Kindergarten -Stacy Reindeau

 

Dear Families,

Welcome to Kindergarten at Westmoreland School! I hope that you are excited and looking forward to a year of learning and fun. I am so excited to start this journey with you, and I have so many fun and enriching activities planned.

The beginning of the school year is an exciting time in the lives of children, especially Kindergarten students. This letter was prepared to answer any questions you may have concerning procedures in our room and in our school. Please let me know if you have further questions. I was in your shoes last year with my daughter, and I know how confusing and overwhelming it can sometimes be.

Specials
Your students will be leaving the classroom and/or working with other teachers for physical education, music, guidance, library, health, and art. Here is their daily schedule for those specials:
Monday: PE, music
Tuesday: music, guidance
Wednesday: library, PE
Thursday: health
Friday: art

Materials
All of the basic supplies such as crayons, pencils, glue, scissors and paper are provided to your child here at school. You do not need to worry about purchasing these items for your child. However, a few basic items should come to school:
-Standard sized backpack (no wheels please!)
-A change of clothing, including shirt, pants, socks, and underwear. Please
bring them in a Ziploc freezer bag and label all items. These will remain at
school in the event of an accident.
-An extra pair of athletic shoes to remain at school for inside use. Please make
sure they are easy to take off and put on again. Velcro or toggle sneakers work
out best for Kindergarten students.
-A snack for snack time
-a beach towel or small blanket to cuddle for rest time.

PLEASE LABEL JACKETS, BACKPACK, TOWEL OR BLANKET, AND CLOTHING WITH YOUR CHILD’S NAME.

Money
Periodically, your child will bring money to school for lunch, milk, field trips, book club orders, etc. When sending money to school, be sure to use an envelope or Ziploc bag clearly marked with your child’s name, what the money is for, and the amount enclosed. Please send exact change when sending cash. If the school provided an envelope, please completely fill out all of the requested information on the front of the envelope.

Lunch
The cost of student lunch is $2.00 a day. Please refer to the school lunch program information provided by the school for more information about payment methods, etc. Menus are sent home every month. Please help your child select the menu items. If the lunch item is not something your child likes there is an option of cereal or peanut butter and jelly. If your child brings his/her lunch from home, please label the box or bag. On Fridays Kindergarteners may purchase ice cream for a dollar after eating their regular lunch.

Snack
We have a short 15 minute snack break at 10:15 every morning. Please provide a small, nutritious, self-serve snack. Please do not send in snacks that need to be refrigerated, heated, or otherwise prepared by an adult.

Clearly label your child’s snack bag with his/her name. If you are sending lunch with your child, please make sure that snack and lunch are NOT in the same bag. This helps avoid confusion about what is for lunch and what is for snack.

Transportation
Please remember to notify me in writing if there are any changes in the way your child will be going home from school. Without written instruction from you, we will send your child home in the usual manner. We cannot accept verbal exchanges from your child or a sibling. Please do not e-mail transportation changes. I cannot guarantee that I will have the opportunity to check my e-mail prior to dismissal. Additionally, substitutes do not have access to my e-mail account. If a last minute transportation change arises, please call the front office before 1:00 and they will notify me.

I have found that it makes everything go smoother if your child uses the same transportation on the first day of school as (s) he will be using the rest of the year. I highly recommend allowing your child to ride the bus to and from school. Not only do the kids absolutely love riding the “big kids” bus, you will avoid the hassle of carpool and your child will always arrive on time. If you want to walk your child to the room the first day, I understand. However, I feel that it is best for everyone if you allow your child to walk independently after the first week of school. Independence is an important skill learned in Kindergarten. Don’t forget that your child must be in line outside by 7:50 to avoid tardiness.

Attendance
Your child should be at school every day unless he/she is sick or observing a religious holiday. If you child is not feeling well, has had a fever during the last 24 hours, or is in any way contagious, PLEASE allow him/her to stay home from school as we want your child and the rest of the class and teachers to stay healthy.

Volunteers
I enjoy having parents come to school to help us learn! Beginning in September, you will be given the opportunity to sign up to volunteer in our class or at Westmoreland School. Some volunteer opportunities for our class include room parent, mystery readers, party planners, classroom preparation, field trip chaperones and helpers at special events. The board implemented a new plan for volunteers. About 45 days prior to volunteering, a criminal background check needs to be submitted and returned from the state with clearance. Look for more information about this coming home from Mrs. Cargill.

Field Trips
Throughout the year I will schedule trips into the community to enhance the curriculum. Permission slips and cost information will be sent home prior to each trip. Transportation is provided by Westmoreland’s bus guru, Mr. Richard Delano. Possible field trips include the Colonial Theater or Alyson’s Apple Orchard.

You will have the opportunity to volunteer to be a chaperone for a field trip. Due to space requirements, the number of volunteers will be limited for each trip. When the field trip permission slip is distributed, if you are interested in chaperoning please let me know as soon as possible. Chaperones will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis. Please understand that I will make every attempt to give each parent the opportunity to go on at least one trip.

Chaperones will be responsible for 3-5 children while we are away from school. Since you need to devote all of your attention to the students, siblings are not permitted to accompany you. Thank you for you cooperation.

Clothing
Kindergarteners are involved in activities that require jumping, running, climbing, and the like. Athletic shoes are required on PE days. Please keep in mind that your child will participate in outdoor activities daily and flip flops, slip-ons, clogs, and similar style shoes often pose a danger to your child. Since I try to maximize the time that we have, I cannot help your child change shoes for recess or PE. Therefore, it is best to send your child in shoes that are easy to get on and off. Velcro and toggle ties are recommended. When choosing clothing for school, choose clothes that are easy to get on and take off for toileting. I strongly suggest pants with elastic bands and easy clasps. Do not send your child with a belt of any kind! In the event of a toileting emergency belts can be too difficult for your child to navigate independently. In class, students will be cooking, painting, using markers, using glue, working with play dough, and other messy stuff. Please select clothing that is both comfortable and appropriate for these activities.

Rest Time
Kindergarteners are busy people during the school day! We use our brains and bodies to learn and play. As a result, we need time to rest and re-energize. Your child will have a short 20 minute rest period each day. As the school year progresses, we will gradually eliminate the rest period in preparation for the full day in first grade. Please provide a small blanket or beach towel for your child. Please do not send in stuffed friends for your child to rest with. These items are among the worst carriers of lice and other critters and NOBODY wants that! Your child is not required to sleep but must relax on his or her spot quietly and not disturb the other resting children. The lights are turned off and soft music fills the room for a relaxing down time.

Friday Folder
Each week, I will send home this folder with your child. In this folder you will find work for the week, my weekly newsletter, and any notices that need to be sent home. You will also find a communication book where we will be able to write back and forth to each other. If you have a pressing matter or question that cannot wait for the communication book, then please feel free to call me at school (399-4421) or e-mail me at sriendeau@sau29.org.

Are you ready to run yet!!!! I know this was a lot of information, but I want to keep you as informed as I can throughout the year. You are a huge piece in the puzzle for your child’s education. I am excited to work together so that Kindergarten is a success for everyone. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!!!!!!