A

Absences-

If your child is absent, you must send a note to the school when he/she returns. You may write this note in the planner.  Your child’s performance, both socially and academically, is influenced by daily attendance. 

Alphabet Knowledge-

Letter and sound knowledge is the foundation for reading, and this is an important part of the kindergarten curriculum.  We use Alphamotion™ to introduce letters and sounds at Beauclerc.

Assessments-

We use several instruments to assess students in Kindergarten.  All kindergarten students will take the Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS), which includes the following subtests:

•         Early Childhood Observation System™ (ECHOS™) Harcourt Assessment, Inc.

•         Florida Assessment for Instruction in Reading (F.A.I.R) test

Students will also take the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) to monitor reading behaviors and progression.  In addition to these assessments, we use several other instruments to document progress throughout the school year. 

Arrival-

Your child should arrive at school no earlier than 8:00 A.M. unless he/she is registered for the Extended Day Program.  Your child will wait in the hallway outside the classroom until school starts at 8:30. An important part of Kindergarten is building independence. After the first few days of school, your child is expected to enter the classroom all by themselves and hang up backpack by his/her self:)

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Bus-

If your child rides the bus to school, he/she will be dropped off on the side of the school building and will walk to our classroom from there.  If your child is new to Beauclerc, it would be a good idea to practice this route with your child before his or her first day and for the first few days of school.

Birthdays-

Birthdays are a special time.  If you would like to send in treats for your child’s special day, please drop them off at 8am.  We will work it into our schedule for that day.  If possible, please give me a heads up if you plan on sending something in.  Please do not send personal birthday invitations to school to be passed out.      

Book Orders-

You can't get good books at a better price than Scholastic!! I will send home Scholastic book orders each month for you and your child to look over.  If you want to place an order, please make checks payable to Scholastic.  I place all orders online about two weeks after I distribute the flyer, and orders usually arrive within a week.  Ordering through Scholastic is a great way to get quality books for your child’s home library, and each purchase you make earns points for our class to get cool books for our room!

Backpacks-

All students need to bring a standard size backpack to school daily.  Backpacks should be large enough to fit folders/papers/etc. and should be labeled with your child’s name.  Please check your child’s backpack DAILY.  Graded papers/projects etc. should be removed from the backpack and left at home.  The bag of books, keyring, and planner however, must be brought to school each day.  Please,   NO BACKPACKS WITH WHEELS.

Breakfast- Breakfast is offered at 8:00am in the cafeteria.

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Clothing-

Please dress your child in comfortable clothing that is appropriate for Kindergarten.  No flip-flops or halter tops. Dressy girls shoes are not recommended because it is not safe on our play equipment.  Please refer to the blue student code of conduct for complete details.  It is a good idea to label all sweaters, sweatshirts, backpacks, etc. with name and classroom #118.

Conferences-

I'll meet with all parents individually for a conference during the first quarter, and throughout the year as needed. If you feel the need to contact me at any time, I am best reached by email.  The link is at the top of this page.  I do not hold conferences before school while I am preparing for your child’s day or at any other time that students are in the classroom.  You may also send a note in with your child and I’ll respond as promptly as possible.

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Discipline-

With regard to behavior, all students are expected to act in a manner to ensure safety and consideration for the feelings of others.  We have a behavior management system that all students use to track their own behavior.  The system consists of six colored index cards in a pocket marked with your child’s name.  All students start with the white card in the front of their pocket each day.  Your child's daily behavior will be notated in the planner.

White-Good Day!

Yellow-Time Out

Purple-Time Out, Loss of partial recess/privilege, OOPS note home to parent

Green- Time Out, additional Loss of Privilege, additional Loss of partial recess, Note home to parent

Blue- Loss of recess, Loss of Privileges, Phone Call to Parent, Incident on referral

Pink- Office referral, discipline referral

Some behaviors will warrant an OOPS note that will be sent home to notify you of the behavior occurrence at school.  Please discuss these with your child, sign and have your child return the OOPs note on the following school day. OOPS notes go in the front pocket of your child's planner. It is important that these are signed and returned as evidence that you received the notice.

Dismissal-

Dismissal is at 2:45 P.M.  Please do not come to the classroom to pick your child up.  Your child will be brought to their designated area for pick up (car riders-media center, bus riders and daycare vans-multipurpose room, walk-up-GATE A (this is if you are walking up to the school to pick up your child...not in a car) extended day-respective rotating classrooms).  Instruction continues until the last bell…please refrain from checking your child out of school early.

E

Email-

I can be reached by email at my school address burnsk1duvalschools.org

Emergency Cards-

Your child will have an emergency card on file in the office.  It is critical that you keep us updated on phone number and address changes in case of injury or illness.  If you move or phone number changes, send a note in asap.

F

Field Trips-

We will take a few field trips this year.  Your child must have a signed permission slip to attend.  If we do not receive a permission slip, your child will not be allowed to go with the class. If you wish you chaperone, you must complete a background check form and submit to the front office at least two weeks prior to the field trip. You will not be able to chaperone without this completed paperwork.

Fire Drills-

Your child will participate in frequent fire drills throughout the year.  We will practice the procedures before our first fire drill so that your child will be prepared.

Fund Raisers-

Our school participates in several fund raisers throughout the year to raise money for various things for our school.  We hope that everyone can participate, but it is not required.

Forms-

Throughout the years many forms, permission slips, and various paperwork will be sent home for you to read, sign, and return.  Check your child’s planner daily for these kinds of things.  Please make every effort to send paperwork back in a timely manner. Return all paperwork in the front pouch of your child's planner.  

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H

Homework-

The most valuable homework I can assign is to please read with your child every night. It makes a huge difference in your child's early literacy development.  Write the names of the books you read together in the front of your child's planner and store in your child’s backpack. We have an ongoing contest of who is reading the most at home. Sometimes additional homework is assigned. If there is paper-based homework, you will find it in the front pouch of the planner. All paper homework is due the following morning and is intended to be completed with an adult.

In addition, please practice KEYRING LETTERS/WORDS with your child each night (see KEYRING WORDS below)

 Handwriting-

This is something that can always be reinforced at home.  Model correct letter formation.  Make it fun…write in the sand at the beach, in shaving cream, use markers, make letters with play-doh, etc.  Students will need to learn both upper and lower case print. Make sure your child knows how to properly form the letters, starting at the top of the letter instead of at the bottom.

I

Illness-

Please do not send your child to school if he/she has a temperature.  If your child becomes ill at school, you will be called to come and get your child.  We need at least two working phone numbers at all times in order to contact you in case of illness or emergency. If you move or change phone numbers throughout the year, please keep the school updated on your new numbers. Do not send medication with your child to the classroom. An adult must drop it off in the office and complete necessary paperwork. If your child has asthma or other condition, please let me know as soon as possible.

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K

Keyring Words

Your child will receive a silver ring with letter cards (and later word cards) on it. . Practice reading/writing these letters/words with your child at home. This is homework in addition to reading to your child at home. Your child will be tested on these at school. KEEP THE KEYRING  IN YOUR CHILD'S BACKPACK AT ALL TIMES. Store the ring in the provided plastic bag for durability. Your child will need this all year. KEYRING  WORDS: When your child has mastered letter names and sounds, he/she will receive 10 keyring words. Your child will be tested on these weekly at school. When your child masters 10 words, he/she will receive a new set of 10 words. Additional information will be sent home about this when your child receives the keyring.

Kodak Gallery-

Throughout the year I will take photos of the class on special days, during lessons, etc.  I share them with all of you on www.kodakgallery.com.  Photos can be ordered on the site and picked up at a location near you (CVS, Wal-Mart, etc.) or mailed to your home. 

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Library-

We will have scheduled library lessons with our Media Specialist, Mrs. Hartnett.  Kindergarten students will learn how to browse for books and will begin checking books out in January.  Does your child have a public library card?  The public library is also a great resource for good books as well.

Lunch-

If you would like to have lunch with your child, please sign in at the office and wait for us in the cafeteria or outside at the picnic tables.  If your child buys lunch, make sure that he/she has money each day.  Children are responsible for bringing their own money to lunch, so please send the money in an envelope or plastic baggie for easy carrying.  A good alternative is to put money on your child’s lunch account by logging on to www.mylunchmoney.com It takes a couple of days for your deposit to process on this website so plan accordingly.

M

Math Investigations-

Math Investigations is the mathematics program that is currently used in Duval County.  The program is activity-based, often involving small and whole class games that encourage students to think creatively and work cooperatively with their classmates. Please be reminded that because of this learning format, a paper product (i.e. worksheet) is not always produced. Math Investigations is supplemented by Envisions, another math program that focuses on kindergarten math skills. We also have a daily calendar math program called Every Day Counts.

Music- Music is taught on a rotating schedule. Our music teacher is Mrs. Laymon

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Notes-

Look for notes from the office and from me to come home in your child’s planner.  Newsletters with important information and dates will come home periodically as well.

Nurse- Nancy Hurst is school nurse at Beauclerc.

O

Outside-

Your child will have outside time daily, weather permitting.  Please dress your child appropriately for the weather. Make sure your child wears shoes appropriate for climbing on equipment (no flipflops, heels, or sandals without a strap on the back.) It is a good idea to send a water bottle (labeled with your child's name) daily during the first month or two of school.

P

Physical Education-

We have scheduled PE times weekly.  Please dress your child appropriately on these days (sneakers, comfortable clothing). Coach Dudjak is the PE teacher.

Parties-

We will have a few class parties throughout the year.  Our room parent will contact you to help with our celebrations.  If we all help a little, we’re sure to have some memorable experiences for the class!

PTA (Parent/Teacher Association)-

Please please join the PTA. All parents are encouraged to join the school’s PTA.  It’s $5.00 to join.  We have an award-winning PTA…we simply couldn’t do all the cool things we do at school without the help of this organization. If we get all parents in our class to join, PTA will host a party for us! You don't have to be available to help at school to be a member. Your $5 donation will get you a membership card which has discounts on area businesses as well.

Progress Reports- All students will receive a progress report during the first quarter of school.  Students who are at risk in one or more academic areas will receive progress reports throughout the year.  When your child receives a progress report, please sign the form and return the following school day.  As always, please email or send in a note if you wish to conference.

Q

 Questions-

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns throughout the year.  Email will get the fastest response. I do not conference during the mornings while I prepare for your child's school day or at any time when children are in the classroom. You can also send a note in with your child and I'll respond as quickly as possible.

R

Report Cards-

Your child will receive a report card at the end of each quarter.  Please SIGN AND DETACH the bottom portion of the report card, and send that part only back to school along with the envelope.   Keep the actual report card for your records.

Recess-

Your child will have recess every day in the afternoon. Water bottles are helpful for after playtime. Please make sure it's a bottle that travels well/will not leak and is labeled with your child's name.

Rules-

At the beginning of the school year, all students devise and agree on a set of rules for maintaining a safe and civil environment.

Read-

“Reading aloud with children is known to be the single most important activity for building the knowledge and skills they will eventually require for learning to read.”  –Marilyn Jager Adams

Read to your child daily and let your children see you reading daily.  Make it fun...we want to develop good attitudes about reading. 

Restrooms-

We have a restroom in our classroom and your child is allowed to go when needed.   Of course accidents can still happen.  Please keep a spare set of clothes in a Ziploc and store in your child’s backpack just in case.

S

Snacks-

We do not have a daily snack.  If you would like to send occasional snacks for the entire class, you are more than welcome.  Goldfish, pretzels, crackers…low-sugar items are preferred. We will work the snack into our day.

School Supplies-

Please click on the SUPPLY LIST icon at the top of the page for a complete supply list.

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Transportation-

If your child will be going home a different way than what I have in my files, you MUST call the school or send me a note. Try to pick one mode of transportation and stick with it. It creates a sense of routine for your child and is much easier to keep up with. 

Tardies-

Students late to school (after 8:35 A.M.) are considered tardy.  Frequent tardiness interrupts our class routines and your child misses valuable learning time.  We begin instruction promptly and I do not want your child to miss out. Please make every effort to get your child to school on time. 

Toys-

Toys from home are not allowed.

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V

Volunteers

Volunteers are very important to our class! In addition to becoming a PTA  volunteer, you may also wish to help out with our class activities. Please fill out a volunteer form indicating your interests in volunteering. We always need good volunteers on field trips, parties, and occasionally I will need help in the class for special projects. I often need the most help with cutting/tracing prep work...it helps tremendously having volunteers for this! I put the materials/instructions in your child's backpack and you send back when you're finished. Please be sure to fill out both a volunteer form (from me) and an official Duval County Volunteer Application (obtainable in the front office). All volunteers must fill out this official application before volunteering to work with the children.

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Water Bottles-

Water bottles are needed at the beginning of school when it is so hot outside.  Please write your child’s name on his/her bottle and refill each day.  Make sure it's a bottle that closes well and doesn't leak.

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Y

Yearbook-

You will have a chance to buy a yearbook in the spring.  These are a great keepsake of your child’s first year in school!

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ZZZZ’s-

Your child should get plenty of rest each night.  Kindergarten students require 10-12 hours of sleep a day.  It is so important for your child to be alert and ready to learn each day.  Set a bedtime and be consistent.