Kindergarten Policies and Procedures
Kindergarten Policies and Procedures 2023-2024
The First Day
The first day of school will be exciting and scary for your child. There may be some tears. I promise that your child is in good hands and that I have an extraordinary day (and year!) planned ahead. Please come in and say your goodbyes. The quicker this is, the easier it will be for all of us.
Morning Routine:
Buildings open at 7:20 and school begins at 7:30 a.m. Students arriving before 7:20 must report to the playground/media center or cafeteria depending on weather. Breakfast is served from 7:00-7:25. Breakfast is $1.75 daily.
Parents may accompany their child to the classroom the first day of school, but after that please use the drop off procedure we have provided for your child.
If you need to speak with your child’s teacher in-depth, please schedule a conference.
Afternoon Pick-up/Routine:
Dismissal time is 2:30. At that time, Kindergarteners will be taken to their designated pick-up areas. Your child will only be sent home based on the written directions you have provided. If there is a change to your child's pick-up routine, you MUST inform your child's teacher in writing or by calling the front office prior to 1:30. If you need to pick up your child before dismissal, you must check them out at the front office. No check outs after 2:00.
If you are using car pick-up, please make every effort to be on-campus by 2:30. We strongly recommend that Kindergarten parents arrive 20-25 minutes early to secure a spot at the beginning of the car pick-up line. Please display the car tag provided by BHCA when picking up your child. Also, please remain in your car in the pick-up line. Your child will be put in the car by BHCA faculty or staff.
Only students who live near the school and walk with their parent will be taken to parent walk-up. You will need to display the tag so that BHCA staff can locate your child.
Make sure your child’s teacher knows how your child is getting home on the first days of school as well as the first week.
Attendance:
Students must be in attendance 90% of our school days or they may be considered for retention. Students are required to make up missed work within five (5) days of their return.
Absences:
If your child is absent notify the office (850-248-3500) or your child's teacher promptly. To have absence marked excused, you must send in a note regarding the reason for the absence within three (3) day of the absence. Otherwise, the absence will be unexcused. If your child misses three (3) or more consecutive days of school, a doctor's note is required for the absence to be excused.
Family Leave Requests:
BHCA does not support students missing school for vacation purposes. However, students are permitted a maximum of five (5) excused family leave days per school year. Family leave requests must be submitted to the office at least two (2) weeks prior to the planned absence. The principal has the authority to disapprove leave requests which will result in the absence being marked as unexcused. Students must make up missed work prior to the planned absence or within (5) days of their return.
Tardy Policy:
Classroom doors close at 7:30 a.m. Students must be inside the classroom by 7:30 a.m. to not be considered tardy. Students leaving more than 15 minutes prior to the end of the school day will be receive a late absences which is listed as a tardy on report cards. Parent(s)/guardian(s) may be required to conference with administration if a student is chronically tardy or absent.
Class Snack:
Each month a snack calendar will be sent home. Families are assigned one day (sometimes two days) each month when they are responsible for providing the class snack. Students should not bring snacks on other days. Each student will eat the class snack that is provided. Allergies will be accommodated appropriately.
*We have a peanut/egg allergy. Please be mindful of this when getting snack for your designated snack day*
Snacks should be as healthy as possible and must be factory-sealed, individual servings. No sweets, please. Send in napkins and enough snacks for 18 hungry students. If you miss your designated snack day, please send in a replacement snack ASAP.
Water Bottles:
Students must bring a filled, ready to drink water bottle with a pop-up top (no twist-off caps) to class daily. All water bottles should be labeled with your child's name. Bottles will be sent home daily to be washed. No beverage, except water, is permitted in student water bottles.
Birthdays
We will be happy to quietly insert party invitations into students take-home folders only if ALL students are invited. All boys or all girls is also permissible. If just a few children are invited, please send the invitations on your own.
Parent are encouraged to send a special snack on their child's birthday. All snacks must factory-sealed individual servings.
Homework:
Homework will be assigned Monday-Thursday with the purchase of reinforcing concepts taught in the classroom. It is recommended that you have a pencil box with pencils, crayons, scissors and glue specifically for your child's homework. Homework time should be spent with an adult. Initial the top of the paper so I know you have checked your child’s homework each night.
*HOMEWORK SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN PENCIL, UNLESS THE DIRECTIONS SAY TO COLOR.
Reading Logs:
Reading is vital to success in kindergarten and beyond. Monthly reading logs will be in your child's take-home folder. Reading time should be spent with an adult. You may read to your child, or they may read to you. All reading is beneficial!
Kindergarten students are required to have a maximum of 25 books recorded on their reading logs by the end of each month.
Take Home Folder
The take-home folder is the primary means of communication between the teacher and students' families. It includes your child's homework, reading log and behavior calendar as well as their completed work. The folder also contains important study materials and a zipper pouch for notes and money. Please check this folder and your child's backpack each evening. Be sure to return the folder in your child's backpack every day.
Lunches and Lunch Money:
Please place any money that is coming to school in an envelope labeled with the following information:
· Child’s first and last name
· Teacher’s name
· Amount enclosed
· Purpose for money (Field Trip, book order, etc.)
*Loose unlabeled money will be sent back home.
Lunch Money
The price of lunch is $3.50 daily.
Please pre-pay for your child's lunches in the front office or on the School Bucks website at https://www.myschoolbucks.com. Sending lunch money in your child's folder is discouraged. If it is unavoidable, send it in an envelope labeled with the following:
Child's first and last name
Lunch number
Teacher's name
Amount of money enclosed
Student lunch accounts should be always kept in good standing. You may apply for free or reduced lunches at the School Apps website at https://www.myschoolapps.com
Please note: Kindergarten does not participate in purchasing ice cream or other sweet during lunch.
Field Trips:
Students are required to wear Royal Blue uniform polos on field trips. Proper permissions forms and fee are due by the required date or students will be allowed to attend the field trip. Siblings and other children are not allowed on field trips.
All chaperones must be approved by the principal, complete a School Volunteer form, and comply with Volunteer Employee Criminal History System (VECHS) clearance two (2) weeks prior to the field trip. As part of VECHS clearance, chaperones will be required to provide their fingerprints for a criminal background check by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The VECHS criminal background check must be conducted by the Bay District School Fingerprint Department.
No exceptions can be made to these policies.
Volunteers:
All families must volunteer a minimum of 20 hours per year. There are many opportunities to volunteer throughout the school year. However, you must be registered at the front office to volunteer on campus. You can log your volunteer hours at bayhaven.org/volunteer log.
Volunteer hours should be planned with the classroom teacher in advance and will be scheduled for a time that is beneficial to the students. If you are unable to make your volunteer responsibilities, please let the teacher know ASAP.
Uniform Policy
Uniforms may be purchased from Zoghby's Uniforms (Lynn Haven store or online ) or Dennis Uniforms Company at dennisuniforms.com
* All Students must have a Royal Blue polo shirt to wear on Field Trips. This shirt can only be purchased at Zoghby’s.
* Spirit Shirts are only to be worn on Fridays.
* Jackets and sweaters (outerwear) must be Bay Haven uniform.
***Label outerwear with your child’s name***
Discipline
The following behavior expectations will be discussed with all students:
Listen and follow directions the first time.
Keep hands, feet, body, and other objects to yourself.
Speak kindly and be polite to others.
Raise your hand and wait to be called on before speaking during group or work time.
Respect school and personal property.
Be honest and take responsibility for your words and actions.
Good Choice Incentives:
Verbal positive praise and cheers
Treats (occassionally)
Fun Friday/Snow Cones
Notes to parents
Poor Choice Consequences:
Loss of recess time
Parent contact
Notes on behavior calendar
Potential loss of class rewards
Your child's daily behavior will be indicated on the behavior calendar in their take-home folder. Please initial the calendar each day.
Thank you for sharing your child with us! We look forward to a wonderful year ahead!
The Kindergarten Teachers