The s of Kindergarten!

behavior system for all students at Bridgeport. Each classroom has a specific discipline plan to help children succeed. Donations are ALWAYS appreciated! We do a lot of crafts and mini celebrations that coincide with themes and lessons we are learning about We may also need some extra supplies or supplies not on the supply list. If you would like to help, watch for a list of items needed. These lists will be sent home throughout the year. If you would like, you may give a money donation at the beginning of the year that will help your teacher buy these things as they are needed.

Please complete and return the emergency card promptly. If your home or work phone number changes, please inform the office and me. If your child is absent, please call the school office at 988-6200 and call your childs teachers voicemail as well. A note stating the reason for the absence must be brought to school as soon as possible to avoid an unexcused absence. Your child will participate in art with Mrs. McKinney during their weekly special class rotation. Extra Clothing: Spills and accidents happen in Kindergarten! Please leave a Ziploc bag of extra clothes and underwear in your childs cubby. This will save you a trip to the school in the even your child would need a change of clothes!

Breakfast is universal!! Which means all students can eat breakfast at school for free. If your child has any dietary restrictions or food allergies, please share this with Mrs. Hay Birthday treats will be limited to non-food items at school. You can celebrate passing out special goodie bags to classmates. This should not include any edible foods or candy. Some examples would be items such as stickers, pencils, and small toys. Students with birthdays have their name read on the morning announcements and receive a birthday pencil from the office. Children are also recognized in the classroom during calendar activities. Bridgeport Elementary does not permit students to pass out any personal birthday party invitations at school unless the invitation is extended to all girls/boys or the entire class. Big Events are school wide celebrations in which students are able to participate if they exhibit outstanding behavior! Watch for information regarding Big Events. There will be one per grading period. Mrs Hay has a classroom Blog please visit at http://blogs.wayne.k12.in.us/hayt/

Information about field trips will come home with your child in their folders. Details and field trip permission slips will be included in a weekly newsletter. In Kindergarten, Field trips are limited by the district budget due to bus drivers and transportation. Some years we do not take field trips at all, but try to provide other experiences at school. It is very important to check your childs folder daily. Your childs folder will be used to send home classroom work and other important information. Please use your childs folder to send in notes, lunch money, etc. Please do not put these things in your childs backpack. Folders get checked daily, but back packs do not.

Gym class with Mr. Groninger will be a special class that your child participates in weekly. Gym shoes will be required for participation in class.

Students will have some homework in Kindergarten. Homework assignments will be outlined on a monthly calendar form and will go home at the beginning of each month and be due at the end of the month. Parent and Teacher Conferences are held at the end of the first quarter. Watch for information and reply accordingly. Conferences will be held during on the evenings of October 8th and 9th. Communication is important. Feel free to contact me whenever you have a question or concern. You can reach me by phone and e-mail or by simply writing a note. If you leave a voice-mail , please be sure that it is not a change in transportation or something that I need to know that day! There are many times that I cannot check voice-mail until after dismissal. In this case leave a message with the school secretary. Class Number: 988-6221 Office: 988-6200 Email: Teresa.hay@wayne.k12.in.us

Independence is a goal for students because it builds self-esteem and selfconfidence. Kindergarteners are very capable of doing many things on their own and I encourage them to do as much as they can for themselves in the classroom. Please work on the following skills at home with your child: zipping, tying, dressing, etc.

Discipline is simple. We work hard as a class to make the classroom a positive and safe place for all. Our ARMOR includes a school-wide positive

Writing takes place every day in Kindergarten! One way we accomplish this is through free writing in our journals and through Writers Workshop. Encourage your child to write at home for a variety of purposes. Its a very important component in the development of literacy skills!

Keep updated by reading the classroom newsletter and checking folders every day for other notes and information. You can also visit the MSD of Wayne Township website to find other helpful information and links specific for parents. The website is www.wayne.k12.in.us.

Open House for Kindergarten usually consists of this Kindergarten Orientation Parent Meeting. There are other open houses in the evening early in the year for grades 1- 6. Kindergarten does not usually participate.

Kindergarten classes will visit the Media Center with Mrs. Griffin once a week. Books are checked out, but are kept here in the Kindergarten classrooms to read and enjoy. Books are not taken home in Kindergarten. When lunch money is sent to school, please use a marked envelope so teachers know the moneys purpose and amount. Students are set up with a lunch account and a card. They do not handle cash or coins through the lunch line. It is better to pay for lunch by week or month. You may also take care of your childs lunch money by setting up an online account at www.mylunchmoney.com. Teachers are unaware of your childs account balance. For questions regarding your childs lunch account, please call Judy Allen at 988-6291. (Please note if your lunch account reaches a negative balance, your child will be served an alternative lunch of a peanut butter sandwich and milk.) Students will eat lunch in the cafeteria. If your child has allergies, please let your teacher know. Your childs teacher will notify the cafeteria staff of them. (Your childs teacher will not be on lunch duty.) Parents are welcome to come and eat with their child. Please be aware that school policy is that no outside restaurant food may be brought into the cafeteria. Visitors may pay for a school lunch with cash. (Student cards may ONLY be used for students.)

When picking up your child during school hours, please use the main office doors and sign in with the secretary. Ms. Lewis is our schools principal and Ms. Shelton is our assistant principal. Your child will be learning many routines, rules, and procedures during the first few weeks of school. Routines and procedures contribute to your childs academic success.

Questions? Please feel free to call, email, or send a note!

Kindergarten report cards will be sent home 4 times during the school year. Kindergarteners have recess one time during the day. Please check with your childs teacher for their designated time. It is also important to bring a coat or jacket on days that it is cold or chilly. If your child does not have the proper attire on a day we are going outside, they will have to stay inside with another kindergarten teacher during their recess time.

The children will have music class weekly as a part of their special class rotation with Mrs. Hill. The Kindergarten Math curriculum provides students with mathematical experiences that help them develop number sense and a positive attitude towards mathematics continuing throughout their school career and lives. Many of our math concepts are developed through our daily calendar routine. If you need to send in money to the school (for your lunch account, fundraisers, etc.), please make sure it is in a sealed envelope with your childs name, amount, what it is for, and your teachers name. This will help us know where the money is to go! If your child needs to take medication at school, you will need to contact the school nurse and follow the direction given on how to take care of this. Students MAY NOT bring in over the counter or prescription medications in their backpack to school. This includes cough drops. All medication is dispensed by the school nurse.

Your child will be learning to read! We introduce them to various reading activities. Students participate in whole-group reading instruction, literacy stations, and also read with a small group of students who read at their same level with the teacher.

The focus of the Kindergarten Science curriculum is on developing an awareness of the world in which we live. Science concepts and skills will be taught mostly through use of language arts and literature. The Kindergarten Social Studies curriculum focuses on the students and how they relate to others in their families, classroom, school, and community. Social Studies concepts and skills will be taught mostly through use of language arts and literature.

A classroom newsletter will be sent home from the teacher to keep you informed about what is happening in our class. Please make sure to read this carefully as it will often have very important information. Remember to send notes to your childs teacher using your childs folder. You may even want to remind your child they have a note in their folder for their teacher. This will help ensure the note gets to the teacher.

If your child has any changes in their transportation please let me know in writing, by email, or by voice mail: 988-6220 If you are leaving a voicemail or sending an email to notify us of a change, please remember this should not be left or sent the same day of the transportation change. Call the office 988-6200 and leave a message with the school secretary in those cases.

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Volunteers and visitors must sign -in with the front office and pick up a badge. Volunteers must have a free criminal background check. Please see the office for a form. Family vacations are wonderful opportunities for your family, however, please be sure to let us know that you are planning on taking a vacation (during school time). There are some cases where I can send work prior to your leave, but not all!

Your idea and suggestions are ALWAYS welcome!

Zzzzzzz Your child will be tired as they adjust to a full school day. You can help them be successful by setting and keeping consistent bedtime routines!

In Kindergarten, students are introduced to a variety of high frequency sight words. Please check the classroom letter and familiarize yourself with the high sight words and help them practice at home.

Parents and family members may eXit and enter via the main school entry.