Kindergarten Orientation Marrero Academy for Advanced Studies 2014-2015 Daily Folders Purple folder~Sent home daily. In this folder will be your child’s behavior calendar where his/her conduct for the day will be recorded. Kindergarten does the Traffic Light System behavior plan. Silver means that your child had a magnificent day. Green means your child had a great day. Yellow means your child received more than one behavior warning. Red means your child did not follow directions repeatedly and had a very difficult day. The folder also contains a list of codes that explain why a child’s color was changed for the day. Please clean out and initial your child’s folder daily. Folders MUST be returned to school every day. Please send any money or correspondence in this folder. The behavior calendar also lists the snack day for each child in the class. It is important that your child bring a snack on the assigned day otherwise the WHOLE class will not have snack. Conduct Codes Today I changed my color because: 1. I chose not to stay in my seat. 2. I chose to keep talking when it wasn’t my turn. 3. I chose not to follow directions the first time. 4. I chose not to raise my hand to speak. 5. I chose to misbehave at PE, the library or French 6. I chose to act silly and play at an inappropriate time. 7. I chose to continue to play even in time out. 8. I chose not to use my materials appropriately. 9. I chose not to pay attention when my teacher was teaching. 10. I chose not to bring all of my materials to class including my daily folder 11. I chose to be disrespectful to my teacher, classmate or other adult. 12. I chose not to finish my work. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. I chose to play during naptime. I chose to misbehave in the restroom. I chose to misbehave at lunch. I chose to use inappropriate words at school. I chose not to tell the truth. I chose to hit or fight with a classmate. I chose not to do my homework. Snack Kindergarten uses a rotation system for snack. Each child is assigned a designated day to bring snack for the whole class. Snack occurs immediately after nap time so please ensure that snack is at school no later than 2:00. If you drop snack off, please make sure it is labeled with your child’s name. Please make sure that you send snack on your child’s day. Otherwise, the ENTIRE CLASS will not have snack that day. Please make sure that snacks are individually portioned to make distribution easier. If you choose, you may send in individual drink pouches as well. Future notes regarding food allergies may be sent home as needed. Please keep this in mind when purchasing snack. (we ask that peanuts, peanut butter, apples, and foods containing apple juice be avoided) Homework Folders Homework Folders are red. We will also have a homework journal. They will be sent home on Monday and are expected back on Friday. We will have spelling words and practice (sight) words each week. Please study these nightly as the children will be tested at the end of the week. Take home books~Leveled take home books will be sent in the homework folder. Instructions for completing book activities will be on the homework cover sheet. PLEASE MAKE SURE THESE REMAIN IN THE BAG THEY WERE SENT IN. These are to be returned in the homework folder on Friday. We will be sending homework workbooks home. These are to be kept at home. If a page is assigned from the workbook, simply remove the page from the book and send it in on Friday with the homework packet. If you can staple the page to the back of the packet, it would be greatly appreciated. Communication Folder Our Communication Folders are green and will be sent home every Tuesday with important notices. There are two sides in the folder ~ Keep at Home and Return to School. Please sign the communication sheet, read the folder’s contents and return the folder and any necessary papers to school the following day. Supplies All supplies should have been turned in already. Many thanks to all who have done so. The $25 supply fee is due no later than Friday August 29, 2014. This money will be used to fund various art projects, craft days, and cooking activities. The money also goes towards various supplies and supplemental educational materials needed throughout the year. Kindergarten Curriculum Overview Language Arts~Kindergarten and 1st grade Common Core Standards are very similar, we will work on both throughout the year. Math~Kindergarten skills will be covered during the 1st nine weeks. We will move into first grade skills during the second nine weeks Example of Language Arts Skills Letters and letter sounds, beginning and ending sounds, phonemic awareness (rhyming/syllables), Reading C-V-C Words, reading words with long vowel spelling patterns, sight words, reading leveled books, characters and setting, main message, fiction and nonfiction literature Examples of Math Skills Sorting, patterning, addition, subtraction, fractions, telling time. We will also be teaching problem solving skills and strategies throughout the year. Uniform Policy Kindergarten – Grade 1 Long or short sleeved Forest Green Polo Shirt with logo (only to be worn with khaki bottoms) Short sleeved Yello polo shirt with logo (only to be worn with khaki bottoms) *Flat front Uniform khaki pants or shorts (must be walking length) *NO CARGO STYLE PANTS OR SHORTS MAY BE WORN *CAPRI LENGTH PANTS MAY NOT BE WORN. Black or Brown belt all pants/shorts must have belt loops White socks Solid Black, solid White, or Black and White Tennis Shoes – MUST be lace-up or Velcro fastened. Yellow Peter Pan Collared Shirt with logo (only to be worn with the plaid skirt/jumper) Plaid Skirt (girls) Plaid Jumper Navy sweater vest with logo (optional) All Grades All outerwear MUST be navy in color AND bear the school logo Navy shorts should be worn under skirts for P.E. Navy tights (not leggings) may be worn in colder weather ONLY white t-shirts may be worn under uniforms. ONLY SHORT SLEEVED T-SHIRTS MAY BE WORN UNDER SHORT SLEEVED POLO SHIRTS. LONG SLEEVED T-SHIRTS MAY BE WORN UNDER LONG SLEEVED POLO SHIRTS. Students will be expected to wear their school uniforms, be well groomed, and keep themselves neat while at school. Shirts must be tucked into the pants at all times. Belts must be worn at all times. Belt buckles are to be no wider than the belt and can NOT have any initials, words, or embellishments. No oversized pants or cargo pants will be allowed. Pants must be worn at the waist, not the lower hips. Students must wear Velcro or laced tennis shoes. They must be properly laced or fastened. NO Mary Jane style shoes may be worn. The uniform policy will be strictly enforced. Students will not be allowed in class without proper uniforms. Uniform violations will be issued. Parent Resources/Wiki While we send home notes and reminders, the wiki is our best way of keeping you up to date and informed. Please check the wiki frequently. http://mudbugkindergarten.wikispaces.com/ Class Parties/Room Moms/Dads Birthdays: If you would like to send in a treat for your child's birthday, we ask that you send in cupcakes. We ask that these be delivered to the office so that we can enjoy them prior to dismissal. We are in need of one or two individuals from each class to serve as room moms/dads. These individuals will be responsible for organizing class parties, helping organize fundraising efforts and other activities that may occur throughout the year. Class Membership Fee- This fee is $20 and will be used to purchase all food and supplies for our seasonal parties, our Jubilee class project as well as Show Off Day refreshments. This fee will also cover miscellaneous fees throughout the year for your child. Library Students are taken to the library once a week. Kindergarten students will be able to check out library books in October. We will send home permission slips allowing students to take books home. Students are responsible for lost or damaged library books. Transportation Any change in the way your child gets home from school must be made in writing. A letter including your child's name, the dates in which the change is in effect, the new method of getting home, a contact number and your signature is the best way to notify us of changes. The letter can be sent in your child's daily folder. In emergency situations, a letter can be faxed to (504) 348-3707. If faxing a letter, please include the teacher’s name in the letter. Sending in Money Please send all money in a sealed envelope labeled with your child’s name, the amount enclosed and the purpose of the money. Money envelopes should be sent in your child’s daily folder. Please do not put money or notes in homework folder. These are only checked on Fridays. Scholastic Books Great Opportunity To Allow Children to Select High Interest Reading Material at a Low Price Order Placed Once a Month (Payment by check made out to Scholastic) Earns Rewards For The Classroom Online Parent Ordering That Accepts Credit Card Payment Positive Behavior Support Schoolwide Expectations: MUDBUG HIGH FIVE! - Be safe - Be responsible - Be respectful - Be positive - Be problem solvers We will have Fun Friday once a month. Students who earn at least 75% green/silver for the month will get to participate in a special school wide activity in place of nap time on Fun Friday. Students may also wear their spirit shirt that day. Positive Behavior Support Collect/wear Mudbug High Five Tags: Kids will earn a tag to wear to show that they are following good behavior rules at the end of the 9 weeks. During 9 weeks, PBIS people will randomly walk through and check for tags and give rewards. Give tags following the nine weeks awards ceremony. Positive Behavior Support We also reinforce positive behavior in the classroom through various rewards including treasure chest and extra activities. Rewards: Classroom incentives: May include stickers, stamps, extra center time, treasure chest, etc. Weekly classroom reward: Students receiving at least 4 green dots in a week will get to skip nap on Friday. During our regularly scheduled nap time these students will be allowed to play on our new playground. In case of inclement weather students will participate in other indoor activities. Monthly PBIS reward: Students earning green or silver dots at least 75% of the month will earn the privilege of participating in a special PBIS activity. 9 weeks PBIS reward: Students earning green or silver dots at least 75% of the 9 week marking period will earn the privilege of participating in a special school wide PBIS activity. Consequences: Weekly classroom consequences: 3 color changes in one week will result in the next step on our discipline plan Step 1=behavior report Step 2=behavior report Step3=telephone conference Step 4=PE detention Step 5=parental conference Step 6=referral Monthly PBIS activity: Any student failing to earn at least 75% green/silver dots during the month will serve detention during the monthly PBIS activity. A PBIS detention form will be sent home the day the detention is served. 9 weeks PBIS reward: Students failing to earn at least 75% green/silver for the 9 weeks will not earn the school wide 9 weeks activity. During the activity they will remain in class and continue normal activities. Marrero Academy Title 1 School Improvement The following services/resources are provided through the use of Title 1 funds: Resources Parent Involvement Funds Achieve 3000 First in Math Brain Pop and Brain Pop Jr. Starfall True Flix Book Flix Wordly Wise Common Core ELA workbooks Paper Ink Saturday Tutoring Literacy Night Math and Science Night Parent Informational Meeting for LEAP/iLEAP/PARCC Fund Raisers Gretna Jubilee-March 2015 ~ Class projects, class baskets, tickets, sponsorships Profits come directly to the school and classroom ~All students are expected to contribute to our class basket. ~This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. It is expected that all of our families purchase at least one ticket to the event. We will be doing a payment plan to help spread out the cost of the tickets. School based fundraisers We hope you enjoy your year with us!! Please feel free to contact us at school by calling the school office at 347-4739 or you can email us at the following email addresses: Darlene LeBlanc ~ darlene.leblanc@jppss.k12.la.us Misty Ohmer ~ misty.ohmer@jppss.k12.la.us We will also check our class WIKI. The WIKI address is http://marreroacademy.wikispaces.com/ There are links to both of our pages on the school homepage. You can leave us a message there as well.