Kindergarten is one of the most important and exciting years of your child’s school career. It is a
year full of opportunities for you and your child’s teacher to work together in your child’s
growth – socially and academically!
SCHOOL DAY – 8:25 a.m.-2:40 p.m. (Children may enter the building at 8:15 am.)
**Do not drop children off before 8:15 am. There may not be supervision in the classroom
before these times.
ABSENCE – If your child is absent for any reason, please be sure to call the office and leave a
message with the school secretary or leave a message on the attendance voice mail. Do not leave
this information on the teacher’s voice mail. The Highland Elementary office number is (952)
423-7595, the Attendance Voice Mail number is (651) 683-6969 #94677.
SUPPLIES – Supply Money ($20.00-checks payable to ISD 196) and Party Money ($5.00-cash
only please)-Please give to your child’s teacher as soon as possible. The supply money is used to
purchase crayons, markers, glue, pencils, and other miscellaneous school supplies for your
child’s use.
Supplies to bring:
• $20.00 for school supplies (checks payable to ISD 196)
• $5.00 for party donation (cash only please)
• (1) sturdy folder with two pockets
• paint shirt (an adult t-shirt works the best)
• one old sock and two black Expo dry erase white board markers in a zip lock bag
labeled with your child’s name
• one package of stickers (no characters/gender specific)
• school bag (big enough for large projects, preferably with no buckles, no wheeled
bags)
• sandwich or gallon size zip lock bags-optional
• Clorax wipes
• A thin towel for quiet time (not too fluffy due to storage limitations and no pillows
please)
SECOND DAY OF CLASS – Have your child come without you on the second day of class as
well. There are fewer tears if Mom and Dad stay at home, and it also helps your child with
building independence as well as establishing a positive school routine. It is also important for
your child to get used to where he meets the bus, his/her route to school, and how he/she gets to
his room. Instructional clerks will be available in the bus area to help children find their
classrooms during the first few weeks of school.
DISMISSAL
Children that are picked up or ride the bus will be dismissed with students in grades 1-5 through
the main entrance. We attempt to dismiss a few minutes before other grades. (2:38 p.m.) If your
child is a walker, they will have patrols to accompany them. They will be taken out the west
doors and be crossed at 142nd Street. If you meet your child en route, the best location would be
at the crosswalk. Please do not take your child from the walker group until they reach this point.
Children that go to SAC after school will be picked up at their classroom and brought down to
the cafeteria.
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS – If at any time during the year a change in transportation is
requested, such as picking up your child instead of your child taking the bus or walking, you
must send a note notifying your child’s teacher of this change. If it is not possible to send a
note, call the main office with this information. Do not leave this information on a voice mail
recording or email message unless it is sent a few days prior to the transportation change. This
procedure is school policy.
If you wish to pick your child up, you must sign the register at the office, and your child will be
called down to the office to meet you there. Please do not come down to your child’s classroom
without checking in the office first. We follow these procedures to ensure the safety of your
children. If your child is picked up on a regular basis, it is not necessary to come in and sign
them out. Please remember to pull up or park in the south parking lot (not the bus pick-up area).
Children that go to daycare on an irregular basis will need to bring a schedule for the teacher to
follow. Make sure that you list the daycare provider’s address and phone number on the
Kindergarten Information Sheet, which you will fill out today.
BUS STOPS – We will be stressing safety and courtesy in school, on the bus and on the street.
If you live near a bus stop, we would appreciate your stopping and overseeing a bit to help us
establish good behavior habits now that will pay off later.
FRIDAY FOLDERS – In order to better communicate between home and school, we will be
sending a Friday folder each week. This folder will contain community information, school
news, and various newsletters. These folders should be emptied over the weekend and sent back
to school every Monday.
SPECIALISTS – Kindergarten students are scheduled for P.E., ART, LIBRARY AND MUSIC
on an irregular basis. Please check your monthly calendar for these days. Your child must have
non-marking, rubber-soled shoes to participate in P.E.
LIBRARY – All kindergartners will be going to our library for story time and book checkout
approximately once every week. Refer to your monthly calendar for these days. Please help
your child remember their book on library day.
SHOW AND TELL – Your child may share a special item from home with the class during
show and tell. We encourage the children to tell things about their item to the rest of the class.
Some children may need practice with this skill. At times, we will ask the children to bring
things that are related to our curriculum. Refer to your monthly calendar to find these special
days. It is important that your child bring only one thing at a time for sharing. Please do not
send items of value, pets, mechanical toys, or toy weapons of any kind.
**As kindergarten teachers, we would like to stress the importance of checking your child’s
calendar every day. We know how busy family life is but would like you, as parents, to realize
how disappointed your children are when they’ve forgotten their library book, show and tell
time, or don’t have tennis shoes for P.E. Everyone forgets once in awhile, but if things are left
behind often, it interferes with your child’s participation.
We recommend that you empty your child’s backpack daily. It may help to get your child’s
things ready the night before. If your child attends daycare, it might be helpful to have a separate
bag to keep school things in.
BREAKFAST- Free breakfast will be offered to all Kindergarten students if you choose. Please
fill out the form in your child’s folder today indicating your preference. Please note: this form
should be completed whether or not you choose to have breakfast. Kindergartners wishing
to have breakfast at school, must arrive at school by 8:15 a.m. Visit our Highland website to
access breakfast menus.
LUNCH MONEY – Your child may bring lunch money any time during the school week.
Please make sure it is enclosed in an envelope labeled with his/her name and lunch account
number. You may also deposit money into your child’s lunch account via School View/Fee Pay
located on our Highland website. Visit our website for information about the cost and to access
lunch menus. A handout with lunch information is also enclosed in your child’s folder. Each
day, make sure your child knows which type of lunch he/she will be having:
1.
1.
1.
1.
home lunch/drink
home lunch/school milk
school lunch/milk
school sandwich/milk
DAILY SNACK – Please send a small, healthy snack (FRUIT OR VEGETABLE ONLY) with
your child each day. A list of ideas will be provided.
BIRTHDAY – If your child’s birthday is on a weekend or during a vacation, we will celebrate it
on a day as close as possible. If your child has a summer birthday, we will celebrate their half
birthday. Please refer to the monthly calendar for these dates.
(Please note that district policy does not allow students to bring birthday treats or prizes.)
ALLERGIES – We want to share with you a health concern for kids at Highland. We have
several students who have a SEVERE ALLERGY TO PEANUTS. We are working with parents
to ensure a positive and safe school environment. Any exposure to peanuts could result in a very
serious medical emergency for these students.
There is an increasing awareness of allergic reaction to peanuts throughout the country as well as
in our schools. Though children will often outgrow other allergies such as milk, eggs or wheat,
peanut allergies are considered to be life-long and peanuts can cause allergic reactions that are
among the most severe of any food. Among those students who are allergic, the severity of the
reaction varies. Several students at Highland are highly allergic, with life-threatening reactions.
Because it is extremely important to avoid accidental ingestion or exposure, we are asking that
parents carefully read food labels on the package of any food sent to school for snacks or party
teats. Peanuts can be concealed in a number of foods including “fake” nuts, baked goods and
candy. The term “HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN” or “HYDROLYZED PLANT
PROTEIN” on food labels indicates peanuts may be an ingredient. Please DO NOT send snacks
or treats that have this on the label. Since many of the areas of the building are shared by all
students, we ask that you take an extra minute or two to be sure your child’s hands and face are
washed before coming to school, especially if he/she has just eaten peanut butter or a peanut
butter product. If your child attends a daycare before school, please advise them of this
important concern as well. Thanks for your assistance in this important matter.
PARTIES – We will have three parties during the school year: Fall Festival, Winter, and
Valentine. Parents will be asked to help prepare and plan these parties. If you are interested in
being a contact person or party volunteer, sign up in your child’s classroom today. Please turn in
your $5.00 party contribution as soon as possible. Cash only please.
BOOK CLUBS – A book club order form will be sent home each month with your monthly
newsletters or calendar. Book clubs provide you with an inexpensive way to build a home
library for your children. You can order children’s literature and computer software from these
companies. The purchase of these items is optional. When placing an order, send the order
form, and payment (checks made payable to specific book club) in an envelope. It is important
to label the envelope and order form with your child’s name. Please refer to your child’s book
order due on your child’s calendar and/or book order form.
HEALTH RECORDS – Records must be in the nurse’s office by the first day of school. Please
give all information concerning your child’s health problems to the school nurse and your child’s
teacher.
CLOTHING – Please have your child dressed appropriately for the weather. Your child should
be able to dress him/herself and be attempting to tie his/her shoes. Some zippers/closures are
very difficult to operate. You might want to keep this in mind when purchasing clothing. Please
label all outdoor clothes.
VISITATION – Come and visit us during any part of the year – you are welcome! Please
schedule a time with your child’s teacher if you’d like to visit. However, visiting is discouraged
the first and last week of school. These are very busy times for us. Preschool children are not
permitted to visit. *Reminder – you must check in at the office and get a visitor nametag before
entering the instructional areas at any time.
CONFERENCES - District 196 schedules two parent-teacher conference periods during the
school year. These dates are November 4-5 and February 10-11. Keep in mind that evening slots
are limited. If it is possible for you, please schedule your conference during the daytime hours.
Feel free to contact us at any time, if you have any questions or concerns. Please call anytime
before or after school. The phone number is (952) 423-7595. Voice mail can be used for less
urgent matters.
Voice mail number: (651) 683-6969
Anfinsen
Johnson
Juricko
Lindeman
Novak
#92127
#94619
#92346
#94643
#94658
You may also contact us via email.
ann.anfinsen@district196.org
cynthia a.johnson@district196.org
Haley.juricko@district196.org
susan.lindeman@district196.org
megan.novak@district196.org
Let’s work together to make this a rewarding, successful year for your child.
Sincerely,
Highland Elementary
Kindergarten Teachers
Important Dates
September 30
October 9
October 15-16
October 20
October 27
October 30
November 4-5
November 5-6
November 15
November 25
November 26-27
December 4
December 23
Dec. 24 - Jan. 1
January 19
January 22
February 5
February 10-11
February 11-12
February 15
March 11
March 21-25
April 15
April 22
May 11
May 19
May 30
June 8
School Pictures
No School-Data Analysis Day
No School – Teacher’s Convention
Kindergarten Curriculum Night
Picture Retake Day
Fall Festival Party
Parent/Teacher Conferences/Book Fair
No School
Curriculum Night
Special Friend Day
Thanksgiving Vacation
No School-Data Analysis Day
Holiday Party
Winter Break
No School – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
No School – Data Analysis Day
Valentine Party
Parent/Teacher Conferences
No School
No School – President’s Day
No School-Data Analysis Day
No School – Spring Break
Kindergarten Music Program
No School-Data Analysis Day
Gale Woods Farm Field Trip
Highland Family Picnic/APEX Fun Run
Memorial Day – No School
Last Day of School/Report Cards Go Home