The “ABC’s of Kindergarten” is an excellent reference guide. If you have any question, first look here.
For example, if you wanted to know about the classroom birthday policy, look under the letter “B” for the word, “Birthday.”
A
Absence:
If your child is ill, please call the office. If a student must leave early for a doctor’s appointment, you must sign him or her out at the office. The office will call down to the classroom, and your child will walk to the office to meet you. The office can only allow a person on your child’s “Green/ Emergency Card” to pick up your child.
Attendance:
A successful school experience is the responsibility of the child, 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.
B
Backpacks:
Please have your child bring their backpacks every day. An essential thing to do is check your child’s folder each night.
Birthdays in the classroom:
I love to celebrate the milestones in your child’s life. We do have some school and classroom expectations for your child’s birthday:
- Parents do not attend this quick birthday celebration.
- Send in the small snack in the morning.
- This small snack should be store-bought and prepackaged. I need to read the ingredients list before I can hand out birthday treats. Due to allergies, I cannot serve homemade treats, store-bought bakery goods or cupcakes.
- Homemade goods, cupcakes and bakery goods that do not include the ingredients will be sent back home. Thank you for creating a healthy environment for our class.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES INVITATIONS:
Children and families are allowed to pass out invitations to personal birthday parties only if they invite everyone in the class. If you would like to only invite a few people, you are welcome to mail the invitations by using addresses found the PTA Family directory. Due to privacy laws, if an address is not listed, I am not allowed to give it out.
Book Orders:
Periodically, I will send home a Scholastic Book Club Catalog 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! If you choose to order, please make the check payable to Scholastic Books.
C
Conferences:
If you would like to talk to me, please call and set up a time. If you come during the school day, I might be busy, so I would not be able to have a meeting with you at that time. During November there will be a Parent Teacher Conference day, so that I may meet with every family to discuss your student’s education.
D
Discipline:
Our classroom is a small community where teamwork and healthy relationships are expected. We will spend time learning class procedures and practicing them. Each student is expected to act within our standards of behavior. To establish reasonable order and help the children learn self-control, they will be guided to respect themselves and their companions through specific directions, positive reinforcement, suggested new activities and responsible actions.
E
Email:
You can contact me through email at rivereubanks@wlcsd.org
Emergency Card/ “Green Card”:
Please complete and return the emergency card promptly (if you did not complete it during registration). If your home or work phone number changes, inform the office so you can be located quickly if an emergency occurs.
F
Fire Drills:
All students will participate and are expected to walk quickly and quietly to their designated exit. We will practice and become familiar with these procedures before our first scheduled drill.
G
Gym:
We have gym three times a week. Please wear or bring your gym shoes for these special days!
H
Hands-on-learning:
I feel that the best way to help children learn is to make learning fun; essential concepts can be learned by doing meaningful hands-on activities. There are times when seat work is required and necessary, but for the most part, our classroom will be an active learning environment.
Health:
Please let me know of special circumstances that may affect your child. These could include medication that may make your child sleepy, a death in the family, etc. Also, please let me know of any allergies your child may have, especially food allergies. We sometimes cook or do food activities to complement lessons in kindergarten, and it would be helpful to know these allergies when I plan our recipes.
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 essential, 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:
Children learn to read by reading, and they need plenty of opportunities to read independently. Sufficient time and appropriate materials are necessary to develop and strengthen reading abilities. By giving your child 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.
J
Journals:
One strategy that will be used to help convey the vital concept that “print carries the meaning” is the frequent use of journal writing. In these journals, the kindergartners combine their emerging writing skills with their drawing skills. As the children are exposed to a variety of phonics and reading experiences, journal entries will move from pictures and “inventive” spellings towards more conventional writing. Many times we put our “journal writings” into folders.
K
Kindness:
Students, teachers, staff, and parents in our classroom are encouraged and expected to treat all members of our class as well as others with kindness and respect.
L
Library/Media Center:
The children go to the library one day a week.
Literacy Centers:
During literacy centers, children practice reading and writing skills while the teacher works with individual children or small guided reading groups. The center activities are designed to strengthen letter/sound knowledge, listening skills, oral language expression, rhyme, letter formation, and cooperation.
M
Math:
The kindergarten mathematics curriculum provides students with experiences that help them develop number sense and a positive attitude towards mathematics that will continue through their school career and their lives. We employ a hands-on, problem-solving approach.
N
Newsletter:
Please check my classroom website for the current newsletter.
O
Our Class Pledge:
When we care about each other and our class, we share what we have, listen carefully, help each other learn, work hard, and have fun together. We understand that everyone makes mistakes, we stand up for ourselves and others, and when someone asks us to stop, we stop. This is who we are, even when no one is watching!
P
Parent Involvement:
Your support of school activities makes your child feel important and sends the message that you value school! We are always happy to have your help for special events in the classroom too. Parent Volunteer Form- If you would like to volunteer in the classroom, please fill out the paper form or this online form.
Parties:
There are two main parties each year—Halloween and Valentine’s Day. The room parents usually organize these events and coordinate volunteers and donations. All are welcome to participate in the festivities!
Pleasant Lake Elementary
4900 Halsted Road
West Bloomfield, Michigan 48323
Main Line: 248-956-2800
Absent Hotline: 248.956.2890
Q
Questions:
Since so many of you are new to Pleasant Lake Elementary this year, I am sure that you may still have some unanswered questions. Please feel free to call me at school or email me at rivereubanks@wlcsd.org
R
Report Cards:
There are four report cards a year. These reports reflect the progress your child has made toward various kindergarten objectives and uses a grading system that reflects the developmental nature of kindergarten learning.
Room Parents:
The room parents’ job is to help coordinate parties and activities. Being a room parent is a great way to be involved in your child’s school life. You may sign up to become a room parent at our Curriculum Night.
S
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 learn 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:
There are two short, snacks daily. Please make sure that these snacks are healthy (fruit, pretzels, vegetables).
T
Toys:
Bringing toys to school is discouraged because they distract the children from learning. If a toy is accidentally lost or broken, feelings will be hurt.
U
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.
V
Visitors:
Pleasant Lake Elementary has a policy that ALL GUESTS (including familiar faces) are required to check in at the school office. Pleasant Lake Elementary welcomes and encourages family involvement. It is important to remember that while this may seem inconvenient to frequent visitors, it is the goal and responsibility of the school to create a safe learning environment.
W
Website:
Check in regularly to find information about curriculum, special events, and school news.
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 imperative 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.
X
XXV (25)
There are about 25 students in our class.
(I know this letter is a stretch, but it follows the pattern.)
Y
Your Support:
You know your child the best. I want to be the best teacher for your child. Please let me know if there any way I can make your child’s kindergarten year the best it can be.
Z
ZZZs:
Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. Setting and keeping bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give to your child. It will help them to be alert and ready to learn each day!