Dear parents,
Welcome to our exciting Kindergarten at Haigh Elementary. For those of you who have a child entering the school system, specifically kindergarten for the first time, get ready! You will be amazed at the amount of learning that takes place.
We are excited about our strong Kindergarten team. We have a great combination of talented teachers with qualities that complement and bring out the best in each other. We enjoy working together, sharing ideas, and helping students become readers and learners for life.
As a team and as individuals, our first priority is your child’s education and well-being. We will work methodically to see that each child receives the greatest benefits of our educational program.
We know from experience that parent involvement is essential to maximize the benefits the child gets from his or her school experience. Regardless of the experience and expertise of the teacher, research shows that the biggest and most important factor in a student’s school success is the involvement of the PARENT in daily school experiences. We urge you to become involved by helping your child with homework and projects, joining our PTA, attending school meetings and conferences, volunteering in the classroom, talking with your child about his or her school experiences, and participating in your child’s education daily.
We look forward to working together as a team – student, teacher, & parents – and having a successful year in Kindergarten.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
School begins at 8:35 am. The doors will be locked by 8:40 am. If you arrive late, you will need to go to the office and sign your child in for the day. Please do not knock on the kindergarten doors.
When picking your child up from school, please remain either at the gates or sidewalk area. It is very difficult to get out of our classroom when there is a group of people waiting at the door.
Dismissal for Kindergarten is five minutes earlier than the rest of the school. We will be at our dismissal door by 3:30 pm. If you are running late, please try to let us know. Any children not picked up by 3:40 pm will be walked down to the office to await your arrival.
Backpacks and Lunch Boxes
Be sure to put their first and last name and room number on their backpack and lunch box. Remember to clean out your child’s backpack every night.
Folders
Green Homework folder (it is labeled Read Every Day):
Your child will have a Green Homework Folder that will come home with them daily. Please take a moment and look at the folder and empty it accordingly every night. Your child will need to return the folder the following day. I check each child’s folder first thing in the morning. Any homework, notes to me or to the office will be collected at that time. The goal is twofold: to foster a sense of responsibility within each student and to improve communication between teacher and parent. If you are sending in money for lunch or other things, please place it in an envelope labeled with your child’s name and what it is for.
Communication Log: Â Inside your child’s green folder will be a communication log which will detail your child’s behavior, notes from the teacher, upcoming events, and homework check-in. Please initial the log after reading through the notes and removing all work from the folder.
Homework
The homework packet will be stapled together and have a cover page that includes directions on how to complete each page. On the back of the cover page is a reading log. It is important to read with your child each night for 10 -15 minutes. The rest of the packet will include reading, writing, and math activities to reinforce skills that we have been learning in class. Your child will need your help to complete the homework, but please do not do the assignment for them.
Homework will be sent home on a weekly basis. Homework will come home every Monday and will need to be returned every Friday. If you are unable to turn in your child’s homework by Friday, we will accept the homework packet on the following Monday. After Monday, the homework packet will no longer be accepted. Homework will count as a grade for your child. Being accountable for homework and turning it in on time reinforces personal responsibility and prepares your child for academic success.
Lunch/ Snack
If your child is buying lunch, it is easier to load money onto their ID card by sending in cash or check in an envelope labeled with your child’s name and purpose of money (example: Katie Smith/Lunch Money). If your child will not be having hot lunch, please provide them with a bagged lunch daily.
Snack time is in the morning. Please send a HEALTHY daily snack for your child (i.e: fruit, crackers, yogurt, pretzels, veggies, etc). Please place the snack in a different compartment of your child’s backpack so it is easily accessible. Please DO NOT pack a juice box for snack time. Things often turn sticky when juice is involved. Water bottles are OK to bring to school, please label the water bottle with your child’s name. There is also water available in the room at the drinking fountain. If your child forgets their lunch or snack, please bring it to school at your earliest convenience. If you are unable to drop off a lunch for  your child, we will get them a hot lunch for the day. Their ID card will be charged for the lunch and you can pay the balance at your earliest convenience.
Birthdays
Birthdays are an exciting time of the year for you and your child. Because of allergies, medical conditions and promoting healthy eating habits; our class will be enforcing a non-edible birthday treat policy. Your child will be acknowledged the same way as before, but please send in only items that are non-edible; such as pencils, erasers, tattoos, bubbles, stickers, etc.
Toys from Home
We ask that no toys be brought into school from home. Our classroom is filled with items to keep us busy, and lost or broken toys result in very sad feelings!
Sincerely,
The Kindergarten Team
