Parent Page

I believe that a good parent-teacher relationship is necessary for maximum school success. Throughout the year I will communicate with you through this blog, and also through notes, telephone calls, newsletters, and parent-teacher conferences. I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns at any time. You can call me at school (503)985-7240, send me a note or e-mail me at:

mcmasterm@gastonk12.org

PARENT PARTICIPATION

Throughout the school year there will be a variety of special classroom activities and celebrations. We encourage you to attend these functions when possible and to support them by sending needed supplies or treats. Your support of school activities makes your child feel important and sends the message that you value school. Our class will have a Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day party during the school year. Room mothers are also needed to plan and give the parties.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND SCHOOL HOURS

Your child’s regular and prompt attendance at school is crucial to his/her success. We can’t emphasize this point enough!!! Most kindergarten learning activities are group oriented and involve interaction with classmates. Therefore, it is next to impossible to make up work at home. Please view school as a priority and see to it that your child attends everyday except in cases of illness or emergency. Kindergarten students attend school from 8:05-3:00 PM. Please do not bring your children any earlier than 7:50 as they are not permitted in the classrooms before the bell rings at 8:05. Children that arrive after 8:15 will be considered tardy.

BEGINNING TO READ, WRITE AND LISTEN

The aim of our Kindergarten program is to provide a basic foundation for your child’s education.

Your child will be introduced to the alphabet–the letter names, how to write the letters, what sounds the letters represent and what function the letters serves as their sounds are blended to form words.

Thematic units are also incorporated and integrated in to the curriculum. Each child is able to enjoy success by actively participating in hands-on activities. The children utilize skills learned from math, language arts, science, social studies and health to deal with real life situations.

The Kindergarten program has been developed to enable every child to participate and succeed. Kindergartners will continue to acquire the concepts and strategies needed toward becoming successful readers and life long learners.

LEARNING MATHEMATICS

This year your child will have the opportunity to build mathematical concepts by manipulating objects and through real life experiences. Mathematics are incorporated into many everyday classroom routines.

Concepts that your child will be learning include counting, patterning, organizational skills such as sorting, classifying, and graphing, making comparisons, number concepts and beginning addition and subtraction.

Your child will learn to write and recognize the numerals 1 to 20 . Concepts will be introduced in whole group and small group lessons. Students will apply and extend what has been introduced through independent and cooperative activities.

SPECIAL CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES

Library will be once or twice a week. Please help your child remember to return their book before the due date.

Your child will be given the opportunity to bring home a Sharing Bag about twice a month. A letter will be inside the bag describing this activity.

DISCIPLINE

Establishing good classroom discipline is essential to each child’s success, confidence and well-being. Every child should feel that the classroom environment is safe and secure; free from all threats of physical or emotional harm. In addition, it is important that each child learn to develop self-discipline and good work habits, to resolve conflicts peacefully, and to think independently. For these reasons, the discipline plan we have chosen has several components.

OUTDOOR RECESS

The children will be going out for recess everyday unless it is raining or extremely cold. Please keep this is in mind when helping your child to select clothing for the day. Also, we are fortunate to have a variety of, playground equipment, including several pieces for climbing. Please keep this in mind when selecting shoes. Cowboy boots and little girl’s dress shoes are less than ideal if your child chooses to play on this equipment. Also, these shoes can tend to be slippery on days when the blacktop is wet. For the most part, if your child is well enough to be at school, he/she is well enough to participate in outdoor recess, if properly dressed.

MONEY

On occasion it will be necessary for your child to bring money to school. Always send money in a sealed envelope with the following information written on it:

1. Your child’s first and last name.

2. The amount of money.

3. The purpose for the money(Scholastic book order money, party money, scrap book money, etc.).

4. Teacher’s name.

BIRTHDAYS

Birthdays are a special occasion for young children. If your child wishes, he/she may bring treats for our class. Please do not send birthday party invitations to school. Although it may seem convenient to distribute invitations this way, it can result in hurt feelings for those not invited. We will celebrate summer birthdays on their half birthdays. (June, July and August Birthdays will be celebrated in December, January and February).

BOOK AND SOFTWARE ORDERS

Your child will be bringing home forms to order books and software about once a month. If you wish to order, simply fill out the form and send the correct amount of money or a check made out to the book company in an envelope. These orders are provided as a convenient way for parents to buy quality books for their child at a low price. As an added bonus, for every dollar that is spent on books, the teacher earns bonus points which are used to purchase books for classroom use. This is a win-win situation because you get quality literature at a low price and you are helping to provide quality literature for the classroom. Of course, you are never under any obligation to order.