Use this as your "go to" for any quick questions you might have.
The ABC’s of Kindergarten
A is for Attendance! School begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 2:15 p.m. Children who arrive after 7:45 a.m. will need to be accompanied to the office for a late slip in order to be admitted to class. Students should not arrive before 7:15 am. Students arriving at school before 7:30 will go to the kindergarten hallway to wait with the early morning holding teacher. If your child misses school, please remember to send a doctor's note or a written excuse stating why your child was absent within 2 days of returning to school.
B is for Backpacks. Please send your child with his/her backpack each day and remove daily work/papers from their folder. We encourage full-size backpacks.
C is for Communication and Conferences. Throughout the year I will communicate with you through notes, email, telephone calls, weekly newsletters, report cards, and parent teacher conferences. Please check your child’s Communication Folder daily. I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns at any time. There is no need to wait until parent conference day if you have a concern about your child's progress.
D is for DON’T FORGET to return your library book on your assigned day and wear sneakers on PE day.
E is for Expectations. Please see Behavior Expectations attached. E is also a reminder that in an Emergency, it is important that we have current contact telephone numbers. Please inform us if address, home, work, or cell phone numbers change throughout the school year.
F is for Field trips! We usually take at least two field trips per year. Information for those trips will be sent home closer to time for the trip.
G is for Guidelines for eLearning: In the event eLearning is necessary, you will be notified and students will use their Chromebooks and Google Meet through SeeSaw.
H is for How is your child getting Home? If your child will be going home a different way than usual, please notify us in writing or call the front office at 864-355- 3200 that morning. Do NOT call your teacher’s voicemail for a change in transportation for the day. This is for your child’s safety.
I is for being INVOLVED in your child's learning! Daily homework will include reading with or to your child for 20 minutes and practicing monthly sight words in your child’s Communication Folder.
J is for Joining our PTA! Throughout the school year there will be a variety of special activities, celebrations, and PTA meetings. In October we will have our annual Freaky Friday fundraiser. I encourage you to attend all PTA functions and become involved!
K is for Keeping up with Communication Folders! Folders are our primary means of communication and our way of making sure things get to and from school. Anything you need me to see, including money, should be placed in the folder. Folders are checked each morning!
L is for Lunch! We are a Culinary Creations School! You can find our menu under the Parents’ tab of the Sara Collins website. Breakfast* and lunch is free this year to all students. Your child may also choose to bring his/her lunch to school. Please be aware that we have several students with food allergies attending our school. No peanuts or peanut products will be served from the cafeteria. You are allowed to pack peanut butter in your own child’s lunch box. *Breakfast is available in the cafeteria from 7:15-7:35 a.m. each morning.
M is for Money! Occasionally, it will be necessary for your child to bring money to school. Always send it in a sealed envelope or Ziploc baggie with the following information on it: name, amount, purpose, and teacher’s name. Place the envelope in the clear pocket of your child’s Communication Folder.
N is for Nurse! We have a full time nurse at our school! Our nurse handles all medication. Medication (including over-the-counter cough drops) must be brought into the nurse's office by a parent. If your student requires medication to be taken at school please make sure that you fill out the necessary forms in the nurse's office. Do not send medication in your student's backpack. Also, if there are any allergies that we need to be aware of please let us know.
O is for Office check-ins and check-outs! Please make sure to go to our office when you need to check-in or check-out your student. There will be no early-dismissals after 1:45pm.
P is for PARTY! School policy permits two classroom parties each year—Winter Holiday and Valentine's Day. The room parent will usually organize these events and coordinate volunteers and donations.
Q is for Questions! Please let us know if you have any questions! We are here to make this the best experience possible!
R is for Recess! We will be going outside everyday unless it is raining or extremely cold. If your child is too sick to play outside, they are too sick to attend school. Please make sure your child is properly dressed for the weather each day! Items can easily get left on the playground, so please write your child’s name in all coats and sweatshirts.
S is for birthday Special Snacks. Although we are not permitted to have a "party" for each individual child, parents are welcome to provide a store-bought snack. Please let your child’s teacher know ahead of time if you will be sending in a snack. Birthday snacks will be eaten in the afternoon. Party invitations can be given out at school only if each student in the class receives an invitation. This is school policy.
T is for Transportation ! If you are providing your own transportation, you must drop off and pick-up your child in the back of the building. For all children’s safety, you MUST stay in your car. Please make sure you have received your carpool tags and hang them on your rearview mirror each day for dismissal.
U is for UNIQUE! Each child is unique and special. They enter my classroom with different skills, personalities, experiences, backgrounds and learning styles. It is my aspiration to foster their individual strengths and help each child develop to his/her fullest potential; academically and socially. My goal is to teach them to fall in love with learning!
V is for Volunteers and Visitors! We love having volunteers in our school! Remember to join PTA. You will have the opportunity to sign-up to be a Friday Reader in your child’s class. Our room parent will also be asking for volunteers as different needs arise.
W is for What to Wear! Please keep in mind the school dress code. Please label your child’s bookbag and/or coats, sweaters, etc… clearly and visibly with his/her name! (This increases the chance of these items returning home.) For your child’s safety:
∙ We request that shoes have a back or a strap around the ankle to secure the shoes to the foot (ex: no flip-flops, slides, etc…) to ensure safety on the playground.
∙ Tying shoes is a very necessary skill that is no longer taught in school. Please work on this with your child at home.
∙ Please dress your child in appropriate fitting clothes.
∙ We recommend girls wear shorts, leggings, or tights under dresses or skirts. ∙ No strap-less clothing.
X is for having eXtra clothes! Please keep a change of clothes in your child’s backpack. Extra clothes are always needed in the nurse’s office. If you have clothes that you are willing to donate (underwear, shirts, socks, pants, shorts, shoes, belts) for spills or accidents – we will gladly take them!!
Y is for YOU! Always remember you are a teacher, too! There is no one who is more influential in your child’s life than you!
Z is for ZzZzZz...please make sure that your child gets plenty of rest each night. Setting and keeping a bedtime routine helps them to be alert and ready to learn each day! Please be aware that they will be very tired the first few weeks of school – it is a busy and exciting time!
We hope this information will help to make this an exciting and successful year!