1.  Religion: The purpose of Religion at the Kindergarten level is to educate the whole child…body, mind, and spirit, to develop faithful, knowledgeable, and responsible Catholic Christians who continue to strengthen their faith throughout their lives.

2.   Mathematics: The purpose of mathematics at the Kindergarten level is to create experiences that will stimulate the child to problem solve, explore and become aware of mathematics in relation to their daily lives.

3.   Language Arts: The purpose of language arts at the Kindergarten level is to create experiences that will encourage children to listen and express themselves through verbal, written, and dramatic form as they continue to develop the motivation and skills to read and write.

4.   Computers: The purpose of computers at the Kindergarten level is to develop awareness of technology and to become comfortable with the use of computers.

5.   Fine Arts: The purpose of at the Kindergarten level is to stimulate an appreciation of the arts and provide a variety of opportunities for creative expression through music, art, dance, and drama experiences.

6.   Social Studies: The purpose of social studies at the Kindergarten level is to provide preparation for practice of lifelong citizenship and fellowship skills.

7.   Science/health & Safety: The purpose of science/health & safety at the Kindergarten level is to gain an appreciation and respect for all God’s creations.

 

1.    Physical Education (Gross Motor Skills): The purpose of physical education at the Kindergarten level is provide opportunities to develop gross motor skills, companionship, cooperation, and a spirit of good sportsmanship.

2.   Fine Motor Skills: The purpose of developing the use of fine motor skills at the Kindergarten level is to increase children’s small muscle control, eye – hand coordination, and to become comfortable with one’s abilities.

THE ABC’s of KINDERGARTEN 

Alphabet:  This year we will designate a letter for each week for handwriting practice and homework, but we will discuss and review ALL letters all year.  You will find these letters in the classroom newsletter as well as the goal sheets that come home with the report cards. 

Birthdays:  Children may bring in treats on their birthdays.  Drinks aren’t necessary since we have milk/juice every day.  Summer birthdays can be celebrated sometime in the next few weeks; just send me a note or email to set up a date. 

*Bookmobile:  The GPL Bookmobile (mobile library) will visit us this year.  You will soon receive a form to fill out to apply for your child’s library card.  This card will be kept on the Bookmobile all year and then will be given to your child at the end of the year.  Your child will be allowed to choose one book each week from this library.  When one book is returned another book may be checked out.  If your child forgets his/her book then he/she will have to wait to check out another book.  

Church:  The class will be attending mass every Wednesday for all-school mass as well as on Holy Days.  We will sit as a class and pray together with our schoolmates.  For the first several weeks, a fifth grade “buddy” will sit next to your child to help with the kneeler, etc.  This buddy will become a special friend throughout this year.  We will get together with them several times for some fun activities.   

Drop off/Pick up:  Children arriving between 7:45-8:15 should come directly to our room.  If your child arrives before 7:45, he/she will need to report to the gym.  Please remind students to enter school by the East Street door if arriving by car.  After the first few days most children can handle coming to the room on their own, but if you need to come in please park in a lot to avoid blocking other cars.  ½  day classes are from 8:15-12:00.  Please pick up on East St.  We will load cars 2 at a time for safety. I will do my best to be on time if you will do the same.  Students staying all day will be dismissed at 2:40 for bus riders and 2:45 for those going by car.  Dismissal is on EAST St. for those students. 

*Discovery Time:  Every afternoon we have what we call “Discovery” in which students work for awhile in a center to review skills we have learned in the morning and then, once their center is completed, students have free choice activities in the classroom.  It is a good time for building social skills and the important imaginative play that is vital to a young child’s development.  I also use this time to meet one-on-one with students who need some extra attention. 

Envelopes: Anytime you send money to school for milk/juice, book orders, etc., please put it in a sealed envelope clearly marked with name and purpose.  Sometimes even the most reliable students forget what they have and why. 

*Email:  I have found that email is a very handy way to keep kindergarten parents informed of things that come up during the course of the year.  If you are a person that uses email fairly regularly, I would love to add you to my address book so that I can send information and reminders without using reams of paper!  Since I have a busy schedule, it is also a good way to get questions to me while the ideas are on your mind and I can answer you when I have a minute to think.  I check my school email daily, but sometimes not until after the students leave so always call with time-sensitive issues like dismissal changes, etc.   

Family Photos:  During the first several weeks of school we will be doing many activities revolving around getting to know each other and our families.  Please send a family photo for your child to share at circle time.  It is a good idea to have it in a ziplock bag to avoid finger marks.  Your child’s homework includes a sheet to fill out with your child’s name (one letter in each box) at the top followed by a recent photo of the child (glued in the large box) and then some questions to fill in about brothers and sisters, etc. Please fill this out with your child ASAP and return to school. 

Goal sheets:  These will be sent home with each report card to let you know what we will focus on during the coming grading period.  Attached you will find a copy of the goal sheet for the first nine weeks. 

Homework:  There will be weekly homework assignments for your child to complete.  They may be paper/pencil tasks or something to bring in or something to read or discuss at home.  Please check the book bag each night to be sure there is nothing you need to do or read.  I will try to send home all written homework on Monday night to be turned in on Friday (or before). Books will come home on a rotating schedule so be watching and please return them promptly so I can keep them circulating. 

Invitations:  Party invitations may be distributed at school as long as all of the students in the class or at least all of one particular gender are being included.  If your party is going to be smaller than that, please find another way to distribute your invitations so as not to hurt anyone’s feelings. 

Journals:  We have a birthday journal and Kinderpup’s  journal that will be sent home sometime this year for you to help your child fill out.  We will also keep classroom journals that will show progress in writing throughout the year. 

King for the Day:  Each child will have a turn at this honor for a day as we get to know each other and learn to recognize our names.  It will be a surprise as to whose day it is each day! 

Lap Reading:  Beginning in Sept. I will send home Lap Reading sheets every month.  At the end of the month, those who bring them back completed will earn a special reward for reading at home.  This is one example of “Homework”. 

*Lunch Money:  Monday mornings are  the best time to send in lunch money for the week.  Please have the money in an envelope with your child’s name and grade and the words “lunch money” so that we know what it’s for.  You will NOT receive change back, but your account will be credited.  You can pay a large sum at one time and then add more when that runs out, if you’d rather do it that way.  The office will notify you when your account gets below $10. 

Mascots:  Kinderpup, our class mascot, will travel to someone’s home each weekend.  Please help your child fill out the journal and return it to school on the next day of school.

*Milk/Snacks:  Please send $25.00 as soon as possible for morning milk/juice for the first semester.  This discounted price allows a few days off for absences and “not thirsty” days.  I will send a reminder home in January to send in $25.00 for the second semester.  Snacks will consist of the occasional treat for someone’s birthday or something to go along with a theme or holiday.  At this time, I do not plan to have a daily snack, so breakfast is important. 

Newsletters:  I will send The Kindergarten Connection home weekly to keep you informed of what we are doing at school and important dates to remember.  Watch for one each Friday. 

Our Aide:  We are fortunate to have a part-time classroom aide.  Mrs. Laura Rather will be available to assist in both kindergarten classrooms this year.  She will do clerical work as well as helping with centers and giving students some one-on-one assistance as needed.  

Physical Education (gym):  We will have gym class every week on Monday, so please be sure your child has on tennis shoes and comfortable clothes for moving around in.  Dresses are not recommended on gym days.   

*Portfolios (a manila folder) will be sent home with each report card containing samples of work and notes about areas needing special attention.  These need to be returned and kept at school all year.   

Queen for the Day:  (same as King for the Day, see above) 

Reading:  Please encourage your child to read.  There are three types of reading:

• 1)    Reading by telling stories with the pictures

• 2)    Pretend reading

• 3)    Reading by decoding all of the words (“real” reading) 
   

Star Words:  These are words that we have encountered in our writing/reading that your child should be able to read on his own.  We review these words daily and have them posted in the room.  Your child will also have a copy of each word on a laminated slip of paper and all of them will be attached to a ring.  This “Star Word ring” should be in your child’s book bag every day so that we can add new words when we get them but still go home each day for practice with you in the evening.   

Tags:  Please keep the car/walker/bus tag on your child’s book bag for the semester to help drivers, substitutes, etc.  It is also a good idea to have your child’s name on the outside of the bag where it is easy to see. 

Upon returning to school following an absence of any kind, please send a note for me to keep on file for my records.  This is school policy. 

Visiting school:  We would love to have you as guest, but kindly give us the first three weeks of school to get routines established.  Then if you want to come in, just send a note or call to set up a time. 

Word books:  We will use a phonics book called “My Word Book”.  We will add words we use in our journal writing for future reference.  These will come home at the end of the year. 

X:  When we study the letter X, we will not stress it as a beginning sound since it acts differently than most letters.  We will focus on the sound it makes at the end or in the middle of words. 

Young children:  They respond best to a variety of approaches.  Please do not be alarmed if you do not see a lot of papers coming home.  We will use various ways to practice and learn. 

Zoo field trip:  In the past kindergarten has gone to the zoo in the spring.  We will likely go there again.  We will send home information well in advance of this trip.  

Special Note:  Miss Deb Greiwe is the other kindergarten teacher this year.  You will likely hear her name at the dinner table because we will have an afternoon recess for kindergarten only and she and I will take turns being on duty.  We will also get together for other activities throughout the year and we will get together in her room for Discovery Time in the afternoon once a week so your child will be seeing her often.   

            This may seem an overwhelming amount of information to absorb at once.  That is why I suggest you keep it handy so that when you have a question as the year goes on you can refer to this and hopefully have your question answered.  A copy of this document will be on my web page all year so you can refer to it there as well.  Of course, you can always call me to ask any question that comes up at anytime this year.  I look forward to talking with you!

Mrs. Jenny Smith is a proud alumnus of St. Mary’s School, where she graduated from the sixth grade in 1985.  After graduating from Greensburg Community High School in 1991, she went on to attend Ball State University.  She majored in elementary education and completed an additional 15 credit hours in early childhood education in order to receive a kindergarten endorsement on her teaching license.  She graduated from Ball State in 1995 with a B.S. in elementary education. 

She taught five years at St. Joseph Catholic School in Shelbyville, three of those years in the sixth grade and two in second grade, before getting the opportunity to “come home”.  Mrs. Smith began teaching kindergarten at St. Mary’s in the fall of 2000 and there she has happily remained.