Your child is bringing home a take-home book (The Gift) Thursday in their folder. The children & I have read this book several times together at school. Last week's book was ....... The House.
For homework, each week the children are to read their book to 3 people. The can read to mom, dad, older brothers & sisters, babysitters, or grandparents. As your child reads their book, please make sure they use their pointer finger to "track" each & every word.
When they finish reading, please sign your name on the front cover & return the book to school the next day. If you don't have 3 people at home to read to, your child may read the book to someone twice & that person can place a #2 after their signature.
When the take-home book returns to school, your child earns a sticker. The take-home book will then be sent back home again. Once he/she accumulates 5 stickers, a small prize will be earned. I hope you'll save these small books & read them frequently for review & practice; by year's end, your child will have a collection of about 25 small books.
Also, you'll notice a ring attached to your child's folder. These cards are the sight words we are learning in school. The cards will stay attached to the folder for you to practice at home. As I introduce new words, additional cards will be added to the ring.
If you have questions about these assignments, feel free to call or email. Thank you for all your help & support at home with these two new important assignments.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Conferences
"Eye to Eye" Conference:
Mornings 8:30 - 9:00 AM
Afternoon 1:15 - 1:40 PM
"Ear to Ear" Quick Phone Conference:
Morning 8:15 - 8:45 AM @ 797 - 1251
Afternoon 1:15 - 1:40 PM @ 797 -1251
Evenings 7:00 - 10:00 PM @ 226 - 8057
Mornings 8:30 - 9:00 AM
Afternoon 1:15 - 1:40 PM
"Ear to Ear" Quick Phone Conference:
Morning 8:15 - 8:45 AM @ 797 - 1251
Afternoon 1:15 - 1:40 PM @ 797 -1251
Evenings 7:00 - 10:00 PM @ 226 - 8057
Reading Tips
Easy Things To Do At Home To Raise Readers......
When you snuggle with your child & read books or stories, you stimulate all the senses at once & make the reading experience pleasurable. This creates a positive association with reading. Start with short reading sessions and increase the length as your child's attention span grows. As you are reading, point to words in the text with your finger. By doing this, you are helping to train your child's eyes to automatically follow words & symbols in a left to right progression. Also, encourage your child to predict what might happen next as the story begins to develop.(Scholastic Parent & Child April/May 2001)
Tips from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries - PA Dept. of Ed
Read to your child every day. Make it a special time when you both can relax, snuggle and enjoy books.
Build a home library and fill it with your child's favorite titles.
Sing nursery rhymes and finger plays to introduce an awareness of speech sounds and patterns.
Visit your local library on a regular basis and borrow a wide range of books and audio materials. Take part in activities the library provides for young children.
Use words to describe aloud what you are doing or what you see around your house and community.
Learning depends on repetition. It is good when children ask for favorites to be read again and again.
Encourage your child to "read" picture books to you.
Be a good role model by reading for enjoyment and information yourself.
When reading aloud, use lots of expression, different voices and sound effects when appropriate. Make sure your child can see the pictures easily.
Read books that play with language such as poetry, tongue twisters, rhymes, and riddles.
When you snuggle with your child & read books or stories, you stimulate all the senses at once & make the reading experience pleasurable. This creates a positive association with reading. Start with short reading sessions and increase the length as your child's attention span grows. As you are reading, point to words in the text with your finger. By doing this, you are helping to train your child's eyes to automatically follow words & symbols in a left to right progression. Also, encourage your child to predict what might happen next as the story begins to develop.(Scholastic Parent & Child April/May 2001)
Tips from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries - PA Dept. of Ed
Read to your child every day. Make it a special time when you both can relax, snuggle and enjoy books.
Build a home library and fill it with your child's favorite titles.
Sing nursery rhymes and finger plays to introduce an awareness of speech sounds and patterns.
Visit your local library on a regular basis and borrow a wide range of books and audio materials. Take part in activities the library provides for young children.
Use words to describe aloud what you are doing or what you see around your house and community.
Learning depends on repetition. It is good when children ask for favorites to be read again and again.
Encourage your child to "read" picture books to you.
Be a good role model by reading for enjoyment and information yourself.
When reading aloud, use lots of expression, different voices and sound effects when appropriate. Make sure your child can see the pictures easily.
Read books that play with language such as poetry, tongue twisters, rhymes, and riddles.
Healthy Tips
I am very concerned with keeping your child healthy especially with the H1N1 threat. As you know, young children are often sick, especially when they first start school. At school we study healthy habits so the children will become aware of things they can do to help stay well. Let me share some of the ideas I have been teaching the children at school. Please talk about these things at home also.
1. Wash your hands before eating and after going to the bathroom. We also sanitize our hands each day as we leave the cafeteria, enter & exit Special Classes, & before eating Snack.
2. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze using the bend in your arm. Ask your child to demonstrate this “new” method & adopt it yourself!!
3. Do not use other people’s combs/brushes or wear other children’s hats.
4. After blowing your nose, always throw the tissue in the waste basket.
5. Except for your toothbrush, put only things to eat or drink in your mouth.
I’m sure you tell your child many other important healthy tips at home. Encourage your child to share these ideas with me.
1. Wash your hands before eating and after going to the bathroom. We also sanitize our hands each day as we leave the cafeteria, enter & exit Special Classes, & before eating Snack.
2. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze using the bend in your arm. Ask your child to demonstrate this “new” method & adopt it yourself!!
3. Do not use other people’s combs/brushes or wear other children’s hats.
4. After blowing your nose, always throw the tissue in the waste basket.
5. Except for your toothbrush, put only things to eat or drink in your mouth.
I’m sure you tell your child many other important healthy tips at home. Encourage your child to share these ideas with me.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Oh Boy....... We Have Butterflies!!
Thanks to Sabrina & her mom & Nicholas & his grandfather.......... Oh boy, do we have caterpillars!! 18 of them to be exact, all munching & crunching away on milkweed leaves. After a week or so, each caterpillar began to make its chrysalis.For t
he past 2 weeks, we have been anxiously watching & waiting to see each light green chrysalis turn "dark". When we checked today, Sabrina had 2 butterflies just emerge this morning - their wings were still wet! Once their wings have had time to dry, we will set them free. Sabrina has 6 more "dark" chrysalis, so we'll soon be seeing many more Monarch butterflies emerge! Nicholas's chrysalis are still in their light green stage, but any day they should be turning "dark".
he past 2 weeks, we have been anxiously watching & waiting to see each light green chrysalis turn "dark". When we checked today, Sabrina had 2 butterflies just emerge this morning - their wings were still wet! Once their wings have had time to dry, we will set them free. Sabrina has 6 more "dark" chrysalis, so we'll soon be seeing many more Monarch butterflies emerge! Nicholas's chrysalis are still in their light green stage, but any day they should be turning "dark". During this Butterfly unit the children have learned about the Life Cycle of the Monarch Butterfly and how it hatches from an egg to a caterpil
lar, weeks later the caterpillar makes a chrysalis, & after 2 weeks or so, it becomes a beautiful Monarch butterfly. By the end of this great learing experience, we'll have released 18 Monarch butterflies back to nature so they may migrate each fall and spring to and from Mexico!!
lar, weeks later the caterpillar makes a chrysalis, & after 2 weeks or so, it becomes a beautiful Monarch butterfly. By the end of this great learing experience, we'll have released 18 Monarch butterflies back to nature so they may migrate each fall and spring to and from Mexico!! 
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Red Ribbon Week & Halloween
Red Ribbon Week (Oct. 26 - 30) is fast approaching - this year the theme for the week is "Team Up Against Drugs". KES has been planning a variety of educational activities for the week to help educate our students on the dangers of drugs & alcohol.
The final day of Red Ribbon Week falls on October 30th. I want to give you lots of advance warning about a change that is happening this year. Our school has decided to do something a little different to celebrate the end of this special week. On the 30th, the students are being invited to dress in costume according to our Red Ribbon Theme. In place of traditional Halloween costumes, students are will dress in their favorite sport or team apparel.
So get those Steeler jerseys, hockey shirts, cheerleader uniforms, or Keystone sports clothing ready for parade day. You can assist at home by helping your child think about what sport or sports team they want to dress like.
The final day of Red Ribbon Week falls on October 30th. I want to give you lots of advance warning about a change that is happening this year. Our school has decided to do something a little different to celebrate the end of this special week. On the 30th, the students are being invited to dress in costume according to our Red Ribbon Theme. In place of traditional Halloween costumes, students are will dress in their favorite sport or team apparel.
So get those Steeler jerseys, hockey shirts, cheerleader uniforms, or Keystone sports clothing ready for parade day. You can assist at home by helping your child think about what sport or sports team they want to dress like.
Computer Sites
Thanks again to Mrs. Wit, our Instructional Technology Specialist, for finding this cool Math website. Check it out!!! http://iplaymathgames.com/
iPlay Math Games is an outstanding collection of printable math games for grades k-12. Math games can be searched by grade level or skill. These math games are printable pdf files and can be played with common items (dice, cards, and other manipulatives). iPlay Math Games helps students build math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, percents, algebra, long division, measurement, graphing and exponents, problem solving, puzzles and games, geometry, probability, reasoning, logic, numeration, patterns, and counting.
iPlay Math Games is an outstanding collection of printable math games for grades k-12. Math games can be searched by grade level or skill. These math games are printable pdf files and can be played with common items (dice, cards, and other manipulatives). iPlay Math Games helps students build math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, percents, algebra, long division, measurement, graphing and exponents, problem solving, puzzles and games, geometry, probability, reasoning, logic, numeration, patterns, and counting.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Responsibility
Your child is learning to do important things at school and at home. Much of our school day is spent developing responsibility. The children are given jobs to do (Special Helper, Messenger, & Snack Helper) in our classroom that help to make the school day run smoothly. I encourage you to give your child jobs to do at home to help your home run smoothly. Some of the things you might have your child do are:
1) Set the dinner table. You will need to demonstrate how to do this and then have your child
follow your example.
2) Help take the dirty dishes from the table to the sink or dishwasher.
3) Put his/her own clothes away in the proper place after they have been washed.
4) Feed the pet(s).
5) Help a younger brother or sister get dressed or find a toy.
You probably have lots of other ideas that are even better than my suggestions. The important thing is for your child to do the tasks regularly and well. Tell your child when you are happy with the way he/she is doing a job.
1) Set the dinner table. You will need to demonstrate how to do this and then have your child
follow your example.
2) Help take the dirty dishes from the table to the sink or dishwasher.
3) Put his/her own clothes away in the proper place after they have been washed.
4) Feed the pet(s).
5) Help a younger brother or sister get dressed or find a toy.
You probably have lots of other ideas that are even better than my suggestions. The important thing is for your child to do the tasks regularly and well. Tell your child when you are happy with the way he/she is doing a job.
Communication Skills
An important part of growing up and being able to learn in school is the ability to listen, understand, and follow directions. We work on these important parts of learning & call all of this..... Communication Skills.
You, as parents, can also use important communication skills at home. Here are a few suggestions.
1) Listen to you child. The more you stop and listen, the more your child will talk and learn.
2) Watch television or read a book with your child and talk about what you are watching/reading.
3) Tell your child one of your favorite stories. Children love to hear their parents’ favorite stories.
4) Laugh a lot with your child; it is good for both of you.
You, as parents, can also use important communication skills at home. Here are a few suggestions.
1) Listen to you child. The more you stop and listen, the more your child will talk and learn.
2) Watch television or read a book with your child and talk about what you are watching/reading.
3) Tell your child one of your favorite stories. Children love to hear their parents’ favorite stories.
4) Laugh a lot with your child; it is good for both of you.
Practice Papers
Each time we do a practice worksheet/activity in K1, I place extra copies on the bottom left hole in our cubbies. If you are looking for extra practice papers to use at home with your child, feel free to stop in K1 & help yourself to any of these extra papers. As with anything, extra practice can always help. :)
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Flip Card Behavior Chart
K1 has 5 classroom rules & we're working hard to remember as well as to follow these rules.
Rule 1. Eyes are watching.
Rule 2. Ears are listening.
Rule 3. My mouth is quiet unless I am called on.
Rule 4. I keep my hands to myself.
Rule 5. My brain is turned on.
The entire Kindergarten class at Keystone Elem. uses the Flip Card Behavior Chart. By the end of this week, we'll be 2 weeks into our school year. The children have had time to learn & understand these classroom rules, so I plan to start enforcing these rules more strongly beginning 9/14. Below, I have listed a detailed explanation about the Flip Card Behavior Chart & how it is used in Kindergarten.
Each day the children start out fresh with a Green Card. A Green Card means "I'm doing fine!! If your child is spoken to about his/her behavior, they'll flip their Green Card to a Yellow Card. The Yellow Card means they've received a behavior warning. I talk to your child abouat what they've done wrong & at this point nothing else happens. These Yellow Cards will disappear around December or so & the possibility of getting a warning will no longer be an option.
If your child is spoken to about his/her behavior a second time, they'll flip the Yellow Card to a Red Card. Once on a Red Card, they miss 5 minutes of our 30 minute PlayTime.
If your child is spoken to about his/her behavior a third time, they'll flip their Red Card to a Purple Card & miss 10 minutes of PlayTime.
If your child is spoken to about behavior again during the day, they'll flip the Purple Card to a Blue Card. At that time, a note (or phone call) will be sent home letting you know what kind of "behavior" day your child had at school.
As parents, you can help at home by reinforcing the importance of good behavior at school & encouraging your child to behave properly.
Rule 1. Eyes are watching.
Rule 2. Ears are listening.
Rule 3. My mouth is quiet unless I am called on.
Rule 4. I keep my hands to myself.
Rule 5. My brain is turned on.
The entire Kindergarten class at Keystone Elem. uses the Flip Card Behavior Chart. By the end of this week, we'll be 2 weeks into our school year. The children have had time to learn & understand these classroom rules, so I plan to start enforcing these rules more strongly beginning 9/14. Below, I have listed a detailed explanation about the Flip Card Behavior Chart & how it is used in Kindergarten.
Each day the children start out fresh with a Green Card. A Green Card means "I'm doing fine!! If your child is spoken to about his/her behavior, they'll flip their Green Card to a Yellow Card. The Yellow Card means they've received a behavior warning. I talk to your child abouat what they've done wrong & at this point nothing else happens. These Yellow Cards will disappear around December or so & the possibility of getting a warning will no longer be an option.
If your child is spoken to about his/her behavior a second time, they'll flip the Yellow Card to a Red Card. Once on a Red Card, they miss 5 minutes of our 30 minute PlayTime.
If your child is spoken to about his/her behavior a third time, they'll flip their Red Card to a Purple Card & miss 10 minutes of PlayTime.
If your child is spoken to about behavior again during the day, they'll flip the Purple Card to a Blue Card. At that time, a note (or phone call) will be sent home letting you know what kind of "behavior" day your child had at school.
As parents, you can help at home by reinforcing the importance of good behavior at school & encouraging your child to behave properly.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Campbell's Labels & BoxTops for Education
Keystone Elementary saves Campbell's Soup labels for Education & Boxtops for Education. We would greatly appreciate you, & all extended family members, saving these labels for our school. When saving Campbell's labels, send in the small picture with the Campbell's kid holding a pencil (just above the UPC mark). Boxtops for Education coupons are the small rectangular shapes usually found on the box top or bottom area. These BoxTop coupons may also be used as money at the Book Fairs held here at school.
Keystone's CATS organization collects & tallies the labels & redeems them for educational supplies. Please help support our school with these labels! For more information on the CATS organization &/or how you can get involved, visit the KES Home Page & click on the CATS link.
Keystone's CATS organization collects & tallies the labels & redeems them for educational supplies. Please help support our school with these labels! For more information on the CATS organization &/or how you can get involved, visit the KES Home Page & click on the CATS link.
Birthdays
If your child is celebrating a birthday during the school year, please contact me prior to the birthday, so arrangements can be made if you plan to do something special. We like to eat sliced apples, bananas, fish/graham/saltine crackers, gummy fruits, single sugarless popsicles ................. just about anything that can be served easily & quickly.
When providing treats, please remember the Keystone Wellness policy concerning sugar and baked goods.If you would rather send in a "non-food" treat, the children always enjoy receiving things like birthday pencils, bookmarks, stickers, & etc. The party supply area at local stores always carry many different choices.
One final note, please do not send birthday party invitations to be passed out at school unless you are inviting the entire class. Birthday treats are always a welcome surprise, but please note.......... sending a birthday treat is absolutely optional!
K1 birthdays:
September 22 - Xander
October 11 - Kadence
October 22 - Derik
December 29 - Andrew
February 15 - Hannah H.
February 17 - Nicholas C.
March 1 - Tahara
March 24 - Sabrina
April 7 - Cooper
April 17 - Nick W.
May 4 - Hannah S.
May 5 - Gunnar
May 18 - Mariah
May 27 - Bryan
June 29 - Kiara
When providing treats, please remember the Keystone Wellness policy concerning sugar and baked goods.If you would rather send in a "non-food" treat, the children always enjoy receiving things like birthday pencils, bookmarks, stickers, & etc. The party supply area at local stores always carry many different choices.
One final note, please do not send birthday party invitations to be passed out at school unless you are inviting the entire class. Birthday treats are always a welcome surprise, but please note.......... sending a birthday treat is absolutely optional!
K1 birthdays:
September 22 - Xander
October 11 - Kadence
October 22 - Derik
December 29 - Andrew
February 15 - Hannah H.
February 17 - Nicholas C.
March 1 - Tahara
March 24 - Sabrina
April 7 - Cooper
April 17 - Nick W.
May 4 - Hannah S.
May 5 - Gunnar
May 18 - Mariah
May 27 - Bryan
June 29 - Kiara
September in K1
We are working very hard learning how to be good listeners & follow directions. To help the children learn about acceptable behavior, the Kindergarten teachers use a flip card Behavior Chart. I explained the details about the Behavior/Citizenship Chart at our Back-2-School Nite & plan to do a blog entry about the Behavior Chart in a week or so when I am ready to start using it in our classroom.
We are also practicing how to write our names. At this point, I am not concerned as to whether the children are using all caps or a combination of caps & small letters to write their names. One academic goal for the first grading period is to print your first name. By December & after we've had time to cover some of the lowercase alphabet letters, I will expect the children to start writing their names with a capital at the beginning and small letters for the rest of their name. If your child is unable to write his/her first name, please begin practicing with them at home for 5 - 10 minutes each evening. You may teach them either way - all capital letters or first letter capital & the rest of the letters in lower case letters.
A 2nd academic goal for the first grading period is to count to 20. It would be helpful if you & your child practice counting things at home. Possible ideas for things to count: number of doors, windows, stairs, or chairs in your house, bites it takes to eat an apple, a cookie, or a bowl of cereal, or counting the number of shoes in your closet. There are so many things a child can count - the ideas are endless.
Finally, some other academic goals your child we be working to accomplish this first grading period are: reciting the alphabet, recognizing upper & lower case letters that have been taught as well as their sounds, recognizing & naming 8 colors, holding & using scissors correctly to cut on a line, and coloring inside the lines as well as filling in all white "ghosty" spaces.
To help your child progess & gain self-confidence about their school work, you can help at home by practicing these skill areas.
We are also practicing how to write our names. At this point, I am not concerned as to whether the children are using all caps or a combination of caps & small letters to write their names. One academic goal for the first grading period is to print your first name. By December & after we've had time to cover some of the lowercase alphabet letters, I will expect the children to start writing their names with a capital at the beginning and small letters for the rest of their name. If your child is unable to write his/her first name, please begin practicing with them at home for 5 - 10 minutes each evening. You may teach them either way - all capital letters or first letter capital & the rest of the letters in lower case letters.
A 2nd academic goal for the first grading period is to count to 20. It would be helpful if you & your child practice counting things at home. Possible ideas for things to count: number of doors, windows, stairs, or chairs in your house, bites it takes to eat an apple, a cookie, or a bowl of cereal, or counting the number of shoes in your closet. There are so many things a child can count - the ideas are endless.
Finally, some other academic goals your child we be working to accomplish this first grading period are: reciting the alphabet, recognizing upper & lower case letters that have been taught as well as their sounds, recognizing & naming 8 colors, holding & using scissors correctly to cut on a line, and coloring inside the lines as well as filling in all white "ghosty" spaces.
To help your child progess & gain self-confidence about their school work, you can help at home by practicing these skill areas.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Kindergarten Info A - Z
ABC's - As the school year progresses, we will learn the alphabet letters & their letter sounds. We focus on learning both lower case & uppercase letters & how to write them. I do an alphabet knowledge assessment on your child every nine weeks.
Absences/Attendance - Excessive absences hinder your child's progress. Please make a strong effort to have you child in school everyday. Regular attendance is absolutely necessary & essential for your child to make the most of his/her education!! However, when your child is absent, a written excuse (with your signature) stating child's name, date of absence, & reason for the absence should be sent to school in your child's take home folder within 2 days of the absence. These notes are kept on file in the Office. Official excuse forms may be found on the Keystone Elem. web page under "Forms" or gotten from the teacher, or you may write an excuse on paper from home.
Be sure to include all the information listed above & mark "K1/Finotti" on the top of every excuse.
Please be aware once a child misses more than 15 days of school, the district will request a statement from your physician for any further absences. If a physician's statement is not received, the absence will be unexcused and illegal.
Arrival - Arrival time is 9:00 AM. Students are not to be in the building before that time. If your child is here before 9:00AM, they must wait in the front lobby until the adult monitor dismisses them. Any child who arrives at the school after 9:20AM will be marked Tardy.
Assessment - We use many different instruments to assess students in Kindergarten. These assessments help me identify areas of difficulty for your child. Report card assessment is done every nine weeks.
Backpacks - Each child should have a backpack to carry to & from school everyday. It should be large enough to hold the plastic pocket folder that I will give your child. Please be sure to check your child's backpack daily! I often find papers & art projects from previous days still inside folders. When we pack up at the end of a day, it can be very hard getting everything to fit inside their backpacks, especially if it's already full from previous days. Please note, your child's backpack should be empty except for their folder - do not bring pencil boxes, tablets, toys, or other items from home.
Behavior/Citizenship - The entire Kindergarten class is using a flip card Behavior/CItizenship Chart. Each new day the children start out fresh with a Green card. The Green card means "I'm doing fine!" If a child is spoken to about behavior, they flip their Green card to a Yellow card. The Yellow card means they have received a behavior warning - at this point nothing happens. The Yellow card will eventually disappear after a month or so & the possibillity of getting a behavior warning will no longer be an option. If a child is spoken to again about behavior, they flip the Yellow card to a Red card. Once on a Red card, they miss 5 minutes of PlayTime. If a child is spoken to another time, they flip the Red card to a Purple card & miss 10 minutes of classroom PlayTime. If a child is spoken to again, they flip the Purple card to a Blue card & a note from the teacher (or a phone call) will be sent home letting the parents know what kind of "behavior" day their child experienced. As with anything, I am always more lenient at the beginning until we get to know each other & the children understand my classroom rules. Once we have a few weeks of school under way, I will start enforcing things more strongly. At home, I hope my classroom parents willl reinforce the importance of good behavior at school & encourage their child to behave properly at school.
Birthdays - Check the Birthday page for more information.
Book Clubs (Scholastic/Trumpet) - From time to time, students will be able to order paperback books from book clubs. I will send book order forms home for you & your child to look over. These book clubs charge very reasonable prices & it is a great way to help foster your child's love for books & reading at home. The books purchased earn our classroom bonus points which I use to get free items &/or more books for our classroom. Although students are not required to order books, I feel it is important to give everyone the opportunity to make a book purchase if they want to do so. If your child orders a book(s), please follow these guidelines: Do not send cash - classrooms will only accept checks payable to the book club!!! Make your check payable to the name of the book club at the top of the order form. (ex: Scholastic/Trumpet)
Never make your check payable to Keystone Elementary or myself. Put your order form and check in an envelope. Be sure to have your child's name on the order form. Write your child's name & the name of the book club on the outside of the envelope. If ordering from more than one book club, put each order in separate envelopes.
Breakfast - Research shows that children who eat breakfast learn better than those who don't, so please be sure your child is eating a good breakfast daily. At Keystone, breakfast is optional.
If your child is eating breakfast at school, I need a note stating that fact. If I do not receive a note from you, your child will not go to breakfast. The cost for breakfast is $.75/day or $3.75/week. The cost of reduced breakfast is $.30/day, or $1.50/week, or $3.00/10days. The money can be paid weekly or monthly.
When sending breakfast money, enclose it in the money envelope provided & write your child's name and "K1" on the outside lines. If you need money envelopes, please have your child ask for one or send a note requesting envelopes.
Your child should report to their classroom & sign in. The classroom aide will then escort children to the cafeteria, assist them while they are eating, & escort them back to our classroom.
You will find a copy of the monthly breakfast & lunch menu on the Keystone Elementary Web Page or on the link below.
Breakfast Menu - http://www.keyknox.com/elem/menus.htm
Buses - Riding the school bus is a privilege and improper behavior is not tolerated. Your child will receive lessons & instruction on proper school bus behavior. Please talk about good bus behavior at home & remind them you expect them to behave properly on the bus.
Calendar - Please check the Keystone Elementary page for information on monthly activities.
C.A.T.S. - Community Action Teams for Students is the parent/teacher organization at Keystone. This group does many things to help our school including sponsorship of fund raisers to help pay for playground equipment, student transportation on field trips, & etc. Now that your child is in school, we hope that you join C.A.T.S. & become an active member! If you see a C.A.T.S. member, please thank them for purchasing the wonderful new Reading/Writing Center easel for our K1 classroom.
Change of Clothes - Unfortunately, accidents happen at school, so it's helpful for us to have a change of clothes for your child to put on. Please send an extra pair of pants, shirt, & socks in a platic bag labeled with their name. If your child needs to change clothes, we will take them to the Nurse's Room to change. If no clothes have been sent to school for your child, you will be called to bring in a change of clothes for your child.
Classroom Website - K1 has a classroom website - look for it on the KES Home Page. Our website is listed under Class Webs "K1 - Mrs. Finotti's Kindergarten Class". Please share the KES web address (http://www.keyknox.com/elem/) with your family & friends, so they can see what your child is doing in school.
Clothing - See: Dress Code
Communication - Communication between home & school is most important. If you need to talk to me, please call the school or my home, send a note in your child's folder, or email. I will get back to you as soon as I can. See also: Conference page for more information.
Computers - The children do visit the school computer lab. Your child will be taught the proper way to use a computer and how to use the educational software.
Conferences - Check the Conference page for more information.
Dismissal - "Walker" Dismissal is at 3:35 PM at the main entrance. If you are picking your child up, wait for them at the front doors ~ please be prompt. See also: Transportation Arrangements
Remember to park in the place reserved for Parent Parking - do not park in the front of the building as our school buses will be lining up in that spot. If friends or family members are picking up your child, please share this information with them. Also, remember, if a friend or family member is picking up your child at school, I must have a note from you stating who that person will be.
If an emergency comes up after your child has left for school, you may call the school and discuss this with the Office Personnel.
"Bus" Dismissal - is at 3:38 PM or when all the buses have arrived back at the elementary school. During the first 2 weeks of school, we use 6th grade helpers to escort your child to his/her bus. After that, they will be able to walk to their bus by themselves.
Dress Code - Dress your child in comfortable clothing that is appropriate for Kindergarten. Keystone has a dress code that is enforced. Please refer to the Student/Parent Resource Guide under the heading "Dress Code" for more specific details. Also, it is always a good idea to label all coats, sweatshirts, & sweaters.
Early Dismissal - At times, during the winter months, when the roads & weather are especially bad, Keystone School District dismisses early. If you think there is a possibility that school might be letting out early due to inclement weather, please tune in to the local radio stations or check the Keystone Elem. web page.
Email - I can be reached by email at school or by phone at home. My email address is:
mfinotti@keyknox.com. There is also a link to my email on the About Me page.
Emergency Cards - Your child has an emergency card on file in the Nurse's Office. At least two working phone numbers are required in order to contact parents in case of illness or emergency.
Field Trips - The children take 3 or 4 educational field trips during the school year. A permission slip will be required for each trip. If I do not receive a parent signed permission slip, your child will not be permitted to go with the class on that trip.
Fire Drills - Your child will participate in frequent fire drills throughout the year. We practice the procedures before our first fire drill so your child will be prepared.
Folders - See also: Take Home Pocket Folders
Fund Raisers - Keystone participates in a C.A.T.S. Food fund raiser to raise money for various school things such as field trips, & etc. It is not required that your child participate, but we hope that your child takes part.
Guidance Counselor - Our school guidance counselor, Mr. Shawn Kelly, is always available to students and their parents. If you have a concern you feel Mr. Kelly could help with, please call the school office & they will put you in contact with him.
Handwriting - In Kindergarten, we learn to write both upper & lower case letters. Also, please practice helping your child print their name @ home.
Homework - Your child will have occasional homework assignments in to teach them to be responsible students & to prepare them for other homework assignments in future years. Possible homework assignments might be bringing in a pictures of a certain color object, pictures of objects that begin with a particular alphabet letter, return a Library book on Libraby Day, or to bring back a paper that is to be parent signed.
Instructional Aide - Mrs. Diane Kurtzhals, Mrs. Shelli McHenry, & Mrs. Christie Jordan are the Instructional Aide for the "K1" classroom. They help with many different things around the classroom, but their primary responsibility is to assist the children when a need arises.
Illness - Please do not send your child to school if he/she has a temperature. If you have any question about when not to send a sick child to school, please refer to the Student/Parent Resource Guide under the Nurse's Office/Health Service section. If your child becomes ill while at school, you will be called by the school nurse to come & get your child. We will use one of the two phone numbers listed on their emergency card to contact you. See also: Nurse's Office
Library - We have a Library class on Day 4 every week. Please make sure that your child returns their book on Library Day, so they can get a new book during their visit. Be careful to put these library books in a safe place as lost or destroyed book will have to be paid for by you. Make a habit of putting your child's Library book right back in their backpack as soon as you have finished reading it. If your child wants to hear the story again on another night, you'll know right where to find it!
Lunch - The cost of regular priced student lunches are $1.60/day, or $8.00/week, or $16.00/10days. Reduced student lunches are $.40/day, or $2.00/week, or $4.00/10days. Please send in lunch money by the week or month & monitor when it is time to send in additional funds, so your child's lunch/snack account doesn't go into the negative.
Lunch Menu - http://www.keyknox.com/elem/menus.htm
Newsletter - Please check the Newsletter link from time to time for important information concerning thematic units, current or upcoming classroom activities, &/or announcements.
Notes to Parent/Teacher - Be on the lookout for notes from the Office (& from me) to come home in your child's take home folder. If you have notes or messages for me (or the Office), please place them in the same folder & tell your child to give them to me when they arrive at school.
Nurse's Office - Crystal Bowser is our school nurse. If your child becomes sick or gets injured at school, she will care for them until you can pick them up. Our classroom aide will escort your child to the Nurse's Office. Mrs. Bowser also administers all medications to students during school hours. If you have any question about when not to send a sick child to school, please refer to the Student/Parent Resource Guide under the Nurse's Office/Health Service section. See also: Illness
Parent Volunteer - Check the Parent Volunteer page for more information. We enjoy having parent helpers from time to time.
Party Days - We celebrate various holidays or events throughout the school year. If you wish to donate a treat or drink for a "K1" classroom party, please contact me ahead of time. (Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter). Please remember to refer to the Keystone Wellness Policy concerning sugar treats.
PlayTime - Your child has a daily PlayTime. This is an important part of the curriculum as it fosters social, emothional, & gross-motor development. Weather permitting, we go outside to the playground or during rainy/wintery days, the designated PlayTime takes place at stations around our classroom. Please be sure your child is wearing sensible shoes, a jacket, or sweater when the weather turns chilly.
Pledge of Allegiance - Each day during CircleTime Activities, we recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Please practice the words with your child.
Questions - Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child's education. I will make every effort to meet with you to discuss your questions or concerns.
Report Cards - Keystone School District is on a nine-week grading period; your child will receive a report card each nine-weeks. At that time, if you wish to speak with me about your child's report card, please contact me by email, phone, or note to schedule a parent conference.
Restrooms - We have restrooms right outside our classroom and your child is allowed to go when needed. Unfortunately, accidents will happen & when this does, it's helpful for us to have a change of clothes for your child to put on. Please send an extra pair of pants, shirt, & socks for your child in a plastic bag labeled with their name. We will take your child to the Nurse's Office to change their clothes. If no clothes have been sent to school, you will be called to bring a change of clothes for your child.
Rules, Rewards, & Consequences - Our classroom has rules. The children are expected to keep their hands, feet, & objects to themselves, follow directions the first time given, raise hands & wait to be called on, & treat others with kindness. The reward for following these rules will be verbal praises. The consequences for not following the rules will be verbal warnings, behavior flip cards, time-out chair, parent contacts, & principal contact. I believe my students thrive on positive praise & recognition. I strive for consistency & will start the school year with clear expectations, however my behavior management plan may change as the year progresses. I work hard to create an environment of friendship & respect in my classroom. I teach my students that life is about choices & I expect them to make appropriate choices. I believe all students have the right to learn in a safe & productive environment. I make it a priority to provide the best education for each student in my care.
Show & Tell - Throughout the school year, we will have Show & Tell. I will let your child know when we are having a Show & Tell Day & at that time only, they will be permitted to bring in a toy or something special to share with the rest of the class. Please help your child practice telling you about the special item because he/she will do this in front of our class. See also: Toys & Misc. Items
Snack - In accordance with Keystone's Nutrition Policy, the children eat a "healthy" snack each day provided by the school. Students may not bring snack or juice from home, unless their is a medical reason & can provide a doctor's excuse. The cost of this Snack is $.40/day. Parents may send in Snack money by the week or by the month. Place the money envelope in your child's take home pocket folder. Please monitor this closely so you know when it's time to send in additional funds. Please do not let you child's Lunch/Snack account go into the negative. If you do get a snack note/bill letting you know your child owes money, please pay the bill promptly. If you need a Snack money envelope, send a note and an envelope will be sent home in your child's folder. Please note, the Snack is not a part of the free & reduced lunch program.
Snow Day/ 2 Hour Delay - Please check the Keystone Web Page or listen to the local radio & television stations for announcements about delays &/or cancellations. On a "delay" day, please remember breakfast is not served. In case of a cancellation, the special class your child was scheduled to have will be held the next day we return to school. School days missed due to inclimate weather are made up during special days built into our school calendar.
Special Helper - Each child will have an opportunity to be the Special Helper many times during the school year. On their Special Helper day, they will wear a badge, help with CircleTime Activities, be Line Leader, & do other little things to help me. At the end of the day, the Special Helper receives a gumball from the classroom gumball machine!
Take Home Pocket Folders - Your child will be given a pocket folder which will serve as our school-to-home communication link. Please check your child's folder nightly. It will contain important information such as letters from the teacher/school, finished class work, etc. A pocket folder is an easy way to communicate information to and from the classroom. Please place Snack Money, parent notes (such as an excuse for absense, transportation changes, medical concerns) or any other information you want me to know in the Take Home Folder & send it with your child. The pocket folder should be returned to school each day. This is a great organizational tool to help aid your child in their success at school!
Toys & Misc. Items - Please encourage your child to leave all personal items such as toys, etc. at home. Our classroom is filled with lots of things to keep us busy. Toys from home that get broken or lost result in sad feelings! As the year progresses, we will have specified days where students will be able to bring in special items/toys for Show & Tell.
Transportation Arrangements - If there is a transportation change, at any time during the year, I must have a note from the parents about the change. (Example: someone else is picking up your child for the day or if your child is not going on the SMILES bus and you will be picking them up at school that day). If an emergency comes up after your child has left for school, you may call the school and discuss this with the Office Personnel. If your child thinks he/she is being picked up or riding a different bus and there is no note, your child will be sent home on their regular bus. See also: Dismissal.
Volunteers - We often use volunteers ~ parent involvement is so important. By expressing an interest to volunteer, you are letting your child know you are interested in their education. If you are willing to volunteer, please send a note or personally contact me. I will then contact parents to serve as volunteers within our classroom when needed. If you are busy during the day because of work but want to be involved, you can still volunteer. Many times classroom activities require advance preparation which can be done at home. If you are willing to help prepare things at home, do cutting or stapling, I would be extremely appreciative!
Yearbook - You will have a chance to buy a black and white school yearbook. The order forms are sent home during the winter months (February?) & yearbooks arrive in time for the end of the school year.
ZZZZZ's - Your child should get plenty of rest each night. Kindergarten aged children require 10 - 12 hours of sleep a day; it is important for your child to be alert and ready to learn each day. Set a bedtime for your child & be consistent about getting him/her to bed on time.
Absences/Attendance - Excessive absences hinder your child's progress. Please make a strong effort to have you child in school everyday. Regular attendance is absolutely necessary & essential for your child to make the most of his/her education!! However, when your child is absent, a written excuse (with your signature) stating child's name, date of absence, & reason for the absence should be sent to school in your child's take home folder within 2 days of the absence. These notes are kept on file in the Office. Official excuse forms may be found on the Keystone Elem. web page under "Forms" or gotten from the teacher, or you may write an excuse on paper from home.
Be sure to include all the information listed above & mark "K1/Finotti" on the top of every excuse.
Please be aware once a child misses more than 15 days of school, the district will request a statement from your physician for any further absences. If a physician's statement is not received, the absence will be unexcused and illegal.
Arrival - Arrival time is 9:00 AM. Students are not to be in the building before that time. If your child is here before 9:00AM, they must wait in the front lobby until the adult monitor dismisses them. Any child who arrives at the school after 9:20AM will be marked Tardy.
Assessment - We use many different instruments to assess students in Kindergarten. These assessments help me identify areas of difficulty for your child. Report card assessment is done every nine weeks.
Backpacks - Each child should have a backpack to carry to & from school everyday. It should be large enough to hold the plastic pocket folder that I will give your child. Please be sure to check your child's backpack daily! I often find papers & art projects from previous days still inside folders. When we pack up at the end of a day, it can be very hard getting everything to fit inside their backpacks, especially if it's already full from previous days. Please note, your child's backpack should be empty except for their folder - do not bring pencil boxes, tablets, toys, or other items from home.
Behavior/Citizenship - The entire Kindergarten class is using a flip card Behavior/CItizenship Chart. Each new day the children start out fresh with a Green card. The Green card means "I'm doing fine!" If a child is spoken to about behavior, they flip their Green card to a Yellow card. The Yellow card means they have received a behavior warning - at this point nothing happens. The Yellow card will eventually disappear after a month or so & the possibillity of getting a behavior warning will no longer be an option. If a child is spoken to again about behavior, they flip the Yellow card to a Red card. Once on a Red card, they miss 5 minutes of PlayTime. If a child is spoken to another time, they flip the Red card to a Purple card & miss 10 minutes of classroom PlayTime. If a child is spoken to again, they flip the Purple card to a Blue card & a note from the teacher (or a phone call) will be sent home letting the parents know what kind of "behavior" day their child experienced. As with anything, I am always more lenient at the beginning until we get to know each other & the children understand my classroom rules. Once we have a few weeks of school under way, I will start enforcing things more strongly. At home, I hope my classroom parents willl reinforce the importance of good behavior at school & encourage their child to behave properly at school.
Birthdays - Check the Birthday page for more information.
Book Clubs (Scholastic/Trumpet) - From time to time, students will be able to order paperback books from book clubs. I will send book order forms home for you & your child to look over. These book clubs charge very reasonable prices & it is a great way to help foster your child's love for books & reading at home. The books purchased earn our classroom bonus points which I use to get free items &/or more books for our classroom. Although students are not required to order books, I feel it is important to give everyone the opportunity to make a book purchase if they want to do so. If your child orders a book(s), please follow these guidelines: Do not send cash - classrooms will only accept checks payable to the book club!!! Make your check payable to the name of the book club at the top of the order form. (ex: Scholastic/Trumpet)
Never make your check payable to Keystone Elementary or myself. Put your order form and check in an envelope. Be sure to have your child's name on the order form. Write your child's name & the name of the book club on the outside of the envelope. If ordering from more than one book club, put each order in separate envelopes.
Breakfast - Research shows that children who eat breakfast learn better than those who don't, so please be sure your child is eating a good breakfast daily. At Keystone, breakfast is optional.
If your child is eating breakfast at school, I need a note stating that fact. If I do not receive a note from you, your child will not go to breakfast. The cost for breakfast is $.75/day or $3.75/week. The cost of reduced breakfast is $.30/day, or $1.50/week, or $3.00/10days. The money can be paid weekly or monthly.
When sending breakfast money, enclose it in the money envelope provided & write your child's name and "K1" on the outside lines. If you need money envelopes, please have your child ask for one or send a note requesting envelopes.
Your child should report to their classroom & sign in. The classroom aide will then escort children to the cafeteria, assist them while they are eating, & escort them back to our classroom.
You will find a copy of the monthly breakfast & lunch menu on the Keystone Elementary Web Page or on the link below.
Breakfast Menu - http://www.keyknox.com/elem/menus.htm
Buses - Riding the school bus is a privilege and improper behavior is not tolerated. Your child will receive lessons & instruction on proper school bus behavior. Please talk about good bus behavior at home & remind them you expect them to behave properly on the bus.
Calendar - Please check the Keystone Elementary page for information on monthly activities.
C.A.T.S. - Community Action Teams for Students is the parent/teacher organization at Keystone. This group does many things to help our school including sponsorship of fund raisers to help pay for playground equipment, student transportation on field trips, & etc. Now that your child is in school, we hope that you join C.A.T.S. & become an active member! If you see a C.A.T.S. member, please thank them for purchasing the wonderful new Reading/Writing Center easel for our K1 classroom.
Change of Clothes - Unfortunately, accidents happen at school, so it's helpful for us to have a change of clothes for your child to put on. Please send an extra pair of pants, shirt, & socks in a platic bag labeled with their name. If your child needs to change clothes, we will take them to the Nurse's Room to change. If no clothes have been sent to school for your child, you will be called to bring in a change of clothes for your child.
Classroom Website - K1 has a classroom website - look for it on the KES Home Page. Our website is listed under Class Webs "K1 - Mrs. Finotti's Kindergarten Class". Please share the KES web address (http://www.keyknox.com/elem/) with your family & friends, so they can see what your child is doing in school.
Clothing - See: Dress Code
Communication - Communication between home & school is most important. If you need to talk to me, please call the school or my home, send a note in your child's folder, or email. I will get back to you as soon as I can. See also: Conference page for more information.
Computers - The children do visit the school computer lab. Your child will be taught the proper way to use a computer and how to use the educational software.
Conferences - Check the Conference page for more information.
Dismissal - "Walker" Dismissal is at 3:35 PM at the main entrance. If you are picking your child up, wait for them at the front doors ~ please be prompt. See also: Transportation Arrangements
Remember to park in the place reserved for Parent Parking - do not park in the front of the building as our school buses will be lining up in that spot. If friends or family members are picking up your child, please share this information with them. Also, remember, if a friend or family member is picking up your child at school, I must have a note from you stating who that person will be.
If an emergency comes up after your child has left for school, you may call the school and discuss this with the Office Personnel.
"Bus" Dismissal - is at 3:38 PM or when all the buses have arrived back at the elementary school. During the first 2 weeks of school, we use 6th grade helpers to escort your child to his/her bus. After that, they will be able to walk to their bus by themselves.
Dress Code - Dress your child in comfortable clothing that is appropriate for Kindergarten. Keystone has a dress code that is enforced. Please refer to the Student/Parent Resource Guide under the heading "Dress Code" for more specific details. Also, it is always a good idea to label all coats, sweatshirts, & sweaters.
Early Dismissal - At times, during the winter months, when the roads & weather are especially bad, Keystone School District dismisses early. If you think there is a possibility that school might be letting out early due to inclement weather, please tune in to the local radio stations or check the Keystone Elem. web page.
Email - I can be reached by email at school or by phone at home. My email address is:
mfinotti@keyknox.com. There is also a link to my email on the About Me page.
Emergency Cards - Your child has an emergency card on file in the Nurse's Office. At least two working phone numbers are required in order to contact parents in case of illness or emergency.
Field Trips - The children take 3 or 4 educational field trips during the school year. A permission slip will be required for each trip. If I do not receive a parent signed permission slip, your child will not be permitted to go with the class on that trip.
Fire Drills - Your child will participate in frequent fire drills throughout the year. We practice the procedures before our first fire drill so your child will be prepared.
Folders - See also: Take Home Pocket Folders
Fund Raisers - Keystone participates in a C.A.T.S. Food fund raiser to raise money for various school things such as field trips, & etc. It is not required that your child participate, but we hope that your child takes part.
Guidance Counselor - Our school guidance counselor, Mr. Shawn Kelly, is always available to students and their parents. If you have a concern you feel Mr. Kelly could help with, please call the school office & they will put you in contact with him.
Handwriting - In Kindergarten, we learn to write both upper & lower case letters. Also, please practice helping your child print their name @ home.
Homework - Your child will have occasional homework assignments in to teach them to be responsible students & to prepare them for other homework assignments in future years. Possible homework assignments might be bringing in a pictures of a certain color object, pictures of objects that begin with a particular alphabet letter, return a Library book on Libraby Day, or to bring back a paper that is to be parent signed.
Instructional Aide - Mrs. Diane Kurtzhals, Mrs. Shelli McHenry, & Mrs. Christie Jordan are the Instructional Aide for the "K1" classroom. They help with many different things around the classroom, but their primary responsibility is to assist the children when a need arises.
Illness - Please do not send your child to school if he/she has a temperature. If you have any question about when not to send a sick child to school, please refer to the Student/Parent Resource Guide under the Nurse's Office/Health Service section. If your child becomes ill while at school, you will be called by the school nurse to come & get your child. We will use one of the two phone numbers listed on their emergency card to contact you. See also: Nurse's Office
Library - We have a Library class on Day 4 every week. Please make sure that your child returns their book on Library Day, so they can get a new book during their visit. Be careful to put these library books in a safe place as lost or destroyed book will have to be paid for by you. Make a habit of putting your child's Library book right back in their backpack as soon as you have finished reading it. If your child wants to hear the story again on another night, you'll know right where to find it!
Lunch - The cost of regular priced student lunches are $1.60/day, or $8.00/week, or $16.00/10days. Reduced student lunches are $.40/day, or $2.00/week, or $4.00/10days. Please send in lunch money by the week or month & monitor when it is time to send in additional funds, so your child's lunch/snack account doesn't go into the negative.
Lunch Menu - http://www.keyknox.com/elem/menus.htm
Newsletter - Please check the Newsletter link from time to time for important information concerning thematic units, current or upcoming classroom activities, &/or announcements.
Notes to Parent/Teacher - Be on the lookout for notes from the Office (& from me) to come home in your child's take home folder. If you have notes or messages for me (or the Office), please place them in the same folder & tell your child to give them to me when they arrive at school.
Nurse's Office - Crystal Bowser is our school nurse. If your child becomes sick or gets injured at school, she will care for them until you can pick them up. Our classroom aide will escort your child to the Nurse's Office. Mrs. Bowser also administers all medications to students during school hours. If you have any question about when not to send a sick child to school, please refer to the Student/Parent Resource Guide under the Nurse's Office/Health Service section. See also: Illness
Parent Volunteer - Check the Parent Volunteer page for more information. We enjoy having parent helpers from time to time.
Party Days - We celebrate various holidays or events throughout the school year. If you wish to donate a treat or drink for a "K1" classroom party, please contact me ahead of time. (Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter). Please remember to refer to the Keystone Wellness Policy concerning sugar treats.
PlayTime - Your child has a daily PlayTime. This is an important part of the curriculum as it fosters social, emothional, & gross-motor development. Weather permitting, we go outside to the playground or during rainy/wintery days, the designated PlayTime takes place at stations around our classroom. Please be sure your child is wearing sensible shoes, a jacket, or sweater when the weather turns chilly.
Pledge of Allegiance - Each day during CircleTime Activities, we recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Please practice the words with your child.
Questions - Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child's education. I will make every effort to meet with you to discuss your questions or concerns.
Report Cards - Keystone School District is on a nine-week grading period; your child will receive a report card each nine-weeks. At that time, if you wish to speak with me about your child's report card, please contact me by email, phone, or note to schedule a parent conference.
Restrooms - We have restrooms right outside our classroom and your child is allowed to go when needed. Unfortunately, accidents will happen & when this does, it's helpful for us to have a change of clothes for your child to put on. Please send an extra pair of pants, shirt, & socks for your child in a plastic bag labeled with their name. We will take your child to the Nurse's Office to change their clothes. If no clothes have been sent to school, you will be called to bring a change of clothes for your child.
Rules, Rewards, & Consequences - Our classroom has rules. The children are expected to keep their hands, feet, & objects to themselves, follow directions the first time given, raise hands & wait to be called on, & treat others with kindness. The reward for following these rules will be verbal praises. The consequences for not following the rules will be verbal warnings, behavior flip cards, time-out chair, parent contacts, & principal contact. I believe my students thrive on positive praise & recognition. I strive for consistency & will start the school year with clear expectations, however my behavior management plan may change as the year progresses. I work hard to create an environment of friendship & respect in my classroom. I teach my students that life is about choices & I expect them to make appropriate choices. I believe all students have the right to learn in a safe & productive environment. I make it a priority to provide the best education for each student in my care.
Show & Tell - Throughout the school year, we will have Show & Tell. I will let your child know when we are having a Show & Tell Day & at that time only, they will be permitted to bring in a toy or something special to share with the rest of the class. Please help your child practice telling you about the special item because he/she will do this in front of our class. See also: Toys & Misc. Items
Snack - In accordance with Keystone's Nutrition Policy, the children eat a "healthy" snack each day provided by the school. Students may not bring snack or juice from home, unless their is a medical reason & can provide a doctor's excuse. The cost of this Snack is $.40/day. Parents may send in Snack money by the week or by the month. Place the money envelope in your child's take home pocket folder. Please monitor this closely so you know when it's time to send in additional funds. Please do not let you child's Lunch/Snack account go into the negative. If you do get a snack note/bill letting you know your child owes money, please pay the bill promptly. If you need a Snack money envelope, send a note and an envelope will be sent home in your child's folder. Please note, the Snack is not a part of the free & reduced lunch program.
Snow Day/ 2 Hour Delay - Please check the Keystone Web Page or listen to the local radio & television stations for announcements about delays &/or cancellations. On a "delay" day, please remember breakfast is not served. In case of a cancellation, the special class your child was scheduled to have will be held the next day we return to school. School days missed due to inclimate weather are made up during special days built into our school calendar.
Special Helper - Each child will have an opportunity to be the Special Helper many times during the school year. On their Special Helper day, they will wear a badge, help with CircleTime Activities, be Line Leader, & do other little things to help me. At the end of the day, the Special Helper receives a gumball from the classroom gumball machine!
Take Home Pocket Folders - Your child will be given a pocket folder which will serve as our school-to-home communication link. Please check your child's folder nightly. It will contain important information such as letters from the teacher/school, finished class work, etc. A pocket folder is an easy way to communicate information to and from the classroom. Please place Snack Money, parent notes (such as an excuse for absense, transportation changes, medical concerns) or any other information you want me to know in the Take Home Folder & send it with your child. The pocket folder should be returned to school each day. This is a great organizational tool to help aid your child in their success at school!
Toys & Misc. Items - Please encourage your child to leave all personal items such as toys, etc. at home. Our classroom is filled with lots of things to keep us busy. Toys from home that get broken or lost result in sad feelings! As the year progresses, we will have specified days where students will be able to bring in special items/toys for Show & Tell.
Transportation Arrangements - If there is a transportation change, at any time during the year, I must have a note from the parents about the change. (Example: someone else is picking up your child for the day or if your child is not going on the SMILES bus and you will be picking them up at school that day). If an emergency comes up after your child has left for school, you may call the school and discuss this with the Office Personnel. If your child thinks he/she is being picked up or riding a different bus and there is no note, your child will be sent home on their regular bus. See also: Dismissal.
Volunteers - We often use volunteers ~ parent involvement is so important. By expressing an interest to volunteer, you are letting your child know you are interested in their education. If you are willing to volunteer, please send a note or personally contact me. I will then contact parents to serve as volunteers within our classroom when needed. If you are busy during the day because of work but want to be involved, you can still volunteer. Many times classroom activities require advance preparation which can be done at home. If you are willing to help prepare things at home, do cutting or stapling, I would be extremely appreciative!
Yearbook - You will have a chance to buy a black and white school yearbook. The order forms are sent home during the winter months (February?) & yearbooks arrive in time for the end of the school year.
ZZZZZ's - Your child should get plenty of rest each night. Kindergarten aged children require 10 - 12 hours of sleep a day; it is important for your child to be alert and ready to learn each day. Set a bedtime for your child & be consistent about getting him/her to bed on time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
