Welcome to Kindergarten!

HANDBOOK 2016-2017

WELCOME TO

SCHOOL

WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN!

Dear Parents,

Your child is taking an important step…starting Kindergarten! We look forward to working with you and your child. Together we will guide your child on the journey of learning. May this journey be exciting and fulfilling!

We would like to take this opportunity to give you information about our daily kindergarten routine.

STARTING & ENDING Kindergarten classes will begin at 8:00 and dismiss at 3:20. It is very important that your child be on time every day. If for any reason your child cannot attend, please call the office (423-6679). Check school handbook regarding absentee policy.

Please let us know in writing if there is a change in who routinely picks up your child from school or where he/she will go after school.

If you pick up or visit your child during the school day, please go to the office for assistance. Please do not come directly to the classroom.

BREAKFAST & LUNCH

Students may eat breakfast around 8:10, and lunch will be served at approximately 11:00. Your child may also bring his/her lunch from home. Please see cafeteria staff for meal costs.

SCHOOL WEBSITE www.windthorstisd.net

The calendar, lunch menu, the Trojan Talk, and other important information are on the school’s website. Please check it regularly.

SCHOOL HANDBOOK

At the beginning of school, you will be able to view the new School Handbook on the school website. Please read it carefully for policies and other information. You will need to sign several papers regarding school policies. Please return them by the second week of school. BUS SAFETY

If your child rides the bus, it is mandatory that he/she remains in his/her seat. Please talk with your child and be sure he/she understands this safety issue. Staying seated is important for all students. Some younger students have difficulty following this rule. Bus drivers cannot drive safely while having to discipline students. The safety of all students is adversely affected if they do not stay seated and act appropriately. Students should follow the bus rules.

DRESS CODE

Check school handbook regarding dress code policy. Also, please send jackets with your child to school on cool days.

BACKPACKS

Please send a regular-size backpack (no wheels) to school daily with your child. This will keep your child’s papers from getting ruined or lost. Please check your child’s backpack daily.

COMMUNICATION FOLDER

The plastic folder in your child’s backpack is for his/her papers to go home in every day. You may also put a note in there that you want us to receive. Please put anything he/she needs to give to the teacher in the “bring RIGHT back” side. We try and remind the students every day to bring us any notes they have. It would help us if you let your child know that you are putting a note in his/her folder. Please take out the papers on the “LEFT at home” side every day so your child’s work, notes, and other important papers are seen. It is important for you to discuss the work with your child. You might comment on neat writing, praise colorful drawings, or ask questions about how the work was completed. The important thing is that your child knows you are interested in his/her work. Also check for: . School Notes - from school personnel or organizations . Homework - Homework assignments are sent home on Fridays. . Parent Communication - We will check with your child daily for notes from you.

You will need to send money to school for various things - lunches, pictures, book orders, etc. Please send all money to school in a sealed envelope. On the outside of the envelope, please write:

Child’s Name (Susan Jones) Purpose of Money (Lunch Money) Amount of Money ($5.00) Teacher’s Name

KINDERGARTEN NEWS

Each month we will send home a newsletter in the folder with the concepts your child will study. It will also contain other information pertaining to school. This is a handy reference to see what your child will be studying and learning.

HOMEWORK

Experience has taught us that parents working with their children in learning table games and being read to help in their development of academic skills. Reading with your child is beneficial and important to your child’s education. We want to encourage you to read and complete activities daily on the monthly homework calendar. It is necessary to study the letters/sounds, numbers, and sight words throughout the year. Please help your child practice writing his/her name correctly.

REPORT CARDS A report card will be issued every nine weeks. These will need to be signed and returned to school.

CHARACTER

We have a program to help our students develop into good citizens. Every six weeks, we will introduce a new character trait (respect, responsibility, caring, fairness, citizenship, and trustworthiness) and discuss with our students how they can apply this to their lives. We want to help our students learn how they can contribute to making the world a better place. Please discuss with your child how these characteristics can be applied. Manners such as taking turns speaking, knowing of hygiene health, and going to bed at an age- appropriate time will contribute to making your child’s education effective. We can all work together on politeness skills such as saying “Excuse me”, apologies, and being helpful.

BEHAVIOR FOLDER

This folder will be sent home on Fridays. This is a way to communicate with you on your child’s behavior progress. We request that you sign the folder and have your child return it to school on Mondays. Your child’s hand will be stamped daily to indicate his/her behavior. Please check your child’s hand every day when he/she comes home. We are sure with your help your child will understand how important it is to follow the rules at school.

BEHAVIOR We use a behavior color card system. Every day your child will begin with a green card. Green means that he/she is following the rules of the classroom. If he/she misbehaves, we will give a verbal warning. If your child misbehaves again, his/her card will change to yellow. Yellow means he/she will miss some recess or center time. If misbehavior continues, the card will change to red. Red means he/she will miss more recess or center time, parents may be called, or he/she will go to the office to see the principal (depending on severity of the behavior). Your child will receive a stamp on his/her hand indicating which color he/she earned for the day. This stamp will also go on his/her behavior sheet sent home in the folder on Fridays. We hope this will encourage the communication between us. We also have a blue card for exceptionally good behavior/manners and for positive reinforcement. Remember this is a learning year for your child. We want to make his/her learning experience an exciting one with as few distractions as possible.

a. Green-following directions b. Yellow-warning c. Red-needs to change behavior d. Blue-exceptional behavior

REWARDS We will reward students to encourage behaviors such as respect, responsibility, caring, fairness, citizenship, and trustworthiness. We will also reward students who have consistently followed the rules for an entire week. Various types of rewards will be given such as verbal praises, stickers, pencils, prizes, and special privileges.

PARTIES

Birthdays Each child will be given the opportunity to celebrate his/her birthday during the school year. If your child has a summer birthday, a day will be assigned in May so that he/she may also celebrate it at school. Feel free to send a birthday snack with your child. Please advise us in advance if you plan on sending birthday snacks to school.

Holidays Our classes will have parties during the school year – Halloween (field trip), Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter (field trip), End of the Year (park) and Graduation. Notes will be sent home with information about each party.

SNACK TIME

Each day the children will have a short break in which they will have a small snack and milk. Each child will be requested to bring a snack for the entire class. Be aware that you will be charged for milk at snack time. Please pay for your child’s milk when you pay for his/her meals. We must adhere to the state guidelines for snacks which encourages healthy foods.

CONFERENCE Please feel free to contact us during our conference period at school (423-6679) if you have any questions or concerns. Let’s have a great year!