The ABC’s of Arrowhead Kindergarten
A
Absences - If your child will be absent or will arrive to school late, please call the main office at (610)489-5000 ext. 44200. State your child’s name, grade, teacher’s name and the specific reason for the absence.
Alert-Now -Methacton School district utilizes the Alert-Now program to notify parents about delayed openings, early dismissals, school closings and emergencies. Full information and how to sign up for this program is on the district website. www.Methacton.org
Art - Your child will need an art smock for art class. An extra large t-shirt or men's short sleeve button down shirt works well. It is important that your child is able to put on/take off their smock without assistance. Please practice putting it on/off over clothing at home. Please send to school in a gallon sized zip-lock bag labeled with your child’s name.
B
Backpacks - Your child will need a full sized backpack. Please write your child’s name on the inside of the backpack.
Birthdays - If your child would like to provide a special treat for the class in honor of their birthday, you are strongly encouraged to do so with non-food items. If a food item is sent in, healthy snacks are highly recommended. Please pick a treat that is “Kid Sized”. Please make sure these treats do not include nuts. All snacks should be the same flavor. Individual pretzel packets, soft pretzels (mini-sized), boxes of raisins, small Ziploc bags of grapes, or other sliced fresh fruit and veggies are just a few ideas. Finger foods are best. Please do not send in juice boxes or party/goodie bags.
Birthday Invitations - Please do not send birthday invitations to be passed out at school unless you are inviting the ENTIRE class or ALL the boys or ALL the girls. If you are inviting just a few children, the invitations should be mailed home.
C
Conferences - All kindergarten students have a conference in November. The February conferences are optional at the request of parent or teacher. I am more then happy to meet with you on additional occasions, just let me know so we can set something up!
D
Discipline - Kindergarten is the beginning of a lifetime of learning. The children will learn responsibility and how to follow school rules and routines as well as getting along with others. In Kindergarten, we will be discussing and focusing on the habit of mind “Managing Impulsivity” and teaching “Think before acting or speaking”. We will be using a clip Up, Clip Down chart. I will be sending home “Oops Notes” as needed. If your child receives one, it is not the end of the world! We all know that making mistakes is good because it helps us to learn. Each day your kinder comes to school, it is a new day and their slate is wiped clean. Please discuss any “Oops Notes” with your kinder, talk about good choices and poor choices and proper school behavior.
E
Emergency Closings - Please sign up for the Alert-Now program. If school is closed for a snow delay or any emergency, you will get a phone call. A two-hour delay means a modified kindergarten schedule.
AM kindergarten starts at 10:55 ends at 12:55.
PM kindergarten starts at 1:45 ends at 3:35
The mid-day kindergarten bus schedule is changed by one hour.
For example: Instead of dropping off at11:55 your child would be home at12:55
Instead of picking up at 12:20, your child would be picked up at 1:20.
F
Family Trips - Please complete a Student Educational Trip Request Form if a family trip is planned during the school year. They may be found on the Methacton Website www.Methacton.org or you can request one to be sent home.
G
Guidance - Several times a year our guidance counselor visits our classroom to teach important social issue lessons. She is also available if your child needs help dealing with difficult issues or problems.
H
Homework - Homework will be coming home each Monday in your child’s folder. The homework packet can be returned each Friday. Homework will not be checked for correctness, but will be given a sticker for completeness.
Homework Folder -Please check your child’s folder and backpack daily and remove all papers. All correspondences from the school will be placed in the folder. If you need to return any papers to school, please place them in the folder. When emptying your child’s folder, use that opportunity to talk about his/her day.
I
Independent - Please work with your child on being able to tie shoes, zip coats, put on mittens and gloves independently. Kindergarten students take great pride in completing tasks independently!
J
Jam-packed - Our kindergarten day is very short but it will be jam-packed with exciting activities. These activities will be completed as a whole group, small group and individually.
K
Kid Writing - Our writing program builds on what each child already knows. Kid Writing begins with pictures or random strings of letters then moves to words, spaces between words and eventually sentences. Your children will be praised and encouraged for all attempts and accomplishments in writing.
L
Library - Please remind your child to put their book in their backpack on library day.
M
Math - The Kindergarten students will develop math skills using the Math In Focus program. Math in Focus is an authentic Singapore Math® curriculum—with problem solving as the center of math learning and concepts taught with a concrete–pictorial–abstract learning progression through real-world, hands-on experiences.
Music -Please encourage your child to share the songs and activities that they learn in Music.
Mrs. Raley - Mrs. Raley is Arrowhead’s other kindergarten teacher. We will be working with her and her class throughout the year.
N
Nurse - We will visit our school nurse, Nurse Kelly, several times a year for health checks (eyes and hearing).
O
Open House - Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 12th. I will explain the Kindergarten Curriculum, homework procedures, in addition to other important information. I look forward to seeing you then.
P
Parties - Homeroom parents are in charge of party activities. We usually have the following parties:
Halloween Party, Winter Party, 100th Day of School, Valentine’s Day, Spring Party, and an End of Year Picnic.
P. E. - Please help your child wear appropriate clothing and sneakers on PE day.
Q
Questions - I strongly believe that teachers and parents must work together to become cooperative partners in the education process. My door is always open, so don’t hesitate to stop by, send in a note, call (610.489.5000 ext. 44120) or e-mail me at sfischer@methacton.org .
R
Reading - The Kindergarten students will develop skills in the areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking using the reading program called Wonders by McGraw Hill. This research-based program offers a balanced approach to literacy learning that incorporates shared reading, guided reading and independent reading, as well as focused skill and strategy instruction. Systematic instructions in the five areas of reading instruction – phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, robust vocabulary, and comprehension – are included. Wonders also integrates writing into the reading process.
Recess - Children will be having outside recess daily weather permitting. Please have your child dress appropriately for outside play.
Remind Site - Please sign up for Remind. I use it to send reminders home throughout the year. Full directions on how to sign up are attached to the back page of the ABC’s of Arrowhead Kindergarten.
AM Kindergarten - www.Remind.com ► Class Code @d82944c Number 81010 or through this link, https://www.remind.com/join/d82944c
PM Kindergarten - www.Remind.com ► Class Code @d6c2kc Number 81010 or through this link, https://www.remind.com/join/d6c2kc
Report Card - Kindergarten students receive a report card two times during the year. Once in February and again at the end of the school year.
Rest Room - We are lucky enough to have a restroom connected to our classroom. Your child is expected to complete proper bathroom and hand washing etiquette independently.
RTII - RtII (at Arrowhead we call it “Team Time”) or Response to Instruction and Intervention is an educational initiative that can be described as a multistep approach toward helping each individual student reach his or her maximum potential. RtII is a regular education initiative, designed to help students who struggle with learning concepts in areas like reading skills, get the assistance they need in the form of research-based instructional interventions applied at increasing levels of intensity. The RtII process has the potential to limit the incidence of academic failure that any student may experience.
S
School Supplies - Please do not send any school supplies (pencils, markers, folders, erasers, etc.) to school with your child in September. I will be providing most of what is necessary in regards to school supplies.
Although Methacton supplies many classroom materials, we are still in need of a few items. I am requesting for each child in the AM class to bring in one container of Clorox wipes and a box of tissues. I am requesting for each child in the PM class to bring in one container of baby wipes and one box of gallon-sized zip lock bags. If you are willing to donate an additional item, we are also in need of large bottles of pump hand sanitizer, Q-tips, cotton balls, small bathroom cups, cupcake liners and pump soap. Throughout the year, I will send notes home when we need to replenish shared items such as tissues, wipes, soap or if we need special items for class projects.
Show &Tell Bag - The Show & Tell Bag goes home with a different child each night. Please do not send in anything valuable, fragile or living. I cannot guarantee its safety in a room full of kindergarteners! Make sure the item will fit into your child’s backpack, as they will bring it home with them that same day. This is the only time they should bring any type of toy to school. Please remind them to wait for their turn to bring a toy to school, they will get several turns throughout the year.
Starter Sheet - The children often are given a starter worksheet to complete while waiting for the session to begin. These are usually not graded but are used to promote appropriate independent work habits.
T
Transportation - The First Day of School Transportation form should be completed and returned to school on day one.
If there will be a change in your child’s regular routine, please send a note in to school. Without a note, I am required to send your child home their regularly scheduled way! If you walk or drive your child to school, please do not drop them off before 8:55 or 12:45. Supervision is not provided for children who arrive before the scheduled school day.
U
Underwear - Don’t be surprised if your child comes home with a plastic bag holding their underwear … accidents happen! Our wonderful nurse keeps spare clothing in her office. If this occurs, please wash and return the borrowed clothes promptly so they will be available for the next child.
V
Volunteers - ALL GUESTS (including familiar faces) are required to check in at the office and have all appropriate clearances when volunteering at our school. Please visit Methacton School District’s website for additional information. You will not be permitted in the building for parties or volunteer work unless you have all the clearances.
W
Website - www.Methacton.org is a wonderful resource! The main page carries information for the whole district.
Water - Please provide a full water bottle for your child each day. Sports style bottles are best, when they tip over only little spills. Water only, no juice, juice boxes, sport drinks, soda or flavored water. We’d like to keep ants out of our room!
X
X-citing - This is going to be such an exciting year! There are so many fun projects and activities throughout the school year.
Y
Younger Siblings - It is in your child’s and the programs best interest to have our parent volunteers available WITHOUT younger siblings. This not only allows your full attention to be focused on the classroom activity but it also allows some special time between you and your kindergartener.
Z
Zzzzz’s - Make sure your child gets plenty of rest each night. Setting and keeping a bedtime routine is a wonderful gift you can give your child. It will help them be alert and ready to learn each day!