Absences

Children need to be free of fever for 24 hours before returning to school. Be sure to call us and let us know if your child will be absent for any reason.

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.

Arrival

Children should plan to arrive between 8:30 and 8:45 AM. Students should not arrive prior to 8:00 AM since supervision is not available by the school staff.  School begins promptly at 8:45 AM and afternoon dismissal is at 2:15 PM. Aftercare is available until 3:00 PM.

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 contents of the backpack with you daily.

Birthdays

Birthdays are special occasions for young children. If your child wishes, he/she may bring treats for the class. We will usually share this at our snack time.

Book Orders

Every so often I will be sending home book order forms for you and your child to look over. These clubs offer wonderful books at reduced prices – what a great way to build your home library! Ordering books is an option, not a requirement.

Centers

The best way for kindergarten children to learn is through active play. Part of our day will be spent in learning centers. I carefully plan the activities in each center to develop skills and meet the needs of all the students in the class.

Clothes

Please send your child to school in clothes appropriate for learning. Do not send your child to school so "dressed up" that you might be concerned about her or him "getting dirty." Becoming involved in kindergarten activities often means that the students will get a little "messy."

Conferences

Parent/Teacher conferences are scheduled at the end of October and again in March. At these conferences, we will be discussing your child's accomplishments, strengths and overall progress.  Please feel free to schedule additional conferences at any time throughout the year if the need arises.

Computers

Kindergarten students go to computer lab once a week. Classroom computers are used for reference, class books and various other projects.

Differentiation

Because all children are unique and special, they may be at many different instructional levels. Since it is my responsibility to take each child from where he or she is to a higher level, students may be learning concepts different from his/her peers.  With this type of teaching in the classroom, you can be sure that your child's individual needs will be met.

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 classmates through specific directions, positive reinforcement, suggested new activities and responsible actions.

Dismissal

Children are dismissed out the back Kindergarten door into the hallway near the aftercare room. Please pick your child up there. Please let us know if someone other than Mom or Dad will pick up your child.

Envelopes

When sending money (cash or check) to school, please put it in a sealed envelope labeled with your child's name, what the money is for, and the teacher's name. This insures all the money gets to school and we know what to do with it.

Emergency

Closings

If da Vinci is closed due to weather, or if opening is delayed, it will be listed with the television channels 4, 5 or 8 after 6:00 am.   If an emergency occurs during the day, parents will be called individually.

Field Trips

We plan numerous field trips that are both fun and educational for the children. We often need parent volunteers on the trips, and chaperones will be chosen on a first come, first serve basis.  Look for information in the Newsletter or on the Kindergarten door.

Fire Drills

Fire drills are held periodically throughout the year.  All students will participate and are expected to walk quickly and quietly to their designated exit.  We will practice and become familiar with procedures before our first scheduled drill.

Footwear

Please have your child wear shoes that are appropriate for running and active movement. Cowboy boots or dress shoes, for example, are not good for school activities because they are slippery and inappropriate for the gym or the playground.

Friday Folders

In an effort to consolidate information going home with students, I will be sending home Friday Folders.  The folders will include all notices, flyers, and completed work.  Please be sure to look through the folder as it may contain information regarding the upcoming week.

Got Questions?

Please feel free to call Ms. Janet at school 214-373-9504 or at home 972-226-7904 if you have any questions or concerns.

Guided Reading

The definition of guided reading encompasses a wide variety of behaviors. For example, some children may be working on alphabet recognition, some may require teacher support to read stories with predictable text, while others may read simple texts independently. 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

We will have Gym 3 times a week.

Hands-on Learning

I feel that the best way to help children learn is to make learning fun. Important concepts can be learned by doing meaningful hands-on activities. There are times when seatwork is required and necessary, but for the most part, our classroom will be an active learning environment.

Homework

There is no regularly scheduled homework in kindergarten.  Children will be bringing home “TAKE HOME” books to keep in their book box to practice their reading skills at home. In the Spring, we will have easy spelling tests to help them feel successful and alleviate the fear of test taking.

Illness

The question of when to keep your child home from school is often a difficult one, especially when decisions must be made first thing in the morning.  It is important, however, to keep your child home if he/she is ill. This helps to make them more comfortable and prevents others from becoming ill.  Children function more effectively in the classroom when they are healthy. 

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 school and at home, we can work together to provide a literature-rich environment and a life-long love of reading.

Kindness

Students in our classroom are encouraged and expected to treat all members of our class as well as others with kindness and respect. Hitting, fighting, name-calling, and making fun of others will not be permitted. 

Literacy Centers

During literacy centers, children practice reading and writing skills while the teacher works with small guided reading groups.  The center activities are designed to strengthen letter/sound knowledge, listening skills, oral language expression, rhyme, letter formation, cooperation, etc. 

Lost & Found

We have a Lost and Found table in the hallway near the front door. We encourage children to check the lost and found collection for any missing items. We ask that you label clothing items worn to school by your child. This will help us return a lost article to its owner.

Lunch

Lunch will be from 11:45 – 12:15. Please send healthy lunches and limit sweets. Heating lunches in the microwave for an entire class is nearly impossible and takes me away from the class, so please don’t send items that need to be heated.

Math

The kindergarten mathematics curriculum provides students with mathematical experiences that help them develop number sense and a positive attitude towards mathematics that will continue through their school career and their lives.  We use the Mathematics Their Way series, which utilizes a hands-on, problem solving approach.

Music

We try to incorporate music in to our class everyday through songs, finger plays, listening for enjoyment, learning new songs, and appreciating music from different cultures.

Newsletter

I will be sending home a newsletter every week in the Friday Folder.  This is a great way to stay abreast of our curriculum, classroom news, special activities and upcoming events.

Outside Time

The children will be going out for a 20-minute recess every day.  Please keep this in mind when helping your child to select clothing for the day. 

Parent Involvement

Your support of school activities makes your child feel important and sends the message that you value school!   There will be a variety of special classroom activities and celebrations throughout the school year.   I hope that you can come and join in the fun!

Parties and Celebrations

We will have class parties from time to time for occasions such as Thanksgiving Feast, December Holiday Party, and Valentine’s Day. There may be sign up sheets for you to send in food or party items to help us celebrate!

Quiet Time

When the children come in to class from lunch recess, they will “rest their heads and their voices” for about 5 minutes every day. This gives them a chance to settle down, cool off, and make the transition to the afternoon activities.

Report

Cards

Report cards are issued two times a year, in October, and March. during our conference time. These developmental checklists will provide insight into your child’s progress at school.

Restrooms

The children are encouraged to go to the bathroom as soon as they come into school in the morning, before lunch, and again after lunch recess. At all other times they are free to go to the bathroom as the need arises. They do need to tell me before they go so I can keep track of where they are.

Science

The focus of the kindergarten science curriculum is on developing an awareness of the world in which we live. Through scientific inquiry, concepts will be presented in the life and earth sciences, including the study of animals and plants, the five senses and general health, and the four seasons. These areas will be explored utilizing a literacy based, hands-on approach.

Shared Reading

Shared reading is an interactive process used with the whole class. As the teacher reads a story, children join in on phrases or words that 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

We have snack time mid morning everyday. This helps provide needed energy to get through our morning activities!

Social Studies

The kindergarten social studies curriculum focuses on the students and how they relate to others in their families, classroom, school, and community.  Activities will help the children focus their natural curiosity for the world around them.

Toys

Bringing toys to school is discouraged for a number of reasons. If a toy is accidentally lost or broken, feelings will be hurt. Books are okay to bring in, just please make sure that they are clearly marked with your child's name.

Transportation

Car Pool line is available in the mornings before school at 8:30. Mr. Stan will be outside waiting to guide students into the building. Use of the Car Pool helps relieve parking congestion and also aids in developing responsibility for Kindergarten students.

Unique

Kindergartners learn that they are special and unique.
Kindergartners have opportunities to describe how they are alike as well as different from others. They share their culture and learn about different cultures within the class.

Wish List

Throughout the year we sometimes need supplies above and beyond our classroom materials (such as baby food jars or toilet paper rolls.)  These needs will be posted in the class newsletter.  Extras items that you think we might be able to use are always welcome!

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.

da Vinci Kindergarteners

are X-TRA SPECIAL!!!!!

ZZZZZZs

Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. 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!