Welcome to Kindergarten!
Welcome to the wonderful world of Kindergarten! I would like to take the time to introduce myself to you. My name is Ms. Amanda Wentland. I will be your child’s Kindergarten teacher this year. I will be working to ensure that your child will have an exciting, positive learning experience and will successfully finish the Kindergarten program. I am looking forward to working with your child this year and helping your child to achieve their potential.
Contact information: Ms. Amanda Wentland
You can contact me by phone, email, or in person
- My email address is wentlaa@dearbornschools.org. I check it daily and will respond promptly.
- Please subscribe to my blog at: https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/wentlaa/. As I will update information about our classroom.
- My phone number is 313-827-1800. This number will send your call to my voicemail and you will need to leave a message. I will call you back as soon as possible.
- I feel it is important that we communicate often, but in order for me to give you my full attention I can’t be watching the students while talking to you. If you need to talk to me about your child please wait until all the children have gone home for the day, or let me know and we can set up an appointment.
Arrival /Dismissal:
- Children need to be lined up by 8:00 a.m. at DOOR #3. Class begins at 8:05 a.m. If your child is late you must first report to the office to sign in your child.
- The children will be dismissed at 3:00 p.m. from the DOOR #3. It is very important that you pick your child up on time. They get very worried when parents are late. Once you pick up your Kindergartener you must wait outside for older children. Please do not wait in the hallways for them.
- Also, please let me know if your child will be picked up by someone other than you. If for some reason you need to pick your child up early you must first go to the office to sign him/her and the office will notify me. Please do not come to the classroom until you have checked in the office.
- All children that are bused will ride their regular bus and be dropped off at their regular stop unless you notify the school in the form of a note or phone call.
Classroom Rules:
I expect the children to be respectful and kind to everyone in the classroom and school! Please review these rules your child at home and I will do the same at school.
- Walk inside
- Quiet voices
- Hands, feet, and objects to yourself
- Wait your turn to talk by raising your hand
- Follow direction the first time they are given
- Be kind to everyone
- Share
Students will be learning about our school rules throughout the launch of PBIS-Positive Behavior Intervention Support-more to come on this continuing initiative.
Supplies:
This is a list of suggested supplies. You do not have to purchase the items, but if you would like to donate some of them, it would be greatly appreciated. For the class to use, we would appreciate donations of:
- 1 Box of crayons
- 4 Glue sticks
- 2 Kleenex boxes
- 2 packs of pencils (Please sharpen)
- 1 pack of markers large tip
- 1 pack of dry erase markers (Expo)
- 2 pump hand sanitizer
- Larger Ziploc bags
- Play dough (4 pack)
- 2 Clorox wipes (for keeping our school clean!)
Homework:
I will be sending weekly homework packets home with your child on the first day of the week and they will always be due on the last day of the week. Please make sure to check your child’s backpack daily and empty out old paper that have already been finished. Homework is meant to be an extra practice for your child. Please help your child complete it without doing it for him/her. You may assist your child if he/she needs help. It is not graded, but is important to complete it so that your child is reinforcing the skills that we already learned in the classroom.
Illness:
- If your child is going to be absent please notify the office (313-827-1800).
- If your child is going to miss more than three days please let me know so I can get work together for him/her.
Backpacks:
- Every child should have a backpack labeled with his or her 1st and last name on the inside. Please check the backpacks daily to empty out old paper and school work/letters.
Snacks:
- We eat lunch very early (10:40-11:10) so it is very important that you send a healthy snack for your child every day!
- We will have snack in the afternoon around 1 pm.
- Some good suggestions include: pretzels, crackers, fruit, cheese, a small sandwich, ECT… A water bottle labeled with your child’s name is also allowed. Absolutely “no Junk Food” will be allowed except on special occasions due to the high sugar content…NO cake, donuts, chips, candy, cookies, chocolate, etc. Thanks!
Birthdays:
- I love celebrating birthdays in my class and if you would like to celebrate your child’s birthday at school please let me know in advance. You can send in cupcakes, cookies, donuts, juice, etc…Please no big cakes! Also, you will need to send in napkins or cups if needed! We will celebrate during our afternoon snack time.
Special Classes:
- The following is the tentative schedule as soon as I get the official specials schedule I will send it home. Remember that on GYM days students need to wear appropriate clothing and soft-soled sneakers. If your child does not have appropriate attire he/she will have to sit out.
- Students’ will get to participate in Gym, Art, Music, Enrichment, and Library (time to be announced at a later date).
Just a reminder that this year we are starting the year off the first week of school as half days, students will be dismissed on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 11:00 am, as this is a district initiative called, “Soft Start.” Please be aware that on those days there will be individual conferences set up so that we can get to know our students one-on-one. For scheduling purposes please report back to room 148 on your designated day. I will be following a tight schedule, so please be prompt. More information to come, and students will be scheduled for half an hour on one of the three ½ days in alphabetical order.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I am really looking forward to meeting and working with you and your child this year!
Thank you,
Amanda Wentland ” Your Kindergarten Teacher “ 
welcome-to-kindergarten
