Children should taken to cafeteria in morning between 7:30 and 7:50. If children ride bus, they will be dropped off at cafeteria door. Breakfast begins at 7:30. I will meet children at 8:00 in cafeteria. There will be many times that we have an assembly or do not come directly to classroom. If you are late, check in office and then bring your child to the classroom and be sure we are there.

Class will begin at 8:00 and dismiss at 3:00. Your child's regular and prompt attendance at school is important to his/her success. Most kindergarten learning activities are group oriented and involve interaction with classmates. Therefore, it is hard to make up work at home. If your child must miss class, I will send any work I can to help them. Please help them do the work and return. If you must make appointments during school, it is better if you can make them in the afternoon. If you pick up your child early, please go to elementary office to check out your child first. I wish every child loved school and couldn't stand to miss it. I know some children would rather be home, but maybe we can make school a place that they like.

Be sure to inform me if your child has any allergies. We do have a lot of food project and sometimes eat various food items.

Children should bring a large backpack (no wheels, please) everyday. Inside should be their three ring binder with all notes and money that I need to see. You should check it every day when it comes home with your child. They need to be able to open and close backpacks easily.

Bathrooms are in the room, and I do let them go most of the time if necessary. I ask them to wait if they can while I am talking. They are suppose to take bathroom break when they come in room in morning, after PE, and after recess, Also sometime we are in assembly, computer lab, or places that bathroom is not available. I don’t have help most of time and it can be problem. Child should be able to go to bathroom by him/herself and take care of clothing. If your child has a problem or goes frequently, please let me know.

Birthdays are special occasions for young children. If your child wishes, he/she may bring treats (cookies, cupcakes, etc) for the class on his birthday. You may send drinks, but we have milk if you don’t. You do not have to send anything if it is not convenient. Our class will sing Happy Birthday, and I will give the birthday child a small gift. We will do summer birthdays at the end of school. If you have birthday invitations to be sent home, please send for whole class or all boys or all girls.

Your child may sometimes bring home a form to order books or join book clubs. Our class often receives bonus points for sending these forms home. Slips signed and checked no may bring as many points as those checked yes. Please take a

few minutes to look at these, sign if needed and return. Never feel any pressure to buy things.

Breakfast is served in cafeteria from 7:30 until 7:50. Children need to be finished eating by 8:00. Cost is $1.00. Children should get tray and sit at K assigned table. They stay there until teacher meets them.

Children can sometimes buy candy in office. K students usually can go Friday or last day of week. Other times there will be a concession at activities. Money can be put in notebook pocket with note telling what it is for. I put money is small individual bag. If children have any money left over we keep it in their individual bag. You can send extra money to keep in their bag. I let children use this at any concession event we have or to purchase small items that they might sell such as spirit ribbons, suckers, etc.

Class directory will be made including child’s name, parents name, phone number, and email. I need written permission from each parent to include your child’s person information in class directory. It can be very useful for scheduling playtime, parties, and invitations.

Children should wear clothes that are comfortable and clothes they can do buttons, belts, etc. It is a good idea to send a change of clothes in zip lock bag in case child has an accident, especially if it is hard for you to come and bring a change of clothes. Be sure to send coat or jacket on rainy or cold day. We do play outside when possible, and they make several trips outside to PE, lunch, bus and other things.

School usually has 4 scheduled conferences during the year. I will contact you other times if I feel we need one. Feel free to arrange a conference whenever you have questions or concerns. I can do these for during my planning time, before or after school or by phone. Just let me know when a conference is needed.

D

Daily Papers

Your child will bring home papers almost daily in a folder. Most Mondays there will be a note with information for parent.

Other papers may be artwork, papers done during class, calendar listing events or notes from school . Please go over your child’s papers with him or her. Ask him/her what they did on the paper. Discuss any problems they had. I often write messages. Read them to your child. At the beginning I put smiley faces, stickers, or stamps on almost every paper. As year progresses I use stars and smiley faces and eventually S+, S and S-. If the child has trouble with a paper, we try to go over the paper and correct it, but that is not always possible. I don’t want them to feel they failed. We learn that everyone makes mistakes. We learn from our mistakes.

Establishing good classroom discipline is essential to each child's success, confidence and happiness. Every child should feel that the classroom environment is safe and secure, free from all threats of physical or emotional harm. In addition, it is important that each child learn to develop self-discipline and good work habits, to resolve conflicts peacefully, and to think independently. We use our school creed, class creed, class pledge, GE Eight Expectations and Life Principles to help us learn the appropriate actions. When mistakes are made, we use these things to correct them. If problems persist, we have a special place where child sits called the Thinking Zone. Here a child is away from others and has time to think about his/her behavior. If rules are severely or persistently broken, parents will be contacted by note (to be signed and returned) or by telephone. Next we will arrange a conference. If there is still negative behavior, parent can come for a day of observation and intervention. A visit to the principal's office is used as a last resort or in extreme cases. Please let me know if you are aware of problems that might affect his/her behavior. Children often tell parents things that they have not told their teacher. I want to make school a happy, safe place.

F

We probably will have some field trips this year. I would like for parents to sign a general permission slip for any trip. Some may be as simple as trip to Duncan for programs. Ones we have taken are to visit pumpkin patch, to visit hospital, tour Homeland, go to plays or programs, or go to Children’s Museum in Seminole. You would be notified about these trips in advance. The paper work would just be done. You could change you mind at anytime. Volunteers are welcome and needed to help with these trips.

I use a program called Great Expectations in my classroom. It encourages, praises, and challenges children. We use the Magic Triad – kind words, kind touch, and smiles. We will celebrate successes and cheer everyone for successes. I am sure you will be amazed as you hear see and hear children memorize, recite and perform. Visit our classroom or come to Bulldog Blastoff on every other Tuesdays and see some of the many things we do.

Your extra help at home really makes a difference. Please help your child review and practice things we do in classroom. Check Monday note, daily papers and report card for things children need to practice. Try to read to your child daily. Make time spent in the car or time waiting learning fun. Ask your child things. They might even help you learn some things. It is especially good to work with numbers and letters.

If your child is sick and must miss school, it helps to let me know. You can call office and she will get me a message. I will send home as much of work child missed as I can. Help them do the work when they are feeling better and return it to school. This helps the child to realize importance of doing the work.

It is good idea to have a jacket in backpack most of time. You never know when it might rain and we have to go outside several times a day. Also playground can be pretty cold without a jacket or coat lots of days.

You will be amazed at things your child will learn this year. We work a lot with numbers and will count to a 100 often. Phonics is so important. We will learn the names and sounds of letters. Children also should be able to name the beginning and ending sound of words. We will also learn to read and code small words that follow basic phonic rules. Activities will include art, music, science and social studies. Extras include learning words in others languages, working on computer, performing and so much more. You can read K PASS objectives on State Department web site. Link is on our class web page.

Library

Soon each child will check out a library book. These can be kept for up to 1 week or returned daily. When the child brings back a book, they can take it to the library and check out another one. If book is lost, you will be asked to pay for book. I will ask for you to list books you or someone has read to child each time period. Those who reach goal will receive prizes and awards. Please try to do this. It is so exciting when whole class can receive prize. It is also difficult when few do not get to enjoy fun. Awards will be given at the end of school for children with good reading records.

Children may eat breakfast and or lunch in the cafeteria or bring their lunch. Breakfast will be at 7:30-7:50 and lunch at 1100. Cost is $1.00 for breakfast and $1.50 for lunch. You may also apply for free and reduced lunches. Lunches should be paid for in advance in cafeteria. If you cannot pay there, please put any money in an envelope with child's name, teacher's name, and purpose of money. We will send the money to the correct place. I don’t want to spend lots of teaching time on money.

Any money sent to school should be in zipper bag in notebook. A note telling what the money is for should be noted on pages in front of notebook. I will put the money in proper place or send money to office to be sent to proper place.

A notebook (three ring binder) is an important part of your child’s and your daily routine. It will contain all the information you need to keep up with what is happening at school. I will put daily papers and notes from office in front pocket. Next will be zipper pocket for money, then paper to write note to each other. Next will be included Monday note, any calendars, library log, breakfast and lunch log. Please get daily paper out of front each day. Be sure to write any notes that I need to see about your child or money and date comment. Encourage your child to not open bag until they get home or get to school. If you have your child give money to the cafeteria, put it in an outside pocket of bag in envelope to give to cafeteria lady. This can help cut down on lost items.

Always feel free to contact me or visit our classroom or activities. Just knock on our door and a greeter will invite you inside. You are welcome to observe or help with the classroom.

Sometimes I will send personal sheets for you to fill out or help your child fill out. Since I don’t have an aid, it is hard to do individual project where I need to ask each child questions. These might include favorite items and why, family tree, etc. We sometime make books from these and later send home with each child. Thanks in advance for helping with this.

Never worry about asking questions? If you don’t know or unsure about something, I will do my best to explain or find answer for you. I try to explain things in this note and Monday note, but sometimes it may not be clear to you or you have concerns.

The children will be going out for recess and/or PE daily unless it is raining or extremely hot or cold. Sometimes we have to watch a video inside. Please keep this in mind when helping your child select clothing for the day. When selecting shoes and clothing to wear, remember that they will be running, climbing and playing games. Even in cold weather, it is beneficial for children to get some fresh air. On occasions that you feel it is necessary for your child to stay indoors or not play, please send a written note. I will try to make arrangements for your child.

Reports Cards will be sent every nine weeks. The report card lists some of the things we have been studying. It is marked if child has accomplished these tasks. If child hasn't accomplished this, it will be accessed again next 9 weeks. There is also a list of social skills. These are marked if child needs improvement. Please sign and return this each time. Also at mid term of the 9 weeks, I will send a similar list of things we are doing and child’s progress. You can be aware if your child has accomplished these. We will also have conferences where you can schedule time to discuss your child's work.

Rest Time

Children will sometimes be required to lie down and rest for a while in afternoon. We usually do everyday at beginning of school. A video will be shown. They do not have to go to sleep, but they must rest and be quiet. Later in year when they can work without disturbing the testing, we have more of a quiet work time. During this time I will be doing individual testing.

Show and Tell is done usually twice a week. Monday note will list days and subject. Usually Wednesday they bring object that begins with letter we are studying and Friday or last day of wee is anything day. It helps the children to learn the things we are studying and to talk before a group. Please help your child find things to show. I would suggest that you not send anything valuable. Even though we try to not let anything happen, things sometimes get lost or broken. Objects can be real or pictures of things. At end of year we will have favorite days. Each child will have a day to show some of his favorite things.

If children ride the bus to school, they go to the cafeteria. They can eat breakfast or report to designated area until 8:00 when they will be taken to class. In the afternoon we will take your child to the bus at 2:55, unless otherwise instructed. If your child is going someplace different or is being picked up by a different person, please send me a written note. Do not rely on your child to tell me this information. Children sometimes become confused and relay messages incorrectly. Please let you child ride the bus the first week if you plan for them to ride it. At least walk to bus with them and let them meet the bus driver. The bus drivers plan their routes and seating the first day. Try to let me know of changes in morning notebook. Message during day do not always get to me. If there is any question about where to send child, I first check with siblings, and put child where I know they will be safest. Children who are picked up should be met at west door of elementary building. There is room just inside door to wait. Our class leaves the room together with those picked up at front of line. If no one is there to pick them up I take them to buses with me and then return to classroom.

I believe every child is special and unique. I never want your child to feel bad about himself. Our motto is Be the Best you can be. I only ask that they try. We all learn from mistakes

I invite each of you to visit our classroom at least once and observe. At the end of the day or on party day is not a good time to observe our daily routine. Your observation should give you a better understanding of the things we do each day. We also welcome visitors who will come to our class and tell us about their jobs or special things. Please let me know if you would like to come or know someone that would speak to our class. I try to schedule these so that they coincide with the subjects we are studying, but we can do them at other times too.

We will need adults to help with field trips, parties and other projects. I have a volunteer list home for things we need. I like for each family to help with one party and at least one class project. If you can't come to a party, you can send items needed. I usually have a homeroom parent that helps coordinate parties, and a chairperson for each party. We can also use volunteers to come and work with children. Just let me know. Some things will be at night, and others are things you can do at home at your convenience. Also we have a PTO that normally meets once a month. I encourage you to come to those meetings.

If you ever have extras of something, especially lots of the item, check with me. We use a lot of things for art projects, centers and various activities. Some items we nearly always need are: buttons, pipe cleaner, pompoms, cotton balls, jewels, beads, lacing ropes, foam pieces, rickrack, lace, paper plates, cups, wooden blocks, puzzles, games, hats or parts of specific uniform for dress up, scrap paper, envelopes, and tissue paper.

Yes, my students are young, but they are not too young to learn. One of the best things you can do for your child is teach them to be independent and self disciplined. Let them grow and take time to let them do things for themselves. After all the years I have taught, I am still amazed at the things they can achieve!

Hurrah for the Kindergarten class of 2007-2008, They will be the Senior Class of 2020!

Remind you child to keep his bag zipped until he/she gets to classroom and keep it zipped tight until he/she gets home.

I hope this information has been helpful to you. Some things may change as year progresses, but maybe this will give you an idea of my plans. It seems no matter how hard I try to get messages to parents either written or oral, sometimes things aren't explained fully. Sometimes in the hurry of trying to get a note ready to send, I make mistakes. Please excuse my errors and don't hesitate to call me if you have questions or concerns. May the first day of school be the beginning of many wonderful times. We want school to be a happy place where children want to come. If problems arise or you are concerned, please let me know. Working together we can make this a successful year.

Judy Haynes
Empire Kindergarten Teacher

School 580 255-4150

Home 580 252-3008