lunch form has not been processed yet, you will have to send in money for your child’s lunch.
Please remember that it is against school policy to bring fast food and bottled/canned soft drinks for lunch.
Sending Money
If money is being collected for book order, field trips, lunch, etc., PLEASE, PLEASE send the money in an sealed envelope marked with #1) your child's name, #2) dollar amount, and #3) what the money is to be used for. By doing this, it cuts down on lost money and confusion. Simply place the envelope in the homework folder and we'll take care of it and make sure the child gets it if necessary.
NOTE: Lunch money can be sent this way, but make sure it's marked "lunch money."
Homework
If homework is assigned, it will be placed in your child's homework folder. Homework will be sent home every Monday and needs to be returned every Friday to be checked. Please work with your child, if necessary, to complete the homework. I do require all homework to be done in PENCIL unless otherwise specified.
Homework will not be checked if your child does not bring it in on Friday, unless you send a note or your child was absent that day.
Reading at Home
I like to encourage parents to read to and with their children every day if possible. By setting aside 10 to15 minutes per day/night just to read with your child, his or her reading abilities will progress even more rapidly. Research proves again and again that by reading to children at home positively influences reading success as the year’s progress. I know how difficult it is to find the time, but I promise you, it will be worth it.
Please join to our Class Reading Club. Please take time to read with your child and sign the Reading Log. Please send the book back daily. Your child is encouraged to read at least 25 books by the end of each quarter.
Classroom Management/Behavior System
We use an apple tree system in our classroom as a behavior management system. For every rule a child breaks, the apples from your child’s tree will fall. Everyone starts the day on the green apple. If they make a bad choice, they will get a verbal warning first. After that they will loose the green and 5 minutes of free time. If he/she looses the yellow apple, time out away from the group in the class and a note will be sent home. If the behavior continues and the red apple falls from the tree, they will get bounced to another kindergarten classroom and loose 10 minutes of free time. Parents will receive a phone call. After loosing the red apple and the behavior continues they will be sent to ISS (in school suspension).
I reward students with extra play time, stickers, notes home, special treats, treasure box and praise. I work individually with children on behavior as well as the entire class. My classroom rules are as follows:
· Raise your hand and wait to be recognized.
· Use soft voices in the class.
· Walk inside the classroom and hallways.
· Be a good listener.
· Be a good friend.
Riding the Bus Another Child
Please contact the main office, if your child will be riding the bus home with another child. There is specific paperwork that must be filled out and signed by the principal for these situations. It's something that I cannot take care of.
Riding Home with Other Children (car riders)
If your child will be going home with another child by car, please send me a note so that I know exactly where that child will be going after school. I need permission from both parties involved.
Toys from Home
I like to ask you that children keep all toys, lip gloss, fingernail polish, trading cards, Beanie Babies, etc., at home unless they are being shared with the class designated by me. There have been many things broken and some items have turned up "missing" over the years. Also, they like to bring them to the tables or carpet during inappropriate times. If this happen, I will take the toy until the end of the 9 weeks.
Thanks for your help with this matter!
Student Information
There will be student information cards to be filled out by you and returned as soon as possible. Please fill out BOTH SIDES and return as soon as you can. If any of your child's information changes, (address, phone, cell phone, contacts) it is very important to notify me so I can update my records as well as the office.
Students arriving late / Tardies
It is very important for students to be in the classroom by 7:30 a.m. even being 5 minutes late can disrupt a child's entire morning or day. We want to keep tardiest at a minimum level. If your child arrives after the 7:45 a.m. bell, he/she must go to the front office to get a tardy slip to be admitted in class.
Dismissal of students
Children are dismissed at 3:00 p.m. If your child needs to leave early for any reason (doctor's appointment, dentist, etc.) you are required to check them out from the office. The office will then call down to my room and I will help your child get his/her things together. At that time, I will send them up to the office, ready to go. I cannot, under ANY circumstance, release students from my classroom before 3:00 p.m. unless the office tells me to do so.
Supplies
As we prepare for the months of fun and learning, we need to gather supplies for the work and plan ahead! Thank you for your thoughtfulness and eagerness to donate supplies towards our learning!
Field Trips
Permission slips and monies are REQUIRED field trips. We will not you’re your child to the field trip if these two requirements are not met by the due date.
If your child’s behavior is not what is expected in our school, a chaperone over 18 years old will have to go with him/her.
Parents are welcome to join us on field trips, but will have to ride on their own cars and pay for their own tickets if that is the case.