It is very important that your child arrives by 8:10 AM each day. I squeeze every possible teaching moment from our time together. Also, walking your child to class the first day or two is fine, but please allow the children to make their way to our classroom on their own after that. This goes a long way toward fostering their sense of independence and helps build positive routines.
We will have faculty and staff in the front of the school each day to help your child out of the vehicle and into the school. Children arriving before 8 am go to the lunchroom for early stay at 7:30.
“What does the Kindergarten day look like?”
Our day will follow a schedule, but a flexible one, so that we can seize “teachable moments” as they come! In addition to our academic learning,our days will include:
Our Special Area Schedule-Our special area schedule will be available after the first day of school. We will have Art, Music, P.E. (twice weekly), Spanish, Computer, Science Lab, and Library.
Lunch-Lunch will be served at 11:30 each day and is over at noon. Our school offers a very nutritious, home cooked hot lunch option, a well balanced sandwich tray option, or your child may bring lunch from home.
Parents are welcomed to eat lunch with your child on any day, not just special occasions or designated days. Please be mindful of separation issues for your individual child when planning to join them, especially early in the year.
Centers-Centers are an invaluable part of the Kindergarten day. Play is the work of children. Through play, children benefit intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally. Our Kindergarten program maintains a very healthy, developmentally appropriate balance between the “work” of school and the “work” of play through our center time.
Recess-We have recess every day. I believe that children need to get outside into the fresh air and sunshine whenever the weather is permitting! In cooler weather, please be sure to send jackets or coats, hats, scarves, mittens (I recommend them because gloves are often too much of a challenge for small children), etc. When we have inclement weather, we have indoor recess in our classroom or gym.
Quiet Time-We don’t nap in Kindergarten, but we do have a quiet time each day. Little people need this brief break from the hustle and bustle of the school day to regroup and collect their thoughts. Children can bring a towel from home to use as their quiet area to explore a book while we play quiet music. This also serves as an informal reading assessment time beginning around mid-year.
A word about dress-Clothing that your child can maneuver on their own and is comfortable is important to us and to your child. We plan activities that use paint, markers, glitter, etc. often enough that your child should be dressed with this in mind. Also, being able to help themselves with clothing helps children feel self-sufficient and is a big confidence booster. Please let your child wear clothing that you won’t mind them getting dirty or staining. Assembly Dress or field trip days (when appropriate)are the fancy clothes days.
A change of clothes will stay at school for your child’s use. We will put a note in your child’s Cougar Keeper if there are soiled clothes that need attention in your child’s book bag. Please return fresh clothing the next day.
The most important piece of the puzzle:
Learning to be a good classroom citizen and to work through social situations is a vital part of the Kindergarten experience. Kindergarten is the age during which social awareness is at its peak. This is one of the things what makes Kindergarten a unique grade. Children at this stage of development become acutely aware of themselves, their place in the world, and how their actions and behaviors affect others positively or negatively. Learning to be a good classroom citizen is vital to a child’s future classroom experiences. Establishing good social habits in Kindergarten frees a child for academic learning later on in first grade and in all grades to follow. For this reason, we spend a great deal of time in Kindergarten teaching social and interactive skills here at Cambridge.
If your Kindergartener comes home tells you that we practiced how to pack our book bags, wash hands and flush in the restrooms, close glue, share materials, or navigate the lunchroom- they are right! We will also spend a good bit of time the first few weeks learning and practicing all class routines and procedures so that they become second nature for the children. This helps children to become more independent and to feel more secure in our classroom. When everyone knows exactly what is expected of them throughout the day, things flow much more smoothly for everyone and kindergarten can be an even happier place to be.
“What should my child bring to school each day?”
The “must brings” for each day are:
· a labeled insulated water bottle with a pull up spout(try not to send the kind that screw off-that equals a big spill when knocked over)
· Cool-natured children may want to bring a light-weight jacket or sweater (labeled with their name) to keep at school.
· Cougar Keeper (This binder is a must for their book bags each day. It's how home and school stay organized.)
As much as possible, children should be active participants in seeing that materials for school are gathered in a central location and ready for the next school day. Now is the time to begin those habits we’d like to see continued throughout their school careers!
“How will I know how my child’s day went?”
I will be in contact with you daily about your child’s day through his or her Cougar Keeper. Communication is the key to a successful year together, so each day you will see a communication sheet. It will list our special area classes for the week and list any special events that week. It also has a spot for brief notes. Please return the sheet each day. You will also receive a weekly news letter and a calendar each month.
If your child gets o “booboo” at school, we will love on them, clean them up and apply a band aid with ointment as needed. If the injury is more than slight, we will note what happened on your child’s communication sheet or on a separate form in your child’s note pouch.
Feel free to contact me when you have any questions or concerns, even if you might worry that they are small concerns or questions. There are no small questions or concerns when it comes to your child!
“Are there snacks? What about parties?”
We will have a morning snack time each day, around 10 am. We will rotate weekly in alphabetical order for families to send snacks for the class. Good snack choices include Gogurts, string cheese, dry cereals, fresh fruit, etc. Drinks are not necessary for daily snacks since the children will have water bottles. Please don’t send sugary snacks (snack cakes, Pop Tarts, cookies, etc.). I am not against yummy treats, but please remember that the snack you send is supposed to fuel your child’s learning. What you put in will be what I get out!
Our room parent will be coordinating class parties. There is a sign-up sheet if you would like to help plan a specific holiday or party.
It is fine for snacks to be brought it for students’ birthdays, but I do ask that birthday snacks be brought in toward the end of our school day. It’s hard to focus and learn on a cupcake rush. Please send individual juice pouches or boxes for parties if you want to include drinks (no soft drinks, please). If you will email me a day or two in advance, we can work out the details.
“What if my child needs medicine during the day?”
Please let us know in writing if your child needs medication on any given day. Please include a time and an amount to be given. Medicines will be kept in the office in a locked drawer and are administered by the office staff.
**A word about illnesses: Parents, as a working mom I know how hard it is to make that call into your work telling them that your child is ill. I also know how hard it is to make that last minute determination in the mornings as to if your little one is sick enough to miss school. As a mother of 3, I also know that every little sniffle doesn’t mean a child is sick enough to miss school. Please understand, however, that I not only have an obligation to your child, but also to the other families represented in our class. If your child seems very ill at school or is running a temperature, I will ask for the office staff to contact you to pick up your child. If your child has had a contagious illness, I will expect that they stay at home until the threat of contagion is over. This is for the health of all the children concerned. They are my first priority always. This is also our school policy.**
“Do you need help with anything??”
Volunteers are a very important part of our Kindergarten program. Let us know in what way you would like to help. There will be many advertized opportunities throughout the year on our K5 newsletter.
“Where do I pick up my child?”
Afternoon pick up begins at 2:45 in the front of the school. Please post an afternoon pickup card on your front passenger flip down mirror with a clothes pin or hold it up so that the teachers can see the name. Remain in your car and pull up as indicated. A teacher will walk your child to the car, holding his or her hand. We also buckle your child into the car if they can’t do it themselves. This is standard procedure, especially for our younger Cougars. Please stay in your vehicle. We do ask that you refrain from using your cell phones/texting during pick up so that everyone’s attention is on the children and the cars around them. If a grandparent or friend is picking up a certain day, please send us a note so that we know that this is an approved pick up form your child and please familiarize them with the pickup procedures. Safety first!!
Early dismissals are permitted as necessary. It is helpful that if you know that you will pick up early that you send a note in your child’s Cougar Keeper indicating what time your child will be dismissed. Our front office staff will call our classroom and one of us will walk your child up to you.
Whew! I think that just about covers it!
Remember, there are no small questions, so if there is something I didn’t cover that you need to know, please ask.
We have an exciting year ahead, and I feel privileged to be a part of it!
