EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT KINDERGARTEN AND MORE! 

All items are listed in alphabetical order. 

BACK PACKS

Please make sure your child has a bag to bring to and from school each day. 

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

We do not allow birthday treats to be served to students during the school day. In place of edible treats, your child can donate a book to our classroom library or share a small item such as bookmarks, stickers, pencils or erasers with the class. We are not allowed to let your child pass out birthday invitations at school.

BOOK ORDERS

Approximately once a month, a Scholastic book order will be sent home. This is a convenient way to provide your child with quality books at affordable prices. It is a good way to encourage your child to read by allowing him to choose his own books. If you decide to order online, sign up at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the "Don't have a User Name and Password?" link, then register for your own username and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code: GR3P8. OR you can fill out the order form that is sent home with your child completely and return it by the date indicated. Make sure you pay for your child’s order with a check made out to Scholastic Book Club. If you order from more than one book order form, just combine the totals together and send one check. There is no need to send a separate check for each Scholastic order form. Your child’s order should arrive in about two weeks. 

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS

Our class rules are established to see that all students have every opportunity to achieve their full potential in a safe learning environment. Our class promise: When we care about each other and our classroom we share what we have, listen carefully, help each other learn, work hard, and have fun together. We know it is never okay to be hurtful and it is never okay to be disruptive. This is who we are even when no one is watching. 

DISCIPLINE

We use the BIST discipline model. We will implement three goals for life: 1. I can be productive and follow directions even if I don’t want to or it is difficult for me, 2. I can be productive and follow directions even if I am overwhelmed by my feelings, and 3. I can be productive and follow directions even if others are not okay. If a child is having difficulty following the goals for life in the classroom, they will be asked to move to a “safe spot” to think about the problem. They may be asked to fill out a think sheet. If the child is still having difficulty being respectful and responsible, they will be asked to move to a “safe spot” in another classroom and may be asked to fill out a think sheet. If the child can still not be respectful and responsible, they will be moved to the office and/or focus room. Your child will then be moved back through each of these places until they get back into the classroom. 

DONATIONS

Occasionally, in our newsletter, we will ask you for donations for the classroom. This may be something simple like paper towel rolls or something purchased like a small pumpkin or an apple. Although you may not be able to donate each time, we appreciate all the help we can get.  

HANDWRITING

Attached, you will find the alphabet which we use to teach printing. This style of manuscript is known as Zaner Bloser. When your child practices at home, please try to guide him in making his letters according to the above link. Before making letters incorrectly becomes a habit, let’s work hard and practice right now! 

INCLEMENT WEATHER

Please listen to the radio or watch TV, when weather looks questionable. You may call the District Information Line at 986-1001 for weather information. 

KINDERGARTEN CONNECTION

Every Friday, your child will bring home a newsletter letting you know the important events that are happening in his/her classroom. It will include skills to work on and other helpful reminders. I plan to email the Kindergarten Connection to parents who have an email address and it will also be posted on my webpage.  Please email me at carlye.howk@lsr7.net if you haven’t, so I can easily add you to my address book.

LIBRARY

Our library day is on Friday. Children will be able to bring home their library books each week. Please make sure your child returns his/her library book on Thursday. If a book is lost, your child will not be able to check out books again until the lost book is paid for. 

LUNCH ROUTINE

It is very helpful if your child prepays for his/her lunches in advance. If you choose to do this, please send it in a sealed envelope with the child’s name and account number, “lunch money,” and Mrs. Howk on the front. When prepaying, students are allowed to purchase anything they want until the money in their account is gone. We encourage you to include a note with your prepayment that states whether or not your child is allowed to purchase “extras.” The lunch attendant will enter this information into the computer. We eat lunch from 10:55-11:20. 

PARENT COMMUNICATION

I am so pleased to be your child’s teacher this year. I’ll do all that I can to make it a happy and successful year for your child. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email or write a note. The quickest way to reach me is email: carlye.howk@lsr7.net. The school phone number is 816-986-2280 and should be used for urgent messages only. You can access our voicemail system by calling 816-986-2599. My extension is 77839. Again, please contact me anytime. 

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE

There will be one conference during the year. The conference will involve the parent, teacher and the child. Your child is important to the success of this conference. The conference will be held on October 25-26. There will be an online sign up for conferences in late September. Please let me know as soon as possible if you need to reschedule. 

PHONE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES

Please help your child learn his/her phone number and address for safety reasons. Please keep the school office and your classroom teacher notified of any changes in your address or phone number, as well as your emergency contact numbers. 

READING

Good reading skills are an essential part of the educational process. It is very important that reading is emphasized in and out of school. Spending time with your child reading each day, whether you are reading to them or they are reading to you, can help set a pattern of good reading habits that leads to a lifelong love of reading. Your child will embrace your enthusiasm for reading and make it his/her own when they see you modeling positive reading habits. Your child’s love for reading will grow as you share exciting books and discuss what you have read. Make it a special time with your child and make reading fun and enjoyable. Remember that your child is just starting down the road to literacy. Give them lots of encouragement!

READING CALENDAR

To keep track of the books your child has been reading, we will be using a reading calendar. Please keep track of the books your child has read by filling out this calendar and sending it back to school at the end of the month. Please write the number of minutes read that day on the calendar. Make sure you include your child’s name and total number of minutes read for the month at the top of the calendar. 

RECESS

The children will be going out for recess everyday from  10:30-10:45 and 1:40-2:00 unless it is raining or extremely cold/hot. Please keep this in mind when helping your child 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 to wear. Dress shoes can be slippery on days when the black top is wet. Generally, if your child is well enough to be at school, he/she is well enough to participate in outdoor recess. Please LABEL ALL coats, gloves, hats, scarves, etc. with your child’s first and last name. 

SCHOOL HOURS

School hours are 8:25-3:25. 

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Please check to make sure your child has all the supplies on their list. Please only label your child's name on the scissors, school box, folder, water colors, binder, backpack & ear buds/headphones.