Welcome to Kindergarten!!The "first day of school" is a great milestone for your child and I understand that you and your child may have met this day with excitement or apprehension (or a little of both). I hope that this letter will help you to know what to expect in kindergarten this year and answer any questions you may have. I would like to take this time to introduce myself. My name is Brittani Wilkinson. I am beginning my 21st year as Kindergarten teacher here at Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary. I graduated from Augustana College with a degree in elementary education and received a middle school and coaching endorsement. I am excited to be working with your child this year and helping him/her to achieve his/her full potential. Throughout the remainder of this handbook, I will share some of my beliefs and classroom policies.
Parent/Teacher RelationshipI believe that a good parent-teacher relationship is necessary for maximum school success. Throughout the year I will communicate with you as much as possible. Students will have take-home folders in which I will put any notes or reminders as well as any of your student's work. This folder is to be returned each day and you may also use it to send me any notes as well. I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. You can send me a note, call me at school (854-3963), or e-mail me at brittani.wilkinson@k12.sd.us
Learning CentersParents are asked to help with learning centers from 8:45AM-10:00AM. I encourage you to sign up for 8 days (once a month). If you are unable to attend, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc are also invited to help out. Children feel special when their parents or relatives are able to visit and help in the classroom. We ask that you bring a morning snack and drink for each student on your help dates. Please bring necessary supplies (plates, napkins, cups) as well. Your support of school activities makes your child feel important and sends the message that you value school. Your sign up dates will be posted on our Kindergarten website. Click on monthly calendars.
School AttendanceYour child’s regular and prompt attendance at school is crucial to his/her success. I can’t emphasize this point enough!!! Most kindergarten learning activities are group oriented and involve interaction with classmates. Therefore, it is next to impossible to make up work at home. Please view school as a priority, and see to it that your child attends everyday except in cases of illness or emergency.
Changes in TransportationIf you plan to pick up a child that normally rides the bus or you wish for your child to ride a different bus than usual, you must send a written note. Please do not rely on your child to tell me this information, because children often become confused and relay messages incorrectly. If no written note is received, your child will be sent home by his/her usual method of transportation.
Outdoor RecessThe children will be going out for recess everyday unless it is raining or extremely cold. Please keep this is in mind when helping your child to select clothing for the day. Also, we are fortunate to have a variety of playground equipment, including several pieces for climbing. Please keep this in mind when selecting shoes. Cowboy boots and little girl’s dress shoes are less than ideal if your child chooses to play on this equipment. Also, these shoes can tend to be slippery on days when the blacktop is wet. For the most part, if your child is well enough to be at school, he/she is well enough to participate in outdoor recess, if properly dressed. In fact, the germs that cause colds thrive more readily in the heated indoor air and it is beneficial to go outside and get some fresh air. However, on those occasions when you feel it is best for your child to stay indoors, please send a written note and I will make arrangements for your child to do so.
MoneyOn occasion it will be necessary for your child to bring money to school. Always send money in a sealed envelope with the following information written on it:
With several kids to keep track of and several reasons to collect money, this helps me out tremendously and reduces the likelihood of errors. Also, if the envelope is left on the bus or dropped in the hallway, this information will help the money to be returned to my classroom.
Book OrdersYour child will be bringing home a form to order books about once a month. If you wish to order, simply fill out the form and send the correct amount of money or a check made out to the book company in an envelope. These orders are provided as a convenient way for parents to buy quality books for their child at a low price. As an added bonus, for every dollar that is spent on books, I earn bonus points which are used to purchase books for classroom use. This is a win-win situation because you get quality literature at a low price and you are helping to provide quality literature for the classroom. Of course, you are never under any obligation to order.
BirthdaysBirthdays are special occasions for young children. If your child wishes, he/she may bring treats for the class on the his/her birthday. Please send a note a day or two in advance, so I can give you an exact number of children in the class and set aside some class time for the party.
Show and Tell Show and tell is important because students are very proud of their belongings and it is great way for them to improve their interpersonal skills. Show and tell day is Friday of each week. Your child may bring in an appropriate item to show to the class. Please do not let them bring anything that is of great value or that cannot be replaced. As careful as kindergartners try to be, some things do become lost or broken. Show and tell is one of the favorites among kindergartners!
The EndIn closing, I would just like to say that I am looking forward to a great year of working with your child! I would also like to suggest that you save this letter for future reference. This letter can also be viewed online if you have internet access. I also encourage you to visit my website to find valuable internet resources for you and your child. The address is: http://bj025.k12.sd.us Thank-you in advance for your concern and support throughout the year!!!
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