The ABCs of Kindergarten
A Absences - if your child will be absent from school, please call the office at 972-923-4670 by 9:00 a.m. ALSO, please send a note to school with them explaining the reason for their absence so that it may be an excused absence.
Arrival - if your child will be eating breakfast, they should arrive at school at 7:15 a.m. School begins at 7:40 a.m. Supervision is available by school staff beginning at 7:00 a.m. Students are dismissed at 2:30 p.m.
Art - The Art Teacher's name is Mrs. Robertson. She does a wonderful job! The class goes to Art class every 3rd day during our specials time of day.
Attendance - A successful school experience is the responsibility of the children, the parent and the school. Your child's progress, both academically and socially, is influenced to a great extent by daily participation. Regular attendance without tardiness is a key! Please read the following article to learn the importance of regular attendance. http://www.tvdsb.on.ca/parent/regularattendance.pdf
B Backpacks - To help your child carry messages and information to and from school, you are asked to provide a backpack for this purpose. Please have your child share the content of the backpack with you daily. (PLEASE don't allow your child to bring toys to school in their backpack!)
If you send things to school for me in your child's backpack, be sure to remind them to get the items out for me. I do NOT check backpacks each day. Time does not allow that.
Birthdays - Birthdays are special occasions for young children. therefore, we try to make it a special day. On your child's birthday, he/she will get to ride in the 'Birthday Wagon' when we go to any place around the school. THE KIDS LOVE THIS! If you would like to bring cupcakes or cookies to school to share with the class, it is OK, as long as we serve it after lunch time! SO - we will do birthday cupcakes from 12:55 - 1:10 the day of your child's birthday. PLEASE let Mrs. Lawson know if you are planning on bringing cupcakes for the class, so that I can plan accordingly. NO DRINKS ARE ALLOWED!
Book orders - Occasionally I will be sending home book order forms for you and your child to look over. Send the order back (with money attached) by the due date if you choose to order. These clubs offer wonderful books at reduced prices - what a great way to build your home's library!
C Centers - The best way for children to learn is through active play. Our classroom is set up in learning centers that meet the needs of individual students.
Clothes - please know that we are not always the cleanest kids in Kindergarten. Send them to school in clothes that are appropriate for learning and not so "dressed up". Often we get messy throughout our day.
Computers - We have a student computer in our room that enables the children to work on age-appropriate programs that help to reinforce the skills we are working on in the classroom. We also have the opportunity to go to the computer lab on campus 2 - 3 times a week with Mrs. Henderson during specials time.
Conferences - we hold parent/teacher conferences twice a year to discuss your child's academic and social progress. Please feel free to schedule additional conferences at any time throughout the year if the need arises.
Contact Information - Please be sure that the office has your most current contact information. If an emergency arises during the school day, it is imperative that we be able to contact you. Notify the office when your cell number or work number changes.
D Developmental Centers - Our classroom is set up in this type of center. The children get to choose the center that they will work in. During this time, I pull a small group of children to work on a particular skill.
Differentiation - it is my responsibility to take each child from where he/she is to a higher level. Therefore, I try to differentiate the instruction to meet each child's needs.
Discipline - My philosophy of discipline is based on the belief that children need affectionate care and firm guidelines within a flexible structure. To establish good order and help the children learn self-control, the children will be guided to respect themselves and their companions through specific directions, and positive reinforcement.
Dismissal - All kindergarten children are dismissed by 2:30. The car riders are outside at the McKenzie Street entrance at 2:30.
E Email - you can contact me via my email address: klawson@wisd,org. please note that although I am close to a computer, technology does not always expedite the deliver of your messages. If you need to discuss something urgent or inform me of changes in transportation, please call instead 972-923-4670.
Emergency Closings - if schools are closed for any emergency, radio stations and television will have the information as soon as it is available.
Excuse Notes - If your child is ever absent from school, you need to send an excuse note to school with him/her when they return to school . . . even if you have called the school to let us know that they have been sick. The notes get put in your child's file for absences.
Extra Clothes - it would be a good idea to send an extra set of clothes for your child in the case that he/she has an accident. That way we do not have to bother you at work or home. The nurse sometimes has extra clothes that your child can borrow if an accident occurs during the day. If you are cleaning out your child's closet and don't have anyone that needs the clothes your child has just outgrown, I know that the nurse could use them in her office for children in need.
F Fever - to help us keep all the children well in our rooms, it is important that all families honor the 24 hour fever free rule. If your child has been running fever within the last 24 hours, allow them to stay home to get well, please don't make them come to school exposing the entire class to a plethora of cooties.
Field Trips - we are allowed to take one bus field trip per year. You will receive advance notice of the trips. Parent help is always welcome! Your child will have to have your permission to go with us on the trip.
Fire drills - are held once a month throughout the school year to let the children know what to do in the event of a fire during school hours. All students will participate and are expected to walk quickly and quietly with our class out the designated exit.
G Games - We use a games approach to help in our learning. Our community service students play various games with the children to reinforce the skills we have learned in the classroom.
Got questions? I know that there are probably many questions you have with your child being in a new school. if so, feel free to call me at school ( 972-923-4670 ext. 125).
Guided Reading - Guided reading provides an opportunity to teach children the variety of reading strategies they need in order to become fluent, independent readers. During guided reading, the teacher monitors and evaluates each child's progress.
Gym - Our class goes to gym each day for 25 minutes. This is during our specials time. The children are asked to wear appropriate shoes for their activities in the gym.
H Handwriting - We use the D'Nealian handwriting method. If you need to see a sample of how those letters are formed, just ask me. As you are helping your child write their letters at home, ALWAYS encourage them to start their letters at the top!
Homework - Occasionally, I send home homework. I try to make the class homework meaningful, not just time consumers.
Houghton Mifflin - is our newly adopted reading program for grades K - 2. You can find out more information at their website: www.eduplace.com/kids.
I Illness - The question of when to keep your child home from school is often a difficult one, especially when you have to make that call early in the morning. It is important, however, to keep your child home if he/she is feeling ill. This helps to make them more comfortable and prevents others from becoming ill.
Independent Reading - Because children learn to read by reading, they need plenty of opportunities to read independently. Sufficient time and appropriate materials are necessary to develop and strengthen reading abilities. By giving the children time to read both at home and at school, we can work together to provide a literature-rich environment and a life-long love of reading.
J Journals -We write in our journals, also known as our 'writing books' several times a week. This helps convey the vital concept that "print conveys meaning". In these journals, the kindergarteners combine their emerging writing skills with their drawing skills. As the children are exposed to a variety of phonics and reading experiences, journal entries will move from drawings and "inventive" spellings towards more conventional writing.
K Kindness - that is a KEY word in our room. The children are to be kind to one another.
L Lost and Found - There is a lost and found located in the office. If your child misplaces something at the school, it usually ends up in the lost and found. I highly recommend that you label your child's clothing and outerwear with his/her name. This helps us return a lost article to its owner.
Lunch - Kindergarteners eat lunch at school. If your child will be eating lunch that is served in the cafeteria, I suggest putting money in his/her lunch account. You may do that by it in their lunch money pouch labeled with their name on it to school. I will pass the pouch on to the cafeteria or you may go by the cafeteria to put money in your child's account.
Lunch money pouch - Citizen's National Bank donated small zipper pouches for our class. I have labeled each bag with your child's name. This is for him/her to transport their lunch money to school. Keep it in your child's backpack until it is needed that way you always know where it is.
M Math - We have the Saxon Math curriculum that we will follow. This curriculum provides hands-on math experiences for the student to develop number sense and concepts.
Music - Our music teacher is Mrs. Featherston. She does a wonderful job teaching our children the fundamentals of music! She allows the students to move and learn and play instruments. We get to go to music 2 to 3 times a week for 25 minutes at a time.
N Newsletter - I send home a Friday note each week in the Friday folder. This lets you know of the class activities and upcoming events. It also lets you know the skills that we are working on in the classroom.
Notes - If you send me a note to school, please pin it to your child or your child's backpack. If it is placed inside their backpack, chances are it will not be seen.
Nurse - We have a wonderful nurse at Marvin to help take care of the kids in case of illness or injury. Her name is Nurse Jeanne. Please be sure to send in any change of contact numbers in case the nurse needs to get in touch with you.
O Outside play - we go to recess outside when the weather permits for 20 minutes.
P Parent Involvement - This is the key to student success throughout his/her education! Get involved in your child's school. It means the world to your child! Your support of school activities makes your child feel important and also sends a message that you value school! I need help running copies and making books. Please find a time that is convenient for you to volunteer! We also have special classroom activities and celebrations throughout the year. Come and join the fun!
Parties - We usually have 5 class parties a year (Halloween, Christmas, Valentine, Easter and Graduation). Parents are asked to help plan those parties for their kids.
Prize Box - The children that stay on green all week long get to go to the prize box on Fridays! This is to encourage good behavior all week long! If you have any items that you would like to donate to the classroom's prize box, send them to school with your child with a note on it. I appreciate your help with this! (Old Happy Meal toys make great prizes for the prize box.)
Progress Reports - These go home at the 4 1/2 week mark in each 9 week grading period. It will give you a glance at how your child is doing academically and how you can help him/her at home. These reports will need to be signed and returned after they co me home.
Q Quiet Time - Since our school day is so long for little bodies, we have a 30 minute resting period in the afternoon. I do not require the children to sleep, but I do require that they lay quietly so as not to disturb the other children in the room.
R Report Cards - Report cards go home 4 times a year (every 9 weeks). This helps you to see the progress that your child is making. Progress reports go home in between report card periods.
Responsibility - Responsibility is one of the most important things that we teach here at Marvin!
Room Parents - Room parents help plan our class parties and help with other projects for the classroom.
Rules - I want all children to be intrinsically motivated to do their best! I occasionally offer treats or stickers but most often use praise encouragement and gentle redirection if a child is making wrong choices.
S Saxon Math is the math curriculum for our campus. It provides a daily lesson with hands on manipulatives time, then an opportunity for independent practice.
Shared Reading - Shared reading is an interactive process used with the whole class. As the teacher reads the story, the children join in on words or phrases they know. During subsequent re-readings, children read more and more of the text, until they are able to read the story independently. Shared reading is an opportunity for the teacher to model conventions of print and the use of reading strategies.
Snack - The children are allowed to bring a healthy snack to school each day. We partake of our snacks during our morning center time. Please do not send anything that requires utensils and NO JUICE!
SUPERKIDS - is the wonderful new phonics curriculum that we had the opportunity to pilot last year. We do a lesson a day. We will meet 13 Superkids characters during the fall semester. Each character will teach us about a particular sound and will take us on various adventures with them! To find out more about this program, you can check out their website: www.rowlandreading.org.
T Transportation - If you plan to pick up a child that normally rides the bus, you must send a written note or call the school office 972-923-4670 prior to 1:30 p.m. Do not rely on your child to tell us this information, because children often become confused and relay information incorrectly. If no written note is received & no call comes in to the office, your child will be sent home by his/her usual method of transportation.
U Unbelievable!! - It is absolutely unbelievable the amount of information that your child has to absorb and learn this school year to be ready for first grade.
V Visitors - The WISD policy states that ALL VISITORS (even familiar faces) check in at the office to receive a visitors badge. Marvin welcomes and encourages family involvement and the presence of the guest badge will help identify visitors to all faculty and staff. It is important to remember that while this may seem inconvenient to frequent visitors, it is the goal and responsibility of the school to create a safe learning environment.
Voicemail - is now available. If you need to contact me during the day or evening, the number is 972-923-4670 ext 125.
W
Walking Field Trips - We sometimes take walking field trips to destinations around Waxahachie. As with the bus field trips, you will receive advance notice about the trip and where we are going. I am not able to take your child off campus without your permission. ALSO - parent help is always needed and welcomed on those trips!
Water - The children have cups in the room for them to drink from. We have a sink in the room to get water out of. The water fountain is WAY down the hall and not easy access for the class to get to. The water bottles make getting a drink much more accessible!
Website - I have a webpage that can be accessed at: http://www.marvin.wisd.org/klawson.
Wish List - At times throughout the school year, we sometimes need supplies that are not on the supply list. I will put something in our Friday note to request the item.
Work - I do not require that each child's work be perfect. I do, however, require that they do their best. We work more on the effort than on the finished product looking perfect.
Writing - Our writing program builds on what each child already knows. Writing begins with scribbles and proceeds to lines and circles, random strings of letters, words and spaces and eventually sentences. Your children will be encouraged and praised for all attempts and accomplishments in writing. Providing a risk-free environment is paramount to your child's progress in writing. If possible, please provide your child with writing tools, such as pencils, crayons, markers and paper at home.
X Xtra special kids - I am looking forward to a great year together! Our class is full of wonderful children from great families. It is going to be a great experience learning together!
eXcuse notes - when your child returns to school after being absent, please send a note explaining the reason for the absence.
Y You, the parents, are a VERY important part of your child's education!! You are their first teachers in the world! Your interest in their education determines how well he/she will succeed in the classroom.
Z ZZZZZs - Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest especially at the beginning of the year. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give to your child. It will help them to be alert and ready to learn each day! Don't forget to read a book before bedtime!