Allergies
If your child has a food allergy, please send a box of his/her favorite treat to keep at school. I will mark your child's name on the box and use it when we have birthday treats brought to school that he/she cannot eat. This way your child will have something special to eat and not feel left out from a treat.
Absences
If your child is sick and unable to come to school, please call the school office (414)258-4160 in the morning. If you do not notify the office, they will call your house. Parents and siblings may pick up the class work at the end of the day or the student may get it when he/she feels better. The assignments are to be completed at home and returned as soon as you can. If you are going on vacation during the school week, you will be able to pick up the assignments after you return.
Birthdays
Birthdays are very special in Kindergarten. Children may bring a treat for their friends during snack time at 10am. Please keep the treat simple so that they can easily be passed out in the classroom. Children with Summer birthdays may celebrate their half birthday at school or in June before school is out. To help make the birthday child feel special on this day, he/she may come out of uniform. To avoid any hurt feelings, if you wish to pass out invitations for a party in the school folder, please make sure there is one for all the girls and boys in the class. If not, then you will have to distribute them on your own.
Centers
The purpose of centers is to provide the students with instruction in small groups and allow time to develop and manage skills of working cooperatively and independently.
Dismissal/Arrival
The K5 Kindergarten program hours are the same as the rest of grades 1st through 8th-7:45 to 3:00pm. The students should arrive to school at 7:30 when the main school doors open. They need time time to unpack and get settled by the time morning message begins with our principal at 7:45am.
I will walk the students out at the end of the day by the primary double white doors-same ones as morning drop off. Students must stay with me by the brick wall until someone comes to pick them up. For the students who will go to Cavalier Club(CK after school care), they will go as a group to South Hall together. If there is a change with an after school schedule, please notify me with an email or note in the morning before school. School will normally end every day at 3pm, except for 2pm on Wednesdays.
Eighth Grade Buddies
Twice a month the eighth graders will come to our classroom to read or do activities with the children. It is a bonding experience for our children and the eighth graders.
Field Trips
On field trip days, the K5 students should come to school at the regular time 7:45am. They will be dismissed at the regular time that day as well. You will be notified ahead of time if the trip will be out of uniform or not.
Folders
Each student is expected to have a folder each day. All notes for the teacher and office go inside the folder. Each day I will collect the folders and look through them after morning announcements. It is your child's job to bring the folder or whatever else that should be taken out of their back pack during check in time. I do not go through school bags. I am more likely to see a written note in the morning than an email sent to me after 7:15am. I usually don't have time to check email during the school day. My email is checked before and after school. So if there is something important I need to know for that school day, send a note in the folder or leave a message in the school office if you didn't send an email to me before 7:15am.
Gym Shoes
The children are expected to wear tennis shoes on the days they to to gym class. I will remind you in when we have gym class each week in my weekly memo.
The kids will have gym twice a week.
Home Reading
The students will bring home books every day for homework. Reading at home is a very important aspect of Kindergarten. Reading for 15-20 minutes a night will greatly influence your child's academic progress. In borrowing the class books, students must take good care of the books. Parents will be responsible for all damaged or missing books. Replacing a book will vary in cost. I want the children to develop a good habit of reading for enjoyment.
Independence
It is my goal to slowly help your child to learn and gain confidence by being independent throughout the school year. It's ok the first few weeks of school to help walk through the steps each morning as he/she arrives at school-however, as the weeks progress you will need to step back and let your child be responsible for his/her own things. All children should be eventually able to come to school and put their own things away properly without the aide of a parent or teacher. Learning how to problem solve is an important lifelong skill. The children will be presented with many opportunities that reinforce and reward independence. Please encourage this skill at home as well. Some ways to help your child become independent is by working on tying their shoes at home, work on zipping, snapping, or buttoning jackets. Most importantly, teach your child to pack the backpack each night. It works best if the folder goes in the back and the lunch bag in the front. If there is a small pocket on the front of the book bag, make that the snack pocket. Water bottles leak-please keep them in the outside side pocket.
Jobs in the Classroom
We have a couple of jobs in the classroom to keep things neat and orderly. These jobs are rotated daily. Star Student has the job of being the line leader,they are in charge of the calendar, and they bring any notes to the office. Door helpers hold the doors for the class. The caboose will be the last person in line and make sure the lights are turned off when we leave our room. Lunch basket helpers will carry the lunch baskets down to lunch for the class.
Kindergarten Memo
Each week I will email a Kindergarten Memo that will be posted on our class website. It will usually be sent out late Sunday night or early Monday morning.Tis will contain basic information about the events and academic lessons that will be covered during the week. I will note any changes that occur with our schedule or any special happenings going on in the school week.
Lunch
Hot lunch is available for those who pre-order, otherwise it is you responsibility to make sure your child has a cold lunch. Milk is available for all students. If you chose to order, the milk fee is a part of school tuition. Please remember to pack a napkin and fork/spoon if needed. There are no extras available in the lunchroom. And make sure that your child can open the containers that you pack. There is usually one teacher and one parent on lunchroom duty during the lunch hour. With few hands helping, sometimes your child may have to wait a bit to have a yogurt opened or a wrapper peeled back. So it helps if you practice at home.
Manners
Children will be expected to use their manners throughout the school day. I will try to guide and model for the children what words I expect to hear in different situations. For example, May I please....Thank you for.....I also discuss what behaviors are expected in different situations such as church, plays, group discussions, and play time. Please encourage your child to practice his/her manners at home as well.
Orders for Books
Your child will have the opportunity to order books through Scholastic Book Clubs. This is an inexpensive way to get books for your child. Think ahead, books make excellent birthday presents, Christmas presents, and special holiday treats. There are closing dates and I will send a reminder. I will send home the book orders in your child's folder, and you will have the option to order online by going to scholastic.com/readingclub our class code is HJGCY
Parent/Teacher Conferences
There are two formal parent/teacher conferences throughout the school year. Information for these conferences will come home before first and second quarter report cards. I am always available after school for short questions, but if you feel you would like to speak to me longer-I would be happy to set an appointment after school. It is too hard to talk in the morning when students are entering the classroom. I always look forward to greeting the boys and girls in the morning and l like to focus my attention on what they need.
Questions
If you have questions or concerns throughout the school year, please feel free to contact me through the school office 414-258-4160 or by email [email protected]
Recess
The children will have at least two scheduled recesses a day-one in the morning and one at lunch. It is the parents' responsibility that your child comes to school with proper clothing, please be aware of the weather. If your child would like to bring a toy from home like a football or basketball, I am not responsible for that toy. I would suggest that you put your child's name on the toy, and that its a toy that your child is willing to share. The toy should be for active play outdoors, please no stuffed animals. We do have a class recess basket filled with chalk, kick balls, footballs, and jump ropes for students to share. During the Winter months, boots and snow pants will be required during recess. If a child does not have the proper clothing for recess, they may have to sit in the office during recess.
Rest Time
Most afternoons the children will have some time after lunch to rest. We will begin with a story that I have selected to read to the class. Following the story the children will take some time to relax and listen to soothing music. As the year goes on, the students will be able to chose a book or two that they would like to take to their quiet spot for the remainder of the quiet time. Please send a small blanket or towel to school for your child to use during this time.
Snacks
There will be a morning snack in Kindergarten each day-usually around 10am before morning recess. It is the parents' responsibility to make sure that the child brings a HEALTHY snack to school each day. A snack is what I would call finger food in a bag. Your child should be able to eat the snack without help from an adult. Suggestions: celery, carrots, cucumbers, popcorn, pretzels, crackers, raisins, trail mix, grapes, oranges, apples, bananas, etc.
Some bad choices would be cookies, doritos, potato chips, fruit roll ups
Travel Bag
Periodically throughout the year, your child may bring home a bag filled with a buddy and a journal. You may need the bag for one or two nights. Please help your child complete the journal entry and we will share them with the class.
Unique Field Trips
Field trips are scheduled for once a month. I will send reminders in the Kindergarten Weekly Memo when the date approaches. They will not affect the school hours. You will need to watch the weather so that your child will have the proper clothing. Parents are welcome to attend trips but must sign up because space is limited. Parent volunteers must ride on the bus and may not bring other children. Please check the field trip volunteer section of my website for more information.
Volunteers in the Classroom
Parents are always welcome to volunteer in the classroom. There are special times throughout the school year where I will need help with parties or for setting up for special activities like the Thanksgiving Puppet Show, Astronaut Adventure Day, and Oceans of Fun Show.
When you volunteer in the classroom, you may not bring other children with you. If you are unable to find a babysitter please try to find someone to replace you. Volunteering in the classroom will count for required service hours.
Virtus Training by the Milwaukee Archdiocese is required if you volunteer in the classroom. You are only required to go through the training once. It takes only a couple hours of your time on one of the assigned nights in the beginning of the school year.
Water Bottles
I highly recommend that each child brings a water bottle to school each day. The water bottle must have a sports tip on the bottle to prevent spills on the tables or floor. This is a water bottle, not a juice bottle, it is water only. If your child wants juice or other drinks put them in their lunch. We will use the water bottle each day for snack, and for the convenience of not having to leave our classroom whenever your child is thirsty.
Examine Your Child's Work
Every Friday I will try to send home your child's assignments from the week. Please look over your child's work and review concepts that your child may have struggled with. I will write little notes on the assignment if I saw problems or if I think extra practice is needed. You are your child's first teacher. I look forward to working with you to support and encourage your child to become a life long learner.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Make sure that your child is getting plenty of sleep each night. This is especially important in the beginning of the year as the children are transitioning into a full day of school. Children who are tired have a hard time focusing and learning and are not in the mood to cooperate with others. This is also true with eating a good breakfast in the morning. Too often I have kids asking me when is it time for snack because they are hungry because they did not eat breakfast.
Please don't skip breakfast in the morning. Your child needs that fuel to start the day, even if it's just a piece of toast. Spread some peanut butter on it, slice some bananas:)