letter

Hello and welcome to Kindergarten! This will be an exciting year for you and your child. A year full of growth and success. You will quickly learn that a Kindergarten classroom is a very busy place. Please retain and refer to the important information given below throughout the school year.

Make sure all records are complete for the school files before school begins. Shot records and physical forms must be on file before your child will be allowed to attend school. These include 3 DPT, 3 OPV, 3 HEP B, 4HIB, 1 VSRIVAX, and 2 MMR. Also, the top of the physical form must have the following areas completed: Hemoglobin or Hematocrit, Urine – Albumin, and an Anemia Screening which are mandated by the Virginia Department of Health through the State Health Commissioner. Please make sure that the office and teachers have current home and work phone numbers. Pager and cellular numbers are requested also. If you are using a child daycare center or home sitter, we must have the address and phone numbers as well as the sitter’s full name.

Each child will be given a bus tag during the Kindergarten Open House. Your child must wear the nametag every day regardless of transportation to and from school. This tag is used to identify your child. The tag indicates the name, address, bus numbers and classroom teacher. Bus drivers as well as other T.E.S. staff members find these tags to be helpful. The bus tags are to be placed inside the front pocket of the backpack as soon as each child arrives to after school care (home, daycare, etc.).

Students arrive at school at about 8:30, but class officially begins at 8:45. Dismissal is at 3:11.

Students that are late arriving to school must receive a tardy slip in the office before attending class. Tardy students should walk to class independently so that instruction is not interrupted. We have a school goal of encouraging parents to allow students to remain at school for the entire day and to have as few early dismissals as possible. We encourage you to let your child ride the school bus to and from school. If you will be picking your child up at dismissal, please let the teacher know. Students that go to another destination other than home will be sent to the office at dismissal. If your child is to go to another destination other than home (YMCA, Playtime, Kinder Care, sitter’s house, etc.), we must have this in writing. If your child has a play date with a friend and will be riding another bus home, the teacher must have written note from both parents. To protect the safety of all children at dismissal, please do not stop the teacher to ask questions during this time. The teacher will be happy to talk to you after all children have been properly placed for dismissal or a conference can be scheduled after school if needed.

If your child is going to be absent, call the school. Also, you must send a note the first day your child returns to school indicating the reasons for your child’s absence. The notes will be kept on file at school. After an illness, your child must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school without the aid of medication.

Folders/Agendas:

The kindergarten teachers have a system for parent-teacher communication. Each child will be given an agenda with a folder for papers. A calendar with the resource schedule as well as any other activities going on at school for the month will be included. The agenda will be stamped daily for good behavior. You will be aware of your child’s behavior on a daily basis. Please initial the boxes daily. Send all notes and money in the folder. Please do not allow your child to hand carry a note for the teacher. The agenda and the folder must be brought to school everyday. Check and empty your child’s folder daily.

Your child will need a backpack (no wheels) that can easily contain the folder. The children usually make large art projects that need space to be taken home. This backpack must be brought to school daily. The room temperature changes, so you may want to leave a light sweater or jacket in your child’s backpack throughout the school year. We will work on responsibility of personal belongings all year. Please make sure that your child’s name is clearly written on all items. Do not allow your child to bring toys or other unnecessary items to school in or on the backpack. Please make sure your child’s name is clearly labeled on the outside of the backpack...you may want to use a luggage tag, key chain or lettered beads.

Your child will attend Art, Music, PE, and Library. Look in your child’s folder/agenda for the resource schedule. Please remember to return library books prior to library day. Children get very upset when they are unable to check out a new book. The PE teacher requires that sneakers be worn for class. Students without the proper shoes will be asked to sit out to prevent foot injuries and will cause the class to lose a PE sticker.

Your child will have a recess period daily outside if it is not too wet, cold or hot. Please dress your child for the weather for that day. It is safer for your child to wear sneakers everyday.

The kindergarten day is filled with many and different kinds of activities. We would like to have your child feel comfortable. Dress your child casually and wear shoes and clothing suitable for running, jumping, climbing, painting, gluing, etc. Do not dress your child in anything that he/she can not manage alone when using the bathroom (clothing that buttons in the back, difficult buckles or snaps, etc.). If your child has an accident, the nurse will try to change the clothing from her closet. Wash and return the clothing to the nurse as soon as possible.

Make sure your child has time for a hearty breakfast before attending school. Eating a well-balanced meal will help your child’s disposition and ability to concentrate at school. Students will also have a snack daily. The teacher will ask parents to help provide snacks for the entire class each day. You will receive a snack calendar each month. Post it on your refrigerator. Suggestions for snacks: apples, bananas, yogurt, applesauce, cheese sticks, biscuits, grapes, cereal, popcorn, chips, cake, cookies, pudding, or muffins.

Students can bring a lunch or purchase one from school and will be assisted during lunch. Kindergarten teachers encourage parents to purchase lunches for the week or by the month. Please write your child’s name on the check. Read the menu carefully so that your child will enjoy lunch. Your child will be able to purchase ice cream daily also. Parents may designate a certain amount of money in the a la carte account for ice cream. Parents are invited to have lunch with their children at any time.

You must be at the bus stop everyday upon the arrival of your child. If a sitter will be getting your child off of the bus, the teacher and the bus driver must have this in writing. In the event that you or a designated sitter is not at the stop, your child will be returned to school and you will be called to pick him/her up.

If you are willing to help tutor children or assist with projects in the classroom, please sign up. Parents will be scheduled to help as needed. All parents will be asked throughout the year to contribute items for class celebrations, cooking lessons and snacks.

We usually take several field trips during the year. Most field trips only allow two chaperones per class. Due to limited space, parents will be asked to drive and follow the bus. Permission slips and fees for admission will be collected from students prior to the trip. Parents will need to pay upon arrival at our destination.

Each child will be given a crown and special recognition on his/her birthday. If you would like to send in cupcakes on a specific day, let the teacher know in advance. PLEASE SEND CUPCAKES ONLY AS CAKES AND BIG COOKIES ARE DIFFICULT TO SERVE. We are not allowed to distribute party invitations to students. A mailing list will be sent home so that you may mail invitations. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Kindergarten teachers will teach the Standards of Learning as mandated by the Virginia State Board of Education, computer programs and skills, Foresman-Wesley Math, Words Their Way, Math Their Way, and the Scott-Foresman Reading Series. Please read the standards included in your packet or obtain a copy in the front office or on the Internet.

Students will continue learning activities in the afternoons. Instead of a rest period, the students will engage in centers which include extra computer games and curriculum lessons, painting, crafts, art, stories, housekeeping, math manipulatives, drama, puppets, play-doh, music, writing, drawing, experiments, games, sand box and many, many more.

A conference with each parent will be scheduled at the end of the first quarter and throughout the year as needed.

A kindergarten newsletter will be sent home each month to inform you of coming events and curriculum activities in class. You will also receive a combined newsletter from the principal and the PTA each month. Please keep these newsletters on hand during the month, as they will contain valuable information and important dates for you to remember. Newsletters are also posted on the TES website- http://yorkcountyschools.org/tes/.

Homework is an important in kindergarten as it is in other grades. Homework will be sent home as needed. There will be several projects assigned throughout the year. Homework will be a review of skills taught in class and should be returned the next school day. Homework assignments and projects not completed will reflect a grade on the report card. Make time each night to read with your child and review daily work.

Students will be given the chance to order books from book clubs monthly. Many of the books read in class can be purchased inexpensively. This is a great opportunity to build a personal library for your child. An envelope will be attached to the order form. The teacher can only accept checks or money orders made out to the book club. DO NOT SEND CASH.

Parents, please feel free to contact the teacher if you have any questions. Should a question arise, send a note in your child’s folder, leave a message at school or use the email address. Remember that during school hours, the teacher will not be able to meet with you if you drop in unexpectedly as this creates a loss of valuable instruction time. Thank you for your help and support. We are looking forward to a wonderful year working with your child.

Mrs. Kim Gault Mrs. Anne Johnson