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2012-2013 Room 6 Handbook for Parents
WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE!!!!
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you or welcome you back to
our class. I am looking forward to a wonderful and exciting year of learning
together! Primary grades are an exciting time as children embark upon new
adventures in the world of learning. I count myself truly blessed to be
given this opportunity to get to know you and your child. It is my desire to
instill a love of learning that will last throughout your child's years of
schooling. We have an exceptionally great group of first graders who will
lead the way and both make some new friends, and see some old familiar faces
from pre-school years.
For Kindergarten parents, I understand that you and your child will probably
meet this transition with both excitement and apprehension (a little of
both), and I hope that this handbook will help you to know what to expect in
my classroom this year, and answer any questions you may have. I am looking
forward to establishing the best possible learning environment for your child
and helping him/her to achieve their full potential. Maintaining each child's
self-esteem and building a secure foundation for future growth will always
remain a priority in my classroom. With teamwork and cooperation among
parents, teachers, and students, we will have a successful year!
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THE PARENT/TEACHER RELATIONSHIP
I believe that a good parent-teacher relationship is necessary for maximum
school success. Throughout the year I will communicate with you through
telephone calls, newsletters, notes in your child's daily green folder,
progress reports, report cards, and parent-teacher conferences. I encourage
you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns at any time. You may
call me at school(965-2423-best way to reach me), email using the icon at the
top of the Teacher Web home page (I will read at 4:00 P.M. daily), or send me
a note in the green folder. I am available for conferences regarding your
child's progress by appointment and as soon as the next day at 4:00. Please
do not interrupt our instructional time (8:35-3:00) except in case of an
emergency, and please do not drop by for unscheduled conferences before
school or at 3:00. Those are work times for me, and I need to get materials
ready for the school day and teach after school classes three days a week! I
am running upstairs at 3:00 to be on time to pick up my after school students!
Also, if you need to tell me something that must be addressed that day or
afternoon, please call, rather than email. If I was sitting at my computer
all day, I wouldn't be doing my job, so a phone call works best in those
situations.
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PARENT PARTICIPATION
Throughout the school year, there will be a variety of special classroom
activities and celebrations. I encourage you to attend these functions when
possible and to support them appropriately. Your support of school
activities makes your child feel important and conveys the message that you
value their education. If you would like to serve as a Room Mom/Dad, please
call and leave a message to that effect. I will select room moms/dads at the
beginning of the year. Room Moms/Dads will be in charge of communications,
planning classroom parties, planning field trips, coordinating field trip
drivers, and other duties that will help our classroom as needed. If you
would like to help in the classroom during Centers, please fill out the
questionnaire in the summer mailing and attend the parent in-service
training.
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MORNING RESPONSIBILITIES
Your child has new morning responsibilities that they must learn to
complete independently, such as unpacking their backpack, hanging up their
coat, turning in their daily folder, handling bathroom activities, and
finding their place in the circle. I want you to be very aware of not
performing these duties for your child. It is much easier for your child to
separate and develop independent skills when you walk them to morning
assembly in the gym and let them walk into the classroom by themselves. They
are big kids now, and I ask your support in promoting and encouraging them to
do these responsibilities independently. For the first few days of school, I
certainly understand that you may want to walk your child to the classroom
door. However, allowing them to walk into the classroom alone helps them
become more independent. Please understand it is very important for your
child to develop an independent morning routine. We promise to give each and
every student lots of TLC!!!!
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SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Your child's regular and punctual attendance at school is crucial to his/her
success. Most primary learning activities are small group oriented and
involve explicit instruction. Therefore, it is next to impossible to make up
the work at home. Interaction with classmates promotes social growth and
learning, and we need all of our class friends at school daily! Please view
school as a priority and schedule appointments for after hours or during
breaks.
That said, if your child has a fever, do not bring them to school. They will
be sent to the office and then home. If your child has a running or extremely
stuffy nose or is lethargic, please keep them home to stem the spread of
infection to the whole class. If your child contracts a communicable disease,
please inform the office so that we can send out a classroom notice. Illness
is a valid excuse for staying home from school!
I encourage parents to travel with their children. I think it presents
fantastic learning opportunities. We do have an independent study program for
students who will be out for 5 or more consecutive days. I need a week's
notice to prepare the study packet based on your travel plans. Travel of less
than 5 days does not require an independent study packet.
ABSCENCES WITHOUT NOTES WILL BE CODED UNEXCUSED (Please review student
handbook). If a child arrives late or needs to leave school early, you must
sign in/out at the school office and they will call the classroom and ask
that your child be sent to the office.
School hours are 8:35-3:00pm. Class begins promptly at 8:35 in the Gym daily.
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PICK-UP TIME
Please remember that your child’s safety is my primary concern. If you need
to send a relative or friend to pick up your child, please send me a note or
call the office to alert them, and they will call me. If your child is not
enrolled in an after school class, then they should be picked up promptly
from the school library at 3:00. I will be teaching after school classes M,T,
and TH, and I must report to my afterschool classroom at 3:00.
K-1 students will wait in the library and you may pick them up there, or Mr.
Stubbs will call for them on the walkie talkie to come down to the front of
the school when you arrive.
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MONEY
On occasion it will be necessary for your child to bring money to school.
ALWAYS send money in a sealed envelope with the following
information on it: child's name, teacher's name, amount and purpose. Please
place it in your child's green daily folder, not their backpack. This helps
reduce the likelihood of any errors.
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LUNCH/SNACKS/BIRTHDAY PARTIES/OTHER
Howell Mtn. does not provide breakfast, so please make sure your student has
breakfast before they arrive at school. I can't emphasize this point enough.
Hungry children can not learn. Paid lunch is $2.50 per day and
reduced fee lunch is $.50. You may also pack a lunch for your child (no soft
drinks, or candy please). Students will all eat together in the gym at 12:05
after lunch recess. (There is no microwave available for student use.)
Children will also go out to recess at 10:20 and will need a healthy snack
(no sugar laden snacks, please). Protein is a good choice for this first
snack: cheese, cheese sticks, ½ peanut butter sandwhich, nuts, chicken
strips, etc. They need enough food to last from 10:20 until 12:05 before they
will eat again, and they get extremely hungry by the first recess, so please
make sure they have enough of a snack to make it to lunch. We do not provide
snacks.
Please feel free to bring in a treat for your student’s birthday
celebration. Birthdays are special times and that is the appropriate time for
a treat. Please either leave them in the morning or bring them in at
2:30 p.m., if you would like to stay and take photos and join the party. I
will send out a list of food allergy considerations once I have received the
information, just to let you know if we need any non-dairy or other
considerations. Students' names will not be mentioned.
There will be other events where you can help us with your culinary skills,
as well, so please stay tuned. We will be cooking in connection with our
project based learning during the year and notes will go home ahead of time
to ask for help or donations of supplies. At times we will cook from scratch,
and at times we will ask parents to contribute a ready-made dish. If you
would like to teach a specific cooking class with the class, please let me
know, and I will schedule it!
Of course, if your student has any dietary restrictions or allergies, you
need to inform me and the school office at admission time. This is imperative
with primary children.
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SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDERS
Your child will bring home Scholastic book order forms. This is an
opportunity to purchase quality books for your child if you wish to
participate. Scholastic books are now online, and our class gets more points
when you order online, so we are going to the online system. I will give you
the order code at the beginning of the year.
Once a year, there is a Book Fair in the library as well. If your child needs
to bring money for the Book Fair, or any other school purchases, please have
them give it to me at the beginning of the day, so I can keep it safe for
them. It is otherwise NOT a good idea to send your student to school with
money. I have seen students flash the money around and even give it away
before they even get to the Book Fair.
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HOWELL MOUNTAIN T-SHIRTS
Howell Mtn. T-Shirts are on sale at the office for $10.00 each. They are worn
on field trips, Fridays and other spirit days.
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BACKPACKS/FOLDERS
Your child will need a backpack. The backpack should be brought DAILY (fgreen
older inside), and checked by you EVERY night. This is to ensure that you
receive all important information and makes it easier for you to help your
child to complete their nightly reading and homework that will be placed in
their folder. (Regular homework will go home in a stapled packet each Monday
to be returned by Friday.) If your child brings lunch or snack from home,
he/she will also need a lunch box/bag. Please clean out both the backpack
and the lunch box nightly. Please label these and all items with
your child's name. Please label all sweaters and jackets with a sharpie as
well. Our school Lost and Found is outside the office in the hallway.
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VOLUNTEERS/VISITORS
We always enjoy having our parents/grandparents come to the school to help
us learn! We have had wonderful parent support in years past, and I know
that I can count on you this year! Your help is greatly appreciated!!! All
visitors will need to go by the office BEFORE coming to the classroom to sign-
in and pick up a visitor's badge.
If you have a special talent or lesson you would like to teach, this just
makes our program richer. We encourage all parents to be part of our Project
Based Learning whenever they have something to share!
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FIELD TRIPS
Throughout the year we will schedule field trips to enhance our curriculum or
to provide enrichment. If you would like to drive, you must complete the
driver insurance form and be approved before you can go.
The room moms/dads will be planning and organizing these trips. Permission
slips and cost information will be sent home prior to each trip and must be
completed and returned to allow participation. Some field trips may be free.
For others, we may ask for a suggested donation. Please let us know if you
need help with the cost of a field trip. No child will ever be left behind
due to lack of funds. During this time of cost cutting measures we have been
directed to always ask for donations towards the cost of field trips.
You will have the opportunity to volunteer to be a chaperone for a field trip
when permitted. Depending on the venue, the number of chaperones may be
limited. When this happens, chaperones will be assigned on a first-come-
first-served basis. Chaperones are expected to conduct themselves in an
appropriate manner, assisting as needed. Younger siblings are not allowed to
attend, as you are there to help us with the students. Additionally, since
not all parents can go on every trip, we ask that you refrain from purchasing
souvenirs, food, etc. for your child or any other child in your group.
Everything needed will be provided, and this will prevent any hurt feelings.
You can always return to the venue with your own family or make purchases
online from most museum gift shops, etc.
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ASSESSMENTS
We use several instruments to assess students both formally
and informally. The formal assessment tools are called the
“Multiple Measures” and you will learn more about these at the first
conferences. Multiple measures are used to assess children’s academic growth
and most are done tri-annually. In addition, ongoing informal assessments are
given routinely as needed to guide instruction.
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HOMEWORK
Primary children are eager and ready to work and learn! Homework
lays the foundation for good work habits in later years. Furthermore,
homework helps establish the home-school connection and involves
parents as partners in their child's daily learning experiences. It is
important that your child complete any homework assignments or missing work
placed in their nightly folder and return them the next morning. Please see
school handbook for further information regarding homework.
Soundabet (alphabet) flashcards will be sent home soon in green folders and
the soundabet form should be filled out along with it when it comes home.
You must also read with/to your child for at least 20 minutes each night.
Thia should start tonight! This is not optional. The more your child is
exposed to language, the easier it will be for him/her to incorporate new
skills in reading and writing in the classroom. Reading Comprehension Logs
should be filled out nightly when those start coming home.
Our reading program is called Accelerated Reader and it allows us to
differentiate instruction for our students who have begun to read. It is also
an excellent system for students who are still being "read to." AR reading
tests are taken at home with parental help and supervision. If you do not
have access to a computer, you may log onto AR in our school library from
3:00 to 6:00 nightly. Spelling and other homework will be given out on
Mondays and due by Friday. Homework should be sent back inside of the green
pocket folder provided. Please be sure to pull out the work that is in
the “keep at home” section of the green folders nightly. I will expain more
about all of this at the Back to School Night. Don't stress about homework!!
Please help your child with their homework, but do not do it for them. Be
very patient and celebrate your child's success, no matter how small it may
seem. Keep in mind that we all build on small successes! This will keep
your child enthusiastic about learning and proud of their work!!
The second best thing you can do to foster your child's development besides
reading to/with them is to spend time talking to them. Yes, it is that
simple! Listen to them, and spend uninterrupted time with them. TURN OFF
THE TELEVISION and everything else, and just get to know your child.
Generating conversations with your child is as important as reading to them.
You will be glad you did.
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LITERACY
Reading to/with your child is very important!!! Please keep the master
reading log on the outside of the daily green folder at all times. Update it
each night as you read with your child. Note the AR score in the comments
section for the AR book I have sent home with your child. Also log any other
books that they read or takes tests on.
I will also be sending home MANY early readers (phonics books) to be read and
returned and also paper mini-books that you may keep :) Our core program is
Houghton Mifflin, which will also be supplemented with many other phonics
programs.
All of our first graders have begun to read. Some came in reading and are
already working at higher levels, and some learned last year. Some of our new
kinders will come in reading while others will be working on early literacy
skills. Your child will be placed in the appropriate reading group after the
first few weeks of school and assessments are done. It is important to build
a classroom community in the first few weeks. Socialization with this new
mixed class and learning how to be in our classroom is job one! Although this
is a K-1 classroom, I consider it to be a GATE classroom, and students will
be given curriculum that is challenging to them, even if that means moving
into curriculum of higher grade levels. Differentiating instruction is a
priority to me. Having a complete set of IPADS also helps in providing
differentiation and choice. We are very lucky!
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COMPUTER/CLASS WEB PAGE/INTERNET
I maintain a class web page to foster positive communications, provide
current school/class information, and showcase our class activities. The
web page also contains links to great educational sites that you may use with
your child, and other informational educational sites. You will need to
provide a signed permission usage agreement in order for your child's
photograph or video image to be displayed. Any student work/pictures
displayed will only be identified by first name headings for security
purposes.
Your child will be taught the proper way to use a computer.
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DISCIPLINE
As you know, good behavior and learning go hand in hand. Simple class rules
have been established to ensure your child experiences a positive and safe
learning environment. Even at the age of five, children need to learn the
importance of accepting responsibilities for their actions. I expect all
children to follow classroom rules and procedures, and I will help them
learn to do so in a positive, fair, and equitable manner. In our classroom
we keep track of behavior with a daily behavior chart. It works on the same
idea as a traffic light with green, yellow, and red. At the beginning of
each day the child has their card on “green” in the pocket chart. If a child
has difficulty following a rule or directions, or exhibits and inappropriate
behavior, they will be given a verbal warning. If the same child continues
to have difficulty, they will be asked to flip their card to a yellow card. A
yellow card just means “slow down and think” or stop that particular
behavior. It is not a big deal! Children should not feel badly if they flip
to a yellow card. It is just the way we begin to shape behaviors in our
room. If the behavior continues, then the card will be flipped to red. This
is a problem, and it means that a 5-10 min. time out will be the
consequence. If poor behavior continues, the next card is black and a phone
call will be made home. This is extremely unusual, and if it happens more
than once a conference will be requested.
We like to focus on positive behaviors in our classroom, and we have two
positive reinforcement systems that we use. There are the school
wide “caught yas” that are given to encourage positive behaviors of many
kinds. Mr. Stubbs picks “caught yas” from our classroom box and gives out
rewards including popsicles, etc. I also use “popcorn points” as whole class
incentives. Students earn points towards a class popcorn party, and the
children love these!!
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ITEMS/TOYS FROM HOME
Young children love to bring and share their toys from home. Unfortunately,
this can cause many classroom distractions. Therefore, I have a Special
Person of the Month program. There will be two special persons for each
month, and they will be given an opportunity to share and bring in toys to
share if they like. Other than that, we ask that you do not allow your child
to bring toys to school. We have plenty of toys at school that will be
shared by all children. Blankets, pillows and stuffed animals are wonderful,
but unfortunately, they also create distractions and are not appropriate in a
K-1 classroom. We are big kids now! Toys, stuffed animals, etc. brought from
home will be kept in the Toy Box to be collected by parents.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
* Over-the-counter medicine (without a prescription) cannot be
administered by the teacher. Please review the "Medication Administration
Policy" in your student handbook. Proper forms must be on record to
administer any medicine.
*Some children may have food allergies, so be careful with sharing food
brought from home or if you have school friends over to your home.
* Please dress your child appropriately for school activities and
weather. GIRLS SHOULD WEAR SHORTS OR TIGHTS UNDER DRESSES AT ALL TIMES. Your
child will need a raincoat and rain boots on wet days. No open-
toed shoes at any time as toes will get stepped on!
Please avoid any shoes that do not have a back heel strap such as flip-
flops, or high heels. These are hard to run in and risk injury. Remember
safety first! Primary students are involved in activities that require
jumping, running, skipping, hopping, climbing...tennis shoes work best. In
class, we will be cooking, painting, using stamps and markers, gluing,
working with playdough, glitter, and other "messy" stuff. Please select
clothing that is comfortable and appropriate for these activities.
* Report Cards are sent home every trimester. Folders will be sent home
daily (to be returned the next day). Each two weeks I will email
a newsletter.
* Any address or phone changes need to be phoned into the office. Please
complete all other information forms in the summer mailing and return them to
school as soon as possible.
* Please do not send birthday invitations to the school to be passed out
unless one is given to every child in our classroom! I will not allow
invitations to be passed out unless this rule is followed. This will prevent
any hurt feelings. Summer birthdays will be celebrated in June.
* Parents are encouraged to be actively involved, and I welcome the
opportunity to work with you this year as we strive to give your child the
best learning experiences. Our PCC (Parent Community Council)is our parent-
teacher support organization, and it meets monthly. Additional information
will be sent with dates and times. Your participation is encouraged! We also
participate in the BoxTops for education program and Safeway receipts
program.
Please see the office. These programs enable us to provide
many extras for our children and are well worth the effort! You will also
have the opportunity to participate in school fundraisers throughout the
year. Your support is GREATLY appreciated. Additionally, our class will
participate in philanthropy projects during the year such as Pennies for
Patients, etc. I will send home information as the occasion arises.
*Donations of supplies are always appreciated, and I will keep a wish-list
on my webpage. Thank you!
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FINALLY...
In closing, I would like to thank you for allowing me this opportunity to
work with you and your child this year. I am looking forward to a great
year! I am so excited to be able to make an impact at such a crucial age in
your student’s educational life. I want them to just LOVE to learn. Please
encourage your child to discuss school activities with you. Always talk
positively about school in front of your child (and particularly MATH!). The
way your child perceives your feelings about school and different subjects
will have a direct effect on how they will feel. I am looking forward
to working with you to make sure your child starts school on a positive
note. If I can be of any assistance to you or if you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me. I appreciate your support and anticipate a
fun and successful school year! Again, welcome and welcome back to Howell
Mountain Elementary School. You are going to love it here!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Kathy Moorehead (Mrs. M)