- Your child will be provided with a folder at the beginning of the year that will be referred to as their “Friday folder”. This folder is sent home each Friday, and contains important information from the school, such as the Bridge, classroom newsletters, permission slips, lunch sign up sheets, and often student work. Parents are expected to return the Friday folder to school each Monday.
- Our school day begins at 7:50 am and ends at 2:40 pm.
- We cannot rely on a kindergarten student to know their transportation arrangements for after school each day. Please let us know, in writing, what arrangements you have for your child. If you expect it to be the same all year, please state that.
- Any time there is a change in how your child will go home, please call, send a note, or send an email stating the transportation arrangements you have for your child.
- All kindergarten classrooms are child-centered. We strive for a balance between: active and quiet work, one-on-one, small group and whole group instruction, child planned and teacher guided activities.
- We go outside often. Please make sure your child brings appropriate outside clothing to school everyday!
- We do occasionally go on field trips in kindergarten. We let parents know ASAP when a trip is being planned and scheduled. Chaperones are welcomed and encouraged. We will cancel a trip if we feel we don't have enough chaperones to ensure the children's safety. Past events include trips to apple orchards, hiking Blue Job, Odiorne State Park/Seacoast Science Center, the New England Aquarium and the Boston Children's Museum.
- Each kindergarten classroom has its own bathroom. Children are encouraged to use the bathroom whenever they need to at first. If we notice that a child may be using the bathroom to avoid a large group meeting or a non-preferred task, we will work with that child to remind him/her to use the bathroom before the meeting or activity. If you are concerned that your child may have a bathroom accident while at school, please send in a bag with a change of clothes to school (including socks) for your child.
- Your child can bring lunch from home or participate in the school hot lunch program. We eat in the cafeteria. Each family will have an account where they can add money on a regular basis. We will send home a form each week for you to fill out listing the days and the meal you wish your child to buy. The salad bar is an option for lunch. The salads are pre-made for kindergarteners and first graders. We ask that you fill the form out for the week and let us know in writing if there is a change for a particular day. Once again, it is hard to depend on the children for information about hot lunch. We have to place our lunch orders early in the morning and sometimes the children do not remember to tell us. The menu for the week is posted on the school website and also in the weekly Bridge.
- We encourage children to eat their food and to bring home what is not consumed so that you know their preferences. We try to let you know whether your child is enjoying the school lunch program. There is no sense in paying for food your child will not eat.
- Please encourage your children to leave their toys at home where they are safe. There will be opportunities to share special items from home throughout the school year. More information will be sent home about this.
Attendance and Health Issues
- Regular attendance is very important. Please try to have your child at school each day.
- If your child is going to be absent from school, please call the main office at 603-463-7422, option 6, before 7:30 a.m.
- Absences will occur due to health issues. Children may not attend school with a fever and may return to school once they have been without a fever for 24 hours. You will be notified if your child becomes ill at school.
- All classrooms have wireless Internet access and we do use websites and email in our classes.
- Parents are asked to fill out a form to indicate whether they give permission to share children's work and pictures on the school or class website.
- We do use safe practices with Internet use in the classroom and instruct children with age appropriate information.
- We welcome volunteers in kindergarten classrooms after the first six weeks of school. We like to have time in September and early October to get to know the children and to begin to develop a sense of community and trust. There are many ways to help - at home (making games, cutting material for projects) or in the classroom. Volunteers can help out on a regular basis for a month or two or once in awhile. Let me know if this is something that interests you and we can set up time(s) to help out.
- Periodic news and announcements about classroom events will be posted on our classroom site, and will also be sent home in Friday folders. This will be information about what is going on in the classroom as well as reminders about upcoming events and deadlines.
- The school newsletter (The Bridge) is sent home electronically each Friday.
- Conferences are offered in the fall, spring and whenever you or your child’s teacher feels it is necessary.
- Progress Reports give a detailed account of your child as a learner. These reports are available via ALMA in November, February and June.
- Please take 15 minutes or so each day to read aloud to your child.
- Your child will have their own homework folder that will go home each Friday. The homework folder includes practice pages that correspond with our word study program, Fundations and our math program, Eureka. These papers are intended to stay at home for continued practice throughout the year. Your child's empty homework folder should return to school at the beginning of each week.
- On Early Release days, dismissal is at 12:30 pm.
- Lunch is served on early release days.
- Please let us know about any changes to your child's end of the day transportation.
- Families are notified of school cancellations/closings by an automated telephone call from the school.
- Delayed opening is usually 2 hours later than our normal start time.
- We do take time to have a snack break in kindergarten everyday. Your child may bring a drink from home or purchase milk or juice from the school hot lunch program.
- We use a community snack system which involves parents taking turns sending in snack for the entire class.
- Please inform us if your child has a food allergy and let us know what foods are safe for your child. It is sometimes necessary to keep a supply of acceptable snacks at school for your child.
- Each month you will receive a paper copy of our snack calendar in your child's Friday Folder. You will be responsible for one or two snack days each month.
- Please involve your child in selecting and even preparing this snack. These snacks should be healthy and simple and the portions should be small. Children often help themselves to the snack so the food should be easy to self serve. Please send in cups, bowls, spoons etc. that fit the snack you send. Please send the snack ready to serve.
Healthy favorites include:
- veggies with a simple dip such as low fat ranch dressing
- cut up pieces of fruit
- yogurt
- cheese and crackers
- homemade quick breads, muffins, cookies
- cereal bars
- animal crackers
- trail mix
- pretzels
We strive to avoid serving too many processed foods. We will keep some crackers on hand to serve if you forget to send in snack on your day.
Within your child's folder, you will find our first snack calendar of the year. Your child’s name on the calendar indicates the date that you will be responsible for providing snack for the class. If you have any questions or concerns about our snack program, do not hesitate to get in touch with me.