ABC'S of Mrs. Spence’s Kindergarten
A
ACADEMIC SKILLS - A few of the skills we will work on this year are color words, shapes, number recognition and writing, rote counting by 1’s, 5’s, and 10’s, language development, increased vocabulary, letter recognition/sounds, sight word recognition, graphing, one to one correspondence, sequencing, predicting, problem solving, addition/subtraction, estimation, reading and the writing process.
ALLERGIES - be sure to inform me of any allergies.
ARRIVAL time for Kindergarten is very important. Students line up in the covered area between the office and 4th/5th grade wing until dismissed by the teachers on duty. There is a morning recess from 8:00-8:10. Please do not bring your child to the classroom. I usually have many things to do before class begins and I am not always in the room before the school day starts. The first bell rings at 8:10 and students line up on the playground where I will meet them. The tardy bell rings at 8:15. Students arriving after that time must check in at the office for a tardy slip.
ATTENDANCE – Your child’s regular and on-time attendance is important to his/her success in school. Please view school as a top priority, and make sure your child attends every day except in cases of illness or emergency. Most kindergarten learning activities are group oriented and involve interaction with classmates. Therefore, it is next to impossible to make up work at home. If your child must be absent please notify the school. Remember that 3 tardies count as 1 absence. Please make every effort to be on time and at school daily.
B
BACKPACK - Have your child bring a LARGE backpack (no wheels please) everyday and check it everyday for notes, projects, etc. when it comes home with your child.
BATHROOMS - We have a bathroom located inside our classroom. There is also a bathroom in the 1st grade wing for student use while on the playground.
BIRTHDAYS - If you would like to bring special treats on your child's birthday please feel free to do so. You can send cupcakes or cookies, juice, cups, party plates, etc. If your child has a summer Birthday, I would like to celebrate them at their half birthday. I will put it on the calendar. If you send party invitations to school please send one for EVERY child. We don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Please do not send any gifts to school for me to hand out.
BREAKFAST- Is served from 7:45am to 8:00 am in the cafeteria. If you would like for your child to eat breakfast they need to eat before they go to the playground.
C
CHARACTER ED - We discuss friendship, respect, responsibility, cooperation, service, effort, etc. These life principles will help us to be good citizens.
We will CHEER each other to success.
COMMUNICATION - Please let me know how things are going with your child through the daily folder or email. You can email me at jkspence@waltersps.org. I want to know if your child is having a rough time or if they really LOVE something we are doing. Please remember: I can’t help if I don’t know!
CONFERENCES - are held at 2 different prescheduled times of the year. We can also conference at your request or mine any time.
COUNSELOR – Our counselor is Mrs. Thomas. She will be visiting our room throughout the school year.
CURRICULUM GUIDELINES - the State Dept. of Education has a set of guidelines and skills I am required to teach throughout the year. If you would like a copy please feel free to print them from:
http://sde.ok.gov/sde/kindergarten
DISCIPLINE - My discipline technique is firm but loving. I feel it is the child’s responsibility to follow our class expectations. We have 8 expectations that we learn about and follow in our class and when mistakes are made we reflect on the expectations and life principles. I have a thinking chair that I use if needed. You will only hear from me if your child has a reoccurring discipline problem that needs further attention. I do not tolerate bullying of any kind. I very rarely go to the principal with discipline referrals. I like to take care of everything in the room. I will contact you anytime I feel a behavior is persisting or interfering in the learning process. If the behavior continues I will call you to have a conference if needed.
DISMISSAL –We leave our room at 3:05. We will line up under the patio by the office area. Students not picked up by 3:10 will be taken to the office. Students are to give me a high 5, handshake or hug before leaving. I want to see whom each child leaves with each day. Your child will only be released to those on the Pick-up sheet. If you need to talk to me, I will be available after all the children are dismissed to visit with you. **If you need to pick up your child during the school day, you must sign him/her out in the office. The office will call the classroom and ask for your child to come to the office. If a parent comes directly to the classroom, she/he will be sent to the office to check out their child.** Thanks for your cooperation!
DONATIONS – We always need your help!! THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP!! We cannot do it without you! I have a Kindergarten wish list of items on our Classroom Website. It is not required for you to make donations, but I would gladly appreciate any donation you would like to make.
DRESS - ready for action! Tennis Shoes that your child can take off and put on without assistance are great because we will be playing outside and having PE 2-3 times/week. Kindergarten is a busy place that sometimes can get pretty messy so play clothes are better than dress clothes! When cold weather comes we will still be going outside to walk back and forth from the cafeteria and to play on the playground so don‘t forget to wear your jacket/coat. Girls will need to wear shorts or bloomers under their dresses and skirts at all times. PLEASE AVOID WEARING FLIP FLOPS.
E
We will recognize every EFFORT and applaud it.
EMERGENCIES – You will be contacted if your child gets injured while at school. We also have a school plan in case of fires and tornadoes. It is very important you give me a complete list of phone numbers where you can be reached, and the names of others who you would like for me to call if I cannot reach you.
We will ENCOURAGE each other to do our best.
F
FOLDER – A folder will come home daily with your child. I cannot stress how important this folder is to the children, and to my organization. Your child’s folder will hold everything you need to keep up with what is going on at school. The folder will help your child establish good organizational skills. Folders will go home every afternoon in your child’s backpack. Please check the folder daily and return it to school each day. Please encourage your child to take care of their folder. If you have anything to give to me make sure it goes in the folder. I do not search backpacks for notes, money, etc. Your child will be taught that it is their responsibility to put their folder in a tub each morning and put it in their backpack at the end of each day. In the past money has been lost because children open up their folder in the cafeteria or on the bus and money gets lost or taken. Remind your child that they are not to get their folder out until they get to class or get home.
Many new FRIENDS will be made this year!
FUN, FUN, FUN!!! - We will have so much fun together!
G
We will use GOOD manners saying please, thank you and excuse me and allow others to go first.
GRADUATION- Kindergarten will have a graduation. We will be ordering T-shirts in the spring to wear for this milestone event.
H
HANDS-ON LEARNING – I feel the best way to help children learn is to make learning fun. Important concepts can be learned by doing meaningful hands-on activities. There are times when seatwork is required and necessary, but for the most part, our classroom will be an active learning environment.
HEALTHY SNACKS - Oklahoma Law prohibits schools from giving children any food that has the first ingredient of sugar. We do a snack mix. I will have the students bring an item at the first of the month and we will make a snack mix with the items. All snacks must have nutritional value.
HELP from HOME - I will be testing your child for these readiness skills:
•Full name •Address •Telephone number
•Parents’ names •Birthday (month & day) •Counting by 1’s, 5’s, 10’s
•Tying shoes •Identifying numbers to 20 •Identifying letter names/sounds
•Printing first/last name beginning with a capital letter and the rest in lowercase.
Your extra help at home really makes a difference! THANK YOU!!
We will HELP each other whenever possible.
HOMEWORK –Reading to and with your child for at least 15 minutes a night is an important way to help your child be successful in school. Kindergarten students may bring home math, phonics and/or reading homework. If I have additional projects for you to work on with your child, I will let you know in a note or type it on the Events Calendar. Thanks in advance for your willingness to help your child learn!
I
ILLNESS - Please do not send your child to school sick. I will send them home. Sending a sick child to school is not only difficult for the child, but can also easily infect others in our class. Please do not share your child's illness with others. Your child needs to be fever, vomit and/or diarrhea free for 12 hours before returning to school.
INDEPENDENCE - is always a goal.
J
JACKETS - Please remember to send jackets each day. We do go outside on cool days. I would recommend you keep a hooded jacket in your child’s backpack at all times for inclement weather.
JOBS - our classroom jobs are a very important part of our class. Jobs are changed weekly. We will work together to establish an environment conducive to learning and take pride in doing our jobs well.
K
"KINDNESS costs nothing but gains everything."
L
LABEL the following items that your child brings to school: jackets, backpacks and lunch boxes. That will help your child's things get back home.
We will not LAUGH at or make fun of another person's mistakes nor use sarcasm or putdowns.
LIBRARY – Book checkout from the Elementary Library will start the 2nd 9 weeks.
LICE - Walters Public School has a 'No Nit' policy. Getting rid of lice can be very difficult. We will send anyone home with live lice or nits.
LUNCH - is from 12:45 to 1:15. Lunch must be pre-paid or your child can choose to bring his/her lunch in a lunchbox. If you bring your lunch without a drink and need to purchase milk to drink, it will cost extra. It is helpful if you send lunch money on Mondays. All money must be sent in a marked envelope/baggy and placed in the folder. Please do not combine lunch money and any other money. I am unable to make change.
M
MAGIC TRIAD - We use kind words, kind touches, and smiles.
MANNERS - we work on these all day, everyday.
"MISTAKES are okay as long as you learn from them."
MONEY - If you send any money to school with your child it MUST be in a marked envelope/baggy and placed in your child’s daily folder with a note telling the amount and what the money is to be used for. I will not accept any money that is not clearly marked and placed inside the folder. Please remind your child to leave it in there and to NOT take it out. With 20 students to keep track of and several reasons to collect money, this helps me out tremendously and reduces the likelihood of errors. THANKS!
N
NEVER a dull moment!!
NOTES - Please put notes inside your child’s folder.
NOURISHMENT - A well-nourished child is better able to focus, play, cooperate and learn.
O
OUTSTANDING! You are a great parent. Thank you in advance for all of the support that you will give to our class.
P
PARTIES - We will have several parties. Please sign up to help!! We would love for you to bring something, send something, or help with the party!!
PERSONAL PAGE – you will receive a "personal page" for your child. Please fill out your child’s information and attach a current photo. Please return your child’s Personal Page as soon as possible. THANKS!
PHILOSOPHY – Walters Kindergarten strives to develop students to their fullest potential and to create in each student the desire to make the most of themselves.
We will PRACTICE virtuous living using the life PRINCIPLES.
PROCEDURES - I strive to be organized and very precise about the procedures of our classroom. If you ever have any questions concerning the procedures of the room please don’t hesitate to talk to me.
PURPOSE – Walters Kindergarten strives to provide a quality-learning environment and a variety of age appropriate experiences that will help your child socially, intellectually, physically, and emotionally.
Q
QUESTIONS - anytime you have one, please give me a call, email me or write to me in the daily folder. Please keep the lines of communication open! The school’s number is 875-3144. I am available most days before and after school to talk with you as needed.
QUIET TIME – We do have a quiet/rest time each day for about 20-30 minutes in the afternoon. It gives us a chance to "recharge our batteries." Some days we will listen to music and other days we may just put our heads down on our tables. I will also use this time for individual testing, as needed.
R
We will RECOGNIZE every effort and applaud it.
REPORT CARDS - Report Cards will be sent every nine weeks. Please be prompt in signing them and returning them.THANKS!!
We have RESPONSIBILITIES to each other, our teachers and ourselves.
S
SELF ESTEEM - we will work on building positive self-esteem daily.
SHOES - Please make sure to send your child in shoes that are comfortable for play. Sandals or tennis shoes are great. Flip-flops or slip-ons are not a good idea because the children have a very difficult time keeping them on. We will be running, climbing, jumping, and playing everyday. Students are required to wear tennis shoes to PE class. Thanks for your help with this issue.
SNACK – We will have a mid-morning snack. Each student will be asked to bring an item at the 1st of the month for a snack mix, that way they will get something that they will eat. I will send a note home with the item that they are to bring. All items must be store bought. If your child does not like what is being served, they are allowed to say, "No, thank you." I do not provide alternate choices.
SOCIAL SKILLS are something we work on each day.
Your SUPPORT is very valuable - thank you.
T
TEMPERATURE - remember - don't send your child for at least 12 hours if s/he has been running a fever.
TOY POLICY – Your child should not bring toys to school. The exception is if I request your child bring one for an educational activity.
TRANSPORTATION – Make sure that I know exactly how your child will get home from school if not following the usual routine. You can do this through a note or a phone call. Please do not have your child tell us. Sometimes children get confused and I do not want to send your child to the wrong destination.
U
UNIQUE - We will value one another as UNIQUE and special individuals.
V
We will VALUE one another as unique and special individuals.
VISITORS - We welcome visitors who come to our class and tell us about their jobs or special things. Please let me know if you would like to come share your job or know someone that would speak to our class about theirs. I try to schedule these so they coincide with the subjects we are studying, but we can do them at other times too.
VOLUNTEERS - We also welcome volunteers. If you have some extra time in a day and would like to come and volunteer to work with the children or help me please let me know and we can work out a great time.
W
WATERBOTTLES- Please send a water bottle for your child to school every week. This will be what they drink at snack time and when they need a drink in the classroom.
WEBSITE – Be sure to check our classroom website each month for updates on activities and skills we are learning. I will also be sharing photos of the smartest and cutest kids in the world! Please promptly return the web permission form, which permits me to include your child’s photo and first initial on our website. You can look through all our classroom info. and/or email me from the web page. Bookmark the page or put it into your favorites so it will be easily accessible. You can go to blued.org and click on elementary to find my page.
X
Get ready for a most EXCITING year!!
Y
YES! Your child is ready for Kindergarten and she/he will do GREAT!
Z
Get ready because we have ZILLIONS of things to do and learn this year!
ZIPPED TIGHT - Please remind your child to keep his/her backpack zipped tight until they get to the classroom each morning and to keep it zipped tight each afternoon until they get home. We’ve had difficulty in the past with children losing money in the cafeteria in the mornings and losing notes and papers in the afternoon before arriving home.
ZZZ’s – It is so important to make sure your child is getting a good night’s sleep. Establish a bedtime routine that allows your child to get 10-12 hours of sleep each night.
**We are going to have a wonderful year together!! Thanks in advance for your cooperation and help in making this a memorable Kindergarten year!!!