Welcome to Kindergarten!
Ms. Vicki Sittig, Classroom Teacher
Mrs. Mary Rief, Classroom Assistant
2009-2010
Kindergarten Websites
ALPHABET
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LETTERS
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ANIMALS |
WORDS |
OTHER ACTIVITIES
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THE WHATELY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM
The kindergarten year will be one of the most exciting and important years in your child's school experience. You will see tremendous growth and development in your child. He or she will be immersed in a classroom environment where language development and socialization are priorities. In our classroom, creativity is valued and problem-solving skills are sharpened. Your child will have regular opportunities to make choices and to exercise responsibility for making those choices. He or she will learn important social skills, such as sharing, respecting others' feelings and opinions, and resolving conflicts in constructive ways. Your child will also develop skills that help build a solid foundation for successful reading, writing and mathematical thinking.
Our kindergarten
schedule includes Morning Meeting, Writing Workshop, Work Board, snack,
recess, lunch, Quiet Time, and Free Choice. Our specials are gym, library
and vocal music. We hope to continue our weekly art class as well.
We feel fortunate to offer your child a full-day kindergarten program, which provides the range of learning experiences that are important for young children. We offer a structured work time in the morning, in which children participate in mostly teacher-initiated activities, such as handwriting practice, literacy activities, art projects and math and science investigations.
We have a more relaxed pace in the afternoon, in which most of our activities are child-initiated. During this Free Choice time, children choose from a variety of learning centers, including blocks, play house, games, sand and water, science, writing, art, math, computer and more. These activities are staples of a quality, developmentally-appropriate kindergarten program, and are valued as much as the structured math and literacy activities of the morning. The afternoon also provides us with the opportunity for in-depth project work, which may last for three or more weeks. For example, one year the children decided to learn about restaurants, which led to visiting a restaurant and setting up their own classroom restaurant. We also use this afternoon time to give children the extra assistance they may need in completing their work or developing specific skills. Small-group reading lessons often take place in the afternoon as well.
The following information should be of assistance to you in your effort to support your child's success at school:
HOURS - Children are expected to arrive in the classroom between 8:40 and 8:55 AM. Please don't bring your child earlier, as that is our set up time. It is preferable that kindergartners arrive prior to 8:55, as this is a nice "settling in" time. Dismissal is at 3:00. On Curriculum Days and other "half days", the entire school is dismissed at 12:00.
TRANSPORTATION - Whately has two buses, W-1 and W-2. If there is a day when your child needs to go home on a different bus or get off at a different bus stop, you must send us a note. Also, if your child usually rides the bus, and one day you want to pick him or her up at school, you must send us a note. Otherwise, your child will be put on the bus if we don't see you, regardless of what your child tells us.
SNACK -Your kindergartner needs a nutritious snack every morning. For the last few years, parents have been sending in a whole-class snack on a rotating schedule. This usually means each family sends in a snack (with juice) about once a month (a small class means families send in snack more often). Parent participation in our snack program is optional. We do occasionally ask for a small donation of money to cover the costs of cooking ingredients and extra snacks.
LUNCH - School lunch is available for $2.75 per day. If you wish for your child to have a school lunch every day, it is convenient for all involved to pay in advance ($13.75 every Monday). Children who bring a home lunch can purchase milk for .50 cents a day ($2.50 every Monday, if you wish). PLEASE always send in any money in a labeled envelope, letting us know which days your child is having lunch or milk.
QUIET TIME - Your child will have a chance to rest after lunch time. We find that kindergartners really need this down time, and during the first half of the year we do have children falling asleep. We provide a darkened room, rest mats, soothing music, and stories. As the children's need for sleep decreases, we may offer books for them to read. Children need a cozy blanket and cuddly toy for this time. In the spring we usually eliminate Quiet Time, replacing it with an additional recess and instructional time.
CLOTHING - We get messy in kindergarten, so it's best not to send your child in the very best clothes. We encourage the use of smocks, but they don't always do the trick! Play shoes such as sneakers are best, and a must for gym days (Mondays and Fridays). If you send your child to school in rain or snow boots, please be sure there are school shoes in his/her cubby or backpack. Appropriate winter clothing is a must! This includes snow boots, gloves, hats, snow pants and warm coats. Children not dressed properly may miss out on the fun outside! Also, each child must have a set of extra clothes on hand incase of spills and other accidents.
HOMEWORK -Yes, we have "homework" in kindergarten. The assignments are one way for you and your child to work together on the skills and concepts we're learning throughout the year. It's also a good way for your child to practice remembering to bring or return things to school. Homework is given about twice a month and your child will probably need your support with the completion of it, as well as with remembering to bring it to school.
SHARING - When it's your child's V.I.P. week, s/he gets to share every day! Once everyone has had a chance to be V.I.P., turns to share will be the same day as their day to bring in class snack. Sharing is the same as “show and tell”, when your child brings in an item (toy, object from nature, pet, book, etc.) or tells us something special.
V.I.P. - One of the many ways we let the children know how special they are is by giving them a chance to be our "Very Important Person." For one week your child will get to have some special privileges, such as being the line leader and being able to share every day of the week. You may also come visit the classroom as a special guest and tell the class a bit about yourself, your family, or your job. A family pet could even visit that week. We have a special V.I.P. board on which family photos and special mementos are displayed, so please be sure to get those to us when it's your child's turn. You will be notified when your child's week is approaching.
LIBRARY BOOKS -Your child will visit the school library once a week. S/he will hear a story and check out a book for one week. Please help your child remember to return his/her book on time so s/he can take home a new one.
OVERNIGHT BOOKS—Your child will have regular opportunities to bring home "easy reader" books from our classroom library. These books need to come back the next day so that other children may enjoy them as well. Also, books your child has read during Guided Reading lessons will come home once reading lessons begin. You may keep these for a few days, so that your child has many opportunities to read them.
BIRTHDAYS - We recognize that birthdays are important, and celebrate them with a song and card. Although we don't have birthday parties, parents are welcome to send in a birthday treat for the class on their child's Big Day. (If someone else is signed up to provide snack on that day, please contact the parent about switching snack days with you.) If your child is having a party and inviting some kindergarten friends to it, please encourage your child to not announce this in the classroom. Please mail the party invitations instead of bringing them to school, to avoid hurt feelings. Furthermore, please understand that having children come to school with presents for an after-school party may hurt the feelings of those not invited.
VOLUNTEERS - We value
parents' input and support. If you can help the kindergarten program
in any way,
we welcome you. We need parents to assist in the classroom, help make
materials, donate supplies for special projects, and occasionally contribute
refreshments for class celebrations. If you are unable to help us
in any way, we do understand!
SPECIAL EVENTS - You will be kept
informed of both school-wide and kindergarten events through school
newsletters and other notices your child brings home. There is an Open
House in the fall, two parent-teacher conferences, an all-school student
concert in the spring, and many other wonderful events for your family
to enjoy. The only kindergartenevent we
know all parents will want to attend is our culminating celebration
in the spring in which we showcase our work and entertain our guests.
You will be informed well in advance of this important event so that
you can clear your calendar!
FRIDAY FOLDERS - Every Friday your child will bring
home a folder containing classroom news, school work, and school notices.
There is also a parent-teacher comment page which can be used as needed. Please
be sure the folder is returned on the following Monday.