Kindergarten Handbook
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Kindergarten Handbook
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Hopefully this Kindergarten Handbook will help to answer some of the questions you may have regarding our classroom. Please do not hesitate to call me at 562-4031 if your question is not answered here!
Absences and Tardies
The tardy bell rings at 8:05. Children arriving after 8:05 will be counted tardy. When tardies total three within a six week period, your child will visit the principal.
When your child is absent, please call the school office at 562-4031. I will make a packet of missed assignments for you to pick up that day or for your child to take home the next day back in school. If your child needs to go to the dentist or doctor during the school day, please bring a note from the doctor's office and your child will not be counted absent for the day. It is helpful if you let me know in advance of your child's appointments.
Dismissal
Kindergarteners are dismissed at 3:30. You may meet your child at the front of the building, but please let me know in advance. I don't like to let them leave unless I know exactly where they are going. Your child will stay in my classroom and not be dismissed unless arrangements mentioned above have been made. Bus children are walked to the bus door. If your child is going home a different way than usual, I must have a note, e-mail, or phone message from you stating so. Otherwise, your child will go home as usual.
Homework
Kindergarten homework consists of reading 15 minutes to your child each night. Your child may read with mom, dad, grandmother, grandfather, or a brother or sister. This may include Saxon reading word list and AR books. As the year progresses, your child will be able to read to you as part of the time. A reading log will be sent home nightly to record the books read. Your child will also be participating in the Accelerated Reading (AR) program. This will require an AR book to be read to them. As the year progresses some will be able to read AR books to you. They will be tested on the book only if you have signed that they have been read to the previous night.
We will also have spelling and math homework during the year. We will sometimes have other small projects that will need parental involvement.
Responsibility Report
This will be located in your child's ROPES folder. Anytime your child pulls a slip, the offense will be recorded on this report. It is always kept in the same spot for daily review. This report needs to be signed each week before Monday! It needs to be signed whether your child has pulled a slip or not.
Classroom Rules
Behavior Rules - Playing in restroom, talking too much, misbehaving in the library, playing and talking in line, interrupting, disrespectful to others, not following directions, disturbing others with words or actions, not telling the truth, leaving the class without permission Work Habits - Turn your work in on time, Do your best work at all times. Weekly Consequences - Blue slip = Super behavior, Green slip = Warning, Yellow slip = Time out/miss break or recess, Orange slip = Parent notification and time out, Red slip = Principal's notification .
Big Buck Store
We have a classroom big buck store that we use as an incentive for good behavior. Students can LOSE bucks for inappropriate behavior and EARN bucks for great behavior.
Friday Folders
A Friday folder will be sent home each week with
completed work. Please take all work out of the folder and leave it at
home. Return the empty folder on Monday. Remember to ask your child
about the work in the folder.
Report Cards and Grading
Report cards will be sent home at the end of each six week period. The format of the report card is a developmental checklist. Only the skills taught during the six week period will be checked. If your child has mastered a skill, a check will be in the box. If the skill has been introduced, but your child has not mastered the skill at report card checking time, an X will be placed in the box and the skill will be rechecked at the end of the next six week grading period. By the end of the school year, all items on the report card should be marked as mastered.
Conferences
Conference times will be available before and after school and at my daily conference time between 1:30 and 2:30. Other conferences may be held if requested by the parent or teacher.
Computers
The children will be going to the computer lab weekly.
The kindergarteners will visit various educational websites, work on Saxon word
list and Spelling words as the year progresses.
The boys and girls will also work in the computer on keyboarding skills.
Computers are utilized during our Center times daily.
Library Check Out
Kindergarteners will be
allowed to check out books from the school Library. Mrs. Ochoa is our school librarian.
After your child has read their book, he/she may return the book to the
library. If your child has not returned the book by the due date,
he/she will not be allowed to check out another book.
Please help your child take good care of the book. The backpack is a safe
place to keep the book when at your house.
TPRI Screening
The children will be given the TPRI (Texas Primary Reading Inventory) three times during the year. The first screening will be given after the first six weeks and again mid-year in January/February and the third screening at the end of the year in May. The TPRI helps the teachers to pinpoint children who may be having difficulty with reading and comprehension skills. A note explaining the screening will be sent home before each one is given.
Rest/Quiet Time
We offer a rest or quiet time. The children will be resting about 30 minutes per day, they are not asked to go to sleep, but just have a quiet time.
Lunch
Our lunchtime and recess is between 11:15 and 12:03. You are welcome at any time to come to school to eat with your child or to bring your child a lunch. We leave our classroom at 11:15. You may want to give your child a few weeks to become accustomed to school before you visit. We will be going outside daily, unless the playground is wet. When it is cold, please remember to send a coat. Please label all coats, hats and mittens your child brings to school.
Birthdays
On your child's birthday, you may bring or send cupcakes or cookies to be eaten after the lunch period.
Parties
Kindergarten parties are
planned by the Room Mothers. They will contact you about bringing items
for the parties. Parties held during the year include:
Christmas
Thanksgiving Feast
Valentines Day
Easter Egg Hunt
End of school party
Notes will be sent home informing you of each party. You are welcome to
come to any party! Parties are usually held between 2:30 and 3:30.
Field Trips
The children will go on at least two field trips during the year. These usually take place around Christmas and the end of the year. Notes will be sent home informing you of the trips.
Snacks
According to state law, we are not allowed to give the children candy. Kindergarten will have a snack time each day. Your child will receive a calendar with their specified date for them to provide snacks for the class.
Toys at School
Please do not allow your child to bring toys and makeup to school unless they are asked for as they are a distraction to our learning.