Kindergarten Snack Sign-up

• Community snack time will occur daily. Please sign up to donate snacks for our classroom! We have 22 students. Thank you in advance for all of your help in donating this year.  WE ARE AN ALLERGY FRIENDLY CLASSROOM!

Sign up genius:   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0548ACAC2EA6FFC25-57557765-community

"Remind" Messaging System

• Please sign up for Ms. Selesky'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. Selesky's Kindergarten notifications, please click on the link,   https://www.remind.com/join/msselesky

Classroom Google Website

• Communication is a necessary component in your child's success this year in Kindergarten.  This website  will help to keep you updated on everything happening in the classroom. Be sure to check the classroom  website weekly so that you are aware of all the great things happening in our class! 

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. 

Personal 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. In addition to this students will have the opportunity to earn points on Class Dojo for weekly prizes! Point will be rewarded based on multiple factors which will be outlined later!

• 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. 

Weekly "Specials" Classes

• Monday- Art & Library

• Tuesday-Gym

• Wednesday- Spanish

• Thursday- Steam

• Friday- Music

Library Class & Parent Read-Aloud  

• Library Class will be held on Mondays at 10:00-10:30. 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 (Please only sign up for no more than two for now so that every parent has a chance if they want.) : https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050849AFAA28A7FD0-57906603-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.orgto arrange for an alternate date. 

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. 

Backpacks

• Student’s need to bring a backpack every day of the week.  The backpack must be large enough to carry your child's academic materials and supplies to and from school each day. 

Water Bottles & Cups

• Student's may bring a water bottle or cup to use throughout the school day.  The water bottles and cups need to be leak- proof if turned upside down and must contain only water.  Please write your child's name on his/ her water bottle or cup.  

Scholastic Book Orders

• Kindergarten will be participating in the Scholastic Kindergarten Book Club this school year. Scholastic Kindergarten Book Club allows 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 make your checks payable to Scholastic, or you may use our classroom access code 32V4M4 to purchase books online. 

• Shop Our Scholastic Class Page:  https://orders.scholastic.com/32V4M4 

Birthday Celebrations

• We enjoy celebrating your child’s birthday at school. Families are welcome to send in special snacks, doughnuts, treat bags, invitations, etc. for their special day. 

Personal Items

• Please label all your child’s personal items (coats, jackets, sweaters, mittens, gloves, shoes, hats, masks, etc.), backpack, lunchbox, and water bottle/cup with your child’s name.  

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 @9am

Tuesday, September 16th- Reading Testing  @9am

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.

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 $1.00 for the St. Ursula's Food Pantry collection on school mass days. 

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 

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.  

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. 

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!