The ABCs

of Kindergarten

Welcome to
Kindergarten with
Mrs. Northrup!
2014-2015

A
Absences - Excessive absences hinder a child's progress. If your child is absent, you
must call the office or send a note to the school when he/she returns. Please include
your child's name, teacher's name, date of absence, and the reason for the absence. If
there is homework, it will be sent home after the student returns to school.
Art - Your child's art teacher's name is Mrs. LaFountain!
Attendance - Regular school attendance is essential for your child to make the most of
his/her education. Please make every effort to have your child at school everyday,
except of course, if he/she is sick.
Alphabet Knowledge - We will learn the letters of the alphabet and the sounds that the
letters make in Kindergarten. We will use this knowledge to blend, segment and to read.
Arrival - My doors will not open until the first bell rings at 8:25 a.m., as I may be out of
the room or busy finishing preparation for the morning.
School begins at 8:25 a.m.

Bus - ALL STUDENTS MUST BE REGISTERED TO RIDE THE BUS. Riding the school
bus is a privilege and improper behavior will not be tolerated. No child may ride another
bus without written permission or a phone call to the office. Your child's safety is in
mind! Please inform the school and First Student Transportation at 423-2706 of ANY
bus changes.
Birthdays - Birthdays are very important to children! If you would like to bring treats
for the class on your child's birthday, you may bring or send them to school in the
morning. We have 22 children in our class. Please send all necessary supplies with your
treat (plates, napkins, etc.) Please DO NOT send a whole birthday cake as it is difficult
to cut and plate up for the whole class.
Book Orders - I will send home Scholastic book orders for you and your child to look
over. If you want to place an order, please make checks payable to Scholastic Book
Club. BE SURE to label orders with your childs name! I allow about a week to look over
the orders before they are due. No late orders will be sent in. Please let me know if the
book order is a surprise/present and I will call you when it comes in.
Backpacks - Your child's backpack should be big enough to hold a folder. Backpacks help
your child carry their folders, notes, projects, and books to and from school. Please
check your child's backpack and folder DAILY.

Clothing - Please dress your child in comfortable clothing that is appropriate for
Kindergarten and the weather. It is a GOOD idea to label all coats and sweaters.
Please send in extra clothing IN A LARGE LABELED ZIPLOCK BAG for your child to be
stored at school. When accidents happen, this makes life easier for everyone. Your
child will also need tennis shoes for gym days.

Conferences - There will be two scheduled conferences throughout the year. I may
schedule an additional conference with you if needed. Please feel free to call me if you
are concerned with anything!!!
Computers - We have five computers in our classroom with Internet access. Your child
will be taught the proper way to use a computer and then be taught to use the
educational software in our classroom. You must sign an internet user form if your child
has permission to use the internet. This is a supervised activity.
Communication - Communication between home and school is very important. If you feel
the need to talk to me, please call the school, send me a note, or email me. I will get
back with you as soon as I can.

D
Dismissal - Dismissal is at 3:40 p.m. on full days, and 11:45 on half days. Please wait
outside my back door as I will collect and dismiss walkers here. We are usually passing
out papers and take-home folders at this busy time of the day.
Delays or School Closings Listen to WLEN, FM 103.9 on the radio for any weather
updates that are related to school or check out the Tecumseh Public School website.

ExCel - Your child will participate in 3 curriculum Enrichment "ExCel" classes throughout
the week; Art, Music, and Physical Education. Our scheduled ExCel time is 1:25 2:25.

Fire Drills - Your child will participate in fire drills throughout the year. We will
practice the procedures before our first fire drill so that your child will be prepared.
Fund Raisers - Our school participates in several fund raisers throughout the year to
raise money for various things for our school. We hope that everyone can participate,
but it is not required.

G
Gym -Your child will participate in gym class. Your child needs to be prepared with gym
shoes. Your child's gym teacher's name is Mrs. Lawson!

H
Homework Beginning soon, your child will have homework to ensure he/she understands
the concepts that are introduced in class. Please be sure to sit down and participate in
your child's homework assignments. Homework is mandatory and individualized to meet
each childs needs.
Handwriting - We use D'Nealian handwriting in our district. An example sheet will be
provided at fall conferences.

I
Illness - Please do not send your child to school if he/she has a temperature or is
hindered by an illness. If your child becomes ill at school, you will be called to come and
get your child. We need at least two working phone numbers on your childs emergency
form at all times, in order to contact you in case of illness or emergency.

J
Journal Writing - We spend time writing in our journals. Journal writing is a process
that begins with pictures and/or scribbles. You will certainly see growth in your child's
writing throughout the year, which will be discussed at conference time.

Kids Kindergarten is a special time for your child. I want to make this experience the
best possible. "Kids come first!"

L
Location Tecumseh Acres is located at 600 S. Adrian Street.
Library - We will have a scheduled library time every week. I will inform you of the day
and time when we schedule that! Please help your child learn responsibility by sending
his/her book back each week. Another book will not be checked out unless the overdue
book is returned.
Lunch - The cost of lunch is $2.50. This price includes a milk. Our lunch time/recess
time is from 12:10-12:50 each day we are in school all day. Please send in lunch money at
the beginning of each week (in a labeled envelope). You can purchase as many lunches in
advance as you would like. Your child may purchase milk for 45 cents if they pack their
lunch.

M
Math Tubs - We use math tubs in addition to our math curriculum. Free exploration in
math tubs is an excellent way to stimulate creativity.
Music - Your child's Music teacher is Mrs. Hunt!
Motor Moms and Dads This is a fun way to volunteer at your childs school. This
program offers movement that will stimulate the brain. All parents that volunteer to
help with this will be trained.

N
Newsletter Please look for newsletters in your childs folder on Fridays. I will keep
you informed as to what we are doing in class and what is happening at Tecumseh Acres!
The school will also send home a newsletter once a month.

Outside - Your child will have outside time daily, weather permitting. Please dress your
child appropriately for the weather.

Pledge of Allegiance - Each morning we will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Parent Involvement - We love Parent Involvement! Please be involved in your child's
Kindergarten year as much as you can.

Parties - We will have various parties throughout the year. You may sign up to help out
with the parties.
PTO - (Parent/Teacher Organization) All parents are encouraged to join the school's
PTO. This is a fun way of getting to know other parents and an easy way to be involved
with what is happening at your childs school!
Phone Numbers : Tecumseh Acres Elementary 423-9744
Mrs. Northrups Voice Mail 423-9744, ext. 5335
Principal at Tecumseh Acres Mr. Lewandowski is our Principal!
Policies: Rules are put into place right from the beginning. Once the students clearly
understand the rules, they are expected to follow them. If a student does not follow a
rule one or more of the following will happen: 1. The student and I will have a private
conversation regarding the incident. 2. If it involves another student, we will discuss it
with him/her. 3. The student may be asked to sit on their letter for a time out followed
by a discussion with me. 4. A parent/guardian will be notified via the telephone, email or
a note. 5. Mr. Lewandowski will be informed and the student may go to his office to be
spoken to. 6. A formal write-up of the incident will take place. Please know that I
typically like to take care of behaviors within my classroom and will only notify
parents/guardians if the behavior continues after I have made multiple attempts to
stop it.

Questions - Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding your
child's education.
Quiet Time For at least the first few weeks of school, we will offer a quiet time area
for the students that seem to want this or need this.

Report Cards Our district operates on a trimester grading period. Therefore your
Kindergarten child will receive three report cards during the year, fall, winter and
spring.
Recess - Your child will have recess everyday after lunch. We will also have a morning or
afternoon recess, weather permitting. Please be sure to send appropriate outdoor
clothing!
Read - Read to your child daily and encourage your child to retell or read to you!
Memorizing a story or picture reading are both forms of READING!
Restrooms - We have a restroom in our classroom and your child is allowed to use them
as needed. Unfortunately, accidents will happen so make sure you send a change of
clothes!

S
Secretary Mrs. Compau, pronounced Compo, is our secretary in the main office! She
is amazing and can answer most questions that you may have.
Snacks On full days of school, we will have a snack in the morning. We will have a snack
calendar with assigned snack providers, beginning in September. Please send in 22

healthy, individually wrapped snacks/baggies with appropriate utensils and napkins to

accommodate the nature of the snack. Children may also choose to eat leftovers from
lunch during the afternoon snack time. Drinks are optional (only drink boxes or pouches
please), we also have a drinking fountain readily available to all the children. Please
consider sending a box of extra snacks for our "forgotten snack" stash.
Sight Words - We will be learning sight words throughout the year. These words are
words we see a lot in our daily reading!

Transportation - If your child will be going home a different way than regularly
scheduled, please let me know by note. No child will be released to another adult unless
they are listed on the emergency form. Please keep the office notified of any changes!
Tardies - Students late to school (after 8:30 A.M.) are considered tardy. It causes a
disruption for our morning routine (attendance, lunch count and announcements from the
office). All tardy students MUST enter at the front of the school and have a parent
sign them in at the main office. School begins at 8:30 a.m.
Toys - Toys from home are not allowed unless approved by Mrs. Northrup beforehand
and then they will be returned the same day. Please label.
Teacher Mrs. Northrup is your childs classroom teacher!

Units and Themes - I will keep you updated in our newsletters as to what we are doing in
class. We do a lot of seasonal activities that are aligned with Common Core!
Unique All children are unique in their learning style! Please practice with your child
and praise their accomplishments of what they can do and what they have learned!

Visitors and Volunteers - Please make sure that you sign in at the office and have a
background check before you come to the classroom! All visitors must enter through
the front entrance of the building! Please prearrange visits with the teacher before
you show up to help in our class!
Volunteers - We always need volunteers after the first month of school. Please sign up
to volunteer during open house or by phone call or note to school. All volunteers must
fill out a form before you work in any Acres classroom. Thank you in advance if you help
in the classroom or at home!

Wish List - This ongoing list will be posted in our classroom and occasionally sent home
with students. Again, thank you in advance for supporting the fun activities we have
planned for Kindergarten!
Workshops - We use workshops in the classroom for active learning. Each day we make
choices about our workshops. When we are in workshops, we are learning to cooperate
with others. This is a time for choices, cooperation, and learning through play.

Kindergarten is eXtra special and eXciting!

Remember an eXtra set of clothes in a large Ziploc bag.

Consider sending in an eXtra snack for the afternoon.

Y
Yearbook - You will have a chance to buy a yearbook. Orders can be placed with fall
pictures. The delivery of the yearbook will be in the late spring!
You You are a major part of your childs education and learning. Lets work together to
make it a GREAT year.

Z
ZZZZ's - Your child should get plenty of rest each night. Kindergarten students
require 10-12 hours of sleep per day. It is so important for your child to be alert and
ready to learn each day. Set a bedtime and be consistent.