Welcome to Kindergarten!!

Food Allergies - Read the Principal's Page for our school policy.
Our classroom has students with peanut and nut allergies. These allergies can be life threatening and your understanding and cooperation in adhering to the school policy is important and appreciated.

Math Curriculum 
Our math curriculum is the Go Math! series and follows the Common Core curriculum. Please take time to review the math classwork and math homework with your child.  You will note that many of the problems presented have a two-step process to solve.  Reinforce these concepts and skills with your child with practical application and manipulatives.  The curriculum will continue to build on learned concepts and skills as we continue through the year.  

Language Arts Curriculum
Our language arts curriculum includes a series called Superkids and follows the Common Core curriculum.  Our program also includes response drawing and writing, literature based readings with writing and projects, non-fiction topics with response writing.

Science and Social Studies Curriculum
Our science and social studies curriculum includes Scholastic News Let's Find Out. The magazine series follows the Common Core curriculum. Our program also includes a weekly Science Lab, literature based readings with writing and projects, non-fiction topics with response writing, and hands-on exploration. 

Water 
Please send your child with extra water.  The children are thirsty when they return to the classroom after recess and gym.  Reminder - small water bottles are easier for them to handle and there is less chance for it to spill. 

Homework
Generally, homework on Mondays and Wednesdays will be language arts. Homework on Tuesdays and Thursdays will be math. There is no homework on Fridays. Please read each day with your child.  If your child is having difficulty with letter or number formation, use a yellow highlighter and have them trace in pencil.  

School Prayers
Each morning, we begin our day with the Hail Mary and Our Father.  At snack we have our snack prayer (God is Great, God is Good, Let us thank Him for our food, Amen).  Each week, two children will lead their classmates in prayer each day.  Please reinforce prayers at home.  Ask your child to lead your family in prayer before meals  

VIRTUS Training
All parents must complete VIRTUS training and fill out the accompanying forms in order to volunteer or participate in any school or classroom activity.  VIRTUS training sessions will be offered at St. Anne's, as well as, other locations.  Please refer to the  Parent Volunteers  tab on the left hand side of the home page for all dates, forms, and registration. 

Star Student
Each week, starting in October, we will have a Star Student which is randomly selected.  Every child will have a chance to be our Star Student.  Information will be sent home one week in advance to let you know when your child will be the Star Student.  Your child will be given a poster and small book to complete and share with the class during that week.  

Box Tops for Education
Please send in box tops for education that you collect from products at home 

Scholastic Book Club
Books make great gifts for birthdays and holidays  Books lists will be sent home regularly.  To place an order, go to www.scholastic.com/bookclubs and enter our class code (WW4FP).

Birthdays and Class Parties 
In accordance with our school policy, there will be no food served for birthdays or class parties. For birthdays, please refrain from sending in any treats or goodie bags.  We will celebrate your child's birthday in our class on their special day! Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!     

Transition into Kindergarten

1. Read with your child each day 
Ask questions such as: why is the bear smiling?, what do you think will happen next?, is the turtle being a good friend?  Revisit the book.  Ask them to recall the story as they look at the pictures.  Your child's verbal skills to express their ideas will develop in kindergarten.

2. Give your child opportunities to draw and color  
If needed, model drawing by using shapes.  For example, to draw a person, use a circle for the face, rectangles for the body, arms, and legs.  For a house, draw a square, then a triangle on top.  If your child has difficulty with drawing shapes, use a yellow highlighter, and have them trace it.  Before you know it, they will not need your help   Discuss adding details with them such as facial features, fingers, clothing, feet.  For the the house, discuss adding windows, door, grass, trees, sky, flowers.  Discuss colors -- what color is grass, what color is the sky?  Drawing pictures will be a way to express their ideas in kindergarten.

3. Cut and glue 
Using child scissors, have your child cut paper.  Most times they are cutting computer weight paper.  At times, they will be cutting construction paper which is a thicker weight.  Give them shapes to cut out.  Have your child arrange them, and glue them on construction paper using a glue stick.  Some children have difficulty twisting the glue stick properly -- they twist is too high and end up having a clump of glue on their paper.  Model twisting up the glue, gluing, and twisting down the glue, and placing the cover on the top.   At times, we use Elmer's glue.  Model opening and closing the glue, as well as, how to control how much to put on the construction paper.

4. Zipping, buttoning, and tying  
Although we are there to help, your child will want to become independent in kindergarten.  Guide your child by letting them practice these skills at home.  If your child wears a jacket that zippers, begin to let them try and zipper it.  Buttons are more difficult for young children.  Keep this in mind when selecting a jacket.  If your child plans to wear shoes and sneakers that tie, have them begin learning to tie.  This is a skill that is difficult for young hands.  You may want to consider velcro or loafers for school, and laces for home.

5. Lunch box  
Select a lunch box that zips open.  It is easier if they can see their food, rather than digging into a lunch box that opens like a paper bag.  Make sure it has a handle and not a shoulder strap.  It may take a couple of weeks for your child to find something they like to bring for lunch and snack.  Give them different choices this summer to try.  If they plan to bring a juice box, have them practice opening the straw.  A water bottle may be difficult -- we are there to help them.  A notice will go home in September about school hot lunch (pizza, chicken nuggets, soup/wrap, pasta, bagels will be available) and milk orders (regular and chocolate milk will be available).  Your child eats lunch at 11:10.

6. Snack
Send your child with a healthy snack and drink   We eat snack around 10:00.  Fruit, vegetables, crackers, pretzels, graham crackers, and dry cereal are some choices.  Water is a great drink for lunch and snack.  We will help your child open packages and drinks at snack and lunch.

7. Extra Water
Send your child with an extra water for after recess and gym   We do not use the water fountain.

8. Backpack
Select a backpack without wheels.  Your child should be able to zip and unzip their backpack.  They should also be able to pack and unpack it.  The backpack should be able to hold their lunchbox, folder, and marble notebook.  Let your child practice packing and unpacking their backpack with those items.  Your child will want to do this by themselves when school starts.

9. Label items
Please label your child's lunchbox, sweaters, sweatshirts, and jackets.  Also, please label their individual glue sticks, marker box, paint box, and smock (the best smock is an oversized tee-shirt -- your child will be able to put it on and take it off independently).