Welcome to Kindergarten! Mrs. Cole & Mrs. Roberts

KISD Website  Go to  Scroll down to blue parent box  You will find lots of helpful information  Parent Online Pay  Parent Connection  Student Handbooks  School Menus  Calendar  And much more…

Bernshausen Elementary Website  Go to  Click on “campuses” at top of page  Under Elementary Schools, click on “Bernshausen”  You will find lots of information regarding what is going on throughout the school year here at Bernshausen Elementary. 

Our Websites  Go to  Click on “campuses” at top of page  Under Elementary Schools, click on “Bernshausen”  Click on “teachers” at top of page  Scroll down to Kindergarten section  The links to our websites are next to our names.

How to Contact Us  Feel free to contact us any time!  Best way is via &  Please copy both of us on your .

Helpful Hints  Please label your child's belongings such as backpacks, lunch boxes, and jackets.  Please refrain from letting your child bring any toys or stuffed animals into the classroom unless otherwise requested.  Pack an extra set of clothes in your child's backpack for unexpected accidents.  Backpacks should be large enough to fit a folder inside without it being bent.

Attendance/Illness  Attendance is very important!  Be on time (learning starts immediately)  Our school day hours are 8:15 – 3:15.  Students must be free of fever, diarrhea and vomiting for 24 hours before they can return to school.  Only parents/guardians are allowed to bring medication to school.  Must be checked in at the clinic

Clothing  Students should be able to button, zip and tie their own clothes.  Girls are encouraged to wear shorts under their skirts or dresses  Flips flops are discouraged due to injury during recess and/or PE  Wear a jacket for cold weather days because we will go outside for recess

Transportation  In order for your child to go home a different way than what has been communicated to us, a note or phone call must be made to the office prior to 2:30 pm.

 If your child is buying lunch, please send a check or cash in an envelope or bag with your child’s name on it. They will deposit it into their personal lunch account.  You may also pay online  Go to  Click on “Departments” at the top  Click on “Nutrition and Food Services”  Scroll down and to the right click on “Online Payments – PAYPAMS”  Follow directions on page to setup an account Lunch Accounts

School Menu/Prices  Go to  Scroll down to blue parent box  Click on “School Menu”  To the right, click on “Elementary” to see the menu for each day  Prices:  Breakfast: $  Lunch: $

Parties/Birthdays  Invitations to birthday parties may be distributed as long as one is brought for each child in the class  No outside food or drink is to be brought in for the class.  You may order birthday snacks for your child’s class for during lunch; must give 1 week notice.  Our Bernshausen Cafeteria # is ????  PTO will supply the food and drinks for Christmas and Valentines parties.

Our Schedule Lunch 10:47 – 11:22 PE – Tuesday 12:45 Wednesday 1:05 – 1:50 Thursday 1:50 – 3:00 Music – Monday 12:00 Library – every Monday 1:50 – 2:10

Classroom Management  Follow Directions  Listen to the teacher  Keep hands and feet to yourself  Use walking feet  Raise your hand and wait to be called on  Self-control

Consequences and Rewards  All students begin their day on blue.  Move your color up to purple - for outstanding behavior  Move your color down – for negative behaviors  Treasure Box reward on Fridays if students earn blue all week.  Earn owl stickers for outstanding behavior.  Every 5 th sticker received your child will get candy or prize from treasure box

Daily Behavior Folder  Purple folder that will go home every day with your child’s color for the day  Please initial in the square for that day’s color.  Return next day

Wednesday Folder  Sign, review, and remove all papers  Return on Thursday

Homework  Children need to be children – homework is very minimal but is a participation grade.  For the first 9 weeks your child can choose from a list of activities to do for their homework each night. There will be no homework folder for the first 9 weeks.  Second, third & fourth 9 weeks, homework folder will go home every Monday and is to be returned on Friday.  Parent signatures are required in the appropriate square each week.

Star of the Week  Each child will be “Star of the Week” on the assigned week  Schedule will be sent home  Make a poster with pictures and information about your child.  Posters will be displayed in the classroom for the entire week and returned the following week.

Letter Expert  Weekly letters – We will be focusing on 2 letters per week.  Letter Expert Bag - When your child receives this bag, the directions will be inside. Practice reading the book and sentence strip with your child, they will be reading it to the class when they return the bag.

Our Day  Reading/Writing – all day! Reading is integrated throughout the curriculum  Math - mornings and throughout the day  Science/Social Studies – afternoons; rotate weekly  Kindergarten curriculum integrated throughout the day

Reading  44 + Sight words  Will begin the second 9 weeks  Please read with your child every night for 20 minutes.

Writing  Manuscript handwriting  Phonetic writing  For example: A ball is big and red.  Phonetically written: A bl is bg ad red.  If the word is on the word wall – the student should write the word correctly.

Math  Investigations Curriculum  More hands-on which means less consumables  Basic geometric shapes  Basic measuring skills  Numbers  Sorting  Graphing  Adding and Subtracting

Science  Explore basic science concepts  Senses  Magnets/Tools  Animals – habitats  Plants  Healthy habits – Food  Water

Social Studies  Holidays  Community  Sequencing events

Technology  Learning.com  A website that teaches basic computer skills (mouse, keyboard, internet, etc.)  Used as a Technology grade every 9 weeks.  Will be completed in class

Grading Scale  Grading Guidelines: E+ = – Advanced E = – Exceeds Expectations S+ = – Meets Expectations S = – Approaching Expectations N = – Below Expectations (experiencing some difficulties) U = 69 and below – Experiencing difficulties  Conduct Guidelines:  E = Exceeds Expectations  S = Satisfactory  N = Needs Improvement  U = Unsatisfactory

Grade Speed (Parent Connect)  This allows you to view your child’s grades and set “triggers” to notify you of a grade that has dropped.  Go to  Scroll down to blue parent box  Click on “Parent Connection”  Follow directions on the page  Your child’s student ID# will be sent home in this weeks Wednesday folder

Centers  Afternoon Centers – assorted activities  Art, Blocks, Math Manipulatives, Toy Tubs, Homeliving, Computers, etc.  Centers are fun activities that teach, while having fun.  Rules for centers: 1. Stay in your assigned center 2. Play nicely with each other 3. Have Fun!!!!!

How can I help my child?  Encourage your child to always try his/her best  Instill in your child the “I can do it” attitude  Encourage good listening skills, self-control  Sleep – every child needs a good nights rest  Eat – a good breakfast, healthy foods for lunch  Talk about school and review your child’s papers and behavior with your child each day.

How can I be a part of my child’s class?  Be a class reader  Help with class parties (Christmas and Valentines)  Join your child for lunch occasionally

Last but not least…  Your child is a special gift that we have a privilege to teach.  Our goal: To instill a love of learning through fun, developmentally appropriate activities, and structure.

Thank you for coming! Mrs. Cole and Mrs. Roberts Kindergarten Class

Q & A