The ABCs of Kindergarten

month. Book clubs offer books at great reduced prices. Its a great way to build your childs home library and our classroom receives books for our own classroom library with points earned from every order. Book bags will be sent home daily beginning tentatively in November. Please read the books in the book bag each night, fill out the reading log, and return the book bag each day. More information will follow with the book bag. West Elementary collects Box Tops for Education. Box Tops can be found on various food boxes, Ziploc bags, Kleenex, and other household products. To help our school raise money, please collect these at home as well, and send in with your Kindergartener. Every penny helps! Your child will have the opportunity to bring home several themed backpacks for various occasions such as a birthday, lost a tooth, special day, etc. When your child brings one of these backpacks home, please enjoy the various reading and writing activities found within and return to school the following day.

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If your child is absent, please call the school at (231.627.2362) to let the office know. A note stating the reason for the absence must be brought to school as soon as possible to avoid an unexcused absence. Your child will have art class twice a week on Mondays and Tuesdays. Our art teacher is Mr. McNeil.

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Breakfast is available to all children. If they wish to eat breakfast at school they must arrive before 7:55. Bee Books help keep us organized. The folder contains a homework folder, newsletter/take home papers folder, and other items that will assist with communication between school and home. If you would like to send a birthday treat with your child on or near his/her birthday, please feel free to do so. These treats will be eaten during snack time. Birthdays are recognized during our calendar routine as well. We will recognize summer birthdays at the end of the year. Please do not send birthday party invitations to be distributed at school unless all children receive an invitation. I will send home book order forms for you and your child to look over every

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Parent-Teacher Conferences are held at the end of the first and third quarter. Watch for information and reply accordingly. Conferences will be held on______________. Communication is important. Please feel free to contact me whenever you have a question, comment or concern. You can reach me by phone (231.627.2362), in person, by email (lafrineret@cheboygan.k12.mi.us ), or by note. Celebration days take place once a month to celebrate the children following

our expectations (rules). They last approximately an hour in the morning and various activities take place. If you are interested in volunteering to help for these celebrations please let me know. We ask that you please do not bring siblings to keep the celebration special for the child.

Information about field trips will come home in the Bee Book and will be detailed in the field trip permission slip and weekly newsletter. Each month, I will send home a family project. These projects are intended to provide an opportunity to communicate academically with your child. Projects are various in nature, but emphasize creativity and teamwork. Please make it a priority to work with your child each month on the project. Keep an eye out for Septembers first project First day of school, to arrive soon in the Bee Book!

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Discipline is school-wide. We work hard as a class to make the classroom a positive and safe place for all. Our rules are: 1. Be Responsible. 2. Be Respectful. 3. Be Safe An expectations book will be sent home with your child in a backpack for you to review with your Kindergartener monthly. Please return the following school day. Throughout the year, notes may be home asking for donations of various objects and materials. Donations are never required but are ALWAYS greatly needed and appreciated.

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Our class will have two 40-minute gym classes each week every Tuesday and Thursday. The children are asked to wear athletic shoes and appropriate attire on gym days.

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Students will have some homework in Kindergarten. Homework assignments will vary and will be sent home in the Bee Book. Unless otherwise noted, please return the homework the following day.

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My school email address is lafrineret@cheboygan.k12.mi.us .I check email daily. If you have an email address that youd like me to be aware of, please let me know. Please complete and return the emergency contact card promptly. If your home or work number changes, please inform the office and me. Early Release Days will take place on ______. On Early Release Days, students will be dismissed before lunch at 11:40.

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Writing takes place every day in Kindergarten. One way we accomplish this is through writing stories in our journals during writers workshop. Encourage your child to write for a variety of purposes.

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Keep updated by reading the classroom newsletter every month and checking the Bee Book every day for other notes and information.

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Our class will visit the school library once a week and the public library once a month. Our school librarian is Mrs. Ruckle. Your child will check out a book when we visit the school library and return it the following week. The library book will stay in the classroom for the class to enjoy. Our child eats lunch at 11:15. If lunch money is sent to school, please send it in the Bee Book. There is a pencil pouch for this purpose. Your child may choose to bring a cold lunch to school as well. Literacy Stations is a time for your child to work independently on developing his/her reading and writing skills. Five different stations will provide a weekly opportunity for acquiring and applying new skills. Learning Areas is a time for your child to experience opportunities for free play. Learning Areas will take place 4 times a week for 20 minutes, and the student will self-select an area in which to work (play). Children learn through play and this is an important time, integral to the growth and development of your child.

day children work with math tubs containing various independent math activities while I meet with small groups of students for guided math. These math groups will be fluid and flexible, changing from day to day or week to week, based on the needs of students. We will also keep math journals to show our math thinking. I am not able to give your child medication throughout the day. Medication includes cough syrup, Tylenol, cough drops, etc. You may contact the office regarding any medication you feel your child needs throughout the day. In addition to your childs notebook journal, 2-3 journal writings each month will be added to your childs progressive journal file in the classroom. These progressive journal entries are saved and compiled at the end of the year into a Memory Book to be sent home with your child. In addition to progressive journal entries, a Me Book will be sent home in Bee Books. Please work with your child in creating these keepsakes that will become a part of the Memory Book, showcasing your childs growth over their Kindergarten year.

The children have music class ever Monday and Wednesday. Our music teacher is Mrs. Gowell. The children will perform a Christmas Program at the Opera House in December. The kindergarten math curriculum provides students with mathematical experiences that help provide number sense and a positive attitude towards mathematics that will continue throughout their school career and lives. Many of our math concepts are covered through our daily calendar routine. Every

A monthly newsletter will be sent home at the end of the month to keep you informed about what is happening in our classroom and school. There will be no school on the following days: Please make sure your childs name is clearly written on all water bottles, lunch boxes and outer gear: boots, shoes, hats, mittens, snowpants, coats, etc.

Open House will take place on:

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When picking up your child, please wait in the designated area in the multipurpose room. Picking up your child before 3:00 will result in a half-day absence. We will have three classroom parties to celebrate Halloween, Christmas, and Valentines Day. Each family will be assigned to one holiday and asked to send in a treat item for our party. You will be notified of what party you are responsible for in the following weeks, and reminded via Bee Book prior to the party. Our school focuses on positive behavior management. Throughout the day when your child is caught following the rules, they will be given a paw sticker. At the end of the day we tally our paw stickers on our Paw Report chart. There will be a Celebration event at the end of each month to celebrate our positive behavior and students who have earned enough paws will be able to attend and celebrate. Popcorn sales take place on Fridays and serve as a fundraiser for each classroom. Notes will be sent home on Thursdays to notify families of the popcorn sale. Popcorn costs 25cents, please send money in the money pouch of the Bee Folder.

Kindergarteners have afternoon recess from 2-2:15, and lunch recess from 11:3511:55. Please make sure your child is dressed accordingly for the weather. Children are not able to stay inside unless a doctors note is sent in. Inclement weather causes inside recess at times during the winter months and on rainy days. A shoe box will be sent home for your child to create a Recess Box. Your child may bring toys, games and books from home in this box. The recess box is kept in the classroom all year to promote your childs ability to entertain themself quietly. Please do not send irreplaceable or expensive valuables in the box. Recess Box items need to labeled with your childs name.

The focus of the kindergarten science curriculum is on developing an awareness of the world in which we live. Science concepts and skills will be explored utilizing a literacy-based, hands-on approach. The kindergarten social studies curriculum focuses on the students and how they relate to others in their families, classroom, school and community. Social Studies concepts and skills will be explored through utilizing a literacybased, hands-on approach. Our class will have snack each afternoon. All our hard work makes little bellies grumble! A snack schedule will be sent home each month, and each family is asked to send in 24 individually packaged healthy snacks on their assigned snack day. The day prior to your childs snack day, a canvas snack bag will be sent home with your child as a reminder and means of transportation. On your childs snack day, they will be given the opportunity to show & tell.

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Questions? Please feel free to call, stop in, email, or send a note. lafrineret@cheboygan.k12.mi.us 231-627-2362

Kindergarten report cards will be sent home 2 times during the year. Please take the time to review these with your child.

They may bring in a special something from home on this day to share with their classmates. Please do not send in irreplaceable items of great value. Also, please do not allow your child to bring toys to school when it is not their snack day. Snow days may be called when the winter weather has made traveling to school dangerous. Local radio and television stations will be notified of cancellations, and parents are also able to call the Snow Line for details of school closures. If school is cancelled during the school day and dismissed early, local radio and television stations will also be notified. An early dismissal form will also be sent home in the Bee Book. Please complete and return.

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Wet and/or dirty clothes can be uncomfortable. Please send an extra set of clothing (shirt, pants, socks and underclothes) in a bag in the childs backpack each day in case of emergencies. If clothing must be borrowed from the school, please launder and return as soon as possible. Your child may bring a water bottle to school to keep at his/her work area. Please make sure water bottles are pop=tops and not twist off and are also clearly marked with your childs name. Water bottles can remain at school, and will be sent home on Fridays for washing. Winter always seems to be fastapproaching in Northern Michigan! When that time comes, please send your child with boots, hats, mittens/gloves, snowpants, and a zipping jacket EVERY DAY. Please make sure all items are LABELED with their name. Children may not wear boots in the classroom because they track in so much water. Please make sure your child remembers to pack shoes each day. I also have a spot at school where your child may keep their shoes if they wish to leave them at school each night.

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If your child has changes in their transportation, please notify the office before 2 pm. A note may also be written and dropped in the box outside the office door in the morning. We will help young ones learn to tie their shoes and zip their coats. Please help your child practice these skills at home.

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Volunteers and visitors must sign-in at the office and pick up a badge before visiting the classroom. If you are interested in being a classroom volunteer to help with reading, writing and classroom projects, please notify me. Family vacations are wonderful opportunities for your family; however, please be sure to let us know that you are planning on taking a vacation (during school time).

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Parents and family members must eXit and enter via the main school entry doors, located by the office and by the playground.

You. Your ideasand suggestions are welcome! Also, please fill out the questionnaire sent home in the Bee book about your child and return to school as soon as possible. No one knows your child better than You!

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ZZzzzzzz Make sure your child gets plenty of rest! Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give your child as their days are active and full of learning. They will need to be well rested to feel their best!