ABC's of Kindergarten

A-Attendance
Please take special note of the attendance policy in the student handbook. If your child happens to be absent, please write a note with the date and reason for absence in with your child the next day or call the office to excuse your child.

B-Backpacks
Each child will need a backpack to carry home his/her papers and supplies. Please make sure the backpack is big enough to hold their supplies, homework folder and jacket for the winter time.

C-Centers
Every day your child will participate in centers. Each center will reinforce different skills learned throughout the week. Most centers will focus mainly on letter and sound recognition and various math skills.

D-Drop-Off
If you drop off your child in the morning, please be mindful that the doors do not open until 7:35. Also, your child must be in the classroom by 8:15. If they arrive after this time they will be counted as tardy.

E-Email
A great way to keep in touch with me is through e-mail. My e-mail address at school is delicia.garcia@coolidgeschools.org

F-Folders
Daily your child will take home a folder with completed assignments that were done in class. Please take out the papers and keep them at home. Send the folder back to school empty. At times nothing will be sent home however it is important to check the folders daily due to notices being sent home.

G-Grading
Every nine weeks your child will receive a report card. This report card is performance based and will be an on-going assessment throughout the school year. Please look for more information about the report card during parent/teacher conferences.

H-Homework
Homework

I-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.

J-Join PTO
Heartland Ranch does have a parent teacher organization. Meetings will be held throughout the school year. If you are interested, information is available in the front office.

K-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.

L-Lunch
The school will provide lunch for the children who wish to purchase one. This cost is $2.00a day. Breakfast is also served for $1.00 a day. Breakfast is served beginning at 8:10. Sometimes it helps to pay for your child’s lunch in advance rather than wait for the bill to come. 

M-Money
If you need to send in money for your child for lunches or things of that nature, please put it in a plastic sandwich bag or envelope so that they do not lose money. Write their name on the bag or envelope and write what it is for. Your child should give it to me in the morning and I will put it in a safe place and get it into the right hands that day. If needed, attach a note letting me know what it is for.

N-Notes
If you are in need of talking to me and do not have access to a computer, you may send in a note with your concerns and I will reply as soon as possible.

O-OUCH
The school nurse is available daily for anything that may happen. She is well qualified and knows what to do in any situation. If your child has medications that they need to take daily, they need to be given to the nurse. 

P-Parties
We will have a few big parties throughout the year. I will be sending notes home prior to our parties asking for parent helpers and volunteers for treats. Your child may bring in a treat to help celebrate their birthday if they wish. Please let me know in advance if you will be bringing in a treat for their birthday.

Q-Questions
If you at any time have any questions please feel free to contact me. If you wish to speak to me in person I am available before school from 7:30-8:30 or after school from 2:30-3:30. I would ask that you not come in during the school day hours. I need to focus on teaching my students during the day. It can be hard to get the students back on task with little interruptions during the day. If you wish to call and leave a message during the day, I will call you back at my earliest convenience. You and your child are important to me and I think of us as a team. 

R-Rest Time
Our class will have a short rest time after recess. During this time your child will put their head on their desk and listen to a story for about 10-15 minutes. Please do not send in pillows or blankets with your child. The main focus of rest time is to wind down and cool down from recess.

S-Snack Time
We will have snack time every day. A snack calendar will go home each month and your child will have an assigned day to bring in snack. If you are unable to provide snack on your day, please let me know in advance. Please do not send in things loaded with sugar.

T-Toys
Children are asked NOT to bring in toys from home. They are very distracting. I cannot be responsible for broken toys or hurt feelings caused by them. I do take toys away from my students if they bring them. They are given back at the end of the day with the understanding that they will not bring them back. Please help reinforce this at home.

U-“U”
“U” are important in your child’s education. I would love to have you visit. However, if you stop in, I may put you to work. It will be fun work. Please give me the first two or three weeks to get to know your child and your child to learn the school rules before coming to visit. Heartland Ranch has a policy that all guests are required to check in at the office and wear a guest badge. If you choose to volunteer in the classroom, please check with the front office and follow proper volunteer procedures. If you know ahead of time what day you want to come in, please let me know in advance and I can make sure I have “fun” work for you to do.

V-volunteers
If your choose to volunteer in the classroom, for field trips, or tutoring, please be aware that you will be required to follow proper volunteer procedures.

W-Wonderful specials
Your child will be going to a special nearly every day. Some specials include: PE, Art, Computers, etc. Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes on the days we have PE. Please look for information at a later date on our PE day.

X-Extra Clothes
It is very important that you send in and extra set of clothes in case of a bathroom accident, messy spill or wet and muddy playgrounds. This way we do not have to bother you at work or home. These clothes will stay in our classroom until they are needed.

Y-Younger Siblings
It is in your child’s and the programs best interest to have our parent volunteers available without younger children as much as possible. This not only allows your full attention to be focused on the class, but also allows for some special time between you and your kindergartener. Thank you for making childcare arrangements for younger siblings.

Z-ZZZZ’S
Make sure your child gets plenty of rest. A kindergarten room is a busy place and you will probably find your child exhausted at the end of the day. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give your child. It will help them to be alert and ready to learn each day.