The ABC’s of Mrs. S. Weist’s
Kindergarten
bsences
Your child’s attendance at school is important!! Please notify me
and/or the schools nurse if your child is absent. If you have an absence you
know ahead of time, please let me know so that I can make arrangements
accordingly. Patterns for school attendance are set at an early age; please
stress the importance of school to your child. Any excessive absences may
result in retention.
irthdays
We will be celebrating each child’s birthday during the school year. I
will send a note home in your child’s planner before their birthday letting
you know what day we will be celebrating. You are welcome to send in a snack
the day of your child’s celebration if you so choose. We encourage you to
send healthy snacks, however, they can be anything your child would like to
share with the class. If your child’s birthday falls on the weekend or
during a vacation, we will celebrate either the day before or the day they
come back to school. If your child has a summer birthday, we will celebrate
it in June. Our snack time is normally at 1:45 p.m. However, we can also
make arrangements to celebrate during lunch, if you would like to be there,
depending on your schedule. (You do not have to be there for the birthday,
but if you would like to, we’d love for you to visit!)
Breakfast
Students are able to purchase breakfast through the school. (You will
receive notices from the cafeteria prior to each month regarding the
process). Breakfast will be served beginning at 7:45 a.m. sharp. If your
child arrives late to school (after 8:05), they will not receive the
breakfast that day as our daily schedule will begin. If your child receives
free or reduced lunch, they will receive the same accommodations for
breakfast. More information will come home in a letter from the cafeteria.
If you have any cafeteria concerns/questions, please address them to Ms.
Eleanor Brice, Director of Food Services.
ontacting Mrs. Weist
There are several ways to contact me. The best way is through email.
My email address is weists@udts.org. You can call the school as well,
however, during school hours you will be asked to leave a voicemail. Or you
can write any notes in your child’s planner. I also check my email at home
in the evenings. If there are any changes from the normal schedule or
routine, please make sure to inform me. You can never remind me too much.
Any information you can provide me on a daily schedule can only help. It
also can’t hurt to let your child know when you are writing a note so they
make sure I see it!
Conferences
If you need to discuss your child’s progress please feel free to contact me
during these times: from 7:30-7:50 a.m., from 8:20-9:00 a.m. and from 2:15-
3:00 p.m. (on most days). You can either schedule an appointment to come in
and meet with me, or you can call and we can have a phone conference during
those times. If you do not get me by phone, you can leave me a voicemail and
I will return your call as soon as time permits. Please remember I do have
meetings and other things going on during and after school that may not
permit me to have conferences at certain times. I will do my best to get
back to you as quickly as I can.
Celebrations
We will be celebrating holidays and special events in our classroom.
Information will be sent home prior to any party/event. You will either be
contacted by Mrs. Weist or a room parent as to what you can help with.
iscipline
In our room we will be following some very basic rules. At the beginning of
the year we will make these rules together and discuss them and what that
means for our class. Positive student behavior is one of the most important
components of a classroom environment in which children learn essential
basic skills needed for a successful school career and life. Students who
are able to manage their behavior not only contribute to their own wealth of
knowledge, but also to those of their peers. I encourage positive behavior
management by recognizing those students who are able to abide by the rules
of the classroom. This recognition comes in many forms, which includes hugs,
cheers, thank you’s, stickers, etc. Students will have ample time to learn,
practice and implement the rules of our classroom. They will clearly
understand my high expectations for their behavior and learning. You will be
informed each day of your child’s behavior choices, so that you may praise
your child for a job well done, or encourage your child to make a better
choice the following day. If there is a problem with behaviors that have
become patterns, you will be notified.
arly Dismissal
Every minute in the school day counts. We have a lot to cover each
day and it is important your child is here from 8:00-2:10. If it is
absolutely necessary for your child to leave school early, he/she must be
signed out in the office. They will call down to our room and your child
will be sent down to the office as quickly as possible. If you are planning
on visit our room, you must sign in at the office and they will give you a
Visitor’s Badge. Please try to schedule doctors appointments, vacations, etc
around our school calendar! When a child leaves early it not only disrupts
what they are learning/doing, but the entire class as well.
olders
Your child will bring home a folder every day. The folder will be used
for 2 things: to send home any papers or projects that your child completed
(they will be on the “To Be Left At Home” side) and the other side of the
folder will be any notices or forms that needs to be completed and sent back
to school (they will be on the “Bring Right Back” side). Please check this
folder every day as it is an important communication tool. If you lose this
folder, you will be asked to replace it! Please take care of this folder as
it is important that it lasts all year!
Field Trips
We will have 2 field trips this year. Permission slips will be sent home
well in advance in order to give families time to make payment arrangements.
Your child must return his/her permission slip and full payment by the due
date in order to attend the trip. If you need to discuss payment
arrangements, please contact me at any time. Chaperones are limited (due to
space on busses). Chaperones will be selected first come, first serve.
ames and Toys
As outlined in the parent handbook, please do not send in any games
or toys from home unless they are requested by the teacher. The more things
that are sent in, the more of a risk they could be lost, stolen and/or
damaged. Children bringing toys in will be given a warning and the second
time their toy will be taken and will not be returned until the end of the
year. This includes silly bands and any other distracting jewelry.
omework
Your child will have a homework assignment most every week. It will
come home in the Homework section of their folder on Monday (or the 1st day
of the week). It will be due on Friday (or the last day of the week). The
homework will have something to do each night of the week, some are written,
some are verbal. It should take no longer than 5-10 minutes each night.
Homework is assigned in Kindergarten to get your child used to a routine of
sitting down with parents and communicating about school. The homework will
reinforce or practice the skills the children are learning in school. You
will also be asked to do a “Family Project” each month.. These will provide
each family a chance to show off their creative sides. They will be
displayed in the hallway outside our classroom for all to see.
llnesses
Please do not send your child to school sick or with a fever. If
your child is absent due to an illness or if a doctor’s visit was made,
please send a note upon their return to school.
Incentive
Programs
Seabrook School offers several special programs such as Good Manners Court
and Keys to Excellence. Both programs reward students for behavior and
manners. Good Manners Court 1 child per class is chosen each month and they
will have their picture displayed in the hallway of the school for that
month. They must display good manners on a daily basis. Students can earn a
Key to Excellence for just about anything they do that deserves recognition.
Once your child has received this honor, a certificate will come home and
your child’s key will be hung in our classroom.
ackets
Make sure you label your child’s jacket with their name. This will help
all teachers identify missing clothing. Please consider sending your child
to school with only clothing that they can put on and take off by
themselves. If your child’s jackets are troublesome for them please practice
zipping and unzipping and/or buttoning and unbuttoning as these issues with
an entire classroom of children can be very time consuming. Please be aware
that we will be going outside most days unless the temperature is below 45
degrees, so it is always better to send a jacket than to not. Whatever your
child wears to school is what they will have to wear outside for recess. My
rule is that when I take my jacket/coat off, they can take theirs off. Also,
if you send an umbrella on rainy days, please discuss the safety issues that
come along with umbrellas with your child.
eeping Up
I will always try to keep parents informed of any goings on in our
classroom and/or school. If there is something you should know individually,
I will contact you. I mostly communicate with email, notes, newsletters and
reminders in the planner. I will always send a reminder to help you keep up
with upcoming events and activities. It is imperative that you keep up with
checking your child’s folder and planner daily since that is my main source
of communication.
Unch
Your child will eat lunch in the cafeteria at 11:00 each day. There
are aides in the cafeteria that will help the children during this time. If
your child is going to bring their lunch to school, please make sure you
label their lunchbox with their name. Also, please be conscious of your
choices of containers as some are very difficult for children to open on
their own. If your child will be purchasing lunch, you will receive
information regarding the NutriKids lunch policy. Each month a menu will
come home with all the information you need. You will be able to pay online
(which is recommended), or by sending money to school at the beginning of
the week/month. You can pay online through NutriKids by visiting the Upper
Deerfield Township Schools website at www.upperdeerfieldschools.org under
Resources. If you have any cafeteria concerns/questions, please address them
to Ms. Eleanor Brice, Director of Food Services.
unch, Munch Snack Time
We will have a snack at the end of the day that is provided by the
cafeteria. Your child is welcome to bring their own snack if you’d like. You
may also send a drink if you’d like as they will not be provided by the
school. If they have any leftover food from lunch, they can eat that at
snack time as well.
ewsletter
At the beginning of each month I will send home my monthly
newsletter. This newsletter will be in the form of a calendar and will help
keep you updated on what’s happening in our room for the month. The
newsletter will tell you what we will be studying each week in all subjects
and also any reminders or important information I need to pass on to you.
Please look for these newsletters each month as they are an important
communication tool.
pen Door Policy
I have an open door policy. Your child’s well-being is my main
concern as I know it is yours. Please feel free to contact me by phone at
(856) 455-2267 x4145 or x4245 (voicemail),
email weists@udts.org or stop
in for a classroom visit at any time.
Ordering from Scholastic Book Club
Each month, Scholastic book orders will be sent home to allow you to buy
educationally appropriate books for your child. There is a wide price range
for the books (starting at $.95). The order form will have a due date on the
back. You will also receive information on how to order online. Each time
you order a book, our classroom receives points towards free materials, so
every time you order from Scholastic, you are not only helping your child,
but our classroom and school as well! I encourage parents to read to and
with their children. Reading is essential and fun!!
lanners
Your child will receive a planner from school. The planner will serve
as Parent-Teacher communication. I will use the planner to discuss any
problems, concerns or any good news about your child. Please view and sign
the planner each night and make sure it is sent back each morning. Any notes
you have for me should be written in (or attached inside) the planner. If
you are sending money to school for any reason, please put it in an envelope
or Ziploc baggie and staple or clip it inside the planner. Do not leave it
loose in the bag because it may be overlooked. If they planner is lost, you
will be asked to pay to replace it.
P.T.O
Your involvement at school is important to your child’s academic and
social/emotional success. It also models how much you value education. I
strongly encourage you to become a member of Upper Deerfield’s P.T.O. to
help create a positive learning environment for students, parents and
teachers.
eport Cards
Report cards will be sent home 4 times this year (November, February,
April and June). Your child’s report card envelope needs to be signed and
returned to school in their planner.
Room Parents
Parents will be needed to help out in various ways during the year. I
will be asking for Room parents who will be willing to help out at parties
and events in our room. This will include coordinating with other parents. I
will send a letter home in the beginning of the year asking for Room parent
volunteers. Please note, you do not need to attend every party. There will
be several room parents chosen, and I will ask for at least 1 to attend each
party, so not everyone has to be at all the parties.
tar of the Week
We will begin a Star of the Week program in the fall. More
information will come on this program, but your child will have a special
week that they will be the Star!!! (There is a schedule and explanation in
the handbook).
Specials
Your child will attend a different “special area” each day. Monday is Art,
Tuesday is Computer Literacy, Wednesday is Library, Thursday is Music and
Friday is Phys Ed.
Social Skills
In addition to learning academics in Kindergarten, your child will also be
developing social skills – how to make friends, share, take turns, get along
with others and solve problems appropriately. I have very high expectations
in my classroom for using appropriate social skills and will support your
child in learning healthy ways to communicate and build a strong sense of
community in our classroom.
eamwork
Educating a child is only accomplished by parent and teacher team work.
By working together, we can give your child the best possible start in
school. Open communication is the key. Be sure to keep me posted on any
changes or happenings in your child’s life that could be affecting
schoolwork or behavior.
Transportation
If there is a change in transportation for any reason, the main office needs
to be notified in advance. Students will not be able to change their usual
transportation unless a phone call or note is received. If they are going
home with another student or vice versa, a note will be needed from both
families. Please understand that your child may not be picked up from school
by anyone that is not on your emergency contact list. If you are sending
someone that is not on your list, you must contact the school and give your
verbal permission. Also, any time there is a party or special event, if your
child will be leaving with someone attending the party/event, you must write
a note. Please understand, this is for your child’s safety.
olunteers
I will be asking for parent volunteers to help out in our classroom
during the year. If Since we have no classroom aide, there are a lot of time
consuming things that I could use another adult’s help with. If you are
available to help, we’d love to have you.
ebsite
You can visit our class website on www.upperdeerfieldschools.org to
see what we have been up to lately. I will post reminders as well as our
monthly calendar each month. I will also post the homework each week so that
if it is lost you can easily obtain another copy.
Worksheets
I strive to create meaningful, hands-on learning experiences in the
classroom, therefore will not be sending many worksheets home with your
child unless it has a significant, purposeful connection to your child’s
learning (not busy work!) Because most of our learning activities take place
in the classroom environment, it is difficult for me to send home “make-up”
work if your child is absent!
X…Y…& Z!