ABC's+of+Kindergarten

Allergies If your child has a food allergy, please send a box of his/her favorite treat to keep at school. I will mark your child's name on the box and use it when we have birthday treats brought to school that he/she cannot eat. This way your child will have something special to eat and not feel left out from a treat. Absences If your child is sick and unable to come to school, please call the school office (414)258-4160. Parents and siblings may pick up the class work at the end of the school day or the student may get it when he/she feels better. The assignments are to be completed at home and returned as soon as you can. If you are going on vacation during the school week, you will be able to pick up work after you return. Birthdays Birthdays are very special to kindergartners. Children may bring a treat for their friends during snacktime at 10:00am. Please keep the treat simple so that they can easily be passed out in the classroom. Children with summer birthdays may celebrate their half birthday at school. To help make the birthday child feel special on this day, he/she may come out of uniform. To avoid any hurt feelings, if you wish to pass out invitations for a party in the school folder, please make sure there is one for __all__ the girls or __al__l the boys in the class. If not, then you will have to distribute them on your own. Centers The purpose of centers is to provide the students instruction in small groups and allow time to develop manage skills of working cooperatively and independently. The students will be divided into four instructional groups and participate in a variety of activities each day. The groups are flexible and change throughout the year to meet the instructional needs of the students. Dismissal/Arrival  We have a full day Kindergarten program at Christ King School. Our school hours are 7:45-3:00pm  The students should arrive about ten minutes before the start of class and line up at the primary doors. I will pick them up at 7:35am. __Please do not allow your child to enter the building before 7:35.__ Parents are welcome to come into school the **first week of school,** when the bell rings at 7:45-that's when our day begins and parents should leave the building quietly. I will walk the students out at the end of the day by the primary doors(double white doors). __**Students must stay with me by the wall until someone comes to pick them**__ **__up__.** For the students who go to daycare, they will go as a group down the stairs to kids club. If there is any change with an after school schedule, please notify me with an email or note in the morning before school. Every Wednesday school ends at 2:00pm  Watch the school calendar for Noon Dismissals Eighth Grade Buddies Once a week the eighth graders come to our classroom to read or do activities with the children. It is a bonding experience for our children and the eighth graders. We sit with our buddies during mass on Thursday mornings at 8:00am. Field Trips  On field trip days, the K5 students should come to school at regular time 7:45am. They will be dismissed at the regular time that day as well. You will be notified ahead of time of the trips that will require a brown bag lunch. You will also will be notified if it is out of uniform or not. Folders  Each student is expected to have a homework folder each day. All notes for the teacher and office go inside the folder. Each day I will collect the folders and look through them after announcements. It is your child's job to bring the folder and all important things to me during check in time. I do not go through school bags. I am more likely to see a written note in the morning than an email sent after 7:15am. I usually don't have time to check email during the school day. My email is checked before and after school. So if there is something important I need to know for that school day, send a note in the folder or leave a message in the school office if you didn't send an email before 7:15am. Gym Shoes  The children are expected to wear tennis shoes on the days they go to gym class. I will remind you in our weekly schedule each week. They will have gym twice a week. Home Reading  The students will bring home books every day for homework. Reading at home is a very important aspect of kindergarten. Reading for 15-20 minutes a night will greatly influence your child's academic progress. In borrowing the books, students and parents must take good care of the books. Parents will be responsible for all damaged or missing books. Replacing a book will vary in cost. I want the children to develop a good habit of reading for enjoyment. Independence It is my goal to slowly help your child to learn and gain confidence by being independent throughout the school year. At the beginning of the year it is ok to help walk through the steps each morning as he/she arrives at school-however, as the year progresses you will need to step back and let your child be responsible for his/her own things. All children should be eventually able to come to school and put their things away properly without the aide of a parent or teacher.

Learning how to problem solve is an important lifelong skill. The children will be presented with many opportunities that reinforce and reward independence. Please encourage this skill at home as well. Some ways to help your child become independent is by working on tying their shoes at home, work on zipping, snapping, or buttoning jackets. Most importantly, teach your child to pack the backpack each night. It works best if the folder goes in the back and lunch bags in the front. If there is a small pocket in the front of the book bag, make that the snack pocket. **WATER BOTTLES LEAK-PLEASE KEEP THEM IN THE OUTSIDE POCKET.**

Jobs in the Classroom We have a couple of jobs in the classroom to keep things neat and orderly. Star Student:l line leader and office helper/calendar Door Helpers:the 2nd and 3rd person in line hold the doors for the class Caboose: the last person in line turns off the light when we leave the classroom Lunch Basket Helpers: Carry the lunch baskets back from the lunchroom Friend: help the star student with calendar by doing the weather, assist with star with passing out papers and going to the office to bring the attendance.

Kindergarten Memo Each week, the Kindergarten Memo will be posted on the class website. This will contain basic information about the events and academic lessons that will be covered during the week. I will note any changes that occur with our schedule or any special happenings going on in school that week.

Lunch Hot lunch is available for those who pre-order, otherwise it is your responsibility to make sure your child has a cold lunch. Milk is available for all students. If you chose to order, the milk fee will be paid at the beginning of the school year in August. Please remember to pack a napkin in your child's cold lunch. Many students like to lay the napkin out like a placemat when they are eating. And make sure that your child can open the containers that you pack. There is usually one teacher and one parents helper on duty during the lunch hour. With few hands helping, sometimes your child may have to wait a bit to have a yogurt opened or a wrapper peeled back. So it helps if you practice at home.

Manners Children will be expected to use their manners throughout the school day. I try to guide and model for the children what words I expect to hear in different situations. For example, May I please....Thank you for.....I also discuss what behaviors are expected in different situations such as church, plays, group discussions, and play time. Please encourage your child to practice his/her manners at home as well.

Notes Please send a note in your child's folder if he/she is going home with someone other than his/her usual grown up or sibling. All notes to the office or the teacher should be placed in your child's take home folder.

Orders for Books Your child will have the opportunity to order books through Scholastic Book Clubs. This is an inexpensive way to get books for your child. Think ahead, books make excellent birthday presents, Christmas presents, and special holiday treats. There are closing dates and I will send a reminder. I will send home the book orders in your child's folder, and you have the option to send a check to school made out to scholastic book clubs or oder online by going to scholastic.com/readingclub our class code is HJGCY

Parent/Teacher Conferences There are two formal parent/teacher conferences throughout the school year. Information for these conferences will come home before the first and second quarter report cards. I am always available after school for short questions but if you feel you would like to speak to me longer, I would be more than happy to set an appointment after school. It is too hard to talk in the morning when students are entering the classroom-I need to focus my attention on the boys and girls in helping them get settled.

Questions If you have questions or concerns throughout the school year, please feel free to contact me through the school office #258-4160 or by email kleierk@ christkingschool.org

Recess The children will have at least two scheduled recesses a day-one in the morning and one at lunch. It is the parent's responsibility that your child comes to school with proper clothing, please be aware of the weather. If your child would like to bring a toy to recess, I am not responsible for that toy. I would suggest that your child's name is on the toy and that it is a toy that your child is willing to share. However, the toy should be for active play outdoors, please no stuffed animals. During the winter months, boots and snow pants will be required during recess. If a child does not have the proper clothing for recess, they may have to sit in the office during recess.

Rest Time Most afternoons the children will have some time after lunch to rest. We will begin with a story that I have selected to read to the class. Following the story the children will take some time to relax and listen to some soothing music. As the year goes on, the students will be able to choose a book or two they would like to take to their quiet spot for the remainder of the quiet time. Please send a small blanket or towel to school for your child to use during this time.

Snacks There will be a morning snack in kindergarten each-usually about 10am before morning recess. It is the parent's responsibility to make sure that the child brings a HEALTHY snack to school each day. Snack time will depend on the schedule; however a snack is what I would call finger food in a bag. Your child should be able to eat the snack without help from an adult. Suggestions:celery, carrots, cucumbers, popcorn, pretzels, crackers, raisins, trail mix, grapes, oranges, apples, bananas etc.

Travel Bag Periodically throughout the year, your child may bring home a bag filled with a buddy and a journal. You may keep the bag for one or two nights. Please help your child complete the journal entry-we will share them with the class.

Unique Field Trips Field trips are scheduled for once a month. I will send reminders in the Kindergarten Weekly Memo when the date approaches. They will not affect the school hours. You will need to watch the weather so that your child will have the proper clothing. Parents are welcome to attend trips but must sign up because space is limited. Parent volunteers must ride on the bus and may not bring other children. Please check the field trip volunteer section of my website for more information.

Volunteers in the Classroom Parents are always welcome to volunteer in the classroom. There are special times throughout the school year where I will need help with parties or for setting up for special activities like the Thanksgiving Puppet Show, Astronaut Adventure Day, and Oceans of Fun Show. Room Parents will be in charge of coordinating the party snacks for all of our classroom holiday parties.

When you volunteer in the classroom, you may not bring other children with you. If you are unable to find a babysitter please try to find someone to replace you. Volunteering in the classroom will count for required school service hours.

Virtus training by the Milwaukee Archdiocese is required if you volunteer in the classroom. You are only required to go through training once. It only takes a couple hours of your time on one of the assigned nights in the beginning of the school year. Dates and times will be posted through the Christ King Wednesday Wireless.

Water Bottles I highly recommend that each child brings a water bottle to school each day. The water bottle must have a sports tip on the bottle to prevent spills on the tables or floor. This is a water bottle, not a juice bottle, it is for water only. If your child wants juice or other drinks put them in their lunch. We will use the water bottle each day for snack, and for the convenience of not having to leave our room whenever your child is thirsty.

Examine Your Child's Work Every Friday I will try to send home your child's assignments from the week. Please look over your child's work and review concepts that your child may have struggled with. I will write little notes on the assignment if I saw problems or if I think extra practice is needed. Your are your child's first teacher. I look forward to working with you to support and encourage your child to become a life long learner.

ZZZZZZZZZZZ Make sure that your child is getting plenty of sleep each night. This is especially important for the beginning of the year as the children are transitioning into a full day of school. Children who are tired have a hard time focusing and learning and are not in the mood to cooperate with others.