September

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Willow Glen School and the full day kindergarten program.  With the beginning of the new school year I welcome your interest, your concern and your cooperation.  If we support each other on behalf of your child, we can guarantee a year of positive learning.

Our kindergarten program is based on the developmental needs of the young child.  Your child will have many experiences in art, music, drama and literature.  There will be many opportunities to socialize and make new friends while exploring and interacting with the school environment.

I realize that the transition from home to school can be stressful.  With patience and understanding we can ease your child into the school routine.  You can help to prepare for these exciting first days by talking about school and assuring your child that someone will be waiting after school.    Please make every effort to be prompt in picking up your child.  If you are unable to be there at 3:15, please notify the school and we will have your child wait for you in the office.

Learning to be independent and responsible is an important and integral part of every child’s growth.  For some children, this separation process can be difficult.  For the first week you may wish to escort your child into the classroom.  It won ’t be long before your child is ready to line up with their classmates, enter the building and get ready for the start of the school day on their own.  At the end of the day please meet us at the kindergarten entrance.

Crayons, markers, scissors, pencils and glue will be stored in small group containers to be shared.  This method of organization promotes positive qualities and behaviors.  Learning to share and care for supplies contributes to a sense of community and caring.  Children learn to be responsible for the materials they use and begin to understand how their actions affect the well being of their classmates.  This system of organization also allows more time for on-task learning activities and decreases set-up and clean-up time.  There is no need to purchase a school box or label most supplies.  The things that will need to be labeled with your child’s name include the watercolor set, scissors, resting mat and art smock.

BIRTHDAYS:  Your child may bring a treat for the class on their birthday.   Please do not send party invitations to be passed out at school unless every child in the class will be invited.  Feelings are easily hurt when some children are excluded from the invitations. 

SHARING:  Sharing will begin in a few weeks.  We will be taking turns for sharing and I will notify you of the procedures at that time.  When it is your child’s turn to share, please encourage your child to bring things connected to our units of study.   Suggestions would include books, nature specimens, pictures, souvenirs, projects, etc.  Please do not send toys or videos.

SPECIALS:  Our kindergarten children have the opportunity to have art, music and phy ed. with specialty teachers in the district.  Our specials will be every afternoon from 1:55-2:45.  On Day 1 we will have Gym with Mrs. Gerash.  On Day 2 we will have Music with Mrs.Doty,  and on Day 3 we will Art Class with Mrs. Shapiro.  Please make sure that your child is wearing clothing appropriate for those days, i.e. tennis shoes on gym days and old clothes on art days.  (Days 1, 2 and 3 will be indicated on the lunch menus each month).  We will be going to the school library once each week.  The children will be able to check out one book to be kept for the week and returned on the following library day.  Our day will be Tuesday.

SNACK TIME:  We will have a snack time each afternoon.   Each child is responsible for bringing his own snack.  We try to encourage healthy eating habits, so please help us by sending healthy snacks with your child.  Some suggestions would include fruit, vegetables, crackers, cheese, pretzels, sandwich, etc.  We have a small refrigerator if you need to keep the snack cold.

OUTDOOR RECESS:  Each day the children will go outside for a recess break.  Please dress your child for the weather.

LUNCH TIME:  Our lunchtime and lunch recess is scheduled for 11:15-12:00.  The children will be eating in the school cafeteria and then going outside for recess.  The children may bring their own lunch from home or purchase a hot lunch.  Milk will also be sold.  Please follow the procedure that was outlined in the parent handbook about purchasing lunch tickets.  If you know that your child will be having hot lunch regularly, it might a good idea to purchase for the week or the month.  Please send the money with your child in a ziplock baggie with their name clearly written on it.  Change will be returned to you in this baggie.  In addition to the hot lunch selection, an alternate cold sandwich is offered daily.  With this cold sandwich choice, the children select a cold sandwich instead of the main entree, but still receive all of the other foods listed on the menu for that day.  Please go over the lunch menu with your child each day so he will know what is being offered.  Your child may go home for lunch, but please send a note letting me know, so that I can have them ready to meet you in the office.

Frequent information will be sent home keeping you informed of what is happening at school.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

I look forward to a fun year!

Sincerely,

  Mrs.Sanfilippo