Welcome to Kindergarten!
I hope everyone had a wonderful summer! I am excited to begin our
kindergarten adventure together on Monday. Here is some information that I
thought might be helpful for you to have before school begins. Please let
me know if you have any questions!
Communication
I check my email (Kathleen.brawley@lz95.org) throughout the day and will
respond as soon as I can. When I am working with the children, I am not
always able to see my email, so if there is information I need to know prior to
the end of the day (such as a change in pick-up routine), please call the
office and they will make sure I get the information. I can be reached by
phone at (847)540-4791. You may also send notes in your child’s folder.
I will be sending home a classroom newsletter twice a month via email. The
newsletters will also be available on our classroom website at:
http://www.lz95.org/classes/morningfriends_kbrawley/
Curriculum
Curriculum Night will take place on September 2nd from 6:30-7:30 pm. This
night is for parents only. At that time, I will explain the kindergarten
curriculum and go into more details about procedures and our daily routine.
There will also be an opportunity for you to sign up for a time for your
parent-teacher conference later this fall. I hope to see you there!
Snacks
Children may bring a small, healthy, nut-free snack from home each day,
beginning on the first day of school. Please choose snacks that are easy for
your child to manage on his or her own. Please let me know if there is
anything your child may NOT eat. You may choose to purchase milk for your
child to drink at snack time. If you would like your child to have milk, please
send a check made out to CUSD 95 in the amount of $42.50 for the first
semester in an envelope marked with your child’s name and “milk”. If you do
not purchase milk for snack time, you may send water or juice for your child
to have at snack time if you choose. Children may also bring water bottles
(preferably with a flip top, not screw caps) to use in the room during the day,
particularly when the weather is hot. I would also ask that you label your child’s
snack, at least at the beginning of the year. Sometimes multiple friends bring
similar snacks, and it is hard to know which snack belongs to which friend. 
Specials
Each class will go to the library once a week for 30 minutes (AM Monday/ PM
Wednesday) and to the gym once a week for 30 minutes (AM Thursday/ PM
Friday). The children will check out a new book each week, to be returned on
or before library day the next week. Please be sure your child is dressed
for active participation on PE days. Children should wear appropriate clothing,
including shoes. Please consider Velcro shoes if your child is still learning to
tie his/her own shoes.
Picking Up Children
For your child’s safety, please send a note informing me of your plans to pick
him or her up after school. If I do not receive a note, I will assume your child
is riding the bus (or using his/her regular mode of transportation). If your
plans change during the day, please call the office and let them know so that
the message will reach me before the end of the day. Morning
kindergartners can be picked up at 11:10 at the side door (Door 5), and
afternoon kindergartners can be picked up at 2:50 at the gym door (Door 2).
Attendance
Although regular attendance is important, there are times to keep your child
at home: acute cold, sore throat or earache, swollen glands, temperature
above normal, rashes of any kind, upset stomach, vomiting or diarrhea.
Please call the office (847)438-2361 if your child is going to be absent from
school.
Birthdays
District policy no longer allows edible birthday treats to be sent to school.
Instead, your child may choose to send non-edible goodies such as stickers,
erasers, etc. to school to share with their friends. We will sing and celebrate
your child on the big day! We will celebrate “half birthdays” for our summer
birthday friends.
A few other things…
*Please label your child’s belongings (backpacks, water bottles, etc.) so that
we can return them to you if they are misplaced.
*Please send a change of clothes for your child to keep at school in the
event of accidents or spills. Please put the clothes in a large Ziploc-type bag
marked with your child’s name.
*An extra pair of gym shoes may also be kept at school if you choose.
Please put your child’s name on the shoes. 
*Please check your child’s take-home folder each night, and return it to
school every day.
Thank you for your support! I am looking forward to
a great year!
 Katie Brawley