Mrs. Rakes and Mrs. Kathy’s Kindergarten Class Kindergarten Kick-Off July 25, 2013

The Rakes Family

School Supplies If you are having any trouble buying school supplies please let myself or Mrs. Kathy know this evening. The Family Resource can also help with supplies. They can be reached at

Morning Procedures Students should arrive between 7:35 and 8:00 am. If your child arrives after 8:00 they will receive a tardy. Students can not enter the building before 7:35. Students will be allowed to go to breakfast at that time or must sit in the gym in our class line. Students will be released to their classroom at 7:50.

Dismissal Procedures Bus riders will be dismissed at 2:50. Pick ups will be released soon after. Please refer to the pick-up policy in the student handbook for additional details. Anyone picking a student up in the pick- up line MUST have a pickup card. You can get your pickup cards in the gym tonight.

P.I.R.A.T.E Folder Your child will bring home a GREEN folder each day. It is vital that this folder is returned daily as it is key to our communication. This folder will be used to communicate to you the following: Behavior Logs Important Events and News Homework/Classroom Projects Inside your will find a clear zipper pouch, which will be used for bus notes, permission slips, milk, and lunch money. All transportation changes MUST be written on a note and placed in this pouch. Otherwise your child will be transported according to your information sheet. Plastic sleeves will contain other important items you may want to keep in the folder such as sight words, homework logs, lunch menus and class schedules.

Classroom Management Green Light – Excellent Behavior Yellow Light – 5 minutes off recess Red Light – 10 minutes off recess Blue Light – consequence determined on individual basis. Students are also rewarded for making good choices each day by receiving tickets. Tickets are drawn at the end of the day for rewards. Each Friday students get a “treasure” from the class treasure chest if they have received THREE green lights for the week. If a child receives a blue light they will not receive a treasure that Friday. There will be a calendar in your child’s folder that will indicate what their “color” was for the day. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Class Snack We will have snack time every day except Friday. In our class we use a class snack system. You do not need to send snack every day. The snack rotation schedule is in the Daily Folder. It lists when snack is your responsibility. This is only 2 times per school year. You may send 2 large bags/boxes of cereal, pretzels, crackers, etc. when it is your week. Your child may bring their own snack if they want. Your child may bring their own drink daily or will be given water. Students may purchase milk for 30 cents. Please send your money or check in an envelope and place it in the zipper pouch of your child’s yellow folder and label “milk account”. Even if you receive free and reduced lunch you must still pay for a milk. We have 24 students in our class. Please let me know if you are unable to provide a snack.

Box Tops Collect and save as many box tops as you can for our classroom. The box tops are collected and turned in twice throughout the year. Each box top provides money for our classroom. We use the money for classroom supplies and rewards.

Volunteering We appreciate all volunteers for field trips, special occasions, and classroom work. However, in order to be considered for volunteering you must have a criminal background check on file with the office, and must complete the mandatory volunteer training. More information about volunteering is located in your back-to-school packet.

Birthdays We love to celebrate birthdays in our classroom. Please contact us at least two days prior to your child’s birthday if you are planning on celebrating at school. Many parents enjoy bringing cupcakes and drinks!

Important Information Please return all back-to-school papers in your child’s folder by Friday of the first week of school 8/9/13. It is important that we receive your information ASAP so that we have all information necessary to contact you in case of emergencies. If you need to make any changes to your child’s dismissal plans for the day please be sure to send a note or call the office in the morning. If we do not receive this notification your child will continue with their regular routine. We will have Early Release EVERY Friday at 12:50. Please be sure to send a note with your child if plans for transportation change on those days. Students may participate in Friday Wrap-UP until 2:50 on Fridays. However, there is NO transportation. You MUST fill our the Cardinal Station form for your child to stay for any of the after school programs!!!

Reminders: Please do not or text transportation changes to me. If I have a substitute he/she will not have access to my . Please send a note with your child or call the office before 1:30 unless it is an emergency. Please write 1 st and last name on all bus notes. I can meet with you before ore after school by appointment. Write your child's first and last name on book bags and coats. You may send a change of clothes to school in a gallon sized ziplock bag with name on bag. Accidents happen quite frequently.

Contact Information If at any time you have questions feel free to contact me by You can contact me by phone or . The best time to reach me by phone is during my planning time (see below). I also check my daily and will respond ASAP. You may sign up for class text messages by to (270) T Office Phone Number: Planning Time (Mon.-Thurs.)10:15-10:55 Planning Time (Fri.)9:30-10:00 Cell Phone (270) * not before 7am or after 8pm

We are looking forward to an exciting year!!

Sign the transportation sheet on Mrs. Kathy’s desk. Pick up your yellow voucher on Mrs. Rakes’ desk to receive a free kindergarten kick-off t-shirt. Inform us of any important information like custody arrangements, food allergies, etc. by filling our a note card on Mrs. Rakes’ desk. To Do Tonight