Absences
It’s a fact of life…everyone gets sick from time to time. If your child is sick and unable to participate in school activities, please call the school office. Parents and/or siblings may pick up any missed work at the end of the school day or the student may get it when he/she returns to school. The work is expected to be completed at home in a timely matter and returned to school. If you are going on a vacation during the school week, class work will be available for pick up when you return from your trip.
Birthdays
Birthdays are very special to kindergartners. To help make the birthday child feel special on this important day, he/she may come “out of uniform” to school on their birthday (refer to the Parent Handbook as to guidelines for appropriate attire). Children may also bring a birthday treat to school to pass out to classmates, however, please keep the treat simple so they can easily be passed out in the classroom. Cakes and ice cream are not appropriate unless they come to school individually packaged. Children with summer birthdays may celebrate their half birthday at school. To avoid any hurt feelings, if you wish to pass out invitations to a party, please make sure there is one for all the girls or all the boys in the class.
Centers
An instructional “centers” based classroom is a busy place. The purpose of instructional centers is to provide instruction to a small group of children while the remaining children are engaged in meaningful teacher-developed tasks and activities. The students will be divided into instructional groups and will rotate through a variety of activities each day. The groups are flexible and change throughout the year to meet the instructional needs of the students. Groups may vary throughout the day as well.
Periodically, your child will participate in “tag” centers. During tag centers the students may choose a center or activity; however there must be a tag available to enter the center. The tags are a management tool used to make sure there are not too many students at one particular center.
Dismissals/Arrivals
We have a full day kindergarten program at Christ King School with the option to dismiss at half-day (early birds).
Our school hours are: 7:45 – 3:00.
The children should arrive at approximately 7:35 and line up in front of the South Hall doors. I will come to pick them up. Please do not allow your child to enter the building before 7:35. Parents are welcome to come in with their children during the first week of school, however, when the bell rings at 7:45 parents should leave the building quietly.
I will walk the students out the South Hall doors at the end of the day. Students must stand with me until someone comes to pick them up!
Every Wednesday is an early dismissal day. Early dismissal is at 2:00!
Watch the school calendar for ½ days. ½ day dismissal is at 12:00!
Families who have chosen to “opt out” of the full kindergarten day (early birds) may pick their child up from the school office at 12:05pm.
Eighth Grade Buddies
Once a week the eighth graders from Rm. 8A come to our classroom to interact and participate in a number of activities with the kindergartners. Our 8th grade buddies also escort us to Mass each week and sit with us during the Liturgy of the Word.
Folders
Each student will have a folder that goes to and from school each day. All notes for the teacher and/or the office should be placed inside the folder (I do not go through school bags). Every morning we will go through the folders to check for notes or homework. Please check your child’s folder every evening as all work &/or important information will be sent home via the folder.
Gym Shoes
Children are expected to wear tennis shoes on the days they go the gym class. Please check our class website for days and times.
Home Reading Logs
Reading at home is a very important aspect of kindergarten. Your child will be expected to read or be read to every night. Reading for 15 to 20 minutes a night will greatly influence your child’s academic progress. Please record what has been read on your child’s Home Reading Log. Logs will be sent home on Monday and should be completed and returned the following Monday. Your child may read selections from home, the library, newspaper, magazines, etc. I just want the children to develop a good habit of reading for enjoyment. Eventually, your child will have the opportunity to bring home books from our classroom library.
Independence
It is my goal to help the children learn responsibility and gain confidence by becoming more and more independent. Learning how to problem solve is an important lifelong skill. The children will be presented with many opportunities that reinforce and reward independence. Please encourage this skill at home, as well.
Jobs in the Classroom
To encourage responsibility and independence the children will be given various classroom jobs. Examples of a few of our classroom jobs are:
- Line Leader-Lead the class and model appropriate hallway behavior.
- Door Holder-Hold the door for the class as they pass through.
- Trash Collector-Place trash baskets outside of the classroom at the end of the day.
- Caboose-Make sure all have left the classroom, turn of the lights and close the door.
- Book Buddies-Straighten book shelves
Kindergarten News
Each week, “The Kindergarten News” will be posted on our class website. This will be where you can find announcements and important information for the week. All teachers at Christ King have been encouraged to “go green”, therefore, I will not be sending home a hard copy of The Kindergarten News. If you do not have internet/e-mail access please let me know and we can make other arrangements.
Lunch
Children who have not purchased a hot lunch from the monthly lunch calendar are to bring a cold lunch to school. Milk is available for all students; however there is a charge at the beginning of the year.
Manners
Children will be expected to use their manners throughout the school day. I will guide and model words I expect to hear from the children. For example, May I please….. Thank you for….. I will also discuss appropriate behavior in various situations (church, plays, group discussions, field trips, play time, etc).
Notes
Please send a note in your child’s folder if they are going home with someone other than their usual “grown-up” or sibling.
Orders for Books
Your child will have an opportunity to order books through Firefly and Seesaw Book Clubs. This is an inexpensive way to purchase books for your child. When ordering, please fill out the order form carefully; making sure your child’s name is on the order form. Put your order form and check in an envelope with your child’s name on it. One check must be made out to Scholastic Book Clubs. If you want the books to be a surprise, let me know so we can make special arrangements. Think ahead, books make excellent birthday presents, Christmas presents, and special holiday treats.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Christ King conducts two formal parent/teacher conferences throughout the school year. Information regarding these conferences will be sent home with the 1st and 2nd quarter report card.
Questions
If you have any questions and/or concerns throughout the year, please feel free to contact me. I would be more than happy to schedule an appointment to meet with you.
Recess
The children will have two scheduled recesses a day. Please watch the weather forecast and send your child to school with the proper clothing. We will go outside every day unless it is raining and/or the temperature is below zero. We do have playground toys available for use by the children, however, if your child would like to bring a toy from home, they may. Please see that their name is on the toy and that your child is willing to share whatever they bring to school. All toys should be appropriate for active, outdoor play (no stuffed animals, dolls, cards, etc) and are the sole responsibility of the child.
Snacks & S.Q.U.I.R.T.
Please send a healthy snack to school with your child on a daily basis to be eaten during our mid-morning break. Snacks should be something your child can open and eat without the aid of an adult (finger food in a bag). Some suggestions are: granola mix, fruit, cheese sticks, popcorn, pretzels, crackers, cut vegetables, etc.
Every afternoon the children will S.Q.U.I.R.T. (Super Quiet Undisturbed Individual Rest/Reading Time) after the lunch recess for about 20-25 minutes. S.Q.U.I.R.T. begins with a story that I have selected to read to the class. Following the story I will play soothing music while the children take some time to just relax and recharge. As the year goes on, the students will be allowed to choose a book or two that they would like to take to their quiet spot for the remainder of S.Q.U.I.R.T. Please send a small blanket or towel to school that your child use during S.Q.U.I.R.T.
Take Home Buddies
We have several “take home buddies” that we share throughout the year. The buddies are small stuffed animals that are welcome to stay at your home for two nights. Buddies generally are returned on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Each buddy comes home in a bag with a journal and books. Please help your child complete the journal entries; we share them with the class.
Unique Field Trips
I have tried to schedule one field trip a month. I will send reminders in the Kindergarten News as to the date and time. Field trips will not affect the school hours. Pay attention to the weather and send proper clothing to school with your child. Parents are welcome to chaperon the trips but must sign up during “Volunteer Sign-Up” (see below) because space is limited. Parent volunteers must ride the bus and due to liability issues may not bring other siblings/children.
Volunteers in the Classroom
Parents are always welcome to volunteer in the classroom. “Volunteer Sign Up” will begin at Parent Night and will continue for the first week. I will go over the signup sheets with the room moms and publish a final copy some time in September. All schedules will be posted outside our classroom door for reference throughout the school year. Please also watch the Kindergarten News for opportunities that may arise during the year.
**It has been my experience that younger siblings should be left with a babysitter if you are volunteering in the classroom. If that is not possible, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities that can be completed in the comfort of your own home.
Water Bottles
Children are encouraged to bring a water bottle to school each day. The water bottles must have a sports tip on the top to help prevent spills. Please send only WATER in the bottle. If your child would like juice or some other type of drink, you may include that as part of your child’s lunch.
Examine Your Child’s Work