Week 1 Highlights!

Upcoming Events
Curriculum Night: September 6, 6:30-8:30.  Please plan on attending this night to learn about our Kindergarten curriculum, classroom routines and procedures, and meet the Special Area Teachers.

Back to School Party: September 7, evening.  This party is usually at Barrie Park and is a chance to meet your child's classmates and families.  It is a fund raiser for the current fifth grade class and is a lot of fun!

The first week is all about routines, routines, routines!  I want all my students to feel safe in the classroom. In order for them to feel safe they need to know how to do things!   We spent time this week learning how to line up, how to pack our backpacks, and even how to roll a dice!  As these procedures get easier, we spend more time on reading and writing and math!

• Please be advised that lice was found in the classroom.  Here is a letter from nurse Jamie if you have any questions.
• 
  
• Thank you all for being so great about nut-free snacks!  It makes it easier for me to keep all the kids safe!
• 
  
• A Special Schedule is going in folders tomorrow!  Try to remember PE shoes on Mondays and Wednesdays.  
• 
  
• As always- please feel free to reach out with questions about your child's day.  I look forward to seeing all of you on Curriculum Night!

We learned how to roll a dice so it stays on the table!

We learned how to cut with our thumbs on top!

We learned how to work with each other and talk about math!

We learned how to organize our space and sort!

We learned how to get our math bins out and take them to the right spot!

We learned how to work together!

We sorted!

We counted dots!

We learned about different ways to sort!

We sorted more than one way!

Kindergarten is Almost Here!

Kindergarten is Almost Here!

Kindergarten is here! I am sure, like me, you are excited and a little nervous about a new beginning!  I am here to answer any questions you have.  Here are a few notes to help you navigate the classroom, the school, and our routines.

First Day

• Our first School bell rings at 7:55 and our second bell rings at 7:57.  On the first day of school I will come outside and greet the children and we will wave goodbye to you from outside. (This is different from previous years if you have an older child at Irving.) 
•  The children will follow your lead...if you seem reluctant to say goodbye-they will be reluctant, too.  I promise to take good care of them! 
• Dismissal is at 2:30 on Wednesdays. We will enter and exit the same doors.
• If it is raining during the drop off in the morning, I will open my classroom door.  After the first day, if it is raining, you will drop your child off in the cafeteria.  
• I will have goldfish for snack in case you forget to pack a snack those first few days.  Going forward, your child will want a snack as we eat lunch rather late. 

Schedule:

• Opening Bell rings at 7:55.  We will go in at 7:57.  
• Lunch and Recess is from 11:45-12:40
• Closing Bell is 3:00.  Wednesday it is at 2:30.
• If you arrive after 8:00 please go to the office for a tardy slip.  
• If your child will be absent call the office.  Please let me know via email. 
• Please stay with your child until the morning supervisor arrives. 
• Please arrive promptly for dismissal.  Children get nervous when they see all their friends leave and they are still waiting for a familiar face.

Communication:

• A folder will go home EVERY DAY to help us keep papers tidy and help with communication.   Some days the folder will be empty-but please check it every day!
• I update the blog about once a week.   I will send you an email when it is updated.  If you prefer a hard copy, please let me know.  
• After years of following people on twitter, I may actually tweet a picture or two! There's not much to actually follow yet... but you can find me @parkinsonkinder 
• For day to day communication- email is best.  You can reach me at bparkinson@op97.org
• I will respond to your email within 24 hours.  It is hard for me to email during the day unless I have a planning period.  If you need to get a hold of me during the day please call the office. 708-524-3090 and leave a message.

Health and Wellness

• We will have a snack each morning.  I will provide goldfish for the first few days.  After that (or before if you prefer) you should send in a snack for your child.  It is a good idea to have it labeled so there is no confusion. We have allergies in the classroom.  Please talk with your child about NOT sharing snacks and lunches.  
• Encourage your child to eat a hearty breakfast and pack a snack that has some staying power.  
• Please talk with your child each morning about their lunch choice. 
• LUNCH CHOICES ARE: Hot lunch (menu can be found here.)  Pizza, Salad and Sandwiches are daily options.   Milk is included in hot lunch.   If your child brings a lunch from home they can order milk-but they need to know it in the morning. 
• Please pack snacks separate from the lunch!  (We send the lunch bin down right away in the morning and if the snack is in the lunch box we can't get to it.)
• A few weeks after school starts, kids can order sandwiches or salads.  It is a little confusing the first few weeks, so let's keep it simple.   
• NO NUTS in our classroom, but it is fine to have nuts in lunches as the cafeteria has a nut free table.  Please no peanut butter granola bars, no peanuts or nuts in snack mixes, etc. in our classroom.  Here is a link to safe snacks from Nurse Jamie. 
• Plan on ordering a hot lunch once in the first two weeks.  I generally do not work in the lunch room, but the first few weeks I will be there to make sure they get settled.
• No edible birthday treats.  More on that on curriculum night. 
• I cannot give medicine.  Our school nurse, Ms. Jaime Peterson will help you navigate medical forms.

Other Information

• I am looking for lots of great parent volunteers.  There will be opportunities to work with individual students, help with projects, and help keep the classroom looking great.  Please consider signing up on curriculum night.
• Homework will start in a few weeks. Homework is optional, but encouraged.  Nothing needs to be turned in. All Kindergarten classes will have the same homework calendar.