Mrs. Fallwell's Kindergarten Parent Information
2011-2012
I am delighted to be your child’s teacher this year. Kindergarten is a time of new beginnings, of making friends, and of learning lots of new things each and every day.
If you need to contact me for any reason, at any time throughout the school year, feel free to call the school (381-2211) or send an email or note with your child. I will respond as quickly as possible.
Mrs. Angie Fallwell (angie.fallwell@lethsd.ab.ca)
PLEASE NOTE: My lunch hour is VERY short. If you have concerns or would like to chat, please make every attempt to do this either before school if your child is in the morning class, or after school if your child is in the morning class. I would really appreciate it!
KINDERGARTEN HOURS
Monday to Thursday
Morning Class: 8:20am to 11:33am
Afternoon Class: 12:03pm to 3:16pm
DROP OFF AND PICK UP
Please be aware of parking signs around the school. They are there for the safety of your child.
Children are not to arrive earlier than the above times, as there is no supervision provided prior to class time. For safety reasons classroom doors will remain locked until just prior to class time.
If by chance your child is late for school, please stop by the office on your way in. Late children need to pick up a late slip before coming to class. Please be prompt in picking up your children for dismissal time, or phone if unavoidably delayed. Our classes will meet their parents and guardians in the hallway outside our classroom door (Room 3) at the end of each day. On the first day of school you will be asked to complete a form indicating who will be dropping off and picking up your child each day. Your child WILL NOT be released to anyone but these people unless prior arrangements are made.
KINDERGARTEN COMMUNICATES
Please review our Kindergarten Communicates bulletin board often. This bulletin board is located in the hall in between the three kindergarten classrooms. Newsletters and sign up sheets are often posted there.
SNACK DAYS
Each family will be asked to send a low-maintenance (easy set up, easy clean up) healthy snack for the whole class about once every month and a half. The days you are asked to bring in snack will also be your child’s “Special Day”. This is the day mom, dad or other special person, is encouraged to come and be in the classroom as a volunteer. If a parent or other special person is not able to attend on that day, please be sure to let me know as soon as possible so other arrangements can be made if necessary.
We ask that you DO NOT send a snack just for your child unless they need a special snack due to allergies. If this is the case, please speak to your teacher ASAP.
Your snack day will be arranged as close as possible to your child’s birthday. Your child may have an “un birthday” birthday if you choose, if his/her birthday is during the holidays.
Snacks do not have to be large or expensive but must be nutritious. You do not need to bring juice. Water is a great beverage! Please bring along napkins. Cups and plates are provided.
While parents are welcome to bring in a special snack for birthdays, please be aware that many students are VERY affected by sugar and food colorings and this makes any learning that needs to take place after snack, very difficult. Please consider this when you are choosing your child’s birthday snack (many cakes have more icing than cake!). Thanks so much!
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT
We believe that family involvement in learning is essential to each child’s success. This includes a range of activities already mentioned such as supervising on field trips, providing snacks, helping in the classroom and reading at home. If you are a parent willing to help out on a regular basis, such as weekly or bi-weekly, please let us know! As a volunteer you may be asked to assist at a learning center, read to children, supervise simple games, obtain, prepare or clean materials, set up snack, wash snack dishes, assist with bulletin board displays or perform clerical duties. When helping in the classroom, please wear clothing that can survive being splattered with paint, food, etc. We have an open door policy in our kindergarten classes (although many times the door is physically closed to keep noise from our busy activities to a minimum). If you have a free day and would just like to drop by, please feel free to do so.
Siblings are often welcome on a student’s special day and can be a very welcome addition to our classroom! However, if as a parent you feel your younger child will interfere with classroom activities or your ability to assist in the room, please make alternate arrangements for childcare. If after a visit teachers feel having your younger child in the classroom is effecting the learning environment you may be asked to make other arrangements for your next visit.
Finally, if you are a parent with an interest/talent or exciting job that you would like to share, we would be glad to include this in our program!
PERSONAL BELONGINGS
Please keep in mind that clothing, shoes and jackets that are easy to get on and off will be most efficient for your child to have this year at school. We love to play and explore, and this can result in some dirty clothes.
Please make sure that coats, boots, sweaters, hats, mitts etc. are labelled. It really helps us at home time. We encourage the children to take care of their own belongings, ie.. hanging up their own coat and backpack. Please be sure your child can put on and take off his/her own jacket and shoes. It is important that students learn to be independent.
Your child will need his/her backpack every day.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND TOYS TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR CHILD!
FIELDTRIPS
Our kindergarten classes will go on several field trips in order to enhance the classroom experience, including four weekly skating sessions through the month of November. We always use buses as transportation but require parent supervisors to participate in our field trips. We will keep you posted as to when help is needed. Skating times are posted below. Siblings are welcome to join us for our skating trips but are unable to attend most other fieldtrips. Thanks.
KINDERGARTEN ROUTINES
Kindergarten is a very wonderfully active place to be. While our daily activities do vary, there are certain activities that fit into our routine each day.
Most school days begin with group circle time in which we talk about our day, the calendar and share with each other. Circle time evolves throughout the year as the students learn more and more.
Each day also includes a center time, in which students will learn in smaller groups for curriculum-integrated activities such as math, language, art and science.
There is a very strong emphasis on letters, sounds and other literacy concepts in our kindergarten classrooms. By the end of kindergarten, students will be printing words using invented spellings, using beginning reading skills, counting and printing numbers and using beginning problem solving skills.
Students will work individually, as well as in small and large group settings throughout the year.
We have time set aside each day for snack, washroom breaks (in Sept.) and physical play (outdoor or indoor). Kindergarten emphasizes small and large motor skill development; therefore movement is a priority in our program.
NEWSLETTERS AND CALENDARS
Please check your child's backpack daily. There will be monthly snack and kindergarten calendars sent home along with other notices and regular information. Newsletters will be posted on this blog and an email will be sent out to you letting you know each time it has been updated. If you require a paper copy of newsletters, please come and see me!
KINDERGARTEN PROGRESS REPORTS
Your child’s progress will be assessed in an ongoing basis in our room and results communicated as needed. Formal report cards will go home in November, March and June.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Angie Fallwell
