190 Graylynn Drive Nashville TN 37214 USA 615.883.1108 FAX 615.885.5100
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KB!
Dear KB parents,
Welcome to Kindergarten at Holy Rosary Academy! I am very excited to be working with your child and am looking forward to a fabulous year! The beginning of kindergarten is an exciting time and important milestone and I hope to ease the transition for you and for them. In this packet you will find an introduction and information to get our year off to a smooth start. Also, this packet will hopefully answer many of the questions you have. You may want to save this document for future reference.
A LITTLE ABOUT THE TEACHER: Let me introduce myself. My name is Kristina Baker. I felt blessed to return to Holy Rosary as a teacher five years ago, as Holy Rosary has always been a part of my life. My early school career was spent at Holy Rosary beginning in first grade (this was before there was a kindergarten program here!). I have many fond memories of those years and I hope this year begins to create fond memories for your child as well. I went on to attend St. Bernard Academy and Father Ryan High School, then received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Language and Literacy Studies from Vanderbilt University. My love of travel began at Vanderbilt when I was privileged to student teach at St. Laurence Roman Catholic Primary School in Cambridge, England. Shortly after college, my husband Scott and I married here at Holy Rosary. In 2000, we became re-associated with the school, but as parents first of our twins, Christopher and Nicholas, followed by Phillip and then Elena. Outside of school, my family is involved with Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scouts. In my spare time (when there is any!), I love to read and work on crafts (especially crocheting and knitting). This is my fifth year to teach kindergarten at Holy Rosary, after three years of teaching pre-K at Belmont Weekday School. I know this year will be the best yet and I look forward to getting to know and to work with each of you!
EXTRA CLASSES & TEACHERS: We have several “extra teachers” and classes this year that you will probably hear about from your children….
P.E.-Mrs. Malmin & Mrs. Mascari (daily)
MUSIC- Mrs. Melton (Mondays)
LIBRARY-Mrs. McGowan and Mrs. Schroeder (Tuesdays)
COMPUTER-Mrs. Helbling (Wednesdays)
SPANISH- Ms. Whitaker (Thursdays)
ART-Parent volunteers (monthly)
In addition, we have on staff a full time guidance counselor, Ms. Romley, who will be available for individual referrals at any time. In addition, she will conduct classroom visits with the children to cover important topics such as feelings, friends, personal safety, etc.
The three kindergarten teachers rotate for religion (Mrs. White), Social Studies (Mrs. Baker), and Science (Mrs. McCabe); usually visiting each class twice a week. This is to enhance your child’s learning of the different subjects and also allows the students and teachers to get to know one another and work as a kindergarten team.
KINDERGARTEN COMMUNICATION
DAILY COMMUNICATIONS: Your child will have a “BEACH Book” to carry to and from school everyday. Beach is an acronym for: Bring Everyday: Assignments, Communication, & Homework. This three ring binder will contain all of the papers, notes, and other communication necessary for home and for school. Each night please check the folders, review the day’s behavior and work with your child, initial the calendar and return the book to school the following day. There is a pocket to send money back and forth to school as well. After you have looked over the work and discussed it with your child, please keep the work. Your child should bring his/her HRA tote bag to carry belongings, including the BEACH book, to and from school each day.
EXTRA CLASSES & TEACHERS: We have several “extra teachers” and classes this year that you will probably hear about from your children….
P.E.-Mrs. Malmin & Mrs. Mascari (daily)
MUSIC- Mrs. Melton (Tuesdays)
LIBRARY-Mrs. McGowan and Mrs. Schroeder(Fridays)
COMPUTER-Mrs. Helbling (Thursdays)
SPANISH- Ms. Walker (Mondays)
ART-Parent volunteers (monthly on a Wednesday)
In addition, we have on staff a full time guidance counselor, Ms. Romley, who will be available for individual referrals at any time. In addition, she will conduct classroom visits with the children to cover important topics such as feelings, friends, personal safety, etc.
KINDERGARTEN COMMUNICATION
DAILY COMMUNICATIONS: Your child will have a “BEACH Book” to carry to and from school everyday. BEACH is an acronym for: Bring Everyday: Assignments, Communication, & Homework. This binder will contain all of the papers, notes, and other communication necessary for home and for school. Each night please check the folders, review the day’s behavior and work with your child, initial the calendar and return the book to school the following day. There is a pocket to send money back and forth to school as well. After you have looked over the work and discussed it with your child, please keep the work. Your child should bring his/her HRA tote bag to carry belongings, including the BEACH book, to and from school each day.
WEEKLY COMMUNICATION: A weekly family folder from the office will be sent home each Friday for the first few weeks of the year with the eldest student in each family. The folder carries communications about calendar changes, upcoming events, menus, and other important information. Please read and keep all communications. Sign the folder and return it with your child the following MONDAY to receive the next week’s communications. Later in the school year, all communication will be online. Look for further information from the office at a later date.
KB CALENDAR & KB NEWS: At the beginning of each month you will receive a calendar showing all the important events that will take place in KB. Each afternoon, check the calendar and remind your child to cross out the correct day. It will help him/her become more familiar with numerals, days of the week, months of the year and concepts concerning time. At this time you can also check to prepare for the following day. Along with the calendar, you will receive a KB news bulletin on Mondays that updates you on things that will be happening throughout the week, such as letter of the week, field trips, art days, etc. Please initial each week to indicate that you have received and read the newsletter. KB calendar and KB news will arrive home in your child’s BEACH book in the appropriate sections.
COMMUNICATING WITH THE TEACHER: Communication is extremely important to help ensure that we work together to help your child achieve their potential this year. Any time you need to contact me, please feel free to send a note with your child, phone me at school and leave a message (your call will be returned as soon as possible), or send me an e-mail. My e-mail address is bakerk@holyrosary.edu. Please remember that for the majority of the day I am with your children and not near a phone. I generally check e-mails by 2:15 each day…if you send an e-mail later I may not receive it before dismissal (for dismissal changes, etc.) If there is something personal to your child you wish to discuss, I will be happy to discuss it over the phone or in person in a pre-arranged meeting. Our school e-mail policy prevents me from communicating personal issues, including behavior, by e-mail. Each of the children in the class is important to me and communication between home and school helps to give your child the best school environment possible.
CLASS WEBSITE: The KB website is updated frequently with important information. The classroom newsletter and calendar, a list of high frequency words, spelling words and many other activities will be listed on it. I have included useful information as well as links to other sites you might enjoy. Occasionally I do include pictures of our class in action. Please check it often!
KB DAILY ROUTINE AND PROCEDURES
ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL: School begins each day at 7:45am. The children are expected to be in their rooms and ready to begin their day at this time. We also use the early morning time from 7:30 until 7:45 to unpack tote bags, prepare for the day and then work in our journals. It is recommended that children arrive by 7:30 to give them as much time as possible to complete all morning tasks, work in their journals, and not feel rushed! Children arriving to the classroom after 7:45 are considered tardy and must be escorted to the office and signed in. The tardy and early checkout policies at HRA are strictly enforced, so please review them in your handbook. Children may also arrive between 7:15 and 7:30. At this time they go to the meeting room with other K-1 students for supervision by Mrs. Glass (one of our first grade teachers). At 7:30, students are dismissed to their classrooms and teachers. For an earlier arrival time (6:45 to 7:15) children must be enrolled in the Escape program. For the first few days while the children are becoming familiar with the building, kindergarten parents may park and walk your child to the room. After the first few days we ask that you drop them off and have them walk to the room on their own to encourage and develop their independence.
School dismisses each day at 3:00pm. There is an optional 2:45 dismissal for Kindergarten students. Students eligible for the 2:45 dismissal are kindergarten students, first grade students, and combinations of kindergarten and first grade in car pools. No student above first grade will be allowed in the back parking lot for dismissal. On early dismissal days (except for snow), students may be picked up 15 minutes early in the back. From 2:45 until 2:55, the remaining children will have SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) during which they are read to from appropriate books (seasonal picture books, Magic Tree House series, etc). At 2:55 the remaining students are escorted to the front parking lot to be picked up there, or if they are to attend ESCAPE (our after school day-care program) they will be taken to the dining hall. We must have written notification of the dismissal time your child will use this year. The children are taught to look for their cars or the person waving from their car. They must stay in line with the kindergarten teachers until they see the person picking them up. Parents may walk up to find their child for the first few days, but after that they are expected to stay by their cars. Please do not come over to talk to the teachers during dismissal time as the teachers must supervise all of the children. If your child does not see you and the traffic begins moving, you must drive around and come back into the parking lot. Under no circumstances may the children leave their teacher and go with their parents when traffic is moving. They may only be dismissed to the parking lot and can not walk across the street or across the grass, even with an adult, to be dismissed. This policy is for the safety of the children. Please be patient for the first few days while everyone becomes accustomed to the parking lot procedures at dismissal.
On rainy days Kindergarten students will look out the windows of the dining hall. Letting your child know what color umbrella you carry or where you will stand is very helpful.
ABSENCES: Parents are asked to call the school between 7:00 and 8:30 if your child will be absent. A student excuse note (reason for absence) is required after each absence, which will be kept on file. This notice must include the reason for the absence, date, parent signature, and phone number. The note will be kept on file as part of the attendance record. A doctor’s note (in addition to the parent note) is required after 3 consecutive days of absence. For an absence of one day, makeup work will be given the day of return. For longer absences, you may contact the office for work to be picked up after dismissal or sent home with a sibling after the first day. Please refer to the family handbook for full details of the school’s policy. Because of the nature of the kindergarten curriculum and program, make-up work is not always possible to send home. It is especially important for this age to be at school and hear and participate in the lesson being taught. Hands on experiences are important for kindergarteners! Please try to schedule vacation times when we are out of school. J
DISCIPLINE PLAN: In the behavior section of the BEACH book is a copy of the Kindergarten Discipline Plan that the kindergarten teachers use for positive and effective classroom management. Please read it, sign the “contract” page in the homework section of the BEACH book, and return the bottom portion by Friday, August 22nd, 2008.
MASS: The kindergarten classes will begin attending mass with the primary grades on Wednesday and Thursday mornings in September. Mass begins promptly at 8:00am and we must take care of “school business” first, so it is very important that your child arrive on time. Your child is expected to sit quietly in Mass and to follow along with responses, standing, kneeling, etc. While we do work with them in learning how to act, reinforcement of proper church behavior on Sundays with the family is helpful to your child.
BATHROOM BREAK: There are two bathroom breaks scheduled during the day for the kindergarten students. The first is from 8:50 to 9:00, the other is after recess. We also take an optional break before rest time. The kindergarten students are encouraged to use these times so that class time can be focused on lessons, learning and fun. We do have a bathroom in the classroom for emergencies; however it is a distraction to all our classmates when our fun and learning must be stopped and restarted. While it is understood that children may need help in the beginning with clothing and the kindergarten teachers are happy to help, it makes them feel so proud to be able to handle their uniform independently! All of their uniform parts (belts, zippers, fasteners, shoelaces, shirts tucked in, etc.) are very new to them and they may need practice with mom and dad to know how to handle them.
LUNCH: Kindergarten students go to lunch each day from 10:40-11:10. The dining hall staff provides a lunch menu in the Friday Family Folder every two weeks with menus, cost of daily lunches, cost of meal tickets, milk, etc. Meal tickets should be purchased at the beginning of the week and tickets can be carried over if your child does not use it every day. Whether you are sending money for a meal ticket, a daily lunch, daily milk, etc, please send money to school with your child in an envelope with your child’s name, amount, and what it is for clearly marked on the front. This envelope should be in the money pouch in your child’s BEACH book. Children are taught to unpack and turn in all money and notes into a basket. The envelopes help to keep your child’s money from being mixed up with someone else’s and to ensure that all money goes to the proper place. Children may purchase hot lunches at school or are welcome to bring their lunch from home. Unfortunately, there is not a microwave available to heat lunches. We try to teach the children to eat healthy so please do not send candy or cokes to school and send only one dessert. We ask that the children are prepared to handle the items in their lunchboxes as independently as possible and we also work with them in this. Ice cream or cookie money should only be sent once a week on Tuesday as this is our Kindergarten treat day. Parents are welcome to come to school to have lunch with their child from time to time, although we ask that you wait until after the first month of school to allow time for your child to adjust to the lunch routine and help reduce any separation anxiety. Please send a note with your child on the day you are coming so that you can be included in the lunch count we are required to send to the dining hall. You may instead choose to call the dining hall that morning. Please note the dining hall policy of no restaurant or fast food being brought in at lunchtime so as to not jeopardize federal funding HRA receives.
RECESS: The children are supervised by the kindergarten teachers during their fifteen-minute recess outdoors after lunch each day. Please be aware of weather conditions and dress your child appropriately. Only on extreme cold or wet days do we have recess indoors.
REST TIME: We do have rest time each day for 30 minutes to 1 hour. A small, folding rest mat is necessary and you may send a small pillow (travel size) and cover (no larger than a beach towel – they work great!) if desired. The children are not required to go to sleep, but are expected to rest quietly on their mat. Please keep rest time items as small as possible; we have limited storage in our classroom. We ask that favorite stuffed “friends” be left at home, now that they are in kindergarten.
SNACK: Each afternoon, students have the option of bringing a small snack to be eaten during center time. If desired, please send in a simple, nutritious snack and/or drink that can be handled as independently as possible. Please, NO candy at snack time or at lunch. We normally have snack in the classroom, so if you send a snack that requires a fork or spoon, please send one with your child.
S.S.R. (SUSTAINED SILENT READING): At the end of each school day from 2:40-3:00pm our school engages in silent reading (younger students are read to). Please conduct all school business including phone calls/messages prior to this time, so that S.S.R. time is not disturbed. Children that have early dismissal will miss S.S.R. time.
KB SPECIAL DAYS
BIRTHDAYS: Birthdays are SPECIAL days! A week or two before your child’s birthday celebration, you will receive a note asking how you would like to participate. You may send a treat, read to our class, and/or join them for lunch. If you choose to send treats and napkins for the class, please bring them into the classroom before school begins. Also, please watch for peanuts or tree nuts in the ingredient list, due to classroom allergies. You may send in drinks in a container such as juice boxes or Capri suns…no colas please. Students will have a uniform break on their birthday and will have the opportunity to have his/her parent(s) read to the class and visit for lunch. This is a very sensitive age and in order to not hurt any child’s feelings we ask that you do not send birthday invitations to school to be passed out. Please see HRA school handbook for school policy. Also, we please ask that you do not send in treat bags as competitions may arise and children may feel left out if his/her parents are unable to send in bags. See the class list section of the BEACH book for the planned celebration dates for each student’s birthday.
STAR OF THE WEEK: During the year, each child will be featured as our class star for a week. This schedule is in the class list section of the BEACH book. You will receive a packet two weeks prior to your child’s special week explaining our activities. This includes pages to use to create a special book that tells about your child using pictures or drawings. The book will be read and shared with the class. You may also send mementos, one favorite toy, a favorite book, etc. to be displayed. You are invited to come and eat lunch with your child on one day of this week, and to read a story to the class. All items will be sent home on Friday and the All About _______ book will be sent home at a later date.
SHOW & TELL/SECRET SACK: Show and Tell will occur once a month on early dismissal Fridays. On these days, your child may bring in one special toy or item that is small enough to fit into his/her tote bag. He/she should be prepared to tell about his/her item and why it is special. Also, to enhance our learning we have Secret Sack Thursdays. Each child may bring in a toy that begins with the letter for the week. He/she should be prepared with a clue for his/her toy that helps the classmates guess the object. Each child may also bring in one or two special toys during the Class Star week. Toys are not permitted at school except for these times. We do love to share books, records, tapes, etc… that go along with our letter or our theme and are appropriate for the class at any time. No comic books, please. Please be sure that all items coming to school are clearly marked with names, especially sweaters, jackets, raincoats, etc. Many are identical and lost items are much easier to return to the owners if marked with names.
FIELD TRIPS: Kindergarten will be taking five field trips this year: Walden Farm in October, Traveller’s Rest in November, the Children’s Theater in December and April, and the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere in May. We travel by chartered buses and all trips are chaperoned by the teachers. Our policy is that parents do not attend field trips with their child in order to help develop their independence and social interaction/development with their peers and teachers. We appreciate your cooperation with this policy for your child’s benefit. Permission forms and information about fees will come home 2-3 weeks prior to each field trip. Your child must have a signed permission form for each field trip.
VOLUNTEERS
VOLUNTEERING AT HOLY ROSARY: We love to have volunteers at Holy Rosary! Some opportunities to volunteer include reading in the classroom from 2:15-2:30; helping with our monthly art project; reading on birthdays; coming in during your child’s star week; party participation; field day participation; clinic, library, and office volunteers; and other activities involving the students. Please let me know ahead of time if you would like to come in and read, so that I may ensure that our schedule is clear for the day. To ensure the safety of all of our children, ALL people (moms, dads, relatives, friends, etc.) who wish to volunteer in the classroom or school in any way, must have the required and current DIOCESAN PROFILE FORM completed and on file in the school office two weeks before the scheduled date. If you have not completed a form, and wish to do so, they are available in the school office. Forms must be on file two weeks before the date of the activity. They can not be returned the day you come to volunteer. In fairness to the students, it is a school policy that younger children not accompany you on these visits; to minimize disruptions to other classes and to ensure that your child receives this special time with mom and/or dad. We thank you in advance for your cooperation in this manner.
PARENT ART: Once a month, parents may sign up to volunteer to lead an art project with the class. Parent Art time is on the designated Wednesday from 8:45 (after Mass) until 9:30. We have 45 minutes allotted including 15 minutes for preparation and set up. Remember that projects that take you and your child 30 minutes may take a class much longerJ, but do not worry if your project is not long enough or runs a little over. The projects do not have to be professional or involved, children of this age love to experiment with different mediums and to create simple art. Please know you are responsible for coming up with the art project idea and have all of the materials prepared and ready to bring to school on your given day, but I am always here to help with ideas or in any other way! The children also love to display their work in the hallway (to meet fire code standards, it must be hung on the cork strip and can not be longer than a sheet of construction paper) for everyone to see. We would love for you to come and share your time with us!
HELPING IN THE CLASSROOM: Preparation is a big key in a kindergarten classroom. If you would be willing to make playdough, do some simple coloring or cutting for art projects or games, and maybe help in special projects please let me know. This is a great way for working parents to be able to volunteer for our classroom. Also, when we begin our “Letter of the Week” unit I will be asking for volunteers to send in a snack that begins with the letter of the week (for example – Letter “P” – popcorn). Please send in enough for 15 children.
KB STUDENT PROGRESS AND RECOGNITION
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES & REPORT CARDS: We will have a required parent-teacher conference in the fall and other conferences as needed. The conference is invaluable to discuss your child’s progress and to ensure we are working together to best meet your child’s needs. You will receive your child’s first progress report at the fall conference. Please refer to the school calendar for dates and do not schedule vacations during this time. School policy states that these conferences are mandatory. Kindergarten report cards will begin at the end of the second nine-week grading period in January, and again after the third and final grading periods. Kindergarten students do not receive interim report cards. Other conferences will be scheduled as necessary, at your request or at mine. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time.
AWARDS: At the end of each semester, there will be an awards ceremony conducted by Mrs. Hart, our principal, in the gym (dates and times are on the calendar). For each semester, kindergarten students can earn the “Citizenship” award based on their weekly behavior grades. They must have earned all G’s or all G’s with no more than 4 S’s (no N’s) for the quarter. They may also earn the homework award beginning in the first semester by bringing in their BEACH books every day. This is an important way to teach your child responsibility by initialing the calendar and helping them make sure the book is returned to school each morning. After 6 days in a semester of not having the BEACH book signed or with them when they enter school in the morning, they will not be eligible for the homework award for that semester. The award will also be based on returning other requested homework on its due date in the morning. All homework (including the BEACH book) is considered late if not at school by 7:45. Examples of other homework include letter of the week, spelling (beginning in the second semester) and special assignments that will be sent home from time to time.
KB ODDS & ENDS
EXTRA CLOTHING: We ask that you send an extra change of clothes to be kept at school in case of an accident (shirt, pants or shorts, underwear, socks). Remember that accidents such as spilling milk at lunch or landing in a puddle at recess can happen, even if your child does not have bathroom accidents any longer. The clothes you send might be older clothes (as close to uniform colors and styles as possible, to keep the child from being singled out or embarrassed) that are not needed at home as they will be kept at school. Please make sure the clothes are labeled with your child’s name and place them in a large zip-lock bag with your child’s name on the outside. The zip-lock bag will be used to send dirty clothes home. If your child has a “wet” accident, the child will change into their spare clothes and assistance will be given if necessary. If the “other” type of bathroom accident occurs, you will be called to come and pick them up so that they can be taken care of at home. The child is welcome to return the following day. This is for health and sanitary reasons, as well as to spare your child any extra embarrassment. Please be sure to send in another change of clothes the following day.
SUPPLIES: From time to time, you may receive a note that your child needs to have his/her school supplies replenished. Please return the items to school as quickly as possible (we do work hard in kindergarten!) Please remember that we have limited room in our supply boxes and ask that no extra items (erasers, pencil sharpeners, etc) be included.
BOOK ORDERS: From time to time (every month or two), your child will have the opportunity to order books for your home library. The book orders are from Scholastic Books and will be sent home in the Between Home and School pocket. Ordering from Scholastic is optional, but it is a great way to purchase inexpensive books to read at home. Our class does also receive free books.
FINALLY…
Please talk to your child about going to school and what he/she will be learning and doing, as well as the importance of it. Talk positively about school. Encourage your child to discuss school activities with you each day. Your constant interest will play an important part in your child’s positive and happy experience in school and learning success.
I hope this information will answer questions that you have about Kindergarten. Please keep this in the BEACH book so that you may refer to it when you are unsure about something. If you have a question that has not been answered in this packet or in the school handbook please feel free to contact me. I am delighted to have your child in my class and I look forward to working with you throughout the year! I GREATLY appreciate your support and anticipate a fun and successful school year!
Kristina Baker
Holy Rosary Academy