Welcome to Kindergarten

 

 

Dear Parents/Guardians, 

 

I would like to welcome you to Argonaut Elementary School Kindergarten! Together, we are about to embark on the beginning of an incredible journey of learning.  In this packet, you will find information about your child’s school, class, and what to expect out of the Kindergarten program here in room 11. I suggest that you find a safe place to store this information, as you will more than likely need it from time to time throughout the year.  Of course I am always here if you have any questions or concerns. 

 

School number: # 867-4773 ext 211

Email school: schako@saratogausd.org

                           

                            Sincerely,

 

                                   Ms. Chako  

 

The Kindergarten Day

Arrival and Dismissal:     Kindergarten children sit outside the main door located in the hallway.  I will meet the children at these doors at 8:15am.  All students must be in our classroom by 8:30am. Any child who arrives after 8:35 the parent must pick up a tardy slip in the office and will be marked tardy.  Excessive tardies result in a letter from Mr. Chapman

 

Starting August 26 the children will be dismissed everyday at 12:00 pm.  This will be the schedule until October when assessments are complete.  Everyday when school is over I will escort the children to the kindergarten drop off and pick up area in front of the multipurpose room. Please do not knock on the door.  We will open the door when the children are ready.  Your child will only be released to the people you designate on the dismissal sheet or emergency card.

 

Class News: Emails will be sent regularly updating parents on classroom and school news. Please also check our classroom blog and website.

 

Items for class: Your child will need a regular sized book bag.  This book bag also needs to be big enough to fit two 81/2 by 11 folders and a lunch box.  Students must hang their bags outside the classroom on hooks.   

 

Class Donations: If you would like to donate items for our classroom it would be greatly appreciated:

-Tissues

-Air fresheners.  Please no spray or plug in kind.  The twist top works well. 

-Hand Sanitizer

-Goldfish/pretzels/graham or animal crackers (this is just needed for the weeks leading up to back to school night)  After back to school night we will have a set parent led snack sched.

 

Snack Time: The kindergarten schedule has a late morning snack around 10:00- 10:15.  For the first two weeks snacks will be provided and then for the rest of the year parents will rotate providing the snack. Please feel free to send your child with an additional healthy snack. In order to avoid confusing snacks with lunches, please send the snack in a separate bag or lunch box clearly labeled “snack”.

 

Rest Time: Kindergarten classes have a rest time each day.  Please send a bath towel for your child. NO BEACH TOWELS PLEASE. This towel will be sent home several times throughout the year to be washed.

 

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Home-School Communication

Daily Folders: Children will bring a “Communication” folder home each day with completed work and parent information.  Please check this folder daily.  DO NOT LET PAPERS PILE UP IN THIS FOLDER!  Read, complete, take out, and return appropriate papers in this folder daily.  Students must bring their communication folder back everyday.  This folder will not go home on Fridays.   

 

 

Homework:  Homework will be sent home in a designated folder on Mondays.  The work should be completed throughout the week and must be returned on Thursday of the same week. Please plan to spend 15-20 minutes each night doing homework with your child. 

Notes: Required for the following reasons:

              Absences/illness

              Early dismissal for doctor appointments

              Different person picking student up from school

Conferences:   Conferences are scheduled twice during the year.  All parents are expected to attend. The dates for the conferences will be announced in upcoming emails.  These conferences are planned to discuss your child’s progress and offer you ideas on how to help your child succeed.  You are always welcomed to schedule additional conferences by sending a note with your child or calling/emailing me.

Other Important Information

Dressing for School: Please dress your child in comfortable clothing for school.  It is best to dress children in “play” clothes instead of “dress” clothes since some activities require children to paint, sit on the floor, play in sand or water, or play outside.  In cold weather, please dress your child accordingly since we may go outside to play or for a short walk on the school grounds. On Monday children must wear tennis shoes to school.  On this day we have Physical Education.

Medications:  The school nurse will administer all medications.  Please contact the nurse if your child is to be given any medicine during school hours.    If your child has asthma, you may want to consider leaving a spare inhaler with the nurse.  Do not send medicine to school in your child’s bookbag. This includes cough drops or “sore throat lollipops”.  Please remember that your child must be fever free for 24 hours before attending school. 

Can You Lend A Hand????   Volunteers are very important to my kindergarten program. There are many tasks for volunteers that I will discuss at Back to School Night and I will try to find one that best fits your needs.  If you are available to help me with important jobs before Back to School Night let me know ASAP : )

Birthdays: Children may celebrate their birthdays in school.  Cupcakes, fruit trays, or cookies may be sent as a special treat.  Please let me know ahead of time if you plan to celebrate your child’s birthday at school.

 

** If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at school.  More information to add to this handbook will be given on Back to School Night September 3, 2008.  At least one parent MUST attend Back to School Night because the kindergarten information provided is critical.  Please let me know if you can’t attend or will be leaving early.  I will be handing out the first important take home Self Doll project this night.