Communication
Good parent/teacher communication is essential for a successful year. I want to make sure that you always know what is going on in class. I have a teacher website that has basic information—a schedule, weekly newsletters, a calendar, and tips for helping your children learn at home.
http://teacherweb.com/TX/PatsySommerElementary/campbell/apt13.aspxhttp://teacherweb.com/TX/PatsySommerElementary/campbell/apt13.aspx
I will also contact you through phone calls and notes home when necessary. If you have any questions, you can contact me at (512) 704-0643. E-mail is always the best way to contact me. My email address is courtney_campbell@roundrockisd.org. If you have an emergency, contact the office, and they will contact me immediately.
Folders
I will send home a Daily folder everyday. Please check it for important information, homework, notes and information from school. It will also contain your child’s behavior calendar. Please check the calendar every night so you will know how your child is behaving in class (please see behavior section below for more information) and return it the next day. You may also use the folder to send any notes or information back to me the next day. Please make sure you send any important notes (or money) in the notes and money zippered pouch. I check it everyday! Things in kindergarten pockets or backpacks tend to disappear! Thanks!
Money
Please do not allow your children to bring money to school unless it is for a specific reason (book order, field trip, lunch money, etc). Please put the money, along with a note indicating the amount and child’s name into the zippered pouch in the daily folder.
Transportation
For your child’s safety, please notify me in writing if there are any changes in the way your child will be going home from school. Without written instruction from you, your child will be sent home in the usual manner (we cannot accept verbal changes from your child or a sibling). If a last minute transportation change arises, please call the front office before 2:15 and they will notify me.
Behavior Plan
As you know, good behavior and learning go hand in hand. Patsy Sommer follows the Positive Behavior Support model—a school-wide system that focuses on positive, as opposed to negative reinforcement. It was very successful our first year, and I am excited to continue it this year. You will probably see a lot of “Stallion Stars” come home—little yellow stars children are given when they are caught following our Stallion Star expectations. In addition, each week I will choose a “Spotlight Stallion”—a student who has shown exceptional behavior for the week. This student will be recognized by Mr. Pratz during Friday morning’s assembly, given a certificate and will have their picture displayed by the cafeteria. It is quite an honor!
Our Stallion Star Expectations (for the both the whole school and our classroom) are:
1. We are safe.
2. We are respectful.
3. We are responsible.
4. We are cooperative.
5. And we always do are best!
If you would like to read more about PBIS, you can visit the school webpage:
http://schools.roundrockisd.org/sommer/PBS/index.htm
As much as I try to focus on positive reinforcements, sometimes, it is necessary to give children a consequence for misbehavior. I try my best to make the consequences “logical.”
Even as kindergarteners, children need to learn the importance of accepting responsibility for their actions. In our classroom, we keep track of behavior with the following color-coded system. It’s an easy, visual way for children to monitor their behavior and a quick way to let you know how they’re doing.
Blue- Super Star Day!!
Your child has gone above and beyond to make superstar choices all day! J
Green—Great Day!
All students start out everyday on green!
Yellow- Warning! This is your warning—don't do it again!
If a child has difficulty following our classroom rules or directions, they will first be given a verbal reminder about correct behavior. If the child continues to have problems, his/her name will be moved down the behavior chart to yellow (Warning) and he/she will be asked to sit out for a short period to cool down and think about what he/she can do better.
Orange—Time Out/Conference
If the behavior continues, the child’s name will be moved to orange (time out). The child will then be required to have a conference with me, usually during a fun time like free-choice centers.
Red—Call Home/ Office visit!
Finally, if there is no improvement, the child’s name will be moved to red (Call Home or sent to the Office) and he/she will be required to fill out a “Time-Out” sheet documenting the inappropriate behavior. A parent or other caregiver will be required to sign the Time-Out sheet and return it the next day. Continued difficulty will be referred to the office and parents will be called.
*Support from home is absolutely essential to make this behavior system work. A daily behavior calendar will be sent home in your child’s folder. Please check it everyday & initial it. Please make sure to praise your child when he/she is consistently behaving well in class and set up appropriate consequences when he/she is not. By working together, we can create a wonderful atmosphere in which all children can learn!
Toys
Please do not send toys of any kind to school. Occasionally, children will be allowed to bring in items for “Show-and-Tell,” but you will be notified beforehand.
Arrival
Attendance is very important to your child’s progress. Kindergarten students should begin to arrive at 7:15 and go directly to their classroom hallway every morning. Teachers will supervise the children. At 7:25, all students will proceed to the classroom and instruction will begin promptly at 7:45. If your child arrives at school after 9:00am, you must sign them in at the office before proceeding to the classroom.
Please note that final good-byes from parents are made prior to entering the kindergarten pod. Parents will not be allowed in the kindergarten pod before or after school. This makes the transition to the classroom much easier for all students. It is essential for your child to be in the classroom by 7:45, as we will have just a short time before broadcast begins.
Dismissal Definitions
Your child is a Walker if:
You will WALK up to the school to pick them up.
OR
An older sibling will walk them home.
*if you are parking your car and walking up to the building, your child is a Car Rider, not a walker.
Your child is a Car Rider if:
You will drive up to the curb, stay in your car, and your child will get in your car.
Your child is a Bus Rider if:
Your child will get on a yellow RRISD School Bus.
Your child is a Daycare if:
Your child will meet a representative from a Daycare facility (not just a neighbor or friend) and will board Daycare Transportation at the school, or YMCA.
Lunch
We eat lunch from 10:50-11:20. Please note the time in case you would like to visit for lunch.
There are 4 lunch choices everyday. There is a link to the lunch calendar from our class website. Please be sure your child knows what he/she is eating for lunch each day. The menu will be read to the class daily, but once your child selects a choice, that selection is served. Keep in mind that extra food is not prepared, which makes it difficult to allow students to change their mind once lunchtime begins. Therefore, if your child will be arriving late to school and they still are going to buy a lunch please make sure to notify me ahead of time so I can include them in the lunch count. I place the lunch order by 8:00 everday.
You may, of course, send a lunch from home, but please be sure to
label lunch boxes clearly!
Student lunches are $2.05. Student breakfasts are $1.35. You may pay for lunches online at:
http://www.pamslunchroom.com
This is the BEST and safest way to pay for lunches!
If you choose to send in a payment, please make sure it is in the money pouch in the daily folder! Please try to pay for lunches ahead of time, and not daily. Our mornings are very hectic and there isn’t always time to check for lunch money before lunch (which, as you see, is early).
If you plan on eating at school lunch with your child and need a lunch for yourself, please send a note with your child or call the office and order your lunch by 8:00. Please wait in the lunchroom if you arrive early as we will be still having class.
*I ask that you please wait to come eat lunch with your child until the third week of school. This will help make our transition from the lunchroom to our classroom much easier for the children. Thank you!
Please let me know if your child has any food allergies or diet restrictions!
Water
Please make sure to send a water bottle (labeled with name) to school with your child everyday. It gets very hot during the day and proper hydration is essential for good learning. Juice or Gatorade type drinks are not allowed.
Sleep
Please make sure your child gets good, uninterrupted sleep every night. It is also essential for growing and learning. Kindergarteners need between 9-10 hours of sleep per night.
Illness
If your child is sick, please keep them at home! Washing hands and hand sanitizers are great, but the best thing we can do to keep our classroom healthy is to keep the bad germs out to begin with! Your child must be fever-free (without medication) for 24 hours before they return to school!
Rest Time
We will have rest time at the beginning of the year, so please send a SMALL blanket or towel for your child to rest on. We will have a short “Brain Break” everyday, which will allow us to turn off the lights and listen to quiet music.
Snack
Because lunch is so early, students will be allowed to eat a snack from home every day after specials. Only healthy snacks are allowed at school. Suggestions include pretzels, popcorn, graham crackers, animal crackers, goldfish, fresh fruit or veggies. Please do not send any drinks other than water. As we will be eating snack in the classroom, please do not send anything sticky, messy, or that requires a spoon (i.e. yogurt).
Peanut Free Zone!
As we have several peanut allergies in Kindergarten this year, we are asking that you do not send any treats or snack for the class that contain any nut products! I will provide more detailed information regarding this at back-to-school night (Open House).
Birthdays
Birthdays are very special times in the lives of kindergarteners and will be recognized at school in an appropriate manner. Please let me know ahead of time if you intend to send a special snack. The state law allows us to celebrate birthdays in our classroom, but not in the cafeteria. As a kindergarten team, we are asking that you send (nut-free) cookies only.
Homework
Homework in kindergarten will consist of required reading at home and some addition activities. The best thing you can do at home to support your child’s learning is read with him/her every day! I will also send home other fun games and activities that support our learning in class. You can also check our class website for other activities to extend and enrich your child’s learning.
In addition, please talk to your child everyday about school. This will help them internalize what they learn and develop their oral language skills. Examples of questions include:
1. What did you do in (science, math, reading, etc.) today?
2. What did you play today?
3. Who did you play/work with today?
4. What was your favorite thing about today?
It’s important to ask them specific questions, because if you just ask “What did you do today?” they’re going to say “Nothing” or “Played.” We do much more than that!
Volunteers
If you would like to volunteer in our classroom, please do! You are always welcome. I can always use help working with children, supervising centers, helping with special art projects, making copies, preparing classroom materials, etc. I will have a sign-up at orientation and back-to-school night. You can also e-mail me! Please remember to sign in at the office whenever you visit the school.
Field Trips
Throughout the year, we will schedule various field trips to enhance our learning. Permission slips and cost information will be sent home prior to each trip. We always need volunteer chaperones on field trips, so if you are interested, please let me know. Occasionally, space may limit the number of parents allowed to go. In that case, chaperones will be chosen on a first-come, first-go basis—although I like to make sure every parent who wants to can go on at least one field trip during the course of the year. Unfortunately, siblings are not allowed to accompany us on field trips.
Book Orders
Your child will be bringing home a form to order Scholastic books about once a month. If you wish to order, simply fill out the form and send in the correct amount of money or a check made out to the book company in an envelope. There will also be an option to order online! These orders are provided as a convenient way for parents to buy quality books for their children at a low price. As an added bonus, for every dollar that is spent, bonus points are earned to purchase books for our classroom. Of course, you are never under any obligation to order!
Here's how it works:
· Use the information below to access the Scholastic Book Clubs Web site.
· Browse the titles with your child, and place your order with your credit card.
· Your order will come to me, and your credit card payment will go directly to Scholastic's secure server. There's no need to send money to school.
· After I submit the entire class's order to Scholastic, your order will be delivered to our classroom for your child to take home.
www.scholastic.com/parentordering
Class User Name: mscampbellskinderclass Password: kindergarten
Clothing
Please make sure your child wears kindergarten-appropriate clothing everyday (remember—we like messy things—paint, playdoh, sand!) In addition, the district dress code must be followed at all times. Dressing in layers is always a good idea here in central Texas. It might be chilly in the mornings, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be downright hot by recess). Tennis shoes are required for PE days, but are a good idea everyday. (The playground is covered in tiny little pebbles). Please, please, please…label all of your child’s coats, jackets, gloves, hats—any article of clothing that can be removed. If something gets lost (and it will), please check the lost and found.
In addition, please keep an extra set of clothes in your child's bag which should include underpants and pants/shorts in case of an accident.
Finally…
Encourage your child to discuss school activities with you. Talk positively about school. The way your child perceives your feelings about school and teachers will have a direct effect on how he/she feels about them. I am delighted to have your child in class and look forward to working with you to make sure your child has a super school year!
I feel very honored to have your child in my class this year!