Welcome to Kindergarten Open House August 12 th

Mrs. Thurman’s and Mrs. Maxwell’s Kindergarten Class

Who is Mrs. Thurman? Grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education 12 th year teaching – 11 th year in Cobb 2 nd year at Keheley Taught Kindergarten and First Grade Teaching Style Cooperative groupingDifferentiated activities Hands-on activitiesLiterature-based learning

Who is Mrs. Maxwell? Grew up on Long Island in New York B.A. from Virginia Tech Moved from Richmond, VA to Powder Springs, GA in 2009 with husband and 3 children Third year at Keheley Son, 5 th grade at Keheley Daughter, 7 th grade at Lost Mountain MS Son, 9 th grade at Hillgrove HS

Keheley Information

Cafeteria Information Student prices:Guest price: $3.50 Breakfast: $1.25 Lunch: $2.15 You may pre-pay & review charges online: Reduced lunch applications are available through the cafeteria and the Cobb County website. Menus are available on the Keheley website. Let the cafeteria manager know if your child should not use account money for “extras.” Ice cream can be purchased on Fridays No fast food allowed Breakfast is served 7:15-7:45. Lunch is 11:40-12:10.

Absence and Dismissal Policy Please send a note from home if there is an absence or change in afternoon dismissal. No changes in dismissal after 1:45. There will be no early check-outs after 1:45 Regular attendance is vital to your child’s success in kindergarten.

CCRPI is a comprehensive school improvement, accountability, and communication platform for all educational stakeholders that will promote college and career readiness for all Georgia public school students. Six days missed from school will count against our score at the end of the year. Remember to send in a written excuse. Magic Number… 11:15Magic Number… 11:15 – must be here more than half of the school day to be counted present. CCRPI College and Career Readiness Performance Index

PTA Basic PTA membership is $6.00. Help us achieve Keheley’s 100% membership goal! Clinic/Medication Policies: ALL medication must be sent to the clinic in the original container (including cough drops) Parents should bring in any medication that needs to be administered at school. Nurse Susan Headrick –

Dress Code Flip-flops, slides, & platform shoes are discouraged Wear shoes appropriate for PE and playground – we will not have time to change Shorts & skirts must be fingertip length No spaghetti straps Tank tops must be at least 1 inch wide No hats

Classroom Information

Specials Rotation Mondays:PE Tuesdays:Music Wednesdays:PE Thursdays: Art Fridays:Rotation schedule Wear tennis shoes!

Tentative Classroom Schedule 7:15-8:00 Morning work & Announcements 8:00-8:10 Calendar 8:10-8:50 Writing 8:55-9:40 Specials 9:45-10:00 Snack 10:00-10:30 Shared Reading 10:30-11:30 Daily 5/Guided Reading 11:00-11:30 Theme – Science/Social Studies/Health 11:40-12:10 Bathroom and Lunch 12:15-12:30 Recess 12:30-12:50 Bathroom Break/Rest – Quiet Time 12:50-1:40 Guided Math Centers 1:45-2:00 Phonics 2:00-2:15 Pack Up/Read Aloud

Curriculum Overview Reading Instructional –Guided Reading Small group differentiated instruction Independent –Daily Five/Literacy Centers Read to Self Listen to Reading Work on Writing Word Work Sight Words High Frequency Words –1 st nine weeks: 15 words –2 nd nine weeks: 30 words –3 rd nine weeks: 50 words –4 th nine weeks: 75 words

Curriculum Overview Phonics/Spelling: Words Their Way Handwriting: Zaner Bloser ( see practice sheet) Writer’s Workshop: (narrative, informational, opinion, and response to literature) Math: –Calendar –Number Talks –Math centers –Problem Solving

Homework 5 Star Tiered Homework –Comes home each Monday (1 st day of the week) –Please return assignments on Fridays –5 stars is the minimum requirement – can do ALL if you like Homework will be checked but not graded. Students will need assistance and direction Please make sure it looks like Kindergarten work

Things students will bring home Sticker books-Sticker books –sight words –Please practice with your child each night and return the next day. I will check sight words once a week. Poetry FoldersPoetry Folders – will come home on Fridays – please read over the weekend the poems we have covered. Please return every Monday.

What to Bring to School Red folder Extra change of clothes (for emergencies) Snack 1 nutritious snack Packed separately from lunch Water bottle – something they can manage and open by themselves (please no ice) Label everything!!

In our class we will… -Speak softly, kindly, and respectfully -Follow directions and listen the first time -Keep hands and feet to ourselves -Tell the truth -Do our BEST! Expectations/Rules

Behavior Management –All children begin each day on 3. –Can move up to 4 or 5 for good choices. –Students making poor choices will be given a warning. –If a student does not change the behavior after being given a warning, he or she will move down to a 2. –If a student continues to make poor choices, he or she will move to a 1. –Students may need a time out in another classroom or a phone call home if necessary. –Students may be rewarded in other ways besides moving their clip up (extra privileges, choosing center first, being special helper, etc.) –Students can move up and down the chart throughout the day. –Numbers will be circled on behavior sheet and sent home daily.

Communication Red folders are checked daily (not backpacks) Check red folders nightly & remove all papers Please initial behavior sheet nightly. Class website:

Kindergarten Things SLO – Student Learning Objectives – all students need headphones to remain at school Guidance Counselor- Lori Armbruster & Dawn Haskett –Bi-weekly classroom lessons –Available for individual or small group counseling Conference Week ( October 19-23, 2015) –Early Release – work to schedule conference with everyone – get 1 st report card Grading System (3+, 3, 2, 1) –Standards based report card sent home every 9 weeks Media Center – Mrs. Sarah Dupuis –Weekly visits – Tuesdays from 1:30-2:00 –Return library books by the due date to check out a new one

Celebrations: –1 classroom party per year (March) –Birthdays: Birthdays-treats may be shared at lunch Will celebrate summer birthdays on/near their ½ birthdays Invitations will only be distributed at school if the whole class is invited. Scholastic Book Orders -go online to place order -Class Activation code – GL9GC -First order DUE – August 28 th, 2015 Kindergarten Things

Cagle Dairy Farms – Sept. 15 th – Permission slips and money due Sept. 4 th Potential Trips/Programs The Adventures of Gingerbread Man – Puppetry (December) High Touch High Tech (Rock and Roll) – in house High Touch High Tech (Fabulous Forces) – in house FREE Programs this year Barney the Bus – bus safety Firefighters – safety Wellstar – Personal and Dental Hygiene Wellstar – Water and Wheel Safety (May) Class T-shirts – for special events

Sign Up Room Parent – yellow Volunteer - yellow Volunteer – interest form - green –Classroom volunteers will begin after Fall Break

Questions and Concerns

THANKS FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT