Important Info

1. Arrival/Dismissal

Extended Day Kindergarten starts at 8:15 AM and ends at 1:45 PM everyday. Keep in mind that all Wednesdays are early release days and ALL students (not just kindergarten) are dismissed at 1:45 PM. Kindergartners arriving before 8:15 must either go to the cafeteria for breakfast or to their teacher’s classroom. Kindergartners are not allowed on the playground before school. Students are not allowed on campus before 7:45. If students arrive after 8:15 AM, they must report to the office for a tardy slip.

2. Visitors

If you or a family member would like to visit the campus for ANY reason, each person MUST sign in at the office before coming to the classroom. For safety reasons, no visitor is allowed on campus without signing in at the office and getting a temporary badge.

3. Attendance Policy

If your child is absent from school, please notify the teacher or school immediately (327-8100). Be sure to include the name of your child, the classroom number, the reason for the absence, & the date(s) of the absence. If your child is out for more than 3 days, a doctor’s note will be mandatory. You can also email me to clear your child’s absences at katieschwacofer@cusd.com. Please note it is school policy that all doctor’s notes MUST be taken directly to the office and not given to teachers.

4. Parent Teacher Club (PTC)

We need your support!! We highly recommend that every parent signs up for PTC. It costs $5 for the year and all the money goes directly back to the students! It also gets you added to a mailing list so you will be the first to know about upcoming activities and gives you the opportunity to participate in them.

5. Dress Code/Personal Items

Please put your child’s name on ALL sweaters, jackets, coats, lunch boxes, and backpacks. Toys, candy and gum are not allowed at school and should be kept at home. Some dress code items to note: All sandals must have a heel strap, camouflage clothing is not allowed (pastel camouflage is acceptable), no professional sports teams on shirts, and tank tops must have straps 2 inches or wider. If your child is out of dress code, you will receive a phone call or a dress code form stating which dress code has been violated. You may be asked to bring a change of clothing for your child.

6. Backpacks

Backpacks should be used for carrying the Home Communication Folder to and from school and is required every day for bringing home daily classwork and handouts. If your child brings a snack or cold lunch, a backpack will be a safe place for that. Students' name should be written on his/her backpack. If possible, please include a change of clothing inside the backpack for any "accidents" your child might have at school. If you need help getting a backpack for your child, please let me know.

7. Home Communication Folder

Your child will receive a navy blue Home Communication Folder. This folder is to be checked by you after school every day, and returned to school the following day. All notices, notes, and completed work will go home in this folder. You may also send notes and return forms to me in this folder, as I will check them every morning.

8. Shoes

Please help your child learn how to tie his/her shoes. If they cannot tie their own shoelaces, have them wear Velcro-type shoes or practice shoe-tying every day at home. This will help cut down on the time spent tying every shoe that comes untied during class time. It is also a safety issue, as untied laces lead to tripping and falling.

9. Birthday Treats

CUSD and the kindergarten team highly recommend not bringing food treats to celebrate birthdays. Instead, each child’s day will be celebrated by reciting our Birthday Poem and singing Happy Birthday. If you would like to bring treats to share, we recommend non-edible items like pencils, stickers, bubbles, or small toys and trinkets. Please let me know in advance if you are bringing something for your child’s birthday. Whether you decide to bring something to share or not, your child will be celebrated on his or her special day, unless you request he or she not be. Celebrations will be at 1:00 in Room 21.

10. Volunteers

Parent volunteers are welcomed and encouraged in room 21. You will need to fill out the Volunteer Form and provide the office with identification to be cleared. Volunteers are not allowed without clearance from the office. Please sign up for a day and time if you would like to volunteer. If you would like to volunteer on a drop-in basis (unscheduled), I will need at least a 1 day notice. Siblings are not permitted to visit our class while you volunteer. If you are not able to come to class and help but would like to support our class with activities (cutting, tracing etc.), I will be happy to work with you and provide things that can be done at home.

11. Communication

I welcome communication before school, after school, via email or phone calls, or notes placed in the Home Communication Folder. You can also sign up for Remind by texting the number 81010 with the message "@2akk3e" (no quotation marks). I can also be reached at katieschwacofer@cusd.com or by calling the school at 327-8100. Parent conferences will be in October. A Kindergarten Newsletter will go home monthly, and the Trojan Times (school newsletter) will go home weekly. I will also send reminder notes (in the Home Communication Folder) throughout the year. You may also check out my website for information throughout the year at https://sites.google.com/clovisusd.k12.ca.us/kindergartenwithmrsyates

12. Donations (Optional)

Donations to room 21 are always welcomed but never required. Suggested items that the classroom could use are: facial tissue, disinfecting wipes, cleaning spray (no bleach), hand sanitizer, Band-Aids, Ziploc type bags (all sizes), whiteboard markers, and small trinkets/toys to put inside our Treasure Chest.