Kinder News You can Use

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Teravista Kindergarten!  We are so happy to have your child at TVE and looking forward to all the exciting things we have planned in kindergarten this year.  Through a partnership with you as parents we hope to see a year’s worth of growth in your child both academically, socially and emotionally.  As we embark on this new journey together, we ask for your patience, open-mindedness and flexibility.  Below you will find specific information regarding our school day and reminders that may be helpful these first few weeks of school. 

Sincerely,

The Kindergarten Team 

Arrival

School begins at 7:35.   Students will be counted tardy if they come through the school doors at 7:36. Please make sure your child is on time each day as we will begin promptly.   The school will open at 7:10 if you need to drop your child off early.  There will be a Teravista staff member on duty at that time to supervise students.  For the safety of your child, please do not drop him/her off earlier.  

If your child is eating breakfast at school, he/she will be directed to the cafeteria.  If your child is not eating breakfast at school, he/she will report to the hallway outside the classroom.  At 7:25 the classroom teacher will welcome students into the classroom. 

Dismissal

School ends at 2:55.  If there is a change in transportation plans at any time during the year, please inform the office and the classroom teacher.  It is helpful to keep dismissal plans as consistent as possible.   If transportation plans change during the school day, you must complete the Change of Dismissal google form online.  After 2:15, the google form will close and you will no longer be allowed to change dismissal for your child.  Classroom teachers are not always available to check voicemail and email during instructional hours.    

Attendance

Regular attendance is very important in kindergarten.  Most of our learning is done using hands-on activities, therefore, it is hard to make up work.  If your child must be absent please communicate that to the classroom teacher via email.  On the TVE school website, there is a link titled Report a Student Absence.   Always report the absence directly to the school registrar as well.   If your child has seen a doctor, please send your child with that note when s/he returns. 

Health and Wellness

• All medication must be distributed by the school nurse.

• If your child becomes sick at school, the nurse will call you.

• If your child is sick, for the safety and wellbeing of all students, keep your child at home.

• If your child has a fever, they are not permitted to come back to school until they are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication.

• We realize that your child is fully potty trained, however it is still important for your child to have a full change of clothes (including socks).  We ask that all year, your child have a seasonal change of clothes in the backpack for accidents, spilled milk, etc.  Also, sneaker type shoes are best because we have recess daily.

Correspondence/Conferences

The teacher conference period is 12:00-12:50 daily. You can reach us by phone or preferrably email if you have questions or concerns.  Please make arrangements ahead of time if you wish to have a conference with your child’s teacher as some days are reserved for meetings.  We will have a Fall parent/teacher conference in October.

Breakfast and Lunch

The school district is no longer offering a free breakfast and lunch to all students.  The price for elementary students is as follows:  Breakfast $1.50 and Lunch $2.50.  Families may apply for free or reduced lunch online with the following link https://www.schoollunchapp.com/District.aspx.  Breakfast is from 7:10-7:35 in the cafeteria.  Kindergarten lunches are staggered by class between 10:47-11:32.  We strongly suggest that you refrain from joining your child at lunch for the first few weeks of school as we are establishing independence and routines. 

Snacks and Water Bottles   

• We will have a snack time each afternoon since we have an early lunch.  We encourage you send a nutritious snack such as goldfish, graham crackers, pretzels, fruit, granola bars, etc.  Please avoid foods that 

are sticky and messy.   Pack your child’s snack separate from the lunch box if your child is bringing a lunch from home.  Often, students get confused between what is lunch food and snack food. Please make sure you send a snack daily!

• The students must also bring a sports top (push/pull) type water bottle to school to use throughout the day.  Our classroom is not near a water fountain, and the children do get thirsty during the day.  Please remember to send ONLY water to school in the water bottle.  Please do not send juice, soda, milk, etc. 

Clothing

Please make sure your child wears clothing that he/she can fasten and 

unfasten easily.  Overalls, jumpsuits, and belts are especially difficult to manage and sometimes cause accidents.  It is important to have a seasonal change of clothes in your child’s backpack for accidents, spilled milk, etc.  Also, we encourage sneaker type shoes because we have recess daily, but they are required on PE days.

Birthdays

In Kindergarten, instead of sending birthday treats for everyone, we have a tradition called “Birthday in a Bag”. Please fill this “Birthday in a Bag” with special treats and trinkets (cupcake, candy, markers, fun erasers, etc.) FOR YOUR CHILD ONLY-not the whole class. You can send the bag with your child on his/her birthday or a day closest to it. The lucky birthday child will get to open the bag during snack time when we sing “Happy Birthday”. 

Folders

The Blue Tiger Folder will be sent home daily. It will include a behavior calendar to let you know about your child’s behavior on a daily basis.  Please, initial it each day and return it.  This will also contain the Kindergarten Agenda which is a useful tool for you and your child to reflect on his/her personal and behavioral goals.  If you need to send a note, please put it in the Tiger folder, and make sure your child is aware to give it to the teacher.  

Technology

Each child in our district will have a chromebook device.  It is urgent that you fill out the device agreement form in infosnap.  The device will not be assigned to your child until this form is signed.  Your child’s computer will be left at school, so he/she will not be bringing it home daily.

Kindergarten Schedule

7:35-7:50 

Morning Activities/TVE morning Broadcast

7:50-9:05

Reading/Language Arts

9:05-9:25

Recess

9:25-9:35

SEL

9:35-10:50

Continue Reading/Language Arts

10:47-11:27

Staggered Kindergarten Lunches

Each class has a specific time.

End of lunch-12:00

Math  

12:00-12:50

Specials (Art, Music, P.E.)

12:50-1:25

Continue Math

1:25-1:55

Science/Social Studies 

1:55-2:25

Tiger Time (snack)

2:25-2:45

Science/Social Studies (Application Stations)  

2:45-2:55

Prepare for Dismissal