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| Brookside Elementary
School
Below you will find some information that you may find helpful to know before the 20th. 1. School
Day: morning—9:05 – 12:00 2. Arrival Time: The children should arrive no earlier than 5 minutes prior to the first bell at 9:05. The students will line up at the exterior door of the classroom. 3. Attendance:
Students are expected to attend school every day unless there is
a valid reason for their absence. If a child does need to be absent,
please notify the school early in the morning and inform us 4. Birthdays:
On your child’s birthday, we will present them with a crown
and a birthday pencil. Treats are certainly welcome, but not required.
We suggest keeping the treats simple and minimizing the sugar. Nonfood
items are great, too. (i.e. pencils, stickers, erasers, etc.) We
request that you bring no liquids – no juice or punch is allowed
in the classrooms. Please do no bring sheet cakes, layer cakes etc.,
but rather individual servings such as cookies, cupcakes, skittles,
dixie cups, etc. Please don’t ask!!! This practice can be very hurtful to the uninvited individuals. You may send home (via classroom mail) a note to another parent requesting that they phone you to exchange information. 5. Backpack: Your child will need to have some type of carrier to transport books and papers to and from school. A backpack large enough for lunch, folders (peechee size) and artwork is necessary. Your child will be given a folder in which to carry papers to and from school. Hopefully this will help to insure that all papers make it home to you. You may communicate with me by, sending notes in the folder. I will check the folders every day. Please be sure that your child’s backpack is large enough to hold a “Peechee” size folder. It would be helpful if you and your child would establish a “place” in your home where the folder is always kept so it won’t be misplaced Helping your child assume this responsibility is the beginning of study skills. Replacements may be purchased at school for 25 cents or you may purchase one at an office supply store. Please replace the folder with the same plain yellow we are using in the classroom. The light color allows me to stamp or sticker the folder. 6. Lunch: Each child will need to bring or purchase a lunch each day. Everyone is provided with a PIN number. You may apply payment to your child’s account at any time in any amount. It would be helpful if everyone put at least $2.00 in the account just in case your child forgets or misplaces their lunch or money. Using the automated system simplifies lunch preparation each day. Kindergartners need to memorize their own PIN numbers. We will give them help the first week or two. Lunches are $2.00 and milk or juice is 50 cents. 7. Special Diets: If your child is allergic to ANYTHING or must restrict his/her sugar intake, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. 8. Clothing: Please label your child’s belongings-- coats, sweatshirts, backpacks, etc. with their full name. Even if you think they will recognize their own, it is amazing how difficult it is at the end of the day when they all look alike. Because we frequently paint with tempera and watercolors, please don’t send your child to school in “special” clothes (except for special days). Fabrics seem to stain easily, regardless of what the label may say! 9. Volunteers: Volunteers are welcome at Brookside. A sign – up sheet will be available if you would like to volunteer on a regular basis. I will need parents to help sharpen pencils, cut papers, prepare materials, and assist with various activities. We will discuss these opportunities more as “Back to School” night. 10. Buses: Now that the bus lists have been organized, it will be expected that all children will return home from school as we have noted. If your plans change, PLEASE, send a note. WE WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO BE PICKED UP BY ANYONE ELSE WITHOUT A NOTE FROM YOU. When picking up your child after school, please use the back parking lot and follow the procedure noted in your Survival Guide. Please have your child wear or bring the bus tag for the first two weeks of school. If you will laminate it or cover it with clear contact paper, it should last. This makes getting ready to go home much easier, for all of us! Just pin it to their clothing or on their backpack. 11. Book Clubs: We will be sending book order forms periodically with your children. We use SeeSaw and Troll. This is a nice way to begin to build an inexpensive library for your child. PLEASE MAKE ANY CHECK PAYABLE TO THE BOOK CLUB AS I CANNOT ACCEPT CASH OR A CHECK MADE OUT TO ME. 12.News Telling: News Telling is an important part of kindergarten. A note with the schedule and guidelines will be coming home with your child. Please help your child to select an item or event to tell about each week. No toys please! Each week the children will be asked to make a ‘news plan’ (with your help). We will be sharing our expectations with you at the end of the month as we prepare to begin this program October. 13. Snacks: Children will be allowed to bring a snack each day if they wish. We do encourage a small, healthy snack—no candy, please. Cheese/ crackers, granola bars, fruit or vegetables such as an apple or carrot sticks work well. The children will not be allowed to have yogurt sticks or anything that requires a utensil to eat it for snack. Water is the only liquid allowed at snacktime. 14.
Field Trips: We will be taking several field trips
on district buses this year. We will, of course, notify you about
each trip and give you all the details and the opportunity to join
us as a chaperone. (Believe me. I promise to never take 20 children
on a field trip by myself!!!!) Mrs. Travis and I will be taking
the field trips together this year in order to keep costs down.
The trips have already been planned and booked so that we can give
you the package price early in the year. We ask that you write a
check for the entire amount at one time to help us keep the bookkeeping
to a minimum. If you are financially unable to do this, please talk
to me and I will help you arrange a schedule that meets our needs.
If your last name begins with the latters A-L pleae bring 1 box of sandwich size Ziploc bags. If your last name beings with the letters M-Z pleae bring 1 box of gallon size Ziploc bags. Some of these items will be shaed for special projects. We may ask for more supplies later in the year. 16. Library: We will be visiting the Library Media Center (LRC) each week. Please help your child remember to return his/her book each week. Mr. Kevin Rodgers will be giving each student a large zip-lock bag with their computer barcode attached. All library books are to be carried in these bags to protect them from the weather. In order to check out a new book they must have their library bag. I ask that you please honor Mr. Rodger’s request and help your child to understand the purpose of this policy. Books are extremely expensive and parents are financially responsible for loss or damage. 17. Computer Lab: Our computer lab time will be flexible this year. 18. Music: We will attend music class twice a week with our Specialist, Mrs. Laurie Bell. We are scheduled to see her on Mondays and Wednedays. 19.
P.E.: Kindergarten will be using the gym every
Tuesday and Thursday for their regular PE time with Mr. Matt Alford.
It is absolutely necessary that every child wear soft-soled shoes
and comfortable clothing on those days. |