Yes! Please pack 2 healthy snacks for your child each day for the morning and afternoon. Please ensure that snacks do not contain nuts, and that your child can eat them easily without assistance and with minimal clean-up. Students will not be able to share snacks and need to bring their own snack each day. 

Even in kindergarten, being “at school, on time, ready to learn” is important to your child’s future academics. We're here to help support this and to problem solve together with you if needed. Please talk to us if your child is anxious, or if you’re having trouble getting to school for other reasons. 

The following is research and advice from attendanceworks.org: Starting in Kindergarten too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school. Missing 10 percent (18 days) can make it harder to learn to read. Students can still fall behind if they miss only a day or two every few weeks. Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves! Start building this habit in kindergarten so they learn right away that going to school on time every day is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work. Set a regular bedtime and morning routine. Don’t let your child stay home unless he/she is truly sick. If your child seems anxious about school, talk to your child’s teacher for advice about how to make him/her more comfortable and excited about learning. Avoid medical appointments or extended trips while school is in session. Lay out clothes and backpacks the night before. Have a backup plan for getting to school in case something comes up: talk to a family member, neighbor, or another parent.

Homework will consist mainly of a Home Reading Program.  Occasionally, additional assignments may be sent home. More information about the Home Reading Program will be sent home upon the beginning of the program in October.

Our focus is on making sure that the children feel safe, feel they belong, and have a good time at school. As a class we practice positive behaviors and expectations A LOT, so that we all know the right way to do things. However, a big part of kindergarten is learning to “do school” and work with others. Lots of little social challenges will come up. We treat each situation as an opportunity to learn. Unless someone is hurt, we will handle most situations with a conversation, a sit-out to think, an apology, a practice session, or by having the child spend some fun time cleaning up a mess. We will NOT take away your child’s full recess, although he or she may miss part or some of our daily “choice time” to finish work or to practice skills. Unless a behavior happens repeatedly, or someone has been hurt, your child's teacher may not contact you. (We will contact you with celebrations!) We want the children to leave mistakes in the past and focus on the positive. If your child comes home upset and doesn’t feel that a situation has been resolved, or if your child didn’t feel comfortable talking to their teacher or another teacher about a situation, please contact me! We will take action and get back to you quickly.

If you would like to support in the classroom, then thank you! Please email your child's teacher so that we can talk about scheduling. Different teachers will have different needs throughout the year. 

All volunteers must complete an online application (may take up to 2 weeks to process) as well as fill out a paper agreement when you arrive for your first volunteer job. Approved background checks are valid for 12 months. If you completed the Raptor screening last year, please check your email to confirm your expiration date.

We prefer not to have volunteers in the classroom before October, as we are still establishing our classroom routines and community, but we will appreciate your support after that! 

Also keep in mind that general school volunteer opportunites will be posted on HelpAtSchools. We do always need crossing guards in the mornings and afternoons and we have a couple of openings for clerical volunteers. 

Our class will go on 1-2 field trips this year. These trips are not finalized yet, so you will receive more information as we have it!

As a class, we will celebrate birthdays with a song and a special prize. June, July, and August birthdays will be celebrated in May.   

PLEASE DO NOT SEND IN FOOD OR OTHER TREATS / FAVORS FOR BIRTHDAYS.  

**BIRTHDAY INVITATIONS AND THANK YOU NOTES NEED TO BE SENT THROUGH THE MAIL OR TAKEN CARE OF OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS. Please do not send them to school to be handed out during class, EVEN IF THE WHOLE CLASS IS INVITED. Thanks for helping us avoid hurt feelings and minimize distractions.