Welcome to Kindergarten Ms Witherell and Ms Short

Welcome to Kindergarten! Ms. Witherell and Ms. Short 2018 -2019

Agenda About Ms. Witherell A Day in Kindergarten Curriculum Discipline Communication Anticipated Expenses/Contributions Parent Volunteers Questions

Bobbie Witherell ● Grew up in Arlington, VA ● Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Longwood University ● Masters in Special Education from George Mason University ● Third Year teaching Kindergarten at ASFS

Goals for Students • Independence • Love of learning/life-long learners • Readers • Problem solvers • Creative and critical thinkers

A Day in Kindergarten Daily Schedule: • Calendar/Morning Meeting • Writing • ELA Rotations: Handwriting, Word Study, Phonemic Awareness, Guided Reading • Lunch/Recess • Reading Comprehension • Specials • Snack • Science/SS • Recess • Math • Dismissal Specials: - Monday: Fl. ES and Music - Tuesday: Library - Wednesday: Science City, FLES and Art - Thursday: PE - Friday: Health and PE - Investigation Station is once a day for a full week each unit

Curriculum • Math: Math Workshop • Language Arts: Lucy Calkins Writing Units of • Social Studies: Virginia SOLs Study, Words Their Way, • Report cards twice a year guided reading, M. A. R. s, (January/June) read aloud/shared reading • Science: ASFS science curriculum map, Virginia SOLs

Discipline Responsive Classroom Approach - Intrinsic motivation Community building Positive reinforcement Focus on students feeling a sense of belonging, significance, and fun.

Snapshot of the Year • October 29 th: MARS Bags begin • October: Guided Reading Groups begin • October & March: Parent-Teacher Conferences • January & June: K Report Cards • February: Homework begins (M-F weekly packet)

Anticipated Expenses/Contributions • • $16 Field Trips – – – $14 Party Donation (paper products, food, drinks, crafts, etc. ) – – – • • • October- field trip to Cox Farm $10 per student and chaperone; Bus is $6 per student May- field trip to the National Zoo-Free June- field trip to the APS planetarium-Free October: Halloween party December: Global Holiday Celebration February: Valentine’s Day Party June: End of Year Party If any balance from the party donation remains, it will be allocated to an end of year celebration, seasonal projects. (Cannot be used towards gifts for staff, teachers, etc. ) A New Book - Holiday Book Exchange (December) Contributions of snack; Friday Fresh (as needed) The total cost for the year is $30. 00 per child in the class, which will cover all the year’s expenses. Cash/check in the attached envelope, return by Monday, Sept. 18 th. Checks made out to ASFS.

Conferences • Thursday, October 25 th 12: 00 pm - 4 pm • Friday, October 26 th 8: 30 am - 4 pm • Conferences will not be held on any other day. – If you are unable to attend in person, a phone conference will be scheduled during conference days. • No childcare provided • One conference per family • Coming soon: Electronic sign-up via email

Snacks • Individual snack time – Please send a healthy snack with your child each day • Friday Fresh – Parent sign-ups to provide a healthy snack of fruit or vegetables for the whole class on Fridays – Suggestion 23 zip-lock bags

Other Special Events • • Star Student: – One student per week – Class Line Leader – Bring in photos for the bulletin board & 3 -5 special objects for show-and-tell on the first day that must fit in backpack. Birthdays: – Birthday crown – Song – Parents are welcome to Lunch (11: 20) for their child’s birthday and morning meeting – Summer and Weekend Birthdays - Please email me to schedule

Communication How I will communicate with you: Emails Newsletters Monthly Calendar How you can communicate with me: Notes with child Email: bobbie. witherell@apsva. us teresa. short@apsva. us Please be sure to include both Teresa and myself in any communications.

Reminders: • Dismissal changes must be made via phone call, email, or written note. • Changes must be received by 12 pm on the day of the change. • If I receive your change via email, I will reply. If you do not get a reply, I have likely not yet received/seen the change. Please follow up by calling the office.

Parent Volunteers • Room Parents – Arranging parties and other class events • Friday Fresh • Chaperones for Field Trips – New this year: all parents who would like to be chaperones must pass a background check

Thank you for coming!