Kindergarten+Info

Dear Families,

We would like to welcome you and your child to Blackland Prairie Elementary and to our classrooms. We are going to have a great time getting acquainted. We would like to address some issues that you may have questions about as your child enters kindergarten.

Our conference period is from 12:50-1:40. Please feel free to contact us during that time if you have any questions or concerns. You can reach us on our direct telephone lines or via email.
 * Conference Times: **

Our schedules may vary slightly from day to day, but will always include Language Arts, Math, Science/Social Studies, Recess, Reflection Time and free choice or centers, as well as P.E., Music or Art during our specials time. Please dress your child appropriately for P.E. and recess (ex: tennis shoes, not sandals, shorts under skirts, etc.) Please see the school handbook for the entire dress code.
 * Daily Schedules: **

The instructional day begins at 7:45 and ends at 2:45. We ask that your child be dropped off after 7:20 a.m. to ensure adult supervision and no later than 7:40 so he/she will get to the classroom on time. If your child arrives after 7:45, he/she will be counted tardy. On the first day of school, you may accompany your child into the classroom and help him/her put things away, find a seat, etc. On the following days of the first week, we ask that you only walk them to the classroom, but not go inside with them. After the second week, school policy must resume: Children can only be escorted to the entrance of the kindergarten hallway, or the **“Kiss Goodbye Zone.”**
 * Arrival/Dismissal Procedures: **

Please make sure that your child's teacher is always aware of your child's route of transportation to and from school. **If any changes arise, please call, email, or write a note.** Otherwise, your child will be sent home in the normal fashion. Children can often misunderstand a situation, so we must be contacted by you personally. Further details regarding arrival and dismissal procedures are explained in the handbook.

Your child will be asked to read regularly and complete homework assignments (placed in folder in the beginning of the week) as specified by each teacher. Please use this activity as an opportunity to spend quality time with your child. Unless specified, the homework is due the following Friday.
 * Daily Folders/Homework: **

Your child's work as well as other important documents regarding the school functions and policies will be sent home in a separate folder every Thursday. Please review and keep all graded work at home, but return the folder the following day. Unless information is provided for all the students, the teacher will not place any items from home in a child’s folder (i.e. birthday invitations).

We will discuss our classroom rules and the importance of having rules as soon as school begins. We have attached a copy of our discipline management for you to review with your child. Please sign and have your child sign a copy and return the bottom portion. Each day, your child will take a folder home which will notify you of your child’s behavior. **Please discuss his/her day and initial in the appropriate box and return the folder on the following day.**
 * Classroom Rules: **

Reading—The students will learn pre-reading and reading skills, including phonics, rhyming, word building, blending, segmenting, sight words, sentence structure, comprehension skills, and reading skills. Writing—We will introduce pre-writing and writing skills; we will expect each student to write three related sentences using inventive spelling by the end of the year. <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Math—The students will learn math skills using a variety of hands-on manipulatives including problem solving skills throughout the year. <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Science, Social Studies and Technology will also be covered per the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills requirements ([])
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Curriculum: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The students will constantly receive verbal praise. Tangible reinforcements such as: stickers, prizes, good notes, stamps, etc. will also be distributed.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Positive Reinforcements: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A kindergarten newsletter will be emailed to you and/or posted on the teacher’s website. If you do not have internet access or email, it will be sent in your child’s folder. Please read it to your child. It will contain information regarding upcoming events, units to be studied, etc. This is the best way to know what to currently help your child with at home.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Newsletters: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Please have your child leave all toys at home, unless the teacher requests a specific item, like for show and tell. All toys will be confiscated to avoid being broken, lost, or accidentally taken. Toys will be returned at the end of the day or to the parent.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Toys: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Teachers are not allowed to dispense any type of medication to students. Please see the school nurse if your child needs to take prescribed medication. Please notify your child’s teacher of any health changes.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Medication: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Field trips will be announced at a later date and time.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Field Trips: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Kindergarten will have approximately twenty minutes of recess daily. Please dress your child appropriately according to the weather. We encourage you to pack a sweater. <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Each class will visit the library once a week for story time and checkout. The kindergarten students will begin bringing library books home in the middle of the first nine weeks. They are expected to return the library book the following week on their class’s respective library day.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Recess: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Library: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Please prepare an extra change of clothes conducive to the weather to remain in your child’s backpack. Accidents do arise.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Unexpected: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">All students will participate in Universal Screeners at the beginning, middle and end of the year. Individual reading assessments will be conducted in October, January and April/May. We will discuss your child’s progress during the fall parent conference. Report cards will be sent at the end of each nine week period. You may also call a conference with your child’s teacher as needed.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Assessments: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We ask that you bring any goodies to be distributed for birthday celebration during the time designated by your child’s teacher. The snacks should be easy to distribute as well as clean (no red beverages). We ask that only the parents/guardians attend and distribute any goodies. Invitations for parties outside of the classroom must be provided for **all** of the students in order to be passed out by the teacher.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Birthdays: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The children are responsible for their own lunch money. The students are given three or four choices of meals each day, and they will be asked to choose first thing each morning. A lunch menu will be sent home; it’s also available on the BPE website. If you plan on having lunch with your child, please call the cafeteria at 424-8688 by 8:15 am in order to reserve a meal. We ask that parents allow all children to become accustomed to our routines for the first two weeks before you begin to join your child for lunch. If possible, **please pack your child a lunch for the first two weeks of kindergarten.**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Lunch: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">If your child is going to be late, please call the cafeteria (**424-8688**) to inform them of your child’s lunch choice.

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">You are able to manage your child’s lunch account electronically through the P.A.M.S. website ( <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif;">http://www.pamslunchroom.com) <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. You can choose the amount to be deposited into your child’s account as well as set limitations to your child’s additional snacks (chips, juices, ice cream, fruit rollups, etc.).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Lunch Accounts: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">At the beginning of the year, your child will have a designated resting time during the day. Please make sure that your child has a labeled towel in his/her backpack daily. Mats will not be used to facilitate cleanliness and space. Please wash your child’s towel regularly. All items must stay in your child’s backpack when not used. <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We would love to involve parents in a variety of ways. If you can volunteer your time in any way, please sign up to work at school or home. Parents, family, and members of the community are always welcome in the classroom to engage our students in reading or teaching them about an area of specialization.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Reflection Time: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Parent Volunteers: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The list of supplies is available at various stores as well as on the BPE website.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Supplies: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Your child’s teacher will distribute a wish list. If you can assist by providing any of the items on the list, please do so. We greatly appreciate any contributions you make to the classroom.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Wish List: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">At certain times during the school year, book orders will be sent home. If you are ordering books, please make the check payable to Scholastic. We cannot accept cash or checks made payable to the teacher.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Book Orders: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Please be sure to read the Round Rock I.S.D. Handbook and the Blackland Prairie Handbook. At the end is attached a form to be signed by you and your child. Please do so after discussing the material with your child and have your child return it to his/her teacher. Please see the provided checklist to ensure you have returned all necessary forms by the required dates.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Handbooks: **

//<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The Leader in Me //<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> is a whole-school program that is based on //The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.// <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We will be introducing, teaching, and modeling these habits. <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Habit 1: Be Proactive <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Habit 3: Put First Things First <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Habit 4: Think Win-Win <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Habit 6: Synergize <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Leader in Me: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Feel free to research the program more at [|www.theleaderinme.org].

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We look forward to the new partnership we are creating to educate your child. Periodically, we will be sending letters to notify you of upcoming events that you may want to participate in and ways to enhance your child's learning process at home as well as the school environment.

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Sincerely,

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Kindergarten Teachers of Blackland Prairie