1. Welcome to Mrs. Harp’s Class! The ABC's of Kindergarten 2012-2013

2. Kindergarten has changed dramatically over the past several years. The expectations and curriculum standards for a child in kindergarten are very high now. I have provided you with a packet containing the Common Core Georgia standards as well as many rubrics, checklists and fun ideas to help your child feel successful this school year! You may also check our school and class web sites: http://portal.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/littleriver-es/default.aspx http://mysite.cherokee.k12.ga.us/personal/jennifer_kidd/site/default.aspx You will be wonderfully amazed at how much your child can and will accomplish! With your help, we can work together to make sure that your child's educational experience will be not only successful, but fun and exciting too. Thank you in advance for allowing me to love your baby this year!

3. Attendance is very important! If your child misses school, please remember to write a note, email me or call the office to let us know he/she will be absent. Check the school handbook if you have a question about whether an absence is excused. School begins at 7:30. If you drop your child off after 7:45, they are tardy and you must walk them in. is for behavior. I want to thank you now for helping me to teach the children that they are responsible for the choices they make. We use the acronym POLITE to remind us of our ‘smart’ choices daily! Look for the yellow smile in your child’s folder! They will receive reminders and warnings if needed to reinforce making smart choices daily. You will be notified if reminders are not enough and I need your assistance at home for reinforcement.

4. is for Connections. Your child will be attending PE (Physical Education), Music and Art weekly. You may hear him/her talk about Coach Hall, Coach Bryant, Coach Robertson, Mrs. Early, Mr. Burdo, and Mrs. Bagwell. Your child will also receive monthly guidance lessons from our school counselor, Mrs. Warnkin or as the kids call her, Mrs. W. is for Differentiation. Here at Little River we believe that each child learns at his/her own pace. My job is to foster self confidence as a successful learner at his/her own independent level. Each child will be tested and monitored throughout the year.

5. is for Eagle Expectations. Your child will adjust to many rules in our classroom, lunchroom, library as well as connections. However, Mr. Kirby also has school expectations for each and every child. Please be sure to review these together.Eagle Expectations is for folders. Your child will bring home a purple communications folder daily. Be sure to send all money labeled in the enclosed envelope and check your child’s folder daily for important papers. You may check https://www.mypaymentsplus.com/default.aspx for https://www.mypaymentsplus.com/default.aspx lunch totals and the school website for menus. http://portal.cherokee.k12.ga.us/ http://portal.cherokee.k12.ga.us/ Schools/littleriver-es/default.aspx. Transportation changes must also be completed on the correct form and sent in your child’s folder before the change can happen. Remember ASP MUST be prepaid! is for goals. Check your packet for some special Kindergarten goals your child will be working towards! These are posted in the hall for the students! Some of the kids are already reaching these goals! F is also for FUN!

6. is for homework Packets! Your child will receive a packet every Monday and it is due back by Friday. Each box reviews a skill we are working on that week. Four out of the six boxes are required. Choose the boxes based on your child’s level. There will also be a few EXTRA, OPTIONAL assignments your child can receive rewards for if completed…Book It, Six Flags Reading. is for Independence. I will begin our year teaching in whole group to reinforce classroom behavior. However, my goal is to move into small, leveled groups as your children learn to be capable, confident, independent workers! is for joining our PTA! Throughout the school year there will be a variety PTA meetings and activities. We also have a Fall Festival and several fundraisers to help support our school. I encourage you to attend all functions and become involved! Our class will receive classroom money for 100% participation!

7. is for kitchen time. Our school is lucky to have a family living center equipped with a full kitchen! We will be visiting the kitchen every week to cook something with each letter we learn. If you would like to donate cooking supplies, please complete the volunteer form or let me know. Your help is greatly appreciated! is for library books! We will be visiting the library every other week. You may use your child’s library book or leveled reader with his/her comprehension homework. Remember to read daily! And keep library books in your child’s backpack when not reading so it is always ready to be returned!

8. is for Math. Your child will be learning many things in Math this year through hands on learning activities in large group as well as small group. Each child will be observed, tested and placed in centers accordingly to help create a feeling of success at all levels! is for Nurse! We have a full time nurse at our school! If your student requires medication to be taken at school please make sure that you fill out the necessary forms in the office. Our nurse handles all medication. Also, if there are any allergies that we need to be aware of please let us know. is for office. Please make sure to go to our office when you need to check-in or check- out your student. You MUST have a visitor’s badge anytime you come into the building! Check your packet for our daily schedule.

9. is for PARTY! School policy permits two classroom parties each year--Christmas and Valentine's Day. The room moms will usually organize these events and coordinate volunteers and donations. All are welcome to participate in the festivities! Birthdays are also special occasions for young children. Although we are not permitted to have a "party" for each individual child, parents are welcome to provide a simple special dessert for snack. Birthday celebrations will take place in the afternoon during snack time. is for questions! I will communicate with you through notes, email, telephone calls, newsletters, report cards, and parent teacher conferences. I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns at any time. I will contact you if I see a concern and please feel free to send me an email or note if you have a concern about your child's progress. We can meet at any time!

10. is for Reading! I teach reading through a balanced literacy approach. We will learn letters, sounds, phonics, sight words and ‘tricks’ as we begin to read. Once reading we will work on fluency. Our goal is that all children read about 30 words per minute. If they accomplish this goal, they are ready for comprehension and may begin 1 st grade Accelerated Reader. All children will be reading books on his/her level and will be tested, monitored and moved accordingly throughout the year. Be on the look out for Scholastic Book orders, Highlights and book fair announcements! is for Science, Social Studies and Health. Each week you will see a ‘Theme’ your students will be studying. We rotate our Science, SS and Health topics each week. To review this with your child, you can always choose the Theme homework box for that week. is for testing. Your child will be assessed in many ways throughout the year. However, almost all testing in Kindergarten will be one on one. You will receive a report card 4 times a year at the end of each quarter. Your child’s reading level will also be assessed throughout the year using the Rigby Assessment. The children will be tested using our ‘smart’ table to help them learn and understand the importance of doing their best at testing time.

11. is for UNIQUE and special. They enter my classroom with different skills, personalities, experiences, backgrounds and learning styles. It is my aspiration to foster their individual strengths and help each child develop to his/her fullest potential; academically and socially. To help each child feel special, they will each have a STAR STUDENT week to shine. You will receive a journal to let you know how to help your child when it is his/her turn! is for volunteers! We love having volunteers in our school! If you did not fill out the volunteer form during Meet-N-Greet, please see the back table before you leave for openings still available. There are SO many ways you can help…story time, copying, donating items, cooking in the kitchen, planning parties. is for Writing! Your child will begin learning to write through handwriting and letter formation. We will then move into phonetic spelling and creative writing. Each student will be required to write a response to literature, informative and persuasive writing sample by the end of the year.

12. What is a spaceman?

13. is for eXtra Important People to know! Our principal is Christian Kirby. We have two assistants…Abbey Philpot and Lorraine Ward. Our para-professional is Susan Collins. Deana Miller is our school librarian. Help your child to learn his/her bus driver’s name! is for YOU! Always remember you are a teacher too! There is no one who is more influential in your child’s life than you! Use our homework packet to help you guide what may be difficult for your child and if you ever feel your child needs help in any area, please let me know or check our class web site for practice ideas! is for ZzZzZz...please make sure that your child gets plenty of rest each night. Setting and keeping a bedtime helps children to be alert and ready to learn each day! I love to see their smiling faces walk in each morning ready to learn!