| WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN!!!!
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you and your child to our
class. Beginning August 27, 2007, your child will be completing one of the
most important milestones in his/her life---the first day of Kindergarten!
Ms. Lewis and I are looking forward to a wonderful and year of learning
together! Kindergarten is an exciting time as children embark upon new
adventures in the world of learning. We are truly blessed to be given this
opportunity to get to know you and your child. It is our desire to instill a
love of learning that will last throughout your child's years of schooling.
I understand that you and your child may meet this day with excitement or
apprehension (or a little of both), and I hope that this handbook will help
you to know what to expect in Kindergarten this year, and answer any
questions you may have. Ms. Lewis and I are looking forward to establishing
the best possible learning environment for your child, helping him/her to
achieve their full potential. Each child will progress at his/her own rate,
acquiring skills as he/she is developmentally ready. Maintaining each
child's self-esteem and building a secure foundation for future growth will
always remain a priority in our kindergarten. With teamwork and cooperation
among parents, teachers, and students, we will have a successful year!
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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
notes, telephone calls, newsletters, your child's daily 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(653-3791), email using the icon at the top of the home page, or
send me a note (this is the easiest way). I am available for conferences
regarding your child's progress by appointment. Please do not interrupt our
instructional time (8:15-3:00) except in case of an emergency.
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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.
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MORNING RESPONSIBILITIES
Your child has many morning responsibilities that they must learn to complete
independently, such as unpack book bag, turn in daily folder, sign in, choose
their lunch, handle bathroom activities, and begin morning table activities.
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 the door and let them walk in by themselves. They are
big kindergarteners 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 you child to the
classroom door. However, allowing them to walk into the classroom alone
helps them become more independent. Please understand you are welcome in the
classroom, but 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. They need to be in school all day and every day. I can't emphasize
this point enough! Most kindergarten learning activities are small group
oriented and involve explicit instruction. Therefore, it is next to
impossible to make up all 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 (schedule appointments or trips
after school hours, or during breaks). In case of illness or emergency
please send a written and dated excuse for absence within two school days
after returning to school. ABSCENCES WITHOUT NOTES WILL BE CODED UNEXCUSED
(review student handbook). If a child arrives late or needs to leave school
early, you must sign in/out at the school office BEFORE coming to the
classroom. School hours are 8:15-3:00pm. Class begins at promptly at 8:15
daily.
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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/ziploc with the following information
on it (child's name, teacher's name, amount and purpose). Please place it in
your child's daily folder. This helps reduce the likelihood of any errors.
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FEES/MEALS/SNACKS/BOOK ORDERS/SHIRTS
School supply fees are $5.00 per child and should be paid within the first
five days of school. Breakfast is usually free to all kindergarteners. I
will send confirmation on this as soon as I get the "official word" from the
cafeteria/legislature. Paid lunch is $1.55 per day ($7.75 a week), reduced
lunch is .40 cents per day ($2.00 a week)-PLEASE send this weekly. If paying
by check, make checks out payable to Williams Township Elementary. You may
also pack a lunch for your child (no soft drinks, or candy please). We will
have a snack time daily. You may pack a healthy snack (no sweet snacks,
please), or you may purchase snacks from our school snack store. If your
child purchases a snack each day for snack time then they will need to bring
$5.00 each week ($1.00 per day). Your child will bring home book order
forms. This is an opportunity to purchase quality books for your child if you
wish to participate. Each child will need a Kindergarten shirt that we will
wear on field trips and school on spirit days. The cost of the shirt is
$12.00. We will provide order forms at open house.
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BOOK/SNACK BAGS
Your child will need a book bag (NO WHEELS PLEASE, they will not fit in the
cubbies). The bag should be brought DAILY (folder 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 any
homework that will be placed in their folder. If your child brings lunch or
snack from home, he/she will also need a lunch box/bag. Please label these
and all items with your child's name.
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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!!! Please see
me if you are interested in becoming a volunteer to complete the information
form that must be submitted for school board approval. You must complete the
volunteer form and be approved if you wish to attend any field trips, or
participate as a school volunteer. All visitors and volunteers will need to
go by the office BEFORE coming to the classroom to sign-in and pick up a
visitor's badge. Beginning in September I will send a calendar home for you
to sign up for any/all the times you would like to help. Throughout the year
we will schedule field trips to enhance our curriculum. Permission slips and
cost information will be sent home prior to each trip and must be completed
and returned to allow participation. You will have the opportunity to
volunteer to be a chaperone for a field trip when permitted. Due to space
requirements, the number of chaperones may be limited. Chaperones will be
assigned on a first come first serve basis. If we have more volunteers than
spaces, we will take out names of parents who have already chaperoned a trip
and draw names. Please understand that we will make every attempt to give
each parent the opportunity to go on at least one trip. Chaperones are
expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, assisting as needed.
Since you will need to devote your attention to our students, siblings are
not permitted to accompany you. You will be required to provide your own
transportation to and from the site. 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. Thank you for your
cooperation and allowing us to keep an open door policy.
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ASSESSMENTS
We use several instruments to assess students in Kindergarten both formally
and informally. The KISS/ERSI is given at the beginning of the year to
determine the strengths and weaknesses of your child. The Texas Primary
Reading Inventory is given at the end of the first school month, mid-year and
at the end of the year to help identify any children at-risk for reading
difficulties. It is used to guide learning objectives and develop
instructional plans for these at-risk children, and monitor growth. The Iowa
Test of Basic Skills is a standardized test given at the beginning of the
school year and again at the end to measure growth. Report card assessments
are given every nine weeks. Skills and theme tests are given regularly with
our Houghton Mifflin Reading program. On going informal assessments are
given routinely as needed to gear instruction. Please review the North
Carolina Standard Course of Study Kindergarten objectives.
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HOMEWORK
Kindergarten children are eager and ready to learn! Kindergarten homework
lays the foundation for good work habits in later years. Furthermore,
positive homework helps establish the home-school connection and involves
parents as partners in their child's daily learning experiences. Homework is
an extension of what we do in class, and gives your child an opportunity to
practice and reinforce the concepts and skills we are learning. It is not
optional, and should be viewed as a meaningful learning experience. It is
also very rewarding for you to see firsthand all things your child is
learning! It is important that your child complete any homework assignments
and return them the next morning. You should read with your child for at
least 15 minutes each night. 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. Any homework should be sent back inside of the
folder provided (please use this folder). 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!
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LITERACY
Reading to/with your child is very important!!! Please keep the master
reading log inside the daily folder at all times. Update it each night as
you read with your child. We will visit the school media center each week
and your child may check out books. The Bookmobile will bring books to the
classroom monthly and they will also get to check these books out. In
addition to the books checked out, your child will also receive reading
packets that will be rotated throughout the year. I will also be sending
home MANY mini-books that you may keep :) We are a READING FIRST school and
our core program is Houghton Mifflin. In addition to the core program, your
child will be participating daily with the Waterford Early Reading Program
which is technology based. We also participate in the Pizza Hut Book-It
program. Children reaching their monthly reading goal will receive a pizza
coupon. A letter will be sent in late September explaining the program. We
are certain you will be hearing about these exciting activities from your
child. We encourage you to talk with your child each night about what he/she
is doing in class. Reading will help your child in every aspect of life.
Remember, the readers of today are the leaders of tomorrow!
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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 picture
or work to be displayed. Any student work/pictures displayed will only be
identified by generic headings for security purposes. Your child will be
taught the proper way to use a computer. Each child will have a daily
computer time and use a variety of educational software such as Kidspiration
and Kidspix. We will also participate in collaborative internet
projects/webquests with other K-2 classes across the United States. I will
inform you of the specific projects throughout the year in the weekly
newsletter.
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DISCIPLINE
A discipline plan will be given to you for review and signed consent. 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 similar to a traffic
light with green, yellow, and red. At the beginning of each day the child
has all three colors in their pocket on the chart. If a child has difficulty
following a rule or directions, first they are given a verbal warning. If
the same child continues to have difficulty, they will be asked to pull their
green stick, (2nd warning), and they may also be asked to go to time out for
a short period of time to think about his/her actions and better choices. If
they have to pull the yellow stick, time out is used again for a short period
of time. A note is sent home at this point for you to review/discuss with
your child and sign & return. Continued difficulties will warrant a phone
call and further action, with possible referral to the office. This rarely
happens and is a LAST resort. Each day you will receive a daily report in
your child's folder that your child will complete with their color on it, as
well as, the centers/activity areas chosen for the day. Please initial and
return this daily in their folder. You may remove it at the end of the
week. Please review the Columbus County Schools/Williams Township School
student handbook/regulations for a detailed description of policies.
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ITEMS FROM HOME
During the year, we may ask that your child bring items from home. However,
we ask that you do not allow your child to bring toys to school. Your
child's name should be written on anything, and everything brought from
home! Your child will also need a rain coat on wet days :)
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FOR YOU INFORMATION
* You may wish to send an extra change of clothes just in case of an
accident. Please put the clothes inside of a ziploc bag with your child's
name on them to be kept in their book bag.
* 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.
* Please dress your child appropriately for school activities and weather.
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! Kindergarteners 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. Remember to thank the Lord
for Mothers and washing machines :)
* Report Cards are sent home every nine weeks. Keep the copy of the
report card but return the signed envelope within two days. Progress reports
will be sent home regularly. Folders will be sent home daily (to be returned
the next day). Each month I will send home an activity calendar. Our class
web page will be updated weekly with a weekly newsletter and lunch menu.
* Any personal information changes such as address or phone etc. need to be
provided in order to maintain student emergency contacts. Please complete
all other information forms in the handbook and return them within the first
five days of school.
* All bus transportation changes must be made through the office with a
written note, or in person. It is your responsibility to clear these through
the office. We will not take a child's word, as they may get the dates/times
or bus number confused. This is to ensure that our children get safely to
their proper destination. Please see the student handbook regarding BUS
DISCIPLINE. If your child is a car student, then you will need to complete
an information form. Any changes will need to be cleared through me in
writing. Your child will not be released with anyone other than who is
designated on the consent form. Your child's safety is of utmost importance
to me therefore please keep me informed about any and all transportation
changes. We will walk the children to their bus each afternoon to make sure
they get on the right bus. We ask your help by working with your child to
help him/her to learn their bus number.
* We know how special birthdays are to you and your child. If you would
like your child to share a special "Birthday Snack" with the class, please
contact me to discuss the arrangements. All cupcakes/cakes must be store
bought due to health regulations. We love to celebrate special days! Please
do not send invitations to the school to be passed out unless one is given to
every child. 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 Aggie Club is our parent-teacher support
organization and meets monthly. Additional information will be sent with
dates and times, participation is encouraged! We also participate in the
BoxTops for education program and Food Lion VIP program. Please help us by
saving your box tops, and by completing & returning the Food Lion
registration form that we will provide. 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. Prizes are awarded for participation, and they money is used to
purchase needed materials/equipment/supplies. Your support is GREATLY
appreciated. Additionally, our class will participate in philanthropy
projects during the year such as, Red Cross, Nursing Home visits, and Pennies
for Patients. I will send home information at a later date.
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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 truly believe that Kindergarten is the best!!! Encourage your child
to discuss school activities with you. Always talk positively about school
in front of your child. The way your child perceives your feelings about
school 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 to our WTS T.E.A.M-Together
Everyone Achieves More!!!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Cheri Barkley
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GENERAL WEBSITE INFORMATION
I will continue to update and add links regularly, so check back often! This
site was designed to foster positive communications between the school and
the home. It provides current class and school information. It showcases
our class events and also contains a wealth of quality resources & activities
for students, parents, and teachers too! Parents will find the "Hot Off The
Press" section most helpful in providing current events and skill
objectives. Be sure to check out the "Homework" section for the latest tips
too! If you have any ideas or comments to share, please use the Sound Off
section or email me using the icon on the home page. I hope this site has
been helpful and would appreciate any feedback you may have. Thank you for
visiting!
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