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.