Welcome to Welcome to Kindergarten!Kindergarten!

With The Kindergarten Team…With The Kindergarten Team…

Mrs. Jeanne Cano Mrs. Jeanne Cano

Ms. Stephanie CasperMs. Stephanie Casper

Ms. Nancy RandolphMs. Nancy Randolph

Ms. Mary SeamanMs. Mary Seaman

August 2012August 2012

A new adventure begins!A new adventure begins!

Absences…Absences… Call the absence line. Keep sick kids at home. Schedule vacations & doctor

appointments around school hours as much as possible.

Missed Kindergarten work needs to be “made up” when returning to school.

Parents will need to assist with support of missed work & work must be returned within time guidelines.

Back Pack TipsBack Pack TipsThese things These things shouldshould be in your back pack: be in your back pack:

Finished homework, daily homework folder, &/or library book, if requested

Lunch box or labeled lunch money

Snack (tightly closed & with name on it)

Water bottle (with name on it)

Notes going to and from school

Jacket or sweater , if needed

Personal Skills to PracticePersonal Skills to Practice

Independent bathroom useBlowing nose effectivelyOpening/closing snack & lunch containersTying or fastening shoes

Zipping, buttoning, snapping, bucklingPutting on jackets, sweatshirts, coats, & sweatersCovering mouths when sneezing, coughing

PLEASE, WRITE YOUR CHILD’S NAME ON ALL THINGS THAT COME

TO SCHOOL!

(Snacks, lunchboxes, water bottles, backpacks, homework,

jackets, etc…)

Healthy SnacksHealthy SnacksSnacks are optional. Some children are fine waiting until lunch.

Remember that our breaks are short and snacks should not be a meal, but just a little something to hold the child over until lunch, If needed.

Please choose nutritious items. (NO cookies, chips, candies, etc.)

Choose snacks that your child can eat without much adult assistance.

Label the snack with your child’s name.

We will collect snacks first thing in the morning and keep in the snack bin for our break/snack/recess time. NO NUTS!! - We have students with severe food allergies!!

Healthy SnacksHealthy Snacks(Snack for morning break is (Snack for morning break is optionaloptional.).)

Cheese sticksFruits or vegetables (cut up)PretzelsWholegrain crackersDry cerealGranola barsEtc.

•Please NO tree nuts, candy, chips, or cake.

•P.S. We do not have refrigeration. Snacks are kept in the classroom.

Lunch RealityLunch Reality• Kids choose their entrees when buying lunch.• Children sit, eat, & clean up their own messes.• It can be loud. There are approximately 100 children eating in there & not all speak quietly.• The assistants do their best to organize lunches, assist children, in an orderly fashion.

Lunch…Lunch… Bring lunch from home. Milk may be purchased for $0.50. Buy student lunch from cafeteria for $2.50. Send in lunch money in the morning OR…Pay online at mylunchmoney.com.

Practice opening containers at home. Allow children to help with lunchbox prep. Talk about doing a good job at lunch. Limit treats to one.

Classroom Wish ListClassroom Wish List Elmer’s disappearing purple glue sticks (always needed! )

BOXTOPS for EDUCATION stamps

Ticonderoga brand pencils

Crayola crayons (16 or 24 count)

Small gift cards to Wal-Mart, Lakeshore, Target, or office supply stores---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check the newsletters or class website for the updated lists or needs throughout the year.

Kindergarten MottoKindergarten MottoI am safe. I am kind.

I am a helper.I’m a GREAT Kid

& let’s have a GREAT DAY!!

Rewards…Rewards…Verbal praiseStickers and stamps3 B couponsSpecial privilegesExtra explore timeExtra computer timeFun Friday Activities

3 B’s of Good Behavior3 B’s of Good Behavior

Be safe. Be safe. Be respectful.Be respectful.Be responsible.Be responsible.

Special Areas ScheduleSpecial Areas Schedule

* Children need to wear athletic shoes in order to participate safely in P.E.

Teacher: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Mrs. Cano

Art Music Library P.E. Computers

Ms. Casper

Library Art Music Computers P.E.

Ms. Randolph

Art Library Computers Music P.E.

Ms. Seaman

Library Computers Art P.E. Music

Drinks and BathroomsDrinks and Bathrooms

Before school Exploration time Quiet work time Playground time If you have an “emergency”

(Student water bottles remain accessible to students.)

Morning Class ResponsibilitiesMorning Class Responsibilities Empty backpacks at table independently. Student puts water bottles & snacks in proper place. Student gets out lunchbox for lunch count & place lunchboxes in basket/bin. Put library books in basket/bin. Take out daily blue KTA folder to be reviewed (with completed homework). Zip backpacks & put away backpacks in cubbies.

HOMEWORKHOMEWORK

Please,Please, contact us if you contact us if you have any questions. have any questions.

(Confusion is a curable (Confusion is a curable condition.)condition.)

Read to, or with, your child for 10-15 minutes, every night.

Check the weekly newsletter, e-mails and homework folder for additional assignments and practice opportunities.

Homework Kit is a kindergarten resource for you to keep at home. Please save all games and other learning tools from school together in the bag.

Homework comes home M-Th & is due the next day.

Homework TipsHomework Tips Set aside homework or skill practice time daily. Work in a quiet place without distractions (if possible). TURN OFF THE TELEVISION! Keep homework & library book in your backpack or in another safe place. Parents should assist but not do the work. Always closely supervise handwriting practice. Divide work time into several sessions if frustration ensues.

Reading NotesReading Notes

High Frequency ,“Sight” Words plus frequently used wordsFlash cards will be provided & daily Spalding notebooks are important!Identify in print, read & use in personal writing

Phonemic Awareness - playing with and recognizing patterns in language.

Phonics - understanding how oral language is represented in written form.

Decoding - applying phonetic knowledge to decipher text -- sound, sound, blend.

Comprehension understanding, and interpreting read text.

Scholastic Book Clubs:Flyers will come home with homework.

Option to order online with a credit card.This is not a fundraiser, only an easy way to get cheap books.Couldn’t be easier & is an optional choice.

Library books may be kept for a full week but are due on the assigned library day. Your child may return

his/her book early if desired.

Writing NotesWriting Notes Please do not spell words for your child. For free writing tasks, accept phonetic approximations.

Praise effort.

Kindergarten writing looks different from grown- up writing & that’s okay.

TOOLS: letter chartspacersWord Wallbrain power!!!

Math NotesMath Notes Recognizing and creating patterns Numbers as representing quantity Emphasis on the process Comparing and contrasting length, value Sorting and identifying by attribute Predicting outcomes and analyzing data

Number sense – deep understanding of our number system and how it works

Being fluent; “seeing it”

TechnologyTechnology

Smartboard interactive presentation tool 6 laptops in classroom + stand alone Computer lab time each week

+ Your child will login using a username & password, access approved websites, practice skills, word process, create a

slide show presentation, & more.

TALK! TALK! TALK!TALK! TALK! TALK!Talk with child about: school friends stories songs & poems class work homework numbers patterns family interests goals

Be patient, help & encourage your little one to express complete thoughts & ideas by speaking & responding in full sentences.

With Oral language development, parents are the best teachers of language skills.

More InformationMore Information

COLLECT BOXTOPS for EDUCATION stamps Kyrene School District: www.kyrene.org KTA Main Office 541-5400 Our Kindergarten class webpages:

www.kyrene.org/staff/jcanowww.kyrene.org/staff/scasper

www.kyrene.org/staff/nrandolphwww.kyrene.org/staff/mseaman

Phone (room 7) 541-5507 (Mrs. Cano voice mail) Phone (room 8) 541-5508 (Ms. Casper voice mail)Phone (room 9) 541-5509 (Ms. Seaman voice mail) Phone (room 11) 541-5511 (Ms. Randolph voice mail) E-mail (Mrs. Cano) - jcano@kyrene.org E-mail (Ms. Casper) - scasper@kyrene.org E-mail (Ms. Randolph) - nrandolph@kyrene.orgE-mail (Ms. Seaman) - mseaman@kyrene.org