Kindergarten Parent Guide
Holy Ghost School
2014/2015
Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Meet the Teacher
First Day of School
Classroom Routines
Dress Code
Lunch and Food Guidelines
School Procedures
Start Time & End Time
Documents Needed
Contact Information
1. Meet the Teacher:
Welcome to kindergarten! My name is Sara Weires and I will
be your child’s kindergarten teacher. I have taught at Holy
Family Catholic Schools for six years. This will be my third
year in kindergarten. My husband Jake and I have two
daughters Mary and Elinor. I enjoy working with young
children because of their willingness to discover and learn
new things with such enthusiasm. I’m looking forward to working
together with you to help your child learn and grow in God’s love
this school year. Top
2. First Day of School
Before You Begin Kindergarten:
Incoming kindergartens need to be able to…
1. Take personal care of themselves (coat, boots, shoes etc.)
2. Use proper hand washing and bathroom skills
3. Work with and get along with others
4. Sit and listen for short periods of time
5. Follow directions
6. Try new things
What to do on the first day of Kindergarten!
The first day of kindergarten is a special day for both students and
parents! Some parents want to accompany their child into school on
the first day, and that is just fine! All Holy Ghost students gather
in the gym each morning, and you may drop off your child in
classroom on the first day. Some students will cry; parents may do
this too! Many students are so excited to begin their year that
there are no tears at all. Don’t hang around too long, give them a
hug and a kiss, wish them a good day, and ensure them that you will
pick them up at the end of the day.
An important word:
After the first day of school, it is very important that you drop
your child off in the arrival line (or at the front door) between 8:008:15 and allow your child to walk in the gym with his/her classmates.
This helps your child build independence and responsibility. We
have found that it is more difficult for children to separate from
their parents when parents walk them into the gym or upstairs to
the classroom. They cry and cling to their parents. To avoid this,
drop your child off and allow him/her to enter the gym as the rest
of the students do. Top
3. Classroom Routines
Daily Schedule:
8:20-8:30 Morning Jobs
8:30-9:00 Journal and Calendar Time
9:00-9:15 Breakfast
9:15-9:50 Religion
9:50-10:00 Chalk Talk/Writing
10:15-11:55 Language Arts Block (Science and Social Studies)
12:05-1:05 Lunch and Recess
1:05-1:30 Read and Relax Time
1:30-2:30 Math
2:30-3:00 Specialists
3:10 Closing Circle/ Get ready to go home
3:15 Dismissal
Recess:
All Holy Ghost students receive 20 minutes of recess after lunch.
We will use the courtyard and parking lot on a rotating basis for
recess.
Rest Time:
After recess, students rest for about 20 minutes to recharge their
bodies and their brains, so each child will be asked to bring a beach
towel with their name on it. This time is also used for bathroom and
drink breaks.
Classroom Management:
To make sure that each child has a pleasant, positive learning
experience, a classroom behavior chart is used. Each child will start
their day on “green” and students will have the opportunity to move
up and down the chart. If a rule is not followed, the following
consequences take place:
1. Students move their clips to blue. This is considered their
warning.
2. If their clip moves from blue to purple, the teacher will
choose a natural consequence. Examples would be reteach
or practice a behavior skill, fix the problem, removal from
the large group.
3. If their clip moves from purple to pink, the child will have a
five minute time out and a note will go home in their B.E.E.
binder for parents to sign and return.
Since kindergarten is their first experience with elementary school,
some behavior issues will become apparent and will be addressed by
Mrs. Weires. Parents will be contacted if there is a need for a
parent meeting.
Homework:
All assignments will be listed in your child’s B.E.E. binder.
1. Monthly Family Projects
2. Play Connect Four
3. Reading is part of your child’s homework every night. You may
read to them, take turns reading, or have them read.
4. Weekly Reading Log
B.E.E. Binders:
Your child will be given a B.E.E. binder. B.E.E. stands
for Bring Everything Everyday. The B.E.E. binder will be
sent home every afternoon, and must be returned each
morning.
The B.E.E. binder contains the following…
1. Money Pouch
The pouch is used for lunch money and important
notes. Please put all lunch money in this pouch. If other
money is sent to school it should be placed in an
envelope labeled (i.e. for field trips and special school
activities, ect.) with your child’s name and what it is for.
Any unlabeled money will be applied to your child’s
lunch account. Also, please place important notes in
this pouch. This will ensure I receive the notes first
thing in the morning.
2. Behavior Chart: Please review your child’s behavior
chart each evening and discuss it with your child. Please
initial the behavior chart daily.
3. Leave at home pocket/Return to school pocket
Each B.E.E. binder contains labeled pockets. The
pockets will be used for work and notes coming to
and from school. Please make sure you check your
child’s B.E.E. binder every night. Papers should be
removed daily to allow room for new information.
Binders should be returned each morning.
4. If the money pouch or binder becomes damaged I will
ask that you please replace it. Cleaning out all old
materials and keeping it in your child’s book bag will help
keep your binder in good condition.
Transportation:
If there is a change in your child’s dismissal schedule please send a
note to school. If you are unable to do so please contact me via
phone or email regarding any changes.
Toys:
Please do not send toys to school with your child. They are not
permitted in school and cause unnecessary distractions. Please
discuss this rule with your child. Your child will have several
opportunities to share items from home throughout the school
year.
Books:
I will be sending home books for you and your child to share. Many
of these books will have text your child can read as the year
progresses. Please read these books with your child each night and
return the next day.
Children will also bring books home weekly from the school library.
They are responsible for these books and are expected to return
them before they are allowed to check out additional books.
Reading:
Reading is a very important part of literacy
development. Your child should be reading every
night. It is part of their homework.
For the first half of the school year a reading log will be used to
keep track of your child’s reading at home. Your child’s reading log
will be placed in your child’s B.E.E. binder. Students will gradually
begin AR (Accelerated Reader) and will no longer use the reading
log. A letter of explanation will be sent home when your child is
ready to begin AR.
Volunteering in the Classroom:
1. Student Scrapbooks
2. Reading with children
3. Assisting with special projects (Polar Express Day,
holiday activities, etc…
4. Planning and assisting with class parties
5. Sharing a special skill or talent
I encourage all parents to become classroom volunteers. However, I
ask that you wait until after the first eight weeks of school. This
will allow us time to establish our classroom routines. Please let me
know if you are interested in volunteering in any way. I thank you in
advance for your help.
School Mass:
All students attend Mass every Friday at 8:45. Parents
and other visitors are always welcome to join us for
Mass, and we ask that you sit with the kindergarten
class. Classes rotate in planning Masses, and you will be
notified when it is kindergarten’s turn to plan mass (our
first opportunity will be after Christmas).
Out of uniform passes may not be used on Mass days. Top
4. Dress Code
Clothing:
Please become familiar with the Holy Family Dress Code Policy. It is
posted on the Holy Ghost website. Please make sure your child can
easily fasten and unfasten his/her clothing and be cautious of
necklaces, bracelets, and watches. They can become play things and
cause unnecessary distractions.
Accidents:
A change of clothes will be kept on hand for each student. This
should include socks and underwear. Please write your child’s name
on each article of clothing and place clothes in a plastic bag labeled
with their name to be stored in the classroom. If your child uses
their change of clothes it must be replaced the next day.
Winter Weather:
Students go outside for recess everyday for 20 minutes unless it is
raining or the temperature or wind chill factor is below zero. In the
winter, all students NEED to have snow boots, snow pants, coats,
hats, and snow mittens. Once there is snow on the ground, we ask
students to wear their boots into school everyday.
Your child will need some type of reusable bag to store
all of their snow gear each day.
Out of Uniform Days:
Students are expected to come in uniform everyday unless
otherwise indicated. The dress code policy is posted online.
Scheduled early dismissals days are out of uniform days, and
students may come to school out of uniform on these days. Other
out of uniform days may be announced. Parents always receive a
note about an unexpected out of uniform day. Top
5. Lunch & Food Guidelines
Birthday Treats:
The Holy Family Catholic School Wellness Policy does not
allow students to bring birthday treats on their birthday.
However, we will celebrate your child’s special day. Your
child may bring their favorite book for the teacher to
read to the class!
Lunch:
Lunch is served daily in our school cafeteria (basement of the
church). Students may choose the hot lunch of the day or they may
bring their own lunch from home. Menus can be found on the Holy
Family website. Milk is included with hot lunch and may be
purchased separately for cold lunch.
Money will be placed in your child’s account on
registration day. You will be given a password to this
account so you can monitor your child’s funds. Parents
should keep an eye on this account and replenish as
needed.
Important Lunch Information:
 Students are allowed to purchase seconds if they are still
hungry. Any seconds they purchase are charged to their lunch
account.
 Students can also purchase yogurt.
Parent Lunch Visits:
Parents are welcome to come to school and have lunch with their
child from time to time. For kindergarten students, it is generally
better if you give them a few months to adjust before coming to
school for lunch as it is difficult for kindergarteners when their
parents leave. Please sign in at the office if you plan to join us for
lunch so the kitchen can plan accordingly. Top
6. School Procedures
Field Trips:
Throughout the year, field trips may be planned. Parents always
receive a field trip permission slip form in advance that needs to be
signed before students are allowed to go. Mode of transportation
is usually parent drivers, but occasionally a bus is taken. If parent
drivers are used, kindergarteners five years old and younger are
required by law to have a car seat. In such cases, parents are asked
to bring car seats to school (marked with their child’s name) on the
day of the field trip.
Any parent who volunteers to drive for field trips is required to
have insurance information on file in the office and a liability
waiver needs to be signed as well. These forms are included in the
August registration packet or can be filled out anytime in the
school office.
Pictures:
School pictures are taken twice a year-once in the fall at the
beginning of the school year and spring pictures are usually taken in
February. Both these days are out of uniform days.
Yearbooks:
At the August registration day, parents will be given
an
opportunity to order a school yearbook. Students
receive their yearbook on the last day of school. All students,
staff, special clubs and activities are represented.
Parent Newsletters:
Parent newsletters are sent home via email every other Friday (if
you don’t have computer access, you may use the computer in the
school office). These contain VERY important
information, including upcoming events that you
will want to put on your home calendar. Please
read them carefully!
Parent Association:
Our campus has an active Parent Association. The PA supports
the school program, offers school activities for families, and plans
fundraisers to help the school. In addition, our PA assists with
parent/teacher conferences, provides funding for teachers to
attend professional development activities, provides funding for
technology equipment, and provides funding for field trips.
The PA meets once a month in the evening at the school, and these
meetings are always announced in the parent newsletter. All
parents are invited to attend the PA meetings. This is a great
chance for you to get involved more in your child’s school.
Fund Raisers:
Box Tops/Campbell’s Soup Labels
Our school collects “box tops” from an assortment of boxed food
products. Cut these out and send them to school in your child’s
B.E.E binder money pouch. Once we have a large collection, we
turn them in for money and place that money in the Parent
Association account. Campbell soup labels earn points for our
school which we turn in for recess equipment. Thank you! Top
7. Start Time & End Time
Arrival/ Dismissal:
To ensure the safety of our staff and students, very structured
arrival and dismissal procedures are used daily. Please see the
parent handbook (on our website) for specific directions. These
procedures will able be reviewed at curriculum
conferences.
Start Time/End Time:
School officially begins at 8:25, so we request students arrive
between 8:00-8:15. Parents will use the arrival lane in the parking lot
(see parent handbook) and drop their child off (or walk them to the
front door.) Once they are dropped off, students go to the gym and
walk until 8:15. At 8:15, all students sit in their designated class
space. Announcements are read, and teachers walk students
upstairs to the classroom.
At dismissal time, students are brought out to the parking lot
through the south doors. Parents pick up their students in this
area, wait for the dismissal flag to raise and the whistle to blow (see
parent handbook), then walk to your car in the parking lot. Cars are
directed to leave when all students are safely in their vehicles. Top
8. Documents Needed
Birth Certificate:
A copy of your child’s birth certificate is required to be kept in the
student’s permanent school file. If you bring in the original, we can
make copies for you.
Certificate of Baptism:
The school requires that a copy of the certificate of
baptism be in the student’s permanent school file. If you
bring in the original, we will make copies for the file. If
you have not yet baptized your child, you will need to
contact your parish to begin the baptismal process. Baptism is
required prior to First Reconciliation and First Communion (in
second grade). Top
9. Contact Information
Phone:
Holy Ghost School: 556-1511
Secretaries: Deb Beaves and Beth Jaeger
Website:
Holy Ghost Website: www.holyfamilydbq.org/elementary/holyghost
Class Website: teachers.holyfamilydbq.org/sweires/
Please check out our class website. It contains valuable class
information. I plan on updating the website on a weekly basis. You
can find the website by going to the Holy Family webpage and
clicking on the link to teacher websites.
Email:
Email is an excellent communication tool. It is a great way to ask
questions about assignments, inquire about volunteering in class,
changes at home, etc. If you have ANY questions or concerns,
please do not hesitate to contact me!
Mrs. Weires, teacher:
[email protected]
Mr. Wessels, principal:
[email protected]
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