HandBook

Parent

Mrs. Huftels Kindergarten 2013-2014 *This may be subject to change.

Please use this as a reference throughout the school year.

Welcome! Im excited about the upcoming year in kindergarten and hope both you and your child benefit from the experiences you will gain throughout the year. St. Croix Central is dedicated to providing a quality educational kindergarten experience that inspires creativity, discovery and achievement. We work with you to make a real difference in your childs life. We want each child to feel part of our school group, to make friends, and to play cooperatively with others. Together we hope to help your child become the best he or she can be. Listed below you will find additional information about my class.

Transportation
Upon arriving at school in the morning, students are asked to either go to the cafeteria for breakfast OR go to the playground or the downstairs gym (depending on the weather). Students need to ask the hall monitors or teachers for permission to take things to the classroom. If you are picking your child up from school at the end of the day, please wait just inside the elementary entrance outside the office. It is understood that unforeseen problems and emergencies do arise. If your child must be picked up early from school, you MUST go to the office first. No child will be allowed to leave directly from the classroom. If there is a change in the way that your child usually goes homes, you MUST send a note. If that is not possible, contact the office. If I do not get a note or message from the office, I will dismiss your child as usual. This is for the safety of your child.

Attendance
Consistent attendance is essential for your child to obtain the maximum benefits from our kindergarten program. However, if you child is ill or running a fever, he/she should be kept at home. If your child is absent, please call the school office or send a note when they return to school.

Lunch
Lunch is served daily. Your child can bring a lunch from home or you can purchase a lunch from school. If you send money, please put it in an envelope that is labeled with your childs name. If your child wants milk with their lunch from home, your child can get one and the amount will be deducted from your lunch account.

Volunteers
I feel very strongly about the importance of family involvement in every childs education. If you can volunteer, please fill out the attached volunteering form and return to me as soon as possible so I can put you on the volunteer schedule. You will also need to fill out and return the St. Croix Central Volunteer Background Check Approval form.

Keep in Touch
In addition to parent teacher conferences, I hope to talk with you often to make this a successful year for all of us. Notes can be sent back and forth in a folder that will be kept in your childs backpack. It is important that you check your childs folder each night! The folders are sent home each night and need to come back to school each morning. I will be teaching your child to take responsibility for making sure you receive the notes. Please help your child remember this responsibility. Let me know what is important to you. I will also be sending home weekly newsletters and monthly calendars which will give you an opportunity to discuss with your child what is happening in school. ***Please note that I will receive calls before and after school hours, and will do my best to

check voicemails and emails periodically throughout the day.

Transition is a Journey
Feelings of sadness and resistance are common as children prepare to leave a familiar setting or situation. Transition can cause fears, concerns, and mixed feelings. Children need to express how they feel. Some may act fussy or whiney. Others may lose control, cry easily, or revert to habits you thought they had outgrown, such as thumb sucking. Adults can help children express themselves by reading stories about children in similar situations and talking with them about their feelings. Dont forget transitions are also a time to celebrate childrens growth. Let them know how much they have grown by reviewing baby pictures, or pointing out new accomplishments like writing their names, reading, etc.

Birthdays
To add special meaning to your childs birthday, here is an idea you may want to consider. Let your child treat the class to a Birthday Book for our library shelf. This should be a book that your child would like to share with his or her classmates. If you should decide to do this, have your child bring the book (new or used) on his/her birthday, wrapped in birthday paper. In class, your child can unwrap their present in front of everyone. Your childs book will then become a permanent part of our classroom. Place a picture of your

child in the front cover of the book if youd like. This is a wonderful way for your child to share their birthday with others. It is also a great way to teach your child that birthdays are for sharing! There is, of course, no obligation to participate. Your child is also welcome to bring a special birthday treat to share on their big day.

Notes Containing Money

Any time you send money to school, please put it in a sealed envelope and include the following information on the front: 1. Your childs name 2. Mrs. Huftel 3. What the money will be used for

Snack
We will have a daily morning snack. Everyone was asked to bring a box of crackers to start the year. When our cracker supply runs low, I will be sending home a note for everyone to bring in another box of crackers.

Wish List
In kindergarten, we go through supplies quite fast. I would be grateful to receive any of the following items periodically throughout the year: Shaving cream/gel for finger painting Paper plates (large or small) Paper cups (not Styrofoam) Kleenex Craft Supplies (ribbon, felt, paper bags, buttons, yarn, baby food jars, ziploc bags, playdoh) Old clothing or costumes for playing dress-up.

Mrs. Huftels Daily Schedule

2013 2014

Specials Block

Time 8:05 8:10 8:10-8:30 8:30-9:30 9:30-9:45 9:45-10:20 10:20-10:40 10:40-11:40 11:40-12:20 12:20-1:00 1:00-1:55 1:55-2:30 2:30-3:00 3:10

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6

Computers Science & Library Physical Education & Music Art Library & Science Music & Physical Education

Academics First Bell Tardy Bell Morning Meeting Core Math Recess Daily Five and Guided Reading Snack & Read Aloud Core Reading Lunch & Recess Literacy Extensions Specials Science & Social Studies Discovery Centers Dismissal

Mrs. Huftels Kindergarten Class 2013-2014

Bryn Busch Teresa Clennon Torilynn Ellefson Lela Evans Matthew Goossens Caydin Hawkins Maxwell Hawkins Nathan Hein Hudson Jaszczak Thomas Kuranda Matthew Munson Kaitlyn Peissig Devlan Peterson Ella Rohde Madilyn Sabelko Samantha Simmer Norris Tracy Ella Waltz Eden Weiskopf Kandice Wheeler

Again, welcome to Kindergarten! I care deeply about being a teacher and feel honored to be a part of your childs life. As a parent of two young children, I am aware of the great

responsibility I have as a partner in teaching and nurturing your child. I look forward to a great year!

Mrs. Vanessa Huftel 715.749.3119 vhuftel@scc.k12.wi.us

Classroom Expectations
All students are expected to enter the classroom ready to learn. This means that students will have a positive attitude and will demonstrate their personal best in all that they do!

Outstanding
Great Example

Be Responsible:
Arrive to school on time! Classroom instruction begins promptly after the bell rings.

Be Prepared:
Homework is complete. Your school folder is in your backpack with any homework, school papers, etc.

Good Choices

Ready to Learn Think About It Teacher Consequence Parent Contact

Be Respectful:
Students will show respect to themselves and others at all times. This includes using positive words and respecting the thoughts and ideas of others. Respect also means to do your personal best by completing your work and participating.

Behavior Management
In our classroom there are very clear rewards and consequences. There are several opportunities for students to be rewarded each and every day. All students have a clothespin (sometimes called clip) that they move throughout the day on the behavior chart (shown left) based on their actions. All students begin the day on ready to learn. At the end of each day, students will color in a square on their calendar the color they ended the day on. When your child receives an Outstanding they are able to choose an item from the classroom treasure box. If a

student is on PARENT CONTACT a note will be sent home and a parent signature will be required. Please take time to discuss this note with your child and encourage your child to have a better day tomorrow. If your child does not abide by school rules, I will use logical consequences when rules are broken. My goal is for the consequence to be related to the misbehavior and act as a solution to the problem. Examples of logical consequences may include: Time away from the class for class disruptions or bothering others. Cleaning or repairing damaged property. Written or verbal apologies for unkind behavior towards others. Walking back to the starting point and walking (instead of running) in the building.

Without volunteers it would be impossible to do many of the fun and exciting things at our

volunteer
If you are interested in

school! There are many opportunities for parents to volunteer in and out of the classroom.

* helping in the classroom for centers, etc. * helping outside of the classroom cutting projects, etc. * helping purchase materials for projects

Please fill in the information below. Thank you in advance for your help!

Parent Name & Childs Name Phone Number & Email Days & Times Available

The Daily Five

You will hear about the Daily 5 a lot this year! In our room we love daily reading! What is The Daily Five? Daily 5 is a model used in our classroom for reading. It allows students to practice essential reading and math skills independently and receive instruction from the teacher each day in a small group that addresses their specific needs. What does my child do during this time?

Read to Self Independent Reading Read to Someone Practice reading with a buddy Listen to Reading Work on Writing Word Work Practice spelling words and phonics skills.

Essentials of The Daily Five:

Students are explicitly taught expectations for this time of

day. They practice these expectations and become better and more independent in all areas of literacy!
Students must work independently and productively.

Students ability to do so is dependent on their growth in reading and writing.

Support from parents and teacher. Learning to read and

develop essential literacy skills is an intricate process.

Research shows that when parents and teachers work together to achieve these goals students are significantly more successful.

What are the results of The Daily Five?

Students become better readers by practicing reading with

Good Fit books. You will see your child become a strong and independent reader with a realm of strategies to aid and maximize reading enjoyment!
Practice is essential in all areas of learning and this is just

what the Daily 5 provides: practice of skills with individualized support from the teacher.