WELCOME TO WELCOME TO KINDERGARTENKINDERGARTENWELCOME TO WELCOME TO

KINDERGARTENKINDERGARTENMrs. Chris BrightMrs. Chris Bright

Rm. K-3Rm. K-3brightchristinebrightchristine@dublinusd.org

828-1204 ext. 5030828-1204 ext. 5030

Dear Parents,

Welcome to a very exciting year in the life of your child! Being in Kindergarten is very special. This year will bring many distinct changes-physically, emotionally and academically.

In order to help your child develop the skills necessary to be a good student, we will work toward some important goals. If the home and school work towards the same goals, much can be accomplished.

As you know, children come to kindergarten at all levels of development and abilities. As it is true that all children do not walk, talk, or tie their shoes at the same time, neither do they acquire academic skills at the same rate. Therefore, our program at Dublin Elementary is designed to accommodate different learning rates and styles. Children will be working at levels in which they can experience optimum success and growth.

We will be striving to foster an attitude of independence, and also developing cooperative skills necessary for group work. We are looking forward to a successful, productive and happy year in kindergarten!

We look forward to working with you.

The Kindergarten Teachers, Chris Bright, Nancy Healy, Joyce Lombardo,

Kim Van Lare, and Michelle Wigand

•Arrival and dismissal:During the first two weeks of kindergarten we will be on early schedule. That means school will begin at 8:25 AM and dismissal is at 12:15 PM.

On Mondays,the day after Monday holidays, and Collaboration Wednesdays all kindergarteners will be on the 8:25-12:15 schedule.

Collaboration Wednesdays

• September 7• September 21• October 5• October 19• November 2• January 11• February 8• February 22• March 7• March 21

Starting the third week of school, kindergarten students on the early schedule will arrive at 8:25 AM and leave at 12:15 PM. Students on the late schedule will arrive at 9:25 AM and leave at 1:15 PM.

As there is no supervision available please stay with your child until the classroom door is opened. Please pick-up your child promptly after school. Please meet your child by the classroom door or inform us of other plans. Please be prompt!

•Attendance:Too many absences interfere with consistent learning. Please call the school if your child will be out. Please plan special vacations during our regular scheduled school breaks. Please help your kindergartener be on time each day. This helps to teach responsibility and the importance of school.

•Communication:If you have any questions or concerns at all please contact your teacher at school to discuss them. You can send a note, e-mail, or call your child’s teacher. You can also see your child’s teacher before 8:25 AM or after 1:15 PM. We can better meet the needs of your child if we work together to solve any problem or situation that arises.

•Behavior Policy:The kindergarten teachers believe in being firm, consistent and loving. Each child begins the day on a positive note and will be rewarded for their good behavior daily. Consequences for poor behavior choices may include loss of activity time, a phone call home, a time-out in another classroom, and/or in an extreme situation, a visit to the

principal’s office.

• Snacks: (PLEASE READ)A healthy breakfast is important to do well in school. School snacks are important as the children get very hungry during our busy morning. A nutritious snack of fruit, vegetables, juice, milk or water may be brought to school each day. Latebirds especially need a snack.

Please do not send candy or sodas! All Kindergartens are nut and sesame seed free. No nuts of any kind should be in anyone’s snack due to some severe allergies. Thank you for helping keep our students safe!

•Labeling:PLEASE LABEL ALL JACKETS, SWEATERS, BACKPACKS, LUNCHBOXES AND OTHER PERSONAL ITEMS!!! (Toys and expensive, breakable items, should be kept at home.)

Clothing worn to school should be appropriate for play and messy activities. Shoes should be safe for active play. (No flip-flops or spaghetti straps, see dress code) Please help your child learn to tie his/her shoelaces. This builds a sense of independence and helps us tremendously!

•Backpacks: Every child needs to bring a backpack large enough to hold a 9X12 inch folder. Papers and projects are sent home and need a safe place to be carried.

•Homework:District policy for kindergarten is 10-15 minutes four nights a week. Homework is assigned to teach responsibility. It is also a review of classroom work.

Materials recommended for homework success include crayons, pencils (no pens please!), glue and scissors. Homework will be graded on the report card so missed assignments must be made up.

Each week the packet will come home each day and consist of:

Math: Drops in the bucketHandwriting WorksheetPoem: Reading/Letter IDComprehension: Book response

It is due the following day!

•Library: Library books are due every Wednesday. New books may not be checked out until overdue books are returned.

• Parent Volunteers:Parents, if you would like to help out in the classroom and/or chaperone on field trips, please complete the Parent Volunteer form and turn it into the office. This needs to be cleared before you can volunteer in the classroom. We do not need drivers on field trips.

•Report Cards:Report cards are sent home three times per school year. You will receive the first one at conferences in November.

•Checks and money:Any money or check sent to school should be in an envelope with your child’s name and room number on the front.

Kindergarten Curriculum

•READINGKnows upper and lower case lettersKnows letter soundsReads kindergarten sight wordsReads C-V-C words, (ie. c-a-t)

• WRITINGWrites first and last namesWrites upper and lowercase lettersUses estimated spellingWrites a sentence about a topic using spacing and punctuation.

•VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTSParticipates in art, music and dance activities

•LISTEN/SPEAKINGRecites short poems, rhymes and songsRetells story in logical sequenceShares/describes using complete sentences

•MATHCounts orally to 30Identifies numerals to 30 in random orderCounts objects and writes to 30Sorts and classifies objects

Identifies, describes and extends simple patternsUses concrete objects to solve

addition and subtraction problems

•SCIENCEDescribes objects by their physical propertiesDescribes and compares plants/animals

Understands the Earth’s composed of land/air/water

• SOCIAL SCIENCERecognizes state/national symbolsDescribes the work people do in the communitySequence events using the calendarKnows the days of the week

•TECHNOLOGYDevelop a positive attitude towards technology. Use technology appropriately.

•PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENTDisplays fine motor skills of writing, cutting, etc.Displays appropriate gross motor skills of running, jumping, hopping, etc.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTFollowing directionsSharingCooperating Being respectful to othersCleaning up after selfSelf Control