Dear Parents,
Welcome to Kindergarten at Sarasota Suncoast Academy! My name is Mrs. Suzanne Wright, and I will be your child’s teacher this year. Please take a few minutes to read through this welcome letter, then put it somewhere safe so you can refer to it as needed during the school year. Please sign the bottom of the last page and return it to school in this folder. If you have any concerns or questions, please call the school and leave me a message. I will return calls after the children leave in the afternoon. If you would like to speak to me in person, I will be happy to set up a meeting with you. You may also reach me by email: suzanne_wright@sarasota.k12.fl.us
FOLDER, READING LOG, HOMEWORK, AND BEHAVIOR CALENDAR
On Monday you will find your child’s homework folder in his/her backpack. Homework, completed work (marked with a star or other notation), notes and important information will be placed in this folder. This folder needs to come back to school every day, even if it is empty. Completed/checked work should be removed each night. All notes, permission slips, lunch money, and other communication should be placed in this folder so I will be sure to see it. A class newsletter will be in the folder and on my website approximately once a month.
The Reading Log begins in September, and is located behind the calendar on the left side. Formal Homework will begin after the first six weeks, and should be something your child can complete independently, or with minimal help. Homework should not take more than 15 minutes a night, and is given as a packet on Friday night, to be completed and returned the following Friday morning. I grade homework on effort and responsibility. Your child earns a star if I can see that he/she remembered to take it home, try the work, bring it back, and place the folder and homework in the appropriate bin. In addition, special projects may be sent home from time to time during the school year.
A Daily Calendar is stapled to the left side of this folder. I keep these for my records at the end of each month. We will focus on one of the CARES letters each week. I will conduct a mini-conference with your child some time during the week and try to note something about that conversation in the folder. Some days there will not be anything marked. If your child had a severe behavior situation you need to know about, I will note the rule that was broken and a little information about the incident on the calendar. Please use this to talk positively with your child about what happened so that they know there are better choices to make next time a similar situation occurs. Further discipline at home is usually not necessary, because the consequence of breaking the rule has already happened at school. I use this calendar simply to keep you informed as to the general tone of the day. Remember, our greatest learning comes from our mistakes, so be sure your child understands that there is always a chance to make better choices tomorrow!
HOPES AND DREAMS
Please begin thinking about one social and one academic goal you have for your child for kindergarten. Complete the attached form and return it in this folder by Friday, August 28th. You may also begin talking with your child about his/her goal for this year. We will talk about these goals extensively in class during the first two weeks. From these goals we will then create our classroom rules for the year. This in-depth process gives the students ownership of the rules, thereby helping them commit to following those rules. We will spend several weeks discussing the meaning of each rule and how to show when a rule is being followed correctly. As they say, practice makes perfect!
LUNCH AND PIN NUMBERS
We hope you will come join your child for lunch during the school year…it is a memorable experience for your child! Please send me a note in this folder so we can be watching for you, and let me know if you intend to bring food with you for your child, so we don’t order too many school lunches. Also, please call the office by 9:15AM to let them know if you will be purchasing a school lunch for yourself or any siblings. Your child will be assigned a PIN number at the beginning of school, to be used when purchasing school meals. I will write it on the corner of your child’s folder. PLEASE help your child memorize the number AND how to enter it.
There are two ways to prepay for lunch.
1. Lunch money sent to school should be placed in this folder so it can be turned in to the office in a timely manner. All lunch money sent to school should be in an envelope (junk mail return envelopes are great!) labeled with the following:
Child’s first and last name WRIGHT
PIN number
What the money is for: lunch, milk only, or breakfast
ALL CHECKS FOR MEALS SHOULD BE MADE OUT TO LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY, as they provide our meals. Please put your child’s PIN number in the memo section of the check.
2. You may also prepay for meals online at www.myLunchMoney.com. There is a small service charge for this method. Details are available online.
BIRTHDAYS AND HOLIDAYS
As you may know, birthdays are often an exciting day for young children. You are welcome to celebrate your child’s birthday at school in the following way.
- PLEASE notify me in writing of the day you would like to celebrate one week ahead.
- You may bring in or send in either store-bought cupcakes, cookies, cookie cake, fresh cut fruit bowls, or another suitable snack. Drinks are optional, but please no soda or RED color (think stains). Please send napkins and cups if needed. No sheet cakes or candles, please.
- Goodie bags are fine, IF you want to go to that expense. They are ABSOLUTELY not required…some parents just like making them! J
- The birthday snack will be eaten at an afternoon snack time.
I try to keep birthday parties low-key and short. If you are planning a party outside of school, invitations may be sent through the students’ homework folders IF all students in the class are invited. Otherwise, please refer to the Class Directory to mail specific invitations. If your child’s birthday falls outside the school year, we can have an “Un-Birthday” at any time…just ask!! J
Please remember that some families celebrate different holidays and some do not celebrate birthdays or holidays at all. I will keep this in mind as I plan holiday activities that are curriculum related and appropriate for kindergarten. If you have questions or concerns, please contact me.
VOLUNTEER TIME
I LOVE VOLUNTEERS! J Please complete the volunteer form and return it by Friday, August 28th. I will begin asking for volunteers AFTER the first two or three weeks of school. This gives the students a chance to build community in the classroom and adjust to the separation from Mom, Dad and home. You may volunteer for special events, come every week at the same time, or just drop in whenever you have a chance. There is a volunteer box on top of the cubbies just outside our classroom that I try to keep filled with things for volunteers to do. I provide volunteer opportunities to work with small groups or one-on-one with a child, as well as to do filing, copying, and other prep work outside the classroom. Please plan now for the ways you will be able to contribute to a successful year!
MORNING MEETING
Finally, I want to tell you about an exciting part of our school day! Morning Meeting is a great way to build community, set a positive tone, increase excitement about learning, and improve academic and social skills. Morning Meeting usually takes between fifteen and twenty minutes.
First thing each morning, BEGINNING AT 8:35, the children and I will gather in a circle. We begin by greeting each other in a variety of ways. Next, students share some interesting news, sometimes followed by questions or comments. This helps students listen carefully, think about what they hear, formulate good questions, and learn about each other. After sharing, there is an activity for the whole class. We might sing or recite a poem or play a math game. The activity time helps the class feel united as a group, reinforces academic skills, and helps the children learn how to cooperate and solve problems. Finally, we read the morning message together, which helps the students think about the day ahead. Sometimes, I use this time to review and practice a reading or math skill.
Every day, Morning Meeting lets the children know that school is a safe place where all children’s feelings and ideas are important. We’d love to have you come participate in a Morning Meeting. Just give me a call, send me a note, or drop in. You’ll see for yourself why we’re so excited about this start to our day!
Sincerely,
Suzanne P. Wright
Kindergarten
Sarasota Suncoast Academy