And Teacher Parent WELCOME

TO

Panola Way Elementary

M o n d a y, Au g u s t 1 9 , 2 0 1 3 Volume 1, Issue 1

KINDERGARTEN!
Ms. Okomas Kindergarten Newsletter

Ms.Okoma Needs Your Help!!

Dear Returning & New Parents, I am so excited to announce that I will be your childs Kindergarten teacher this year! This year, my focus will be centered on bringing out the best in each student by providing quality instruction based on our state standards and highlighting and developing their own personal needs. This school year, our theme is Soaring to New Heights, and I will be certain to challenge your child and get them up to the state standards, and beyond, but I will need your help! Please work with your child on skills that I will advise for you throughout the year, and read to your child EVERY night!

I expect each student to take 100% responsibility for their actions, and I expect each student to come in ready to do their absolute BEST! I will share more of my expectations in each newsletter as the year unfolds! Stay tuned!

Classroom Expectations

Discipline & Behavior Plan

I use positive discipline strategies, and hold students responsible and accountable for their own actions. I love to reward students with praise, compliments, rewards, and extra privileges when they excel in behavior. We work together as a class to make sure that each person respects their classmates and others in the school. I do NOT tolerate misbehavior, and handle each case differently but appropriately based on the severity and level of offense. However here is a general guideline that I use to address continual issues. 1. Verbal Warning 2. Written Warning & Phone Call Home 3. Loss of Certain Privileges 4. Written Warning, Phone Call, & Administrative Intervention 5. Parent Teacher Conference **Im sure we wont have to worry about this at all!

Your child is in Kindergarten now, and this is the beginning of taking FULL responsibility for their academic and personal success. I will show them how to do this by guiding them every step of the way! As parents, please keep up with what goes on in the classroom through my newsletter and daily communication folder, but MOSTLY, by taking the time to VOLUNTEER and show your involvement. There are many ways in which you can volunteer this year, and I will have sign-up sheets in the class so you can choose to help with an activity or event that fits your schedule. Thank you in advance for what I know will be a dynamic year. Sincerely, Ms. Pamela Okoma Your Childs Kindergarten Teacher Panola Way Elementary School

Communication Plan
My #1 way to communicate news, events, incidents, and happenings in the class will be through our Teachers-Parents Communicator Folder. This folder will be sent home every day (EXCEPT Friday), and I expect each parent to review the information in the folder and SIGN that they have reviewed the information, and then return it to school with their child. Apart from the folder, I am very flexible with communication, and I can easily be reached through the classroom phone, personal cell phone, text message, e-mail, and face to face classroom visits. Please feel free to communicate with me about your child!

Ms. Okomas Classroom Newsletter Page 2

This Weeks Assignments

This week is the first week of school and it will be exciting and new for your child. This week, I will be examining where your child is academically, so that I can develop a personalized plan for them. We will be learning new school and classroom rules, as well as reviewing information that all students entering kindergarten should know. (I have provided a list of general things your child show know how to do by now). If your child is not able to do some of the things listed, please work with your child frequently in these areas, and please see me for guidance and help.

This Weeks Highlights

NOTE: Homework Packet will be sent home every Monday and is due by Thursday morning.

This week, we will continue to learn about classroom rules, but we will also focus in on shapes and five sense. With shapes, we will count them,,, compare and contrast them, and learn how to describe them by their attributes. With our five senses, we will learn how to use them and incorporate them in our daily activities.

Reminders to Parents

Students may enter the building by 7:00am, and breakfast is from 7:00 until 7:25am. Students will then be dismissed to the media center to wait for the 7:30am bell. Students may arrive to the class by 7:30am, and are expected to be in class by 7:45am every day. Students are late after 8:00am. Continual tardy will result in intervention and consequences. Students are expected to arrive to school in their approved school uniform.

Upcoming Events
PTA Membership Drive Student Dance **Cancelled*** Campus Clean-Up & Beautification, Golf Tournament **Will be postponed or rescheduled. PTA BACK-To-SCHOOL Dance Saturday, August 27, 3:00PM 6:00PM, Cost: $5.00 Curriculum Night & PTA Meeting Tuesday, September 10, 7:30 P.M. **We will be highlighting student work and the curriculum and going over expectations.

Welcoming Our NEWEST Students!!! HOME WORK PLAN

I believe that learning does not stop at school, and that the parents can really be involved with their childs learning to help them achieve greater success in school. I will send home a WEEKLY packet for students to complete and return by THURSDAY morning. It is important that your child complete these assignments because they will be graded and count towards their academic participation. Many of the students in our classroom are being looped from my Pre-K class that I taught last year. However, there are some new students that are brand new to Panola Way. The following NEW students are: Caleb Atkinson Makhai Johnson Aiden Kimble MyAngel Smith Idris Mitchell Jr. Xavier McCunts Pierre Pigues Jr. Eric Stozier Bailey Robinson Elijah Givens

Welcome to All, and Lets Get Started with an AMAZING YEAR!!! Ms. Okoma, Classroom 102, Class Ph: 678-676-9338, Cell Phone: 404-820-7763 E-Mail: Pamela_o_okoma@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us