Mrs. Robinson’s

 

&

Mrs. Parker’s

Kindergarten Class

 

 

Hopewell School

2008 - 2009

Parent Handbook

 

 

 

 

Completing Your Child’s Cumulative Record

 

The state of Tennessee requires every child entering kindergarten to have certain documents in his/her school file.

 

Please make sure you have turned in the following forms:

 

ü    A copy of the child’s birth certificate

ü    A copy of the child’s social security card

ü    Immunization/Physical Exam Card (Green Card)

 

Getting your Child Ready for School Each Day

 

·       Everyday – Dress your child comfortably.  We participate in many messy activities; and some activities require children to jump, hop, run, etc.  Please try to save frilly dresses and dress shoes for special days.

·       P.E.  Days – Your child must wear tennis shoes and appropriate play clothes to participate.  Students are also requested to bring a water bottle.

·       When time and weather permits, we will go outside for playtime.  If your child has shoes with laces and does not yet know how to tie them, please tie the shoes in double knots before school.

·       When the weather gets cooler, please always send a jacket with your child. We will try to go outside if the temperature is 50 degrees or above.

·       Please make sure your child is prepared for school each morning.  Please place notes, money envelopes, and behavior charts inside front agenda pockets.

·       Do not allow your child to bring personal possessions to school. Toys, backpack buddies, and jewelry should be left at home.  Show & Tell days are the only exception to this rule. You will have prior notice.  Illegal toys will be confiscated and only returned to parents.  Trading cards will be taken to principal.

 

Arriving

at
School

Car Riders:

 

·       Please remember the school – zone speed limit is 20 mph.

    All kindergarten parent should use the gym entrance to drop off students by   traveling northeast from Freewill Road turn right at the entrance next to the ball field.  Follow the road behind the school towards the rear of the gym. Do not let your child out anywhere but the rear of the gym.

·       Parking at our school is very limited.  Parents should always stay in their car, with the exception of the first day of school, please do not park to walk your child to class.  We encourage independence as soon as possible. 

·       Watch your child enter the building.  All doors, except front foyer doors, are locked at 7:45 A.M.

·       The classroom doors will be locked until

7:35 A.M.  If arriving before this time, students must go to the gym.  For the first few weeks, Mrs. Robinson or Mrs. Parker will pick students up when classrooms doors open.   Students will be dismissed by bus duty teacher after that time.   For safety purposes, students are not permitted to wait in the hallway for any reason.

·       If arriving after 7:45 A.M. , students must enter the front foyer door and go directly to the office.  For the safety of your child we ask that you walk your child to the office.   After a late slip has been administered, please escort your child down the kindergarten hallway.   Students should still enter independently.  The note given from the office will give explanation for tardiness.  It is less distracting if students enter on his/her own quietly.  

 

Bus riders

 

·       The buses will automatically drop the students off at the gymnasium doors.  All students should proceed to the gym for further instructions.

·       Breakfast is served in our cafeteria from 7:10- 7:30 A.M.  Bus duty teachers will instruct students, who wish to eat breakfast, when and how to proceed to the cafeteria.

·       Each morning inform your child if you wish for him/her to eat breakfast. The cost of breakfast is:  $1.05 and is deducted from your child’s cafeteria account.

 

Dismissal

 

·       Bus riders will be escorted to their buses at 2:35 p.m. 

·       Car riders will be escorted to the gym for pick up.  Parents will be given a sign to display in car window.   Students will be dismissed by order of cars.

 

Checking Your Child out of School

·       If you have to check your child out early, students must be signed out in the front office.  Administrator will call down to the room, to let us know. We will walk the student down at the time.  As the year progress, students will be allowed to go independently. 

·        For security reasons, parents are not allowed to come to the room without checking in with the office first.

·       If you have to check your child out early, please write a note in your child’s agenda stating what time to expect you.

·       Please try to avoid checking your child out after 2:15 pm.  Mrs. Parker and I are busy helping                                     students pack up for the day during this time, and will not be available to walk your child down.

 

Reaction to School

 

Going to school for the first time may be an exciting or frightening experience, depending on the child.   We work very hard to make every child feel comfortable and welcome into our classroom.  Parents can expect one of three basic reactions to entering school for the first time: 

1) excited and eager

2) shy yet curious

 3) scared and resistant

 

Unfortunately we as parents cannot choose how we or our child will react to the first day. Very often parents are surprised by the reaction of their child.  Be prepared for anything.  Parents of those children, who are scared and resistant, please understand this is normal reaction for some.  It will pass in time.   You can encourage your child’s independence by not walking him/her to class after the first day.   We do understand it is extremely difficult to walk away from a crying child.    Most children adapt much faster when their parents encourage independence.

 

Snacks

 

·       Our classroom will have a morning and afternoon snack. The morning snack time is around 9:00 A.M.  Each day for our morning snack students will all have the same snack.  We will provide only one type of snack per morning.   Your child may choose to take the snack or not.  These snacks are provided by you, the parents.

·       On the first Monday of each month, please send a box of something for morning snack (suggestions:  crackers, cookies, raisins, cereal, etc.) Send something your child likes.

·       Afternoon snack time is around 1:00 P.M.  This snack is individual.   Each child may bring his/her own afternoon snack.  Please send small packaged snacks (nothing messy). The afternoon snack will remain in your child’s backpack until 1:00 P.M.

 

Water Bottles

·       Please send a water bottle to school each day. They are used for P.E. classes, morning snack, afternoon snack and recess.     

·       In order to avoid spills, a small water bottle with a pop up lid is encouraged.  We will ask that the water bottles be taken home every day.  

·       In order to avoid spill, we request that you send water bottles to school empty.  Students will fill them up at the water fountain each morning. 

Cafeteria Accounts

 

·       School lunch costs $ 1.75 per day.  School breakfast costs $1.05   per day.

·        Free and Reduced Lunch Applications are   provided for parents interested.

·       Whenever sending money to school:

ü    Place the money in a small white envelope.

ü    On the front of the envelope, write your child’s first and last name, the amount enclosed, the intent for the money, and teacher’s name (Mrs. Robinson). 

ü    Place envelope inside the front agenda pocket.

 

·       Every student will be assigned a cafeteria account.

·       Every student will be assigned a four-digit number code to access his/her account.  We encourage all kindergarten students to learn his/her number before the first full week of school.  

·       Suggestion:   Try to pay for your child’s meals a week at a time so he/she does not have to carry money to school everyday.

 

·       Notices are sent to you when your child’s account is in a negative balance.   Notices are not sent when funds are low. 

 

·       In the instance of a negative balance, the cafeteria staff will send notification via your child.  The notice will be dated and tell you the amount owed.  Your child will also be given a hand stamp.   In the past, the cafeteria has used a gingerbread stamp, but she may use a different one this year.  For this reason, I will not stamp your child’s hand for good behavior.  Stamps in class will be used only on class work.

 

 

 

Packing a Lunch for Your Child

 

·       Write your child’s name on his/her lunchbox.

·       Please send nutritious food when packing a lunch for your child.

·       Your child may purchase milk from the cafeteria to drink with a packed lunch.  Milk cost 35c each and can be deducted from the child’s lunch account. 

·       If you send milk money, please put milk money in your child’s lunchbox. We will not collect this.  We will ask who needs a drink with his or her packed lunch from home, and students will look in his/her box before entering the cafeteria.  Some parents in the past have taped money inside lunch boxes or there are many lunch boxes now that have “special pockets.”

·       You may wish to pack a drink, such as juice or Kool-Aid.  Please do not pack any carbonated beverages. 

·       Only send as much food and drink as you think your child will need.  All leftovers are discarded before leaving the cafeteria.

·       Our lunch time is 25 minutes only.  When time to leave, everyone must leave whether finished or not.  Encourage your child to eat first and talk when finished.

·       Keep in mind that lunchboxes are not refrigerated.  Send a cold-pack when needed. 

·       Ice cream is available to purchase for kindergarten on Tuesdays and Thursdays (A price list will be sent home when ice cream is available).

·       Ice cream money should be sent inside a labeled envelope and placed inside the front agenda pocket.  Please send correct change.  Change cannot be made for ice cream.  Students will not be allowed to purchase ice cream unless money is in a labeled envelope. 

·       We are not allowed to keep extra money in the classroom.  Please send ice cream money on the day it has been assigned ( Tuesdays and Thursdays).

 

 

When Eating with Your child

 

·       You and your family members are always welcome to come and eat lunch with your child.

·       Please send us a note, the morning of when you plan to eat lunch with your child.  Indicate who is coming, and if they plan to purchase a tray from the cafeteria.  The cost for an adult tray is $ 3.00 and must be paid for in cash.

·       Our lunchtime is ________ A.M.

·        Please do not come to the classroom.  Meet our class at the doors of the cafeteria.

·        Fast- food is not permitted in the cafeteria.

 

Communication with School

 

·       My main source of communication with you is your child’s agenda book. Check the front pocket everyday and read daily calendar correspondence.  Please write your child’s first name in the shaded area at the top of the agenda page each week, and sign or initial yellow box everyday.

·       A weekly behavior report, newsletter, and week’s worth of work will be sent home in your child’s Friday folder.  Please read dates listed on newsletter, and write important dates in your child’s agenda book.

·       Behavior reports should be reviewed, signed, and returned along with his/her Friday folder the following school day. 

·        Please check your child’s backpack and agenda book everyday.

ü    Read all correspondence sent home.

ü    Comment and discuss your child’s daily work.

ü    Remove everything not needed for the next school day.

ü    Read and sign anything calling for your signature.

ü    Help your child repack the backpack for the next school day.

 

Discipline in Our Classroom

 

 It is important when working with young children to make expectations simple and understood.   Some misbehavior is to be expected.   Our goal is for students to learn from poor choices, and choose not to make that decision again.   The children will learn what is expected of them and the consequences.  If they choose otherwise, the discipline system we use is as follows:

Your child will have five color coded cards.  Each with his/her name.

Great Green – starting point everyday

Bumpy Blue - 5 minutes time – out

Oh, No Orange – half of free time, time –out

Yucky Yellow - all of free time, time – out and call or note to parents to discuss appropriate further action.

Rowdy Red – all of free time, time- out, call to parents and a visit to Mr. Riggs.

·       On occasion, time – out may need to be carried over to the following day.

The cards will be placed in a small pocket chart in our classroom.

We rarely ask a child to move a card without prior warning.

·       Everyone should fill out the office correspondence regarding corporal punishment.  This discipline strategy is optional.  If this is not an option for your child, you may be contacted by the principal to discuss further disciplinary actions.

 * There are misbehaviors that are more serious and require me to automatically call parents (fighting, destroying school property, or others’ property, hurting his/ herself or others or a constant repeat of the same misbehavior, etc).

 

Our classroom rules are as follows:

 

1.                Be kind to others.

2.                Keep your hands, feet, and other objects to yourself.

3.                Be a good listener by following directions the first time given.

4.                Walk inside.

5.                Always behave in a safe way.

6.                Be prepared for class.

 

 

Behavior Chart

 

The behavior charts are intended to offer your child a visual for their behavior (a week at a glance).

·       Every Monday your child will have a new Behavior Chart at his/her table.

·       Everyday that the child does not move any cards, he/she will receive a sticker on the chart for that day.

·       At the end of the week all students who have collected five stickers for good behavior, will choose a prize from our “Treasure Chest”.  Students who earned at least three stickers will receive a piece of candy or special sticker.

·       If the child does not receive a sticker because of misbehavior we will instead write the color of the card/ # of the rule broken (The same information will be written in your child’s agenda book).

·       As I stated earlier, I will send a completed Behavior Chart home for you to read, to discuss, sign, and return.

·       Suggestion:  Every Friday read it, sign it, and immediately return it to your child’s agenda book.

·       If a Behavior Chart is ever lost, write me a note stating that you have discussed your child’s behavior for the week, in lieu of the Behavior Chart.

 

 

 

 

If Your Child Misses a Day of School

 

·       If your child misses a day of school, it is important that we document the reason for the absence.  Therefore, we ask that you please ALWAYS send a note or a doctor’s excuse with your child when he/she returns to school.

·       A parent written note will excuse at most five absences per school year.  In the case of the chicken pox, you may be given additional parent note absences.

·       A doctor’s note will excuse a child’s absences if an illness is involved.  Try to schedule well child doctor’s visits after school hours.

·       If I do not receive a note explaining absences, within two days of the child returning to school, the absences will automatically be noted as an unexcused absence.

·       Unexcused absences may result in disciplinary action taken by the office.

 

 

Kindergarten lays the foundation for your child’s educational experiences.  If school is important to you, it will in turn become important to your child.  In the sate of Tennessee mastering an accredited kindergarten program is now mandatory in order to enter first grade.  Please make every effort to send your child to school.

 

 

 

Homework Packets

 

·       Homework Packets can be a very effective learning tool.  Each student will be given a Homework Packet (A plastic envelope containing a few letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and sounds cards to begin with).

·       The students will keep the packets for the first twelve weeks of school.

·       Students who need to continue with identification mastery and/ or phonics will continue with their homework packets longer. 

·       The homework packet is a short daily, parent- child activity.  

How to Use Homework Packets and Helpful Suggestions:

 

1.              Hold up one card one at a time so that you can plainly see it.

2.              Ask your child to identify the letter, number, shape, etc.

3.               Don’t be concerned if your child does not identify all of the cards at first.  Learning is a process.  This activity is rote memory and requires much practice.  This activity is designed to find a challenging learning point for your child.  Many variation of practice can be helpful.

4.              In order for your child to have real mastery of letters and numbers, it is helpful to practice these out of order. 

·       You will keep the packet for one week.  Please practice with your child everyday.  You should return the packet to school every week on the day designated on the front.

·       When returning homework packets to school, please help your child place the packet in his/her backpack.  A basket will be provided for homework packets for your child upon arriving to school. 

·       When the packet is sent to school,  I will go through the activity with your child.  I will record his/her progress; separate cards mastered from the cards not mastered, and add new cards when needed.

·       Any card answered incorrectly, I will place in the FRONT of the Homework Packet.   All cards answered correctly, I will place in the BACK of the Homework Packet. 

·       I will add new cards when needed.  When practicing at home, practice on the cards in front of the packet.  Return same cards to the front of the packet, only I will move cards to the back when your child has mastered them at school. 

·       If you and your child forget to send the packet back to school on the correct day, send it on Friday.  Friday will be designated our make–up day for Homework Packets.

·       Homework packets are very time consuming to make because every packet is different.  It is individualized to your child’s progress.

·       Do not allow your child to “play” with the packet.  It is an activity intended for parent and child working together. 

·       Please do not misplace homework packets.  If your child loses the packet, we will replace it the first time.  After the first time, we request that the parents use materials at home. 

 

 

 

 Special Person

Our Letter of the Week is ________

 

Dear Parent (s),

Your child has been selected to be our “Special Person” for next week.  We have a bulletin board to decorate with 10- 15 pictures of your child when he/she was a baby and/or recent pictures.  Possible pictures of family members and/or pets would be appropriate.  Please send the pictures to school on ___________ and we will return them to you next week. 

Your child will also fill our “Word Wall” bucket for the week.  Written at the top of the page is the letter of the week.  Please help your child locate about 5- 10 items that begin with that letter.   Items can be pictures, small toys, etc.  We will return those items at the end of the week.

To help make the week more special for your child, parent and/ or family members are invited to eat lunch with the “Special Person”.   Please remember to notify me the morning of when you plan to attend lunch so that we may include you in our lunch count.  Our lunch time is ________________ and you should meet us at the cafeteria doors.  Adult lunch prices are $2.25 and must be paid for in cash. 

If your child has a favorite book, tape, or CD, you many send them to school to share as well.

 

                            Thank You,

                            Mrs. Robinson and Mrs. Parker

 

 

 

Celebration Throughout the Year

 

Birthdays

·       We will celebrate your child’s birthday by creating a class birthday card.  Cupcakes or cookies may be sent on your child’s special day to share for an afternoon snack.  We ask that you notify us the day before in order to avoid scheduling conflicts.

 

Holidays

·       We will have small parties for the    following holidays:

 

Harvest Time

·       Three parent volunteers to help with tasting centers

 

Thanksgiving

·       Three parent volunteers to assist students in decorating Native American outfits to wear on our Thanksgiving Lunch Day

 

Christmas Concert (Evening)

·       All parents may attend

 

*     We will also need parent volunteers to help with Christmas Craft Day!

 

Valentine’s Day

·       Students will exchange Valentine cards and special treats

 

 

St. Patrick’s Day

·       Three parent volunteers to help with Scavenger Hunt

 

Easter

·       Three parent volunteers to assist in hiding eggs

 

Graduation (School day program)

·       Four family members may attend.

 

*     I may notify you throughout the year to send party supplies to school.  I will send a note a few days prior specifying what and when it is needed. 

 

 Parent Volunteers

 

Parental Involvement is highly encouraged at Hopewell.  There are so many ways you can become a part.

 

1.     Assist with class parties by sending supplies

2.     Assist with making phone calls to other parents reminding them of upcoming events.

3.     Assist with making copies or  cutting out craft patterns

4.     Assist with Accelerated Reader Program

5.     Assist with special events such as Christmas Craft Day, school-wide events, and much more!

 

·       There are many working parents whose scheduled does allow time to  help at school.    If you are available to make phone calls, send special snacks, purchase items from our wish list you are a BIG help.

·       When coming to the school to volunteer, please make sure you sign- in at the office and the parent volunteer room.   

·       Copies and craft materials that need to be made are placed in the door outside of our classroom.  Notes will be attached explaining what needs to be done. 

·       We will start our Accelerated Reader program in October.  If you are interested in helping with this program, please make sure to sign the day and time you are available.  We will contact you before the program begins to explain the program in detail.

 

Kindergarten Grade Cards

 

·       A progress report will be sent the first six weeks of school.  Please review this checklist, sign, and return for our records.

·       After the first six weeks a report card will be sent home every six weeks.  Again this must be sign and returned.

·         A pretest was given at the beginning of school.  We will also conduct a post-test at the end of the year.

·       Promotion to the first grade is based on student’s progress throughout the year. 

 

Parent Conferences

 

·       Every year we have two scheduled parent/teacher conferences. 

·       The first one is scheduled in October and the second is in May.  

·       You will be contacted to set up an appointment at least one week prior.

·       Additional conferences may be scheduled by appointment only.   I do not permit doorway or hallway conferences.   I begin teaching from the moment your child arrives. 

·       It is very disruptive to the whole class to converse with the teacher in the hall or the classroom door.  Kindergarten students need undivided attention from both teachers starting the first moment of the day. 

·       If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s progress, behavior etc., please feel free to write me a note.  I will be happy to contact you during my planning time.

 

 

 Special Classes

 

·       Kindergarten students participate in special classes in the afternoon.  These are required classes. 

·        Students will spend a maximum of 35 minutes each time two days a week.

·       Behavior guidelines established in the classroom are the same in these classes as well.   

·       Teachers will documents any inappropriate behavior.  The classroom teacher will follow up in the classroom.  Those classes are:

·       Music with  Sarah Phillips

·       Physical Education with Mrs. MChesney

·       Library with Mrs. Smith (one time for part of the year and two times the other half)

·       Computer with Mrs. Hill and myself

·       Guidance with Mrs. Jenne (twice a month)