Mrs Smiths Kindergarten Class Kindergarten KickOff August 1

Mrs. Smith’s Kindergarten Class Kindergarten Kick-Off August 1, 2014

The Smith Family

School Supplies • If you are having any trouble buying school supplies please let myself or Mrs. Betty Sue know this evening. The Family Resource can also help with supplies. They can be reached at 465 -3978.

Morning Procedures • Students should arrive between 7: 35 and 8: 00 am. If your child arrives after 8: 00 they will receive a tardy. Students can not enter the building before 7: 35. Students will be allowed to go to breakfast at that time or must sit in the gym in our class line. Students will be released to their classroom at 7: 50. We will meet in the gym every Friday for Morning Meeting.

Dismissal Procedures • Bus riders will be dismissed at 2: 50. Pick ups will be released soon after. Please refer to the pick-up policy in the student handbook for additional details. Anyone picking a student up in the pickup line MUST have a pickup card. You can get your pickup cards in the gym tonight.

DAILY Folder Your child will bring home a RED folder each day. It is vital that this folder is returned daily as it is key to our communication. This folder will be used to communicate to you the following: • • • Behavior Notes Important Events and News Homework/Classroom Projects (Tuesdays & Thursdays) Inside your will find a clear zipper pouch, which will be used for bus notes, permission slips, milk, and lunch money. All transportation changes MUST be written on a note and placed in this pouch. Otherwise your child will be transported according to your information sheet. Plastic sleeves will contain other important items you may want to keep in the folder such as sight words, reading logs, and class schedules.

Classroom Management Green Light – Excellent Behavior Yellow Light – 5 minutes off recess Red Light – 10 minutes off recess Blue Light – consequence determined on individual basis. *A behavior notice will be sent home if your child has moved their clothespin. * Each Friday students get a “treasure” from the class treasure chest if they have received THREE green lights for the week. If a child receives a blue light they will not receive a treasure that Friday.

Leader in Me – 7 Habits This year TCES will be implementing the 7 Habits, also known as Leader in Me. This will be a school-wide initiative. The goal of the Leader in Me program is to mold young people into leaders of our community. The 7 Habits are: 1. Be Proactive 2. Begin with the End in Mind 3. Put First Things First 4. Think Win-Win 5. Seek First to Understand 6. Synergize 7. Sharpen the Saw

Class Snack We wi In our class we use a class snack system. You do not need to send snack every day. * Students with a last name beginning with A-M will send snack on the first day of the month * Students with a last name beginning with N-Z will send snack on the 15 th of the month. You may send 2 large bags/boxes of cereal, pretzels, crackers, etc or individually wrapped snacks when it is your week. Your child may bring their own snack if you choose not to participate in the class system. Your child may bring their own drink daily or will be given water. Students may purchase milk for 30 cents per day or $1. 50 per week. Please send your money or check on MONDAYS in an envelope labeled “milk account” in the zipper pouch of your child’s red folder. Even if you receive free and reduced lunch you must still pay for a milk. We have 26 students in our class.

Breakfast & Lunch • Students should eat breakfast every day, it is the most important meal! • Your child may eat breakfast at school for $1. 00. • Your child may eat lunch at school for $1. 75. • If your child brings their lunch from home please make sure it is labeled with their first and last name. • ALL students will be charged for extras. • You may deposit your child’s lunch/breakfast money into their account using “My School Bucks“, • If you choose to send in money please send it in an envelope labeled with your child’s name and “lunch money” & place it in the clear pouch in the red folder! • ALL families should fill out a free & reduced lunch form evern if you don’t think you qualify!

Box Tops Collect and save as many box tops as you can for our classroom. The box tops are collected and turned in twice throughout the year. Each box top provides money for our classroom. We use the money for classroom supplies and rewards.

Volunteering • We appreciate all volunteers for field trips, special occasions, and classroom work. • However, in order to be considered for volunteering you must have a criminal background check on file with the office and must complete the mandatory volunteer training. • More information about volunteering is located in your back-to-school packet.

Birthdays • We love to celebrate birthdays in our classroom. Please contact us at least two days prior to your child’s birthday if you are planning on celebrating at school. Many parents enjoy bringing cupcakes and drinks!

Things to do at Home. . • Students should be responsible for their own bathroom duties. • Help your child learn how to open containers such as chips, yogurt, Ziploc bags, juice boxes, etc. (Especially if they bring their own lunch) • Teach your child to snap, button, zip, and tie their shoes. • Help your child to be independent so they do not have to wait on someone to do something for them. • We do not mind to do these things at the beginning of the year, but will be teaching children pride in independence. If your child can do it for themselves look how independent they are and we are able to focus on other things at school!

Contact Information If at any time you have questions feel free to contact me by You can contact me by phone or email. The best time to reach me by phone is during my planning time (see below). I also check my email daily and will respond ASAP. You may sign up for class text messages by texting @8 f 83 to (270) 506 -0662 T Email: andrea. smith@taylor. kyschools. us Office Phone Number: 465 -5691 Planning Time (Mon. -Thurs. ) 12: 05 -12: 45 Planning Time (Fri. ) 11: 00 -11: 30

Important Information • Please return all back-to-school papers in your child’s folder by Friday of the first week of school, 8/8/14. • Write your child’s first and last name on EVERYTHING! • If you need to make any changes to your child’s dismissal plans for the day please be sure to send a note or call the office in the morning, or no later than 1: 30 pm. If we do not receive this notification your child will continue with their regular routine. Do not email these to me. • We will have Early Release EVERY Friday at 12: 50. Please be sure to send a note with your child if plans for transportation change on those days. Students may participate in Friday Wrap-UP until 2: 50 on Fridays. However, there is NO transportation. You MUST fill our the Cardinal Station form for your child to stay for any of the after school programs!!! • I am happy to meet with you before or after school by appointment. * Families who turn in ALL paperwork on or by the first day of school will be entered to win a Baskin Robbins gift card (This is just for our class )*

To Do Tonight • Sign the transportation sheet on Mrs. Betty Sue’s desk. • Pick up your blue voucher on Mrs. Smith’s desk to receive a free kindergarten kickoff t-shirt. • Inform us of any important information like custody arrangements, food allergies, etc. by filling out a note card on Mrs. Smith’s desk. • Sign up to receive emails.

“If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I’ll promise not to believe everything he says happens at home. ”