General Information Specific to Kindergarten

**** LABEL everything with your child's FIRST and LAST name ****

📌 LABLEING EVERYTHING helps us return items to correct children/families & keeps teachers happy & less stressed 😀

• lunch boxes

• snacks

• clothing & shoes

• outwear: coat/jackets, mittens/gloves, snow boots

• backpacks

• water bottles
  
  

Absences and Arriving Late/Leaving Early -Infinite Campus Support for Families

• log into your Infinite Campus (IC) Parent Portal to report absences - learn how to use Report an Absence 

• in addition to reporting absences on IC, it is helpful to report absences to your child's teacher (email)

• if the office or teacher do not receive notification of absences, children will be marked as an "unexcused absence" and you will receive a call

• let the front office and your child's teacher know if children will be arriving late or leaving early - children need to be walked into the office and signed in if arriving late or signed out if leaving early
  
  

After School Care - School Age Care (SAC)

Backpacks - LABEL with child's FIRST and LAST name

• K students need a "regular" sized backpack - usually measuring around 15"H x 11"W x 6"D (NOT a mini/toddler backpack 9"H x 9"W x 2"D)

• backpacks need to hold: large Friday Folder, lunch box if bringing lunch from home, 2 snacks

• children should practice zipping and unzipping to encourage independence

• children should practice placing items in backpacks and taking items out to encourage independence

• make sure children know what their backpacks look like
  
  

Birthdays

• INVITATIONS

  • you may send birthday invitations to school if the whole class is invited and I will place them in Friday Folders

  • if you want to send evites, you may send it to me and I will pass it on to the students invited - I cannot share personal contact information for other families

• NO TREATS 

  • please do not send in food or other treats for your child's birthday
    
    

Breakfast

• breakfast is optional and more information can be found at BVSD meal accounts

• breakfast is served in the Café before school from approximately 7:40-7:50

• if children want breakfast, they need to walk to the Café BEFORE going to the classroom

• if children ride the bus to school, they should get off the bus and go directly to the Café for breakfast
  
  

📌 Change in Routine - if children are going home a different way than they usually do...

• you MUST send in a note or email your child's teacher before 12:00pm

• you MUST email or call the office at 720-561-3800 with the change(s)

• help us keep your children safe by telling us of any changes - both the front office and the K Team
  
  

📌 Class Lists - all children will have Mrs. Young and Ms. Jeri for the 2025-26 school year!

• for the first three days of school, K teachers will share ALL students

• by the end of the first week of school, teachers will make class lists and let families know which class your child will be in for the remainder of the year

• we work very hard to make balanced classes (English as first language/English not as first language, introverted/extroverted, who learns & plays well together, etc.)

• we do not take parent requests, although we do take information shared with us into account
  
  

Contacting Teachers

• CALL

  • 720-561-3800 and leave a message with the front office or a voice mail

  • I tend not to answer our learning space phone so as to not interrupt instruction and learning

  • if it is important, leave a message with the front office and they will make sure I get the message

  • when you leave a voice message, I will to get back to you within 24-48 hours after I receive it

• EMAIL 

  • all BVSD staff have this basic email address: firstname.lastname@bvsd.org

  • I try to respond to emails within 24-48 hours

  • 📌 please DO NOT email me with important change of plans after 12:00 p.m. - call the front office at 720-561-3800 and leave a message with them
    
    

📌 Dismissal Times - K students are released out the K-1 door by the preschool playground 

• 1st-5th grades are dismissed at 2:50pm

• kindergarten tries to dismiss at 2:40, especially at the beginning of the year to ensure that all students are safely on the correct buses and picked up by their safe adults

• BUSSERS: one teacher takes children to their busses

• GO-HOMERS: one teacher make sure that children who are being picked up by adults are safely released to them - children need to give the teacher a high-five, handshake, hugs, or elbow-bump before going to their adult and teacher and adult need to make eye-contact/wave so we all stay safe

• SACers: a SAC staff member takes children who are going to School After Care to the Heart and Café
  
  

District Professional Development Days (PD DAYS)

• check the BVSD calendar  (calendario español)

• children do not attend school on these days - it is up to families to find childcare if needed
  
  

Family Involvement and Volunteering

• CREEKSIDE PARENT ORGANIZATION (CPO)

  • find more information on the CPO website on the Creekside site about how parents, the principal, staff, and the larger community work together to support Creekside 

• VOLUNTEERING

  • go to the Creekside website for more information about volunteering at Creekside

  • go to the BVSD website for volunteer information

  • once you have completed a BVSD background check, families members can volunteer in learning spaces (classrooms), the Curiosity Center (library), in the art room, for field trips, and many other Creekside events

• click on BVSD Get Involved to learn about ways to stay informed and involved in your children's education
  
  

Friday Folders

• important part of communication between home and school

  • field trip permission forms

  • whole school events and information

  • children's work

• goes home every Friday in backpacks - empty every weekend!

• comes back to school every Monday - send back any important signed forms
  
  

Home Visits

• the K Team may conduct home visits to build communication and success for all

• home visits support the children's team working together - families, teachers, and students

• visits are conducted in late September and October

• if home visits occur, more information is shared in September
  
  

📌 Independence - even the youngest children can be independent and find joy and pride in doing things for themselves

• children can practice...

  • getting items into and out of backpacks by themselves

  • zipping and unzipping their own backpacks

  • zipping and unzipping their own coats/jackets/shoes

  • taking coats and shoes off and putting them back on

  • opening snack and lunch items

  • getting onto and pumping swings

  • climbing playground equipment safely and going down slides feet first

  • using the bathroom and washing hands by themselves (at school, adults cannot help wipe)

• article from Today's Parent : 8 Tips for Teaching Kids to Be More Independent

• article from Parents: 6 Things You Can Do to Foster Independence in Your Kid

LEAP (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports - PBIS) 

• • L = leadership (set a good example)

  • E = empathy (show that you care)

  • A = accountability (make good choices)

  • P = pride (be proud of you and our school)

  • children earn a ticket for demonstrating LEAP behaviors

  • when 10 tickets are earned, children shake pompoms and the class does a cheer

  • tickets are placed in our LEAP ticket box and one ticket is chosen by a 5th grader every Friday and that child gets a LEAP prize

  • the class earns a LEAP star when the whole class shows LEAP behavior and when 100 stars are earned, we have a celebration
    
    

Lunch Boxes - LABEL with child's FIRST and LAST name

• many children like fun lunch boxes but anything that can hold your child's lunch is fine (Ziploc bags, paper bags, etc)

• all lunch boxes are kept in classroom cubbies and children are responsible for taking them to the Café for lunch

• pack lunches from home and snacks separately - it is VERY helpful to LABEL containers/bags as LUNCH and SNACK

• make sure children know what their lunch boxes and snack containers look like - this should be easy for everyone because they are labeled with names 😉

• do not pack glass containers
  
  

📌 Lunch and Snacks - LABEL lunch boxes and snacks with child's FIRST and LAST name, please use plastic or other reusable containers - no glass!

• Meal Information can be found on the BVSD website and on the Creekside website

  • this is where you set up a lunch account

  • you need to know your child's student number

  • your child will not need to know their number for kindergarten, but will need to learn it for 1st grade

  • find free and reduced lunch information 

• Jeri, our para educator, is with children outside and in the Café during recess and lunch

• lunches from home and snacks need to be packed separately - lunch boxes will go to the Café and snacks will be eaten outside during recess and in the classroom during the afternoon

• LABEL lunch boxes and snacks (containers, bags) with your child's FIRST and LAST name and it is VERY helpful to LABEL containers/bags as LUNCH and SNACK

• COLD LUNCH = nutritious lunch brought from home

  • hot items can be put in a thermos - there are no microwaves for children or teachers to use

  • cold items can be kept cold with ice/cold packs

  • children can get milk in the Café through their meal account

  • children can get water in the Café or bring their own healthy drink (no soda)

• HOT LUNCH = lunch from the Café 

  • hot lunch can be purchased from the Café - go to BVSD online payments

  • milk is included

  • there are vegetarian and gluten free options on many days - please check the lunch menu to make sure that the lunch is safe for your child!

• SNACKS = brought from home (LABEL with names)

  • we have 2 snacks a day - a morning snack and an afternoon snack

  • pack snacks separately from lunches brought from home

  • pack nutritious snacks for good brain and body energy (examples: vegetables, fruits, crackers, pretzels, cheese, yogurt, small muffins/bread, hummus)

  • work on independence - children need to be able to peel oranges and bananas independently or bring fruit that is already peeled

  • please keep cookies, cakes, and potato chips at home

  • families can donate pretzels for your child's learning space for teachers to use with children who do not bring snacks or need more to eat

  • make sure children know what their snacks look like and what they are packed in - LABEL containers/bags with your child's name!
    
    

📌 Playground Rules - TO BE FOLLOWED BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER SCHOOL by KIDS and GROWN UPS

• • SWINGING: sit on bottoms while holding on with 2 hands

  • SLIDING: one person on the slide at a time, sit on bottoms or tummies, feet first

  • WOOD CHIPS and STICKS: keep on the ground to use as building materials

  • BE SAFE with BODIES and WORDS: think about your own body, friends' bodies, and feelings to play in safe ways

  • EQUIPMENT: if you bring toys outside to play with, it is your responsibility to bring them back inside
    
    

Shoes and Clothes - LABEL everything with FIRST and LAST names

• children need to wear shoes that have straps/Velcro/ties and are safe for running and playing on the playground, in PE, and walking in the learning spaces

• keep flip flops and shoes that come off easily at home (Crocs, other slip-ons)

• if dresses/skirts are worn to school, it's a good idea to wear shorts under them

• 📌 children will keep an extra set of clothes at school in case of accidents or getting wet

  • LABEL each clothes item with first and last names ;-)

  • send in: shirt, pants/shorts, socks, underwear

  • clothes will be kept in individual plastic tubs in cubbies

• we will go outside if the weather is above 19 degrees F and if it is not too wet - children need a jacket and other appropriate outdoor clothing (if you need help with clothing, we can help!)

• make sure children know what their shoes and clothing looks like
  
  

Sunscreen

• must be put on at home

• teachers and other staff are not allowed to put sunscreen on children
  
  

📌 Toys

• keep ALL toys at home - children get very sad and upset when toys from home are lost or broken

• toys that are brought to school need to stay in backpacks, teachers/staff may take them to keep them safe, or families may be asked to pick the toys up at school

• 📌 weapons (including toys from home, sticks, fingers/hands) and weapon-play are not allowed at Creekside to keep ALL children, families, and visitors safe 

• help explain to children that pretend weapon-play rules may differ at home and school
  
  

Transportation - bus schedules

• teachers do not have busing information

• go to BVSD Transportation to find out information about busing

• you can also call the front office at 720-561-3800 to get support
  
  

📌 Water Bottles - LABEL with child's FIRST and LAST name

• water bottles are kept in learning spaces/classrooms and can be taken outside during snack and morning recess

• make sure children know what their water bottle looks like - this will be easy because their first and last name will be on it!