Fall Scholastic Book Fair
Ms. Brown's Class will attend the Fall Scholastic Book Fair on Tuesday, September 23rd at 10:00-10:30. Parents are welcome to shop for books with their child at our scheduled time. If you would like to purchase books for our classroom library, please use our classroom e-wallet link: https://shop.scholastic.com/ewallet/fund?lang=en_US&walletId=bba9efbb-2f25-440c-9afc-1c0d31319a60
Classroom Google Website
Communication is a necessary component in your child's success this year in Kindergarten. This website will keep you updated on everything happening in the classroom. Be sure to check the classroom website each week so that you are aware of all the great things happening in our class!
"Remind" Messaging System
Please sign up for Ms. Brown's Kindergarten 2025-2026 mandatory messaging system. Remind is a messaging system that allows you to stay connected to your child's teacher throughout the school year. To sign up for Ms. Brown's Kindergarten notifications, please click on the link, https://www.remind.com/join/9abe73
Drop- Off & Pick-Up Times
7:00 AM- Morning Drop-Off Begins
7:50 AM- School Day Begins
2:30 PM- School Day Ends
2:30-3:00- Afternoon Dismissal
3:00-5:30- "Keepers" After-School Program
Student Attendance
Having your child to school on time is important for their success! Timeliness helps them develop good habits and routines. It shows children your commitment to their learning and friendships. It helps reduce classroom disruptions and distractions for all students. I appreciate your promptness as students begin working as soon as they enter the classroom. If your child is unexpectedly absent, please contact your child's teacher to make arrangements for pick-up of missed classroom assignments. If you know in advance that your child will be missing school for a specific number of days, I will do my best to provide you with missed classroom assignments prior to the absence.
Please complete the Student Excuse Verification Form (found on the school website) for all student absences.
Behavior and Classroom Rules
In order to provide our students with the excellent educational climate they deserve, a classroom discipline plan will be in effect at all times. The rules will follow along with our school core values: TROJANS "RULE"~ Responsibility, Unity, Leadership, and Empathy.
Classroom Rules: 1. Control Talking
2. Use good manners
3. Work and play well with others
4. Show respect for others and their work
5. Listen and follow directions
6. Do your personal best
7. Help others and be a good friend
8. Love One Another, we are a Kindergarten Family!
Grading Scale
M (Mastery), S (Satisfactory), NI (Needs Improvement), U (Unsatisfactory)
Lunch
Kindergarten students will eat lunch in the school cafeteria. Your child will have the option to bring lunch from home, and/ or participate in our school hot lunch program. I will assist your child in opening lunch items.
Kindergarten Snack Sign-Up
"Community Snacks" work best in our Kindergarten setting. Each family is encouraged to sign up and send in snack items for the classroom. When sending in snacks, please send them in the original packaging. Thank you in advance for all of your help with donating snacks this school year.
Snack Sign-Up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4CA8AB29A0F58-57601414-msbrowns
Recess
Students will have recess outside on the Pre-K/ Kindergarten playground. I will try to take the children outside as much as possible, except for inclement weather (freezing temperatures, rain, thunder, lightning, and/ or strong winds). Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately.
Weekly "Specials" Classes
Monday- Gym
Tuesday-Music
Wednesday- STEAM
Thursday- Library & Art
Friday- Spanish
Library Class & Parent Read-Aloud
Library Class will be held on Thursdays at 12:00-12:30. Students will have the opportunity to check out library books each week. Library books need to be returned every MONDAY morning. The school library will also sponsor Scholastic Book Fairs in both the Fall and Spring months. Please sign up for Parent Read-Aloud this year!
Read-Aloud Sign-Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050849AFAA28A7FD0-57906848-kindergarten
Parent readers must arrive 5 minutes before their scheduled reading time. If you are unable to read on your scheduled day, please contact kteagarden@sfccs.org to arrange for an alternate date.
Scholastic Book Orders
Our Kindergarten class will participate in Scholastic Book Clubs this school year. Scholastic Book Clubs allow parents to purchase quality books for their children at lower prices. Book Order flyers will be sent home each month. Your family is under no obligation to purchase books, however all families who participate help our classroom earn points to build up our classroom library. Please use our classroom access code, G4VNR, to purchase books online.
Shop Our Scholastic Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/G4VNR
Backpacks
Students will need to bring a backpack to school each day. The backpack should be large enough to comfortably carry essential school materials.
Reusable Water Bottles
Students will need a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated during the school day. Water bottles need to be leak- proof. Students can refill their water bottles, using the filtered water refilling stations, in our school building.
Personal Items
Please label all of your child's personal items- winter coats, rain jackets, sweaters, mittens, hats, backpacks, water bottles, lunchboxes, etc. These items are frequently misplaced and it is much easier to retrieve missing items from "Lost and Found" that are labeled.
GREEN Homework Folders
It’s important to establish a consistent method of communication between school and home. GREEN Homework Folders will be sent home Monday- Thursday evenings in your child's backpack. Homework assignments need to be completed before returning them to school the next day. Homework needs to be completed with PENCIL and colored with CRAYON. Please initial all "reading only" assignments.
Tricky Words
We are excited to learn how to read in Kindergarten! "Tricky Words" are words found in many of the books your child will read this year. However, Tricky Words do not always follow decoding rules, so they must be MEMORIZED. Students should be able to read the words within 3-5 seconds. Practicing with your child will make a big difference! Tricky Words are introduced during Unit 3 of our reading curriculum.
Memorization Skills
Memorization skills are skills learned best by repeated exposure. It is important to practice the following memorization skills with your child throughout the school year: Catholic Prayer’s, Full Name, Address, Phone Number, Birthday, Days of the Week, Months of the Year, and Tricky Words. Memorization skills will be assessed on your child's Kindergarten Report Card.
NWEA MAP Growth Assessments
Kindergarten students will be assessed at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year using NWEA MAP Growth Assessments. These standardized assessments are designed to measure student academic achievement and growth in Mathematics and Reading.
Fall 2025 Testing Dates:
Monday, September 15th- Mathematics Testing at 9:00-10:00AM
Tuesday, September 16th- Reading Testing at 9:00-10:00AM
Weekly School Mass
St. Francis students are blessed to have the opportunity to attend weekly school mass. Weekly mass helps to form students in their Catholic faith. Mass will be celebrated on most Thursday mornings and on Holy Days. Family members are welcome to attend school mass in the designated parent section. Please send in a non-perishable canned food item or monetary donation for the St. Ursula's Food Pantry collection on school mass days.
Inclement Weather
St. Francis does NOT follow Monongalia County Schools for snow cancellations, delays, and early dismissals. Please refer to our schools webpage, www.sfccs.org, on inclement weather days for any changes in our normal school schedule.
Birthday Celebrations
I look forward to celebrating your child on their birthday! We will make their day extra special at school. Families are welcome to send in special sweets and/or treats- doughnuts, cookie cake, popsicles, ice cream cups, fruit kabobs, cake pops, yogurt parfaits, etc. Birthday treat bags and party invitations are also permitted.
Field Trips
We are excited to take field trips this school year! A permission slip and fee will be required for your child to attend each field trip. We will use TA Nelson and Monongalia County school buses for all field trip transportation. Tentative Field Trips:
Micronauts Challenger Learning Center
Oglebay Park Good Zoo
WVU Basketball Education Day
Morgantown Theatre Company
Fun Friday
In our Kindergarten classroom, we will have "Fun Friday," every Friday afternoon. Students who complete their classroom assignments and exhibit good classroom behavior during the school week, will be rewarded with an hour of free-play. "Fun Friday" is a very special day of the week that your child will look forward to with their classmates!
Dress Down Days
Dress Down Days are special days when students are not required to wear their school uniform.
Examples of Dress Down Days- SF Spirit Wear, Peace Day, All Saints Day, WVU Day, Dr. Seuss Day, Polar Express Pajama Day, SCRIP Dress Down Day, 100th Day of School, Holiday Themed Days, Picture Days, etc.
Handle with Care
If your family is experiencing difficulties at home, I would like to provide additional support at school. I understand that you are not always able to share details and that's okay. If your child is coming to school after a difficult night, morning, or weekend, please text me, "Handle with Care." Nothing else will need to be said or asked. This will let me know that your child may need extra time, patience, or help during the school day.
Comfort Items
Comfort Items provide security and emotional support for young children. In Kindergarten, we are supportive of these special attachments and recognize how they help your child navigate the challenges of growing up. Students are permitted to pack comfort items in their backpacks.
Nightly Reading is "Oh So Sweet!"
One of the most important components of our Kindergarten reading program is YOU! I ask that you spend 10 minutes every evening READING with your child. Nightly reading sessions are a great time to watch your child develop into a reader!