Absence
If your child is ill, please call the office (719-683-2700) between 7:30 and 10:00 AM to inform us of your child’s absence and the reason for it. This is for your child’s safety. If a student must leave early, go to the office to sign him out. Never send another person to pick up your child without informing me or the office. The office will issue an early dismissal slip.
Attendance
A successful school experience is the responsibility of the child, the parent and the school. Your child's progress, both academically and socially, is influenced to a great extent by daily participation. Regular attendance without tardiness is a key.
Arrival/Dismissal
Students should arrive between 7:50 and 8:00 AM. Students should not arrive prior to 7:50 AM (unless they are eating breakfast at school) since supervision by the school staff is not available. School begins promptly at 8:00 AM and afternoon dismissal is at 3:45 PM. If your child is going home with you, please pick up your child in the office.
Ask Me About
Every Thursday, a newsletter will be coming home with our weekly news. This will contain information about upcoming events, classroom happenings. Please review the Ask Me About with your child to help foster the Home-School connection.
Backpacks
To help your child carry homework, planners, and messages to and from school, you are asked to provide a backpack. Please remind your child to give me any notes/envelopes from you at the beginning of the day. They should be carrying their backpacks everyday.
Birthdays are special occasions for young children. If your child wishes, he/she may bring a treat for the class.
Book Orders
Every month I will send home Scholastic Book Club Catalogs for you and your child to look over. These clubs offer wonderful books at reduced prices--what a great way to build your home library! If you choose to order, please make the check payable to Scholastic Books and send in BEFORE the due date. Order forms and your check should be in a LABELED envelope. (Your child’s name, book order, and my name.)
Breakfast
A school breakfast is served every morning from 7:30-7:50 AM. The breakfast menu may be found on the back of the lunch menu. For prices, please contact Mrs. Ellerd in the office.
Calendar
The school calendar can be found at the end of this handbook and also on our school website. Please make sure to note when school is in session and when we have vacations. www.ellicottschools.org. Also make sure to mark your calendar for early dismissal days.
Computers
We are fortunate enough to have two computers in our classroom. We use a variety of age-appropriate programs that reinforce math readiness and reading skills. Children will work on the computers during center time. Please be sure to fill out an internet agreement form if you would like your child to use websites designed for learning.
Conferences
Parent/Teacher conferences are held after school (usually from 3:00-8:00 PM) during the first and third quarter. We will discuss your child's accomplishments, strengths and overall progress, and any concerns you may have. Please feel free to schedule additional conferences at any time throughout the year if the need arises.
Discipline
Our classroom is a small community where teamwork and good relationships are expected. We will spend a great amount of time learning class procedures and practicing them. Each student is expected to act within our standards of behavior. To establish good order and help the children learn self-control, they will be guided to respect themselves and their companions through specific directions, positive reinforcement, suggested new activities and responsible actions.
Our school has adopted the Positive Behavior System (or PBS). This entire system is based on “catch a kid being good”. The students will earn tickets for positive behaviors to be redeemed in our “Hawk store.” Look for the monthly character trait in our class news at the beginning of every month! August starts out with “Movie Star Manners!”
The new pledge for our Elementary School is:
We are Ellicott HAWKS.
We Have respect for others, property, and ourselves,
Always are responsible.
We follow directions,
Are Kind to everyone,
And we Stay positive!
Our classroom discipline system includes a traffic light system. The first time a child breaks a rule, he will be given a verbal reminder. Nothing further will happen as he reflects on whether that behavior was a good choice. Every child will begin the day with their clip on the green circle. If a child chooses to break a rule after a verbal reminder, their clip will be changed to yellow. Continued misbehavior will result in their clip changing to red and finally, the student will be referred to the office.
The rules, consequences for the clip changes, and the rewards for following our rules are listed below.
Rules:
1. I will raise my hand to speak.
2. I will listen and follow directions.
3. I will follow the HAWK pledge and the school rules.
Consequences:
First Offense: A verbal reminder to get back on track.
Second Offense: Change clip on behavior chart from green to yellow. Miss five minutes of recess.
Third Offense: Change clip to red, miss ten minutes of recess, complete a Think Sheet, and parents are called.
Fourth Offense: Student is sent to the office with a referral.
Severe Disruption: Student is sent to the office immediately with a referral.
Rewards:
Excellent Behavior: Earn a ticket at the end of the day. Children will also have the opportunity to earn tickets for positive behaviors throughout the day to be traded in at the Hawk store.
e-mail
You can contact me via my email address:
I will check my email on a daily basis. If you need to discuss something urgently, please call me at school instead.
Emergency card
Please complete and return the emergency information papers promptly. If you have a change in home or work phone numbers, inform myself and the office so you can be located quickly if an emergency occurs.
Emergency closings
Check any local listings for possible closures or delays in case of snow days or any emergencies related to school closings. Additionally, you may log onto www.rockyinfo.net to review closure information. The district will make an announcement, generally by 6:00 A.M.
Early Dismissal
The school NEEDS your updated information in case of early dismissal. Please make sure this is updated with myself and the office!
Fall Carnival
Our PTA holds an annual Fall Carnival where each classroom donates a themed basket for a silent auction. The proceeds go toward funding various programs for our district. I will let you know what our theme is and you may make donations of items during the time before the carnival. I will let you know details as soon as they become available.
Field Trips
Generally, we plan two field trips that are both fun and educational for the Kindergarten classes. We often need parent volunteers on the trips and a set of paperwork for the volunteers have to be filled out and returned to the school. Please return ALL permission slips and medical forms (for your child, as well as yourself if you plan on chaperoning!) as soon as possible after they are sent home.
Graduation
We will have a graduation ceremony at the end of the year for all of our Kindergarten classes. Please keep this in mind when planning next year’s Summer Vacation or for requesting time off from work. It is such a special day for our students and we don’t want you to miss it!
Hands on learning
I feel that the best way to help children learn is to make learning fun. Important concepts can be learned by doing meaningful hands-on activities. There are times when seatwork is required and necessary, but for the most part, our classroom will be an active learning environment.
Health
Please let me know of special circumstances which may affect your child. These could include medication that may make him sleepy, a death in the family, etc. Also, please let me know of any allergies your child may have, especially food allergies. We sometimes cook or do food activities to complement lessons in kindergarten and it would be helpful to know when I plan our recipes.
Help at home
Your extra help at home really makes a difference!
Your child is expected to know these readiness skills:
•Full name •Basic colors •Counting to 10 •Identifying letter names •Tying shoes
•Printing first name: begin with a capital letter and the rest in lower case.
Homework
Weekly homework packets will be sent home on Mondays in your child’s Planner. You may choose to do one assignment per night, or if time is an issue, double up on a day when you have more time! Your child should complete this work by himself, under your supervision, and return it the following Monday. Completing and returning homework helps build a sense of responsibility and prepares him for the homework he will have to complete in later school years. Homework should be your child’s best work. These homework papers should be placed in the “From Home” side of the Thursday folders and returned on Monday. In addition to nightly homework, there will be reading every night for 15 minutes. Be sure to keep track of this in the planner calendars. Sometimes, a special project will be sent home, and those need to be returned by the due date.
Illness
The question of when to keep your child home from school is often a difficult one, especially when decisions must be made first thing in the morning. It is important, however, to keep your child home if he/she is ill. This helps to make them more comfortable and prevents others from becoming ill. Children function more effectively in the classroom when they are healthy.
Independent Reading
Because children learn to read by reading, they need plenty of opportunities to read independently. Sufficient time and appropriate materials are necessary to develop and strengthen reading abilities. By giving the children time to read both at school and at home, we can work together to provide a literature-rich environment and a life-long love of reading.
Internet Agreements
From time to time, I come across a website that has wonderful games for the students to use independently during center time. (Either Math or Reading) Students with a completed internet agreement form will have the opportunity to use these sites in our classroom. I will always send the link home for your review via our Ask Me About…. Please understand that the students are NOT “surfing the net” in my classroom, rather they are using specific sites that I bring up for them to practice learning skills.
Journals
One strategy that will be used to help convey the vital concept that “print conveys meaning” is the frequent use of journal writing. In their Literacy journals, the Kindergartners combine their emerging writing skills with their drawing skills. As the children are exposed to a variety of phonics and reading experiences, journal entries will move from drawings and “inventive” spellings toward more conventional writing.
We will also utilize Math Journals and Science Journals to help the students transfer their thinking and learning process to a visual means of communication.
Kindness
Students in our classroom are encouraged and expected to treat all members of our class as well as others with kindness and respect. Bothering others, bullying and interrupting learning will not be permitted.
Library
The children go to our school library one day a week. The children will have the opportunity to check out one book which will stay in the classroom and be shared with the entire class for the week.
The Pikes Peak Public Library provides mobile services to our district. If you would like your child to check out books for home, just fill out the paper work for a library card (located at the end of this handbook). Students will have their own card, but it will be kept in my desk for the year. (To be sent home at the end of Kindergarten.) They may check out two books and one video. Materials are due two weeks later. The mobile service (formerly known as “Book Mobile”) comes to our district once a week. The children can check out new materials after they return any previous materials. These books DO go home, and any fines from the public library are the families responsibilities.
Literacy Centers
Literacy centers will be used for a portion of our two hour reading block. Children practice reading and writing skills while the teacher works with individual children or small guided reading groups. The center activities are designed to strengthen letter/sound knowledge, listening skills, oral language expression, rhyme, letter formation and cooperation.
Lunch
We will eat lunch “somewhere around” 10:55-11:20 each day. Children may bring a packed lunch from home or eat a school lunch. The lunch menu is published monthly with the breakfast menu on the back. For lunch (and breakfast) prices, please contact Mrs. Ellerd in the office.
Math
The Kindergarten mathematics curriculum provides students with mathematical experiences that help them develop number sense and a positive attitude toward mathematics that will continue through their school career and their lives. We employ a hands-on, problem solving approach.
Medication
As directed by state law, no prescribed nor over-the-counter (Tylenol, COUGH DROPS, ointments, etc.) medications will be given to students in school without written physician authorization and written permission from the guardian/s. The medication, physician’s authorization, and parental request must be submitted to the office before school officials will dispense any medication.
Money for lunch
Please send any lunch money in a container (envelope, zip-lock bag) labeled with your child’s name, my name, and the intended use. For example: John Jones, Ms. Maly, lunch money.
Money for math
Two of our math tasks for the second half of the year require students to identify coins and know the values of the coins. We will begin coin identification around the middle of September. Please send in 10 quarters, 10 dimes, 10 nickels, and 10 pennies in one STURDY container (film canister, small Tupperware, etc.) labeled with your child’s first and last name. This will be their set for the entire year. Any money left over at the end of the year will go toward a special math ice cream party for the entire class. This is NOT mandatory, I have plastic coins the children can use, however, this task is easier to learn when students are manipulating real coins in our lessons.
Nurse
We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful nurse, Nurse Stickel, at school. If there is a small scrape or cut, I will tend to it in the classroom with soap/water and a bandage. She will tend to more “serious” scratches and scrapes, bumps and bruises, as well as sudden illnesses. For any serious injuries, she will contact you. Please be sure to send in any change of contact numbers in case she needs to get in touch with you. She also needs updated immunization records. Be sure to get those to her as soon as possible.
Our school rules:
1. Obey all school staff.
2. Respect yourself, others, and property.
3. Work quietly without disturbing others.
4. Pass politely from place to place.
5. Be Kind!
6. Be prepared for class.
Parent involvement
Your support of school activities makes your child feel important and sends the message that you value school! We are always happy to have your help for special activities in the classroom. I will try to let you know at least a week ahead of time if I need help. Requests for help will be published in our weekly newsletter. I hope that you can come and join in the fun!
Parties and Celebrations
There are three main parties each year---Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Look for special sign ups in the Thursday Folders as the parties draw near. We will have some other celebrations such as the 100th Day of School and our End of the Year Celebration, with more details in the future.
Playground Procedures
Please review these playground rules and safety procedures with your child:
1. Always follow the directions of the adult on duty.
2. Follow all school rules.
3. Walk to recess in an orderly manner.
4. Do not jump off any playground equipment.
5. Always make sure you can see the adult on duty.
6. Only one person per swing and do not twist it. Do not give “underdogs” to other students.
7. You may only come down the slide on your bottom and feet facing forward.
8. Only one person climbing the slide ladders at a time.
9. You must ask an adult to use the restroom or get a drink of water.
Poetry Notebook
During the year we will be compiling a notebook of poems and songs. As a home project, you will be asked to decorate the outside of a 100 page notebook (Composition, black/white marble works best) for your child to use during the year. More details concerning this project will follow at a later date. They will be due sometime at the beginning of September.
Questions
If at anytime during the school year, you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me! I can be reached by email , or by phone (719) 683-2700. I am in school from 7:30 AM to 4:15 PM. I am always available for you so if there is a different time that works better for you, let me know and we can set it up.
Recess
The children will have one morning recess and one afternoon recess. Please keep this in mind when helping your child to select clothing for the day. If your child is too sick to play outside, he is too sick to come to school.
Report Cards
Report cards are issued every nine weeks. These reports reflect the progress your child has made toward various Kindergarten objectives and uses a grading system that reflects the developmental nature of kindergarten learning. Please keep a posted copy of the tasks so that you can help your child at home!
Restrooms
Have your child use the restroom shortly before coming to school. For the first couple of weeks, we will go to the bathroom as a class once in the morning, before and after lunch, and once in the afternoon. Please be sure to inform me of any medical problem that might require more frequent restroom trips. After the children get used to using the restrooms, they will have a symbol on our bathroom chart to use as needed. Guidelines will be set up so that they will be able to go once in the morning, after lunch, and once again in the afternoon. As always, they may utilize the restroom on an as needed basis.
Science
The focus of the Kindergarten science curriculum is on developing an awareness of the world in which we live. Through scientific inquiry, concepts will be presented in the life and earth sciences, including the study of animals and plants, fabric and material, trees, wood, and paper. These areas will be explored utilizing a literacy based, hands-on approach.
Snack
Your children generally get hungry by mid-afternoon! Every child should bring in their own snack every day. This should be a healthy snack that is quickly eaten (about 10 minutes). Healthy snacks such as a small box of crackers, pretzels, dry cereal, fruit roll-ups, raisins, apples, etc, are wonderful for optimal learning in the afternoon. We will get a drink of water after our snack so no drinks are necessary. (They may also have their water bottle.)
Social Studies
The Kindergarten social studies curriculum focuses on the students and how they relate to others in their families, classroom, school, and community. Holiday celebrations will also be highlighted. Activities will help the children engage their natural curiosity for the world around them.
Specials
The children will go to Art, Music, and PE on a rotation schedule every day. We have wonderful Specials teachers who add fabulous activities aligned with the state standards. Be sure to ask your child what they did while in Specials!
Supplies
Backpack~roomy enough to hold a large book and folder 6 #2 Pencils
2 boxes of 16 count Crayola crayons 1 box Crayola large markers
2 Llarge boxes of Kleenex 4 large glue sticks
2plain pocket folders Water bottle with a snap on lid
Composition book 8 oz. bottle glue
Sandwich zip lock bags (girls only) 2 big pink erasers
Gallon zip lock bags (boys only)
container of 10 each: quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies
light colored, plain T-shirt to be used for a special art project. (The children will be painting these shirts and should be wearable by them.)
T-shirts
We will be painting a T-shirt with fabric paint during the first month of school. Please have your child bring in a shirt that is light colored and plain. They will be able to wear their shirt proudly throughout the school year!
Tasks
Every quarter brings about new goals and objectives for the students to learn. A copy is provided for you so that you may be involved in your child’s academic success as well as helping at home!
Thursday Folders
The children will have a “Thursday Folder” that goes home every Thursday and needs to be returned every Monday. One side will be labeled “Keep at Home”. This will be for all graded work/projects for the week. The other side is labeled “Information for Parents”. Any information and anything that needs to be signed and returned can be found here. Use this side for returning homework.
Toys
Bringing toys to school is discouraged because they distract the children from learning. If a toy is accidentally lost or broken, feelings will be hurt. Please keep toys at home to prevent any mishaps.
Unique
Kindergartners learn that they are special and unique.
Kindergartners have opportunities to describe how they are alike as well as different from others. They share their culture and learn about different cultures within the class.
Visitors
Ellicott has a policy that ALL GUESTS (including familiar faces) are required to check in at the school office. Ellicott welcomes and encourages family involvement. It is important to remember that while this may seem inconvenient to frequent visitors, it is the goal and responsibility of the school to create a safe learning environment. Please stop in the office to receive your visitors pass and wear it visibly with pride!
Water bottles
It is a good idea to provide your child with a water bottle that he/she may keep in their backpack. Keeping the water bottles in the classroom cuts down on trips to the fountain that may take them away from learning and instruction. If you choose to supply your child with a water bottle, please label it with their name. Washing it every night will help cut down on pesky germs and will keep your child as healthy as possible.
Wish lists
Throughout the year we sometimes need supplies above and beyond our classroom materials (such as metal coffee cans and extra erasers.) These needs will be posted in the class newsletter. I am always collecting cancelled postage stamps for math activities. Extras items that you think we might be able to use are always welcome!
Writing
Our writing program builds on what each child already knows. Writing begins with scribbles and proceeds to lines and circles, random strings of letters, words and spaces and eventually sentences. Your children will be encouraged and praised for all attempts and accomplishments in writing. Providing a risk-free environment is paramount to your child's progress in writing. If possible, please provide your child with writing tools, such as pencils, crayons, markers and paper at home.
Younger siblings
It is in your child’s and the program’s best interest to have our parent volunteers available WITHOUT younger children. This not only allows your full attention to be focused on the class, but also allows for some special time between you and your kindergartner. Thank you for making childcare arrangements for younger siblings.
Zzzzz’s
Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give to your child. It will help them to be alert and ready to learn each day!
Lights…
Camera…
Kindergarten!
Ms. Maly
2009-2010
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
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