Kindergarten Aide- Mrs. Robin Dicken

Parent/Teacher Communication

    I truly believe in a “partnership for education”.  Your child will benefit the greatest if we work as a team, with the goal being a successful kindergarten year for your child.  Please support the lessons being taught with a follow-up at home.  This may consist of reading a library book and completing the library log, completing a homework paper, or just talking to your child about his/her day. 

I like to keep in close touch with parents.  I will do this through:

          1.  a weekly memo sent home on Fridays

          2.  a monthly newsletter

          3.  a personal note or phone call

          4.  parent/teacher conferences

Please feel free to get in touch with me whenever you or your child has questions, concerns, or comments.  The school number is 642-8228.  You can also write a note and place it in your child’s folder.        

School Hours and Attendance

      The school day begins at 8:55.  Children will be allowed to enter the room at 8:40.  Children arriving after 8:55 must go to the office before coming to the classroom to get a late slip.  Students will be dismissed at 3:30.  Car riders must be picked up at the door on the far left side of the building (by the parking lot).  We are doing this for safety reasons.  There are transportation arrangements in place for your child.  Any change requires a written note.  Your child may not go home with a babysitter, grandparent, or a sibling without a note. 

Parental notes are needed for-

1.     Missed school (when absent please send a note the next day)

2.    To stay in for recess (example- bad cold)

3.    Medicine to be taken (Mrs. Palmer will dispense all medicine in the health room.  This includes cough drops.)

4.    Any change in going home.  (Example- picked up by grandmother instead of going on the bus or going to a friend’s house).

5.    Appointments (Dental, Doctor, etc.)

It is very important for you child to be in school!  Your child can not learn if he/she is not here.  If you need to pick up your child before 3:27, you will need to go to the office and Mrs. Luty, our secretary, or Mrs. Richwine will call your child to the lobby via the phone system.  Also, if you bring your child to school late, please visit the office first, then your child can be taken off the absentee list.

Book Clubs

          Your child will be bringing home book club papers.  Please do not feel obligated to buy.  However, the books are less expensive than a bookstore and there is usually a good selection of books.  They usually arrive within 3 weeks.  If you wish to order, simply fill out the form and send the correct amount of money or a check written out to the book company in an envelope. 

Star of the Week

          Each week I allow one person in our room to be the star of the week.  That person is asked to fill out a poster with a few pictures that will be displayed in the room.  The star student will have several special jobs to do.  Every Friday we will pick a name of a student to be the next week’s star.  The poster will be sent home to let you know.  I will return the posters after they are displayed in the Spring.

Show ‘n Tell

          Homework in kindergarten is not assigned on a daily basis.  I consider bringing a folder everyday and returning materials on time “homework” for kindergarten.  Please encourage your child to be responsible.  Bringing an item for show ‘n tell on the correct day is also homework.           

Monday- return poetry folder to school (have your child read the poems to you as many times as possible over the weekend)

          Day A- return library book and library log to school (please return the library book in the Zip-loc bag.  Your child’s library log should accompany his/her book in the bag.) 

Lunch

          Kindergarten lunch is 10:45-11:20.  Parents are welcome to come to school and eat with their child.  If you plan on buying lunch, please let the teacher know in the morning so a lunch is ordered for you.  Parents will be sitting in the back part of the cafeteria with their child and a friend.  The alternate lunch listed on the lunch will be available for kindergarten students starting in January.

Snacks

            Parents need to provide their child with a snack everyday.  Some suggestions include pretzels, crackers, goldfish, fruit snacks etc.  Water will be provided.

Parties

            We will have holiday parties:  Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s.  I will ask for food and paper product donations.  Please note that all foods need to be store bought and in original packaging so we can read the ingredient label.  In accordance with the school wellness policy we will try to have healthy snacks at all parties.

          Birthdays are a special time and we will enjoy celebrating the happy day.  Please note that according to the school handbook, families may send a birthday treat for their child’s classroom if they desire.  Birthday treat ideas can be stickers, pencils, a coloring sheet or snacks listed on the District Wellness plan.  Please note that only store bought mini cupcakes will be allowed.  If you would like your child to celebrate the day by sending in a special treat, please let me know 1 week prior to the day.  We will have birthday treats at the end of the day prior to dismissal with 20 children.  We will celebrate summer birthdays at the end of the year during our “unbirthday” party. 

Field Trips

          We will go on many field trips during the year.  We will take a walking field trip to the Fairfield Fire House and library.  We will take buses to Sewell's Farm.  Parents are welcome to attend, but must have their clearances and there must be room on the bus.  More information will be sent before each trip.

Report Cards

        Kindergarten report cards will come home 3 times a year.  The kindergarten report card shows the minimum expectations for have for a kindergarten student.  We will have parent/teacher conferences in November to discuss your child’s progress. 

Things you can do at home with your child:

          READ AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH YOUR CHILD!  Show an interest in your child’s work.  Go over paper that he/she brings home.  Go over mistakes they have made.  Encourage them to practice or redo mistakes o another piece of paper.  Talk about what they did in school.  Anytime they bring a book home- look at it, read it to them or have them read it to you.  Encourage your child to tell you what they learned in school that day.

          Can your child-

                   ---tie his/her shoes?

                   ---write his/her first and last names?

                   ---Tell his/her birthday, address, and phone number?

---Recognize and write the letters of the alphabet at random (capital and small)

                   ---Know the sounds of the letters?

                   ---Know and recognize the colors and color words?

                                ---Count and recognize names and numbers (1-10 and one-ten)?