The ABC’s of Kindergarten
Absence from School: If your child is absent from school, for any reason, please call our
school’s attendance line at 610-754-9599 and leave a message on the answering machine.
In the event of an extended absence other than illness, please notify the school more than
two days in advance by completing an “Educational Trip” form. Mrs. Mason will review the
request and let you know if the absence will be excused or not.
Backpacks are “a must” for kindergarten students!
Your child will need a backpack large
enough to carry a folder and library books to and from school. Please NO wheels.
Clothing:
Whenever possible, we will be going outside to play. Please dress your child
accordingly. Please check the school handbook for the dress code. In order to foster
independence, select coats and other clothing your child can handle with the least amount
of help from adults. Label all clothing that may be removed during the school day. Please
leave an extra set of clothing in your child’s backpack in case of an accident.
Delayed Openings:
modified schedule:
Early
In the event of a two-hour delay, kindergarten will use the following
AM Kindergarten 10:40 – 12:50 (2-hour later start)
PM Kindergarten 12:50 – 3:25 (regular schedule)
Dismissal: Should you need to pick up your child prior to dismissal time, please
send a note with the date and time of dismissal. When picking up your child prior to
regular dismissal, please go directly to the office and sign your child out. The secretary
will call the classroom and your child will then be sent to the office. I will not dismiss any
child without a note or the secretary’s request. The safety of the students is my highest
priority.
Please be aware of time changes for the scheduled early dismissal days.
12:30 Dismissal
A.M. 8:45 – 10:25
P.M. 10:25 – 12:30
1:30 Dismissal
A.M. 8:45 – 10:25
P.M. 11:50 – 1:30
Folders:
School notices, and other important information will be sent home in the
students’ folders. Please check the folder everyday for notices from the school. If you
send a note for me, it will be your child’s responsibility to take the note out of the folder
or backpack and place it in my messages basket.
Going Home with a Friend:
It is always a treat to go home with a friend. You will need
to arrange transportation. Please remember to send in written permission for your child to
be “parent pick-up” and go home with a friend. Children will not be permitted to ride a bus
home with or get off at a different stop for a play-date. Bus passes are only issued for
emergency situations.
Happy Birthday:
Birthdays are always an exciting day in kindergarten. You may send in
a small snack or birthday book to help your child celebrate. Please let me know several
days in advance if you plan to send in something, and remember no peanut products. No
balloons or other party favors please. Does your child celebrate a birthday in the summer?
Calculate six months before the birthday, and we’ll celebrate his/her “half-birthday”!
Invitations:
No party invitations should be sent into school for distribution unless all of
the class, all of the boys or all of the girls are invited. This will avoid hurting any child’s
feelings.
Join the PTCA and help support our school!
We have an active Parent-Teacher-Children’s
Association at N.H.U.F. Elementary School. All parents are invited and encouraged to join
and participate in the various PTCA activities. Membership forms will be sent home at the
beginning of the school year.
Kindergarten Morning Parent Pick Up and Afternoon Parent Drop Off will be from the
side doors near the kindergarten classrooms. Remember to use only the back parking lot
and walk your child to the door. For the safety of all children, NEVER drive or park in the
bus lane.
Lost
and Found: If your child comes home missing any article of clothing or personal
items, please encourage him or her to check the school’s lost and found, located in the
main lobby.
Medications
at School:
For the health and safety of all students, no child will be
allowed to transfer medicine to and from school. Parents or guardians must deliver all
medicine (prescription and non-prescription) to the school health room. They must also
pick up any medications. Additionally, parents are also responsible for providing a
completed “Medication Form” which is signed by the doctor or dentist who has prescribed
the medicine.
Needed Supplies:
To foster a sense of classroom community, we share all of our supplies
including pencils, crayons, scissors, and glue. For this reason, an individual toolbox is not
necessary. Items that your child does not wish to share because they are special to
him/her should be left at home. If you wish to contribute items to our class please take
an apple from “The Giving Tree”.
Oh, Don’t Forget to Read the Newsletters: Newsletters will be sent home periodically
electronically.
Newsletters contain important information regarding kindergarten
curriculum, upcoming events, important dates, reminders, and information to talk to your
child about. Newsletters will also be posted on our classroom webpage. Sign up through
the district webpage for ListServe to receive information from the school electronically,
such as school-wide newsletters and information about school-wide events.
Participate
in the Scholastic Book Club: This year you will have the opportunity to
order books for your child through Scholastic book clubs. When I send order forms home
and you are interested in purchasing books, please visit Scholastic online to place an order.
Questions,
Questions and More Questions: As your child begins the first year of
his/her formal schooling, you may have questions. I will make every effort to communicate
with you about your child’s life in school, as well as his/her progress. You may schedule a
conference with me at anytime during the year, though I ask that you give me notice
beforehand. I spend time preparing for parent conferences and drop-in conferences may
not provide you with all the information that you are seeking. Please write a note or call
me if you have questions, concerns, comments, or even compliments. 
Read at Home:
Reading is so important at any age. Read to your child daily and soon your
child will be reading to you. Look for tips and tricks sent home throughout the year to
help support your child when reading at home.
Snack:
Kindergarten students are in school each day for such a short amount of time,
therefore we will NOT be having snack time at school. This will allow me to enrich your
child the best I can in the short amount of time I have with him/her each day. A water
fountain is located in the classroom for student use. There will be opportunities for your
child to snack when there is a birthday or a special celebration.
Toys in School:
Students should not bring toys from home to school. Trading cards are
prohibited.
Understanding:
The staff at New Hanover Elementary has a thorough understanding of
the academic, social, and emotional needs of young children. Thank you for entrusting us
with you child!
Volunteers
are essential in Kindergarten!
You are welcome to join in the fun by
volunteering your time and services in our classroom. Sign up sheets were available at the
beginning of the year. If your time availability changes during the year, please contact me
to arrange for volunteering. For security purposes, our school follows a very strict
volunteer policy. Security clearance forms are available in the office and are necessary for
all volunteers.
Welcome to New Hanover Upper Frederick Elementary School!
For children, and many parents, this is the first experience with public schools. It may
seem overwhelming at first, however please remember, your child is my top priority. It is
my desire to provide a safe and loving learning environment for your child!
Xtra love is always given to Kindergartners!
You are your child’s first teacher! Please read for enjoyment with your child daily. Have
fun exploring The Family Times and Decodable Readers (activities to help your child
practice skills while having fun) that will be sent home weekly because these activities
directly support classroom instruction.
Zip through your child’s sight words every day. Your child will start the year with a few
words, but there will be forty sight words by the end of the year. Please make daily
practice a habit. Start with no more than 2 words at a time, and add words as your child
masters these words. Updates will be included in the classroom newsletters to let you
know which words we are working on.