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Dear Families,
Welcome to the new school year! We are looking forward to a
wonderful year. This letter will include some important information about
our classroom community. Please read it carefully and keep it for your
records. Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Michelle Simon, the classroom teacher, will be on maternity leave until
around November 1, 2015. Diane Landry will be the classroom teacher during
Michelle’s leave. Please feel free to contact Diane with any questions during
this time.
The first full day of preschool is Wednesday September 9, 2015.
A visiting day has been scheduled for Tuesday September 8, 2015
from 9:00- 10:00am. The purpose of the visiting day is to orient your
child to the classroom and meet his/her classmates and teachers.
Contact Information
I can be reached at the Preschool Office at (617) 559-6050. If your
child will be absent, please call the preschool office and leave a message
before 8:00 A.M and email me. If you need to contact me, please call
before 8:30 A.M. or after 1:30 P.M. If you call during school hours,
messages can be left and your call will be returned as soon as possible. You
can email me at Diane_Landry@newton.k12.ma.us.
Staff
The staff working in the classroom this year are:
Michelle Simon- Classroom Teacher
Diane Landry- Classroom Teacher (while Michelle is on maternity leave) and
Classroom Assistant
Dana Beaudreau – Behavior Therapist
Bobby Colantonio- Classroom Assistant
Amber Murphy – Classroom Assistant
Veronica “Roni” Johnson- Classroom Assistant
Cindy Broder- Occupational Therapist
Julie Hertz - Speech and Language Pathologist
Cory Floyd- Physical Therapist
Rachael Kaplan – Social Worker
Arrival Routine
Here are some tips for helping your child with his/her transition to
school. The arrival routine is similar each day to encourage independence.
We encourage the children to unpack their backpack and hang-up the
belongings with as much independence as possible. Then, the children bring
lunchboxes into the classroom and place them on the shelf inside the door.
Next, children sign into class and are encouraged to make a choice and begin
playing with peers. Each parent decides which point in this morning routine
to say “good-bye.” We are here to help with that process if you need any
help. I will go over dismissal routine at the visiting day.
Classroom Hours
The classroom hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
8:30 - 1:30; Tuesday 8:30 – 12:00. We appreciate your efforts to bring your
child to school on time and pick your child up on time. Our day is packed with
carefully planned learning therefore tardiness will surely result in your child
missing something worthwhile. Thank you in advance for your efforts.
Illness Policy
You should be receiving a copy of our illness policy. It will explain
when to keep your child home if s/he is sick. Please read this carefully. It
is respectful for you to follow this procedure. A child who attends school
when s/he is too sick to do so creates a hazard to other students and staff.
If you send your child to school with a fever, extreme runny nose, diarrhea,
unexplained rash, etc. I will have the nurse call you to come and pick your
child up. You should make arrangements to pick up your child promptly from
the nurse's office.
Change of Clothes
Please provide your child with a full change of clothing, which will be
kept in his/her cubby. You may want to store your child's clothes in a plastic
bag. Please label all clothes that you send in for your child including winter
coats, gloves, boots, etc. If your child wears diapers or pull-ups, please send
in at least one week's supply of diapers/pull-ups and wet wipes. Again, please
label all bags and supplies that you send in for your child.
Conferences
I post a sign-up sheet for conferences outside the classroom door
mid-year. The times coincide with progress reports. If your child receives
special education services, conferences will be determined individually and
are based on the IEP date. I am very willing to meet with you at any point in
the school year. Please just let me know.
Snack/Lunch
We schedule both snack and lunch each day with the exception of
Tuesday (no lunch). Each parent is responsible for sending a snack and lunch
for your child. Please label lunch bags and Tupperware containers. If you
have specific wishes (e.g. to eat the yogurt as snack) please label the food
item or pack it in a separate bag. Many parents purchase a 2-compartment
lunchbox and use on compartment for each meal. If you pack food that
needs refrigeration, please include an ice pack in the lunch bag. We do not
have a refrigerator with enough space to refrigerate lunches in the
classroom. We prefer that you pack food that does not need to be heated
up in the microwave. It takes a lot of staff time to heat up multiple
students’ lunch and it is not a practice that can continue in kindergarten.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
You can purchase a school lunch. More information will follow from the
office.
Birthdays
We love to celebrate birthdays. Newton health policies disallows food
items to be brought from home and shared with the class. However, you can
bring in party favors to pass out and we can celebrate as a class without
food items.
Visiting Policy
Our classroom has a sincere “open door’ policy. This means that you
are welcome to drop by at any time (after checking in at the front office).
Please use your own judgment regarding the effect visits will have on your
child. If I notice that visiting is having an adverse effect on the children or
staff, then I will let you know. Parents also like to peek in the window of our
classroom door, which is fine also. We also welcome scheduled parent visits
to either assist us with field trips, projects or to bring an activity for the
class. If you have a special skill, we’d love for you to share it with us!
Outside
We will go outside every day unless it is dangerously cold – yes, even in
the snow! Please send proper outerwear and footwear with your child.
Please label all items so that they do not get lost or misplaced.
Scholastic book orders:
We are fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in the
Scholastic Book Clubs. Approximately four times a year, you will receive a
Scholastic order form from which to choose books for your children (or
neighbors or relatives) at the publisher’s cost. With each order you place,
your child’s classroom receives free books. If you choose to order books,
simply fill out the order form and return it to me with a single check made
our to “Scholastic Book Clubs”. You will receive your books in 2-3 weeks.
PTO:
Our PTO has worked very hard since its formation to support student
and teachers in various ways throughout the school year. Please consider
various ways to support our PTO by becoming our PTO Class Parent,
attending meetings or volunteering for a manageable role within the PTO.
Your work with the PTO will be greatly appreciated.
Website
Please visit our class website for updates, resources, and information.
I will update the website monthly with curriculum, pictures, and class news.
The website will be the primary way I communicate important information.
In addition, it is a great way to find out what your child is learning and how
to reinforce the curriculum at home.
http://www2.newton.k12.ma.us/~Michelle_Simon
List of things to send to school:
 snack & lunch including drinks
 change of clothes to leave in cubby
 extra pants and underwear if your child is toilet training
 diapers and wipes (if needed)
 2 boxes of soft tissues
Other: Below is a list of things the classroom can always use:
 Velcro!!!
* Glue sticks!!!
* Ziploc bags
* Batteries (AA, C, D, 9 Volt)
 sponges
* Paper towels
* WHITE GLUE
* Wet wipes
* Write board markers
* Stickers
* Laminating Sheets
* Scotch tape
I am looking forward to a great year. Please feel free to contact me with
any questions.
Sincerely,
Diane Landry
617-559-6050
Diane_Landry@newton.k12.ma.us
Michelle Simon
617-559-6050
Michelle_Simon@newton.k12.ma.us