Answers to some of your questions...
- How can I find out what is happening at school?
- What kind of snacks can I send with my child?
- How are birthdays celebrated?
- What is Sharing?
- What are the folders for?
- How is homework handled in Kindergarten?
- How should we handle birthday invitations at school?
- What is the Daily Schedule for Kindergarten?
- What is a portfolio?
- How is discipline handled?
- What kinds of rest periods are provided in Kindergarten?
- What forms of parent-teacher communication are available?
How can I find out what is happening at school?
Please be sure to read and refer to the monthly newsletter from
school, and
the Kindergarten newsletter/calendar. They will both contain
important
information such as, upcoming events, dates and notices. The
classroom
newsletter/calendar will specifically focus on Kindergarten
topics and news,
along with donation requests and special events.
What kind of snacks can I send with my child?
We will have snack time each morning. Please keep snacks as
healthy as
possible. This is a brief time, so please send snacks and drinks
that are
easy to open and ready to eat.
How are birthdays celebrated?
Birthdays are reasons to celebrate! Your child's birthday
celebration will
be scheduled as close as possible to the real date and I will
send home a
letter at the beginning of the month to let you know when it is
scheduled.
If your child has a summer birthday, I will schedule an un-
birthday sometime
during the school year. Birthday treats will be served at snack
time and
some suggestions include fruit, vegetables, cookies, brownies, donuts, ice cream
cups, popsicles, etc. You
are welcome to spend the day (or part of the day) with us as part
of your
child's celebration.
What is Sharing?
Sharing is a special time set aside for each child to bring one
thing of
importance to school that he/she would like to show to classmates
during our
Morning Meeting time. Please do not allow your child to bring in
anything
that promotes violence or violent behavior. During the school
year, there
will be opportunities for your child to bring in something
specific (such as
objects that begin with the letter of the day or two objects that
rhyme,
etc.) and you will be notified via the Kindergarten
newsletter/calendar. If
your child misses his/her scheduled sharing day, they will need
to wait
until their next scheduled day to share. It is very difficult to
have more
than one child share on the same day. Thanks for your
understanding!
What are the folders for?
The large, plastic envelope (Homework Folder) will be sent home at the
beginning of the week and will contain homework assignments to be
returned
at the end of the week. The plastic pocket folder (Take-Home
Folder) will
be sent home and returned each day and will be used as a
communication
folder for both teacher and parent. It will contain daily school
papers your
child may bring home to be reviewed and notes from me. The large office
envelope will be used to
communicate between home and the office. Please check both of
these on a daily
basis.
How is homework handled in Kindergarten?
During the year, your child will be working on several ongoing
assignments
to reinforce the skills they are learning. This will give them a
chance to
share with you their blossoming reading, writing and math skills.
Homework
will be assigned on the first day of each week and will be due at
the end of
the week. Homework will be reviewed to see if your child is doing
their best
work. If your child is having difficulty with an assignment,
please let me
know. Below are some examples of ongoing weekly homework
assignments:
*Picture-Word Journal: Your child will need to cut out pictures
and/or words (provided by me) that have the same sound as the
letter(s) we are learning and glue them onto the pages for the
specific letter. Some writing and drawing may be included in the
assignment.
*Homework Journal: Your child will need to write and/or draw in
this book,
following specific journal topics that correspond to what they
are learning.
How should we handle birthday invitations at school?
Birthday invitations should only be distributed amongst parents in the school parking lot or sent in the mail.
What is the Daily Schedule for Kindergarten?
Please check out our online Class Schedule and Calendar for the
latest.
What is a portfolio?
A portfolio, a collection of your child's work, will be created
over the
school year. It is an extremely helpful tool for me to use to
assess your
child's performance and progress over time. Portfolios illustrate
the
growth, talents, and achievements throughout the year. The
portfolios will
remain in the classroom and will be shared during conference
times.
How is discipline handled?
The word "discipline" stems from "disciple". A disciple is one
who
identifies with his leader and who tries to follow in his
footsteps. The
leaders in your child's world are his parents and teachers. The
Bible
exhorts parents and teachers to lovingly discipline the children
in their
care. Prevention is the best form of discipline. Your child will
be made
aware of the classroom rules in a positive manner. I will make
every effort
to catch your child doing well and affirm them. I will also
strive to
anticipate and avoid trouble using redirection of your child's
behavior or
actions.
The following levels of discipline will be implemented:
1. Verbal communication between teacher and child, possibly
redirection, given 2 times.
2. "Thinking Time"-the child will be removed from the group
or
activity and given time to think about how they can act
differently. The
child may rejoin the group or activity when he/she feels they are
ready.
3. Communication between teacher and parent via the monthly
behavior
calendar.
4. Communication between teacher and parent via phone call or
conference.
What kinds of rest periods are provided in Kindergarten?
Every afternoon, the children have the opportunity to lay on rest
mats with
their blanket and pillow while a chapter book is being read or
soft music is
playing. This important time of day gives the children a chance to
recharge
their "batteries"!!
What forms of parent-teacher communication are available?
You can always send a note in your child's take-home folder, call
the
school, or email me via this website or the school's website.
