Hello!
Welcome to the beginning of your child’s first school year. I am so excited and I hope that it will be exciting for both you and your child as well.
The beginning of school year is such an exciting time for your families. There are so many new experiences for your child and every child comes with different experiences. While many of us as adults are worried about our children coping in a new setting, for the most part, children are VERY adaptable. This said, there are always exceptions to every rule, and some children will take longer to adapt and settle in. It is very important that we work as a team and together we will be able to find solutions to problems, big or small, that your child may encounter throughout the year. If you have any concerns, please contact me. I cannot help if I am not aware.
Many students find the beginning of the year very exhausting and may arrive home more tired or more irritable than usual. They may fall asleep earlier than normal. School is very stimulating and demanding and it can exhaust your child both mentally and physically.
Please ensure that your child’s belongings are clearly labelled and teach your child to get ready for outside independently and fasten jackets independently. If your child can't tie his/her own laces, please make sure that all sneakers have Velcro. It is very helpful if your child can be as independent as possible when it comes to getting ready to go outdoors and to keep them safe.
We are a peanut and nut free school so please read all labels before sending anything to school with your child. We do not allow foods that “may contain” any nuts of any kind as we have children with severe allergies. Eating healthier lunches helps your child adapt to school, helping them to have the mental and physical energy to learn, to play and to make new friends. Please keep this in mind when packing lunches. At snack time, I ask all students to eat their healthy snacks and to save their treats for after lunch.
Please note that Sherwood School does have water bottle filling stations in our area. Due to Covid-19, our fountains are not being used, but they can fill their water bottles in the filling station. Please send filled water bottles with your child. They may keep a water bottle in the classroom through the day.
Your have purchased a courier bag for your child. It will be used to send items home and for you to return things to school. Anything that I send home that should be kept at home will be placed in the left hand pocket of a folder that will be labeled " To Keep At Home." Anything that should be returned to school will be returned in the pocket that says "." (Of course, later on, I will be asking the students to do it and there may be a few mistakes.) Any forms that you need to fill in will need to be returned in the "Please Send Back" pocket. I will have a communication scribbler in the "Please Send Back" pocket and if you need to communicate any notes to me, please leave the scribbler open to the page with the notes so that I know to look at it. I will not be checking the communication scribbler unless the page is open and I will not be checking any other pockets.
All bi-weekly updates will be posted under the date on this website. It will be updated every two weeks and this is where you will find it.
A note about me: I have been teaching for 20 years. I taught at many different grade levels, but kindergarten is my favorite! I taught for three years in North Carolina, thirteen years at Central Queens Elementary and this is my fifth year teaching at Sherwood Elementary. I am wife to another teacher, who teaches at Bluefield. I am a mother to three beautiful children who are the ages 14, 10 and 5. I also am in this elementary school parenting journey with you, as my youngest child begins grade one this year and my middle child is in grade six this year too!
I look forward to working with you and your child this year and encourage you to contact me with any questions, concerns or comments you may have.
Sarah King