1. Mrs. O’Neal 2015-2016 of Kindergarten The s

2. Attendance If your child is absent, you must send a note to the school when he/she returns. Please include your child’s name, teacher’s name, date of absence, and the reason for the absence on a regular size sheet of paper. Excessive absences hinder a child’s progress. Art Lab: Tuesday 8:15-9:00

3. Book Order Scholastic is a great place to purchase books for your child. They are affordable and appropriate for this grade level. I will send home a magazine and order form every month for you to look at. If you choose to purchase books you will go to the scholastic website and order under our class code. Our classroom will earn a free book for every student that orders online. If you want to send in the order form with your child I will enter the order for you, but please pay with check or credit card.

4. Conduct Folders Conduct folders will be sent home daily. Please review your child’s behavior with them. If they have broken a rule a note will be sent home for you to sign and return. You should sign and return the folders to school on a daily basis. In the folder there will also be important notes from your child’s teacher, Challenger, or completed class work, so please check DAILY. Initial the space on the calendar day. This allows me to know that you have checked it. Computer Lab: Monday 11:30-12:15 (Please bring headphones)

5. Dress Code Students should be dressed in accordance to the P.I.S.D. dress code. Girls should wear shorts under their dress. Please label your child’s jackets and sweaters! Jackets and sweaters must be solid colors to wear inside the building.

6. Email My email is onealm@pearlandisd.org. You may email me if you have a question or want to let me know something about your child for that day. I will not discuss any personal matters over email. If you need to, you can email me and I will call you after school or on my conference to discuss the matter. If you email about a transportation change please make sure you get a confirmation from me that I received it. If I do not respond please call the office.

7. Field Trips We will take a field trip this year. We will be going to see a play. A permission slip will be required for the field trip. If we do not receive a permission slip, your child will not be allowed to go with the class. You must fill out a criminal history form in order to attend!

8. Going Home If your child will be going home a different way than what I have in my files, you MUST call the school or send me a note by 2:00. I will not let your child go with another adult or a different way unless you have notified me.

9. Gifted and Talented Process for Pearland ISD Student: Nominations are accepted at anytime Round One nominations are due to Advanced Academics The 1st round of assessments will be conducted at your child’s campus Complete and send Nomination Form to Advanced Academics Complete and send Permission to Test Form (must have a parent signature) to Advanced Academics 1928 N. Main St. Pearland, Texas 77581 281.485.3203 (Forms are available at www.pearlandisd.org → Departments/Advanced Academics)www.pearlandisd.org

10. Homework Your child will have homework each month. This homework is optional. It does not need to be turned in. It is extra review and practice for your child. This Homework is intended to be completed by your child with your assistance.

11. Please do not send your child to school if he/she has a fever. If your child becomes ill at school, you will be called to come and get your child. If your child needs to take medication during school hours, please send a note and I will make sure it gets to the nurse. Illness

12. Journals We will spend some of our days writing in our journals. Your child will also use their journal for Stations and math tubs. You will see a growth in your child’s writing throughout the year. Your child’s journal will come home at the end of the year

13. Keeping Informed I will try my best to keep you informed. If your child is struggling or has a behavior issue I will call you.

14. Lunch Our lunchtime is 10:45 A.M. - 11:15 A.M. The cost of lunch is $2.25 for your child. If you would like to purchase a lunch and eat with your child, the cost is $3.25. You are welcome to come and eat with your child or bring a lunch to him/her. Please sign in at the office and wait for us in the cafeteria. You will sit on stage with your child to eat. Unless you have specified on your child’s lunch account information on their purchasing of extra items (snacks/etc.) They can purchase as many extras they would like and it will be charged to their account. The cafeteria does send notices home informing of negative balances. If your child’s account is overdrawn past a specific $ amount, they will only be served a peanut butter sandwich or cheese sandwich and milk.

15. Magazine- Highlights Highlights is a magazine that you can order for your child and have delivered to your house. You do not have to order, but please fill out the slip of paper I send home and return to school.

16. Newsletters A school newsletter will be sent home each month through Skyward email. This newsletter contains important dates and information. The Lunch menu will always be on the back as well as the specials schedule for that month.

17. Outside Your child will have outside time (recess) daily, weather permitting. Please dress your child appropriately for the weather

18. Peek of the Week The peek of the week is an information guide for parents. It allows you to see what we are working on in the classroom each week and has important reminders. The peek is located on our website, Pearlandisd.org. Click on campuses and choose Challenger. Under the heading team news you will find the site for Kindergarten and Mrs. O’Neal. The Peek will be updated and available every week. Please Join our PTA: It is $8.00

19. Questions Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s education. I will make every effort to meet with you and discuss your concerns.

20. Report Cards We are on a nine-week grading period. Your child will receive a report card each nine-weeks. If you feel the need to discuss your child’s report card I will be happy to meet with you! A check is developing or we are working on it. An N is for needs improvement, and a + means mastery.

21. Specials Library: Your child will attend our library every week (Monday). Your child will begin checking out books through the library very soon. Please help your child to be responsible with his/her book they check out. Please return your child’s book in their backpack each week so they can check out a new book. PE- Your child will participate in PE 3 times a week. Please send your child in rubber soled shoes on those days. (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) Music- Your child will attend music class one day a week. (Wednesday)

22. Snacks Each class has a designated snack time in their schedule. Please send a HEALTHY/SIMPLE snack with your student each day. If your child would like to bring a water bottle to school please make sure that they bring it in a traditional water bottle with a secure lid to prevent spills. Please pack separate from their lunch and label it. Snack Suggestions… Fruit/Vegetables Dry cereal Cereal bars Crackers Please do not send the following… Snacks requiring a spoon, or can be messy such as yogurt, pudding, jello. No sugary snacks or candy.

23. Tardies Students late to school (after 8:00 A.M.) are considered tardy. The office and I keep a record of these tardies and will document them on your child’s report card. If your student is tardy 7 or more times they will not be eligible for perfect attendance

24. Visitors and Volunteers We always need volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering at our school, please contact me, the office staff, or the PTA. We would love to have you! Please, if you volunteer check in at the front office and get a tag and fill out a background check through the Pearland ISD website.

25. Website Please visit my website by going to www.pearlandisd.org, click schools, elementary, Challenger, Grade levels, Kindergarten, Mrs. O’Neal.www.pearlandisd.org I have my contact information there, peek of the week, sight word flash cards, websites to use at home, homework and scholastic book club ordering information.

26. EXtra Supplies We are always in need of extra supplies. If you would like to help with this, here is a list of items we use in the classroom: Glue sticks and bottled glue (we always run out) Crayons Clorox wipes Colored paper or cardstock Magnetic letters- lowercase Ink pads playdough

27. You will have a chance to buy a yearbook this school year. Flyers will go home in the folders on how to purchase them. What better way to capture those elementary years than with a yearbook. Yearbook

28. Zzzzz… Your child should get plenty of rest each night. Kindergarten students require 10-12 hours of sleep a day. It is so important for your child to be alert and ready to learn each day. Set a bedtime and be consistent.

29. Extra Information Please send a change of clothes in your child’s backpack daily. Accidents do happen and the nurse does not always have extra clothes for the younger children. I will be scheduling conferences during the first nine weeks to discuss your child’s report card with you. If you feel the need to contact me at any time, please call the school, send a note, or email me to make arrangements for scheduling a conference. My conference period is 12:30-1:15. We will have three parties throughout the year. These will include a winter party and valentines party. The room mom or myself will contact you to help with our celebrations.

30. Extra Information There are 26 basic sight words that students in P.I.S.D. are required to know before leaving Kindergarten. They are on my website if you would like to print them and use as flashcards.

31. How You Can Help We are happy to have left over party favors, happy meal toys, pencils, stickers, erasers, etc… to put into our treasure boxes for students. When giving instructions at home, try to only give the instructions once. Have the child repeat the instructions so you will know that they heard you the first time. We are working on giving 2 – 3 step instructions. Read to your children every night. Give your children a responsibility at home, such as: folding towels, setting the table, packing their backpack, making their bed, sorting their laundry, helping wash dishes (or load dishwasher), feed pets, etc. This will help develop independence and help them feel like a contributing member of the family.