Kindergarten Handbook

Welcome to Mrs. Niewohner‚s Kindergarten Classroom This is one of the most exciting times of the year as I finally am able to meet new students and their families. You have been your child‚s teacher since his/her birth and you will continue to be your child‚s best teacher! My job is to build on the foundation that you laid. By working together, we will form a partnership that includes students, teachers, and parents. This partnership will allow your child to develop to his/her highest potential. I have been looking forward to working with you and your child. Together we will guide your child on the journey of learning. May this journey be exciting and fulfilling.

About Myself This year (2004-2005) will be my 5th year of having the privilege of teaching all-day Kindergarten at the Boone Central Elementary School. Previous to this, I taught Title I Reading and Math for 20 years at Albion. I am married to Jerry and have four children. Sarah graduated from Northeast Community College last May with a 2-year degree in Agribusiness and will be getting married on July 30, 2005 to Dana Cox. Julie graduated last May from Boone Central School and will be attending Creighton University. Philip will be a 10th grader at Boone Central. If you go to any sporting events you may see him. And my youngest is Emily who will be a 6th grader at St. Michaels School. Your children may get to know and talk about Emily. She is known to visit our class and help her mother if she has a day off from school and we are in session. Some of my outside interests include traveling, reading, scrapbooking and watching movies.

Arrival and Dismissal When your child arrives in the morning and is dismissed after school, please have them use the north door on Prairie Street. Buses automatically load and unload at this door for those utilizing bus service. School begins at 8:15 and dismisses at 3:25. Breakfast is served from 7:30 ˆ 8:00. If your child arrives before 8:00, they will sit in the hallway outside the door until the teacher is available at 8:00. Students are marked tardy if they are not in the classroom by 8:15. If your child is late for school, please do not just drop them off at the north doors. They are usually locked at 8:15 for safety reasons and you will need to bring your child down to the doors by the elementary office and check in with Mrs. Kelley. During the month of May, the students will walk down to the main gym when they arrive at school where they will be supervised by aides from approximately 7:50 until 8:00. They will then be dismissed to walk down to the classroom. This is to help them become ready for what is expected of them in 1st grade.

Curriculum There‚s a lot to learn in Kindergarten. We start out slow and then move more quickly as skills start to make sense. Some of the skills taught are:

Handwriting - all upper and lower case letters written as neatly as possible. Write their own name (first, middle, last)

Phonograms - 54, which include the first 26 letters of the alphabet and then 28 additional phonograms. In first grade they‚ll only have to review these, plus a few more to make a total of 70 phonograms.

Reading - will begin to use the phonograms to read words (as well as write words and sentences), memorize sight words, and classmates names and learn concepts such as author, illustrator, setting, characters, beginning, middle, end, predicting, fact or fiction, etc.

Math - counting, writing numbers, sorting, shapes, patterns, comparing and ordering, numbers to 12, measurement, time, money, addition, subtraction, counting patterns, calendar, and place value

Science -seasons, the five senses, health and nutrition, safety, animals, living/nonliving, weather and other themes as time allows.

Homework Occasionally I send home papers that you can do together with your child. I would prefer that you do them together so you can see what your child‚s strengths and weaknesses are. Most of the time if you do them together, there is no need to return them to school. Most of these worksheets are ones we just did not have time to do while studying a letter of the week and would be good review for your child. Many of them involve cutting, coloring and pasting. If your child complains a lot, it may be because the skill is hard for them and would be time consuming and the best way to improve cutting, etc. is to practice more. If you can see that the skills are mastered by your child and they want to just play school, these would work well for that also, maybe with an older sibling. We will be using a new math series this year, which does include worksheets to be completed at home and returned to school. At other times I may send notes home asking for help with skills that your child may be having difficulty with. Examples could be: reading for the Pizza Hut „book it‰ project, writing to 100, practicing sight words, tying shoes, independently dressing themselves for recess (putting on snow pants, coats, hats and mittens/gloves), or memorizing address, phone number, parents‚ occupations or 4-digit lunch number.

Report Cards A report card will come home in your child‚s Thursday folder approximately one week after each quarter ends with the exception of the last quarter. Your child will bring his/her report card home on the last day of school. When you do receive your child‚s report card if an area has not been marked, it is because either it has not been taught or assessed (tested) yet. Tentatively conferences, which are 25 minutes in length, are scheduled for November 10th and 11th and March 1. The elementary office will send a letter to inform you of the time that is scheduled for our conference.

Music, PE, Art, Library, Buddies, Aide Our first library class is on Tuesday with Mrs. Johnson. Your children will have the opportunity to check out two books to take home with them. She will also be reading stories to them, teaching library etiquette, etc. Your child will need to return their books to the library before they are allowed to check out more. The more books that we can get read to your children the better they will understand the process of „reading. Your children will also have the opportunity to check out books from the classroom, as they want. Again, they may check out two books and need to return those books before any others can be checked out. The books will come home in a plastic bag with their name on it. On Friday, we will begin work with our 4th grade „buddies‰ from Mrs. Figgners‚ class. The Kindergartners will be paired up with a partner who will be in our room each week from 8:30 - 9:15 helping with a variety of activities such as art projects, reading to us and listening to us read, phonogram practice, etc. It‚s a wonderful experience for both classes. Other helpers for Kindergarten are Mrs. Loeffler - aide (I share her with the other Kindergarten teacher (Mrs. Simpson), Mrs. Dickey - music teacher, Mrs. Kruse - art teacher, and Mr. Bussey - PE teacher.

Art Portfolio I will keep much of the artwork that your child does at school in a portfolio that will be sent home with your child at the end of the year. Before that time two pieces of artwork will be selected and sent to the Boone County Fair.

Programs Mrs. Dickey, our music teacher, schedules two programs for the year. The first is scheduled for December 10th at 1:30 in the high school gym. The second program is May 13th at 1:30. These are very special programs and I hope you will be able to be there. Parents are encouraged to visit the classrooms after the performances. Periodically our classroom plans some of our own programs to attend. These will remain a secret at this time, but if and when they do occur, I will give you advance notice so you can be there!!! Lunch The Kindergarten students eat lunch in the lunchroom with the 2nd and 3rd graders from approximately 11:00 ˆ 11:25. Students will need to know if they are eating a hot lunch from school each day so a count can be given to kitchen staff. If your child wishes to bring a sack lunch from home, milk will be available. Your child will be assigned a 4-digit number that we will begin memorizing after Christmas vacation. This number will remain the same for all the years that your child attends Boone Central School. Please try to keep money in your lunch account. If funds are running low, Mrs. Sherry Dozler will send a note on a pink half sheet of paper in your child‚s Thursday folder. If you would ever like to eat lunch with your child, call the office in the morning so the kitchen staff can be notified. We welcome you to join us at any time!

Afternoon Snack Students will have a milk break in the afternoon. A snack will also be available during this break thanks to the wonderful donations from Kindergarten parents. I will be sending home a bag to a couple of students at the beginning of the year. Please contribute non-perishable snacks and have your child return the bag to school. These snacks are placed in a classroom cupboard for all students to share during our break. When the supply becomes low, I will again send home the bags with students to replenish our snack cupboard. In the past parents have only been asked 2-3 times during the years for snack donations. If your child has any food allergies or food restrictions, please let me know. Popular snacks include: microwave popcorn, animal crackers, crackers and cheese, dry cereal, pretzels, cookies, and fruit snacks. We also enjoy fresh homemade cookies, etc. if you get in a baking mood!!!

Recess We go outside for recess three times everyday unless it is raining or extremely cold. Please keep this in mind when helping your child select appropriate clothes for the day. During wet or snowy weather, your child will need proper outerwear to play off of the cement. This would include: hats, mittens/gloves, boots and snow pants. If your child needs to stay indoors during any of the three recesses for any reason, please send a note. Many Kindergartners say they need to stay inside when they see others who have been sick stay in. When at all possible, please let them go outside to get some fresh air and run off some of their energy. During noon recess, they are to go down to the office to work and the other two recesses they stay in the room or back down to the office if I have recess duty.

Rest Time Your child will bring a large towel in a plastic bag that will be used during „rest time‰. This is quiet 20-30 minutes where you child will have the opportunity to lay down to relax and listen to soothing music. Towels will be sent home on Friday approximately every two weeks for laundering and should be returned to school the following Monday. Lying down on towels is eliminated during the end of 3rd quarter to prepare for 1st grade. At that time, instead of lying down we watch educational videos.

School Attendance Your child‚s regular and prompt attendance at school is crucial to his/her success. Most kindergarten learning activities are group oriented and involve interaction with classmates. Therefore, it is next to impossible to make up work at home. Please view school as a priority, and see to it that your child attends everyday except in cases of illness or emergency. If your child is ill or needs to be gone, I would appreciate a note before or upon his/her return.

Routine Your child should come to school well rested. It is important to have a consistent nightly bedtime. Reading to your child daily is one of the most valuable gifts you can give him/her. Talking with your child about school is a wonderful way to show your support and build a successful year. Classroom Rules Basically our classroom will have three rules:

Be Safe Be Kind Be Responsible

If problems arise, I will most assuredly let you know.

Book Bags Please send a book bag to school every day with your child. This will keep your child‚s work from getting ruined or lost. Please check your child‚s bag every day. It is important for you to discuss your child‚s work with him/her. You might comment on neat writing, praise colorful drawing, or ask questions about how the page was completed. The important thing is that your child knows you are interested in his/her work.

Thursday Folder The red folder that your child is bringing home today contains many important pieces of information. Please take time to go through it carefully, filling out all necessary forms and returning them to school. This folder will come home with your child every Thursday during the school year and needs to be returned the following day.

Kindergarten Newsletter Our classroom will be putting together a newsletter each week. The newsletter will be sent home on the last day school was attended for each week. The newsletter will contain information about what we have worked on that week, upcoming events, a teacher‚s want list and our classroom‚s featured artist.

Money You will need to send money to school for various things - lunches, pictures, book orders, etc. Please send all money to school in a sealed envelope. On the outside of the envelope, please write: Child‚s name, first and last Purpose of money (Lunch) Amount of money enclosed ($5.00) Teachers Name (Niewohner)

Book Orders Your child will bring home book orders throughout the year. If you wish to order, simply fill out the form and send the correct amount of money or a check made out to the particular book order company in a sealed, marked envelope. These orders are provided as a convenient way for parents to buy quality books for their child at a low price. As an added bonus, for every dollar that is spent on books, I earn bonus points, which are used to purchase classroom books. You are never under any obligation to order. Show and Tell Your child will have many opportunities to share. We will be decorating a pillowcase that one child will be taking home to select a special item to share with classmates the following day. We will write a story together each day about the show & tell item. At other times, sharing may involve all students bringing in something specifically dealing with our lesson in class, such as wearing a hat for „h‰ week.

Birthdays Birthdays are special occasions for young children. If your child wishes, he/she may bring treats for the class on his/her birthday. If your child has a summer birthday and would like to celebrate it during the school year, let me know when you choose to do so.

Class Parties Our class will be celebrating four holiday parties during the school year. I have assigned each family one party to help with. You will be responsible for planning the party as well as furnishing refreshments. I will send home notes with those involved a couple of weeks before the event with a date to meet and do the planning. We will also try to do something special in the classroom at the end of each quarter, which will be:

1st Quarter ˆ October 28 2nd Quarter ˆ January 14 3rd Quarter ˆ March 18 4th Quarter ˆ May 26 Halloween Christmas Sage Kraft Hannah & Ty Groth Branden Roberg Macy Olson Christina Stopak Mason Wells

Valentines Easter Justin Caldwell Thomas Hosford Lane Knott Alexa Nelson Allysa Young Cheyenne Mangus Erica Anderson

Volunteers There are many ways you can volunteer throughout the year. I feel it is very important for your child to know that you support him/her in his/her education and make them feel important. Your support can be exhibited in a number of ways. These include helping at parties, sending snacks and treats, volunteering in the classroom, in the computer lab or being an at home volunteer. This could involve tracing, coloring and cutting out pieces for projects that we would be working on at school. Our room parent may contact you throughout the year for your assistance. I will let you know in the newsletter who our room parent is when I am informed. Let me know if you‚d be interested in helping in any way. I welcome all offers.

Classroom Visits I welcome your classroom visits. Your child will love to have you as a visitor, and you will gain new insight into your child and other kindergarten-age children. Please try to refrain from the visits the first eight weeks to allow the students time to adjust to the schedule. Thank you!

Transportation A copy of this form will be coming home with your child very soon to be completely filled out by you, the parents. If for any reason you have a change of plans for your child‚s departure from school (examples: shopping out of town, vacation, doctor appointment), please send a note to school with your child in the morning. Staff is outside with your child until they are either picked up or the bus has left. Do not rely on your child to remember to TELL me that there is a change in dismissal plans, because messages are many times either forgotten or relayed incorrectly and it can be very upsetting for the child if no one is there to pick them up.

Transportation/Emergency Information Child‚s Full Name __________________________________ Child‚s Birthday ___________________________________ Parent‚s Names ___________________________________ Address_________________________________________ Phone Number ____________________________________ Employer and Phone Number __________________________ Name and phone number of emergency contact ________________________________________________ Transportation to School My child gets to school in this way: ____ by bus. The bus driver‚s name is ___________________ ____ rides in a car ____ walks Transportation from School My child gets home from school in this way: ____ by bus. The bus driver‚s name is ____________________ ____ rides in a car, picked up by ________________________ ____ walks with ____________________________________ ____ goes to daycare. The name of my child‚s daycare and phone number is _________________________________________

*In case of Early Dismissal due to bad weather or for any other reason, my child is to go home: _____ The same way as above. _____ A different way. (Please specify)____________________________________________________________________________________________ Parent‚s Signature ___________________ Date ___________

Please notify me throughout the year if there are any changes with the information given. Thanks! Fire and Tornado Drills We will have several fire and tornado drills during the year. When the fire alarm sounds, we will line up, walk east down the hall, out the north door on Prairie Street and across the street to the sidewalk. If there is a tornado drill our class goes into the Kindergarten classroom boys‚ restroom. We will take a flashlight with us! Where do you go in your own homes when the tornado whistle sounds?????

Field trips We occasionally take trips off of the school grounds. These may include but are not limited to: fire station, post office, business partner, Charlies, sheriff‚s office, greenhouse, and the newspaper office. If a field trip is planned a note with information and a permission slip to be filled out will come home with your child. It will need to be returned before your child is able to participate. Most of the time we walk, occasionally we will ride a bus. Volunteers to come along are always appreciated.

Business Partner Our class will be partnered with a downtown business. I will let you know who this is when I am notified in the Kindergarten newsletter. We generally supply our partner with seasonal artwork to display, make holiday cards for them and visit the place of business. In turn, they bring us holiday treats, read stories to us and plan an education program. Question of the Week Mrs. Kelley, the secretary from the elementary office sends out a „Question of the Week‰. If your child would like to participate in this weekly question through the elementary office, please answer the question and bring it back to school by Friday. Prizes are given out to randomly drawn out names of correctly answered winner(s) each week. This is a good opportunity to do some research together with your child and learn at the same time. Class List for 2004 ˆ 2005 Erica Anderson Justin Caldwell Hannah Groth Ty Groth Thomas Hosford Lane Knott Sage Kraft Cheyenne Mangus Alexa Nelson Macy Olson Branden Roberg Christina Stopak Mason Wells Allysa Young Supply List - Kindergarten at Boone Central at Albion

Book Bag (Large enough to put their papers in easily)

Box of 8 large crayons

Box of 16 regular crayons

12 small glue sticks

1 box of kleenex

1 pink or green eraser

1 towel in a plastic bag to be used during rest time

1 small pencil box

Ziplock bags (1 gallon and 1 sandwich size)

Package of napkins for snack

Package of large or small white paper plates

Brown lunch size paper sacks

Recipe file box

Parent ˆ Teacher Relationship A good parent-teacher relationship is important for school success. Through our newsletter and notes home, I will try to keep you informed about our classroom. I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. You can call me at school (395-2134), at home (395-6249), send a note or an email (kniewoh@esu7.org)

As you can see there is a lot to know about the important grade of Kindergarten. I expect all students to try to do their best. Some of the Kindergartners have begun school already knowing their letters, how to write their name and have many other skills in place. I will do my best to teach other things throughout the day so hopefully everyone can come home after having learned something new each day. In closing I would like to say that I am looking forward to a great year working with your child. I would also like to suggest that you keep this handbook for future reference. Thank you in advance for your concern and support throughout the year.