ABCs of K

We hope you find it helpful.


Attendance	A successful school experience is the responsibility of the children, the parent and the school. Your child's progress, both academically and socially, is influenced to a great extent by daily participation. Regular attendance without tardiness is a key.
Arrival	Children should plan to arrive between 8:05 and 8:25 AM. Students arriving prior to 8:05 AM must be brought to the PM room in Furey Hall where they will be supervised until 8:05. Group activities begin at 8:30. Afternoon dismissal is at 2:40 PM.

Backpacks	Please provide a backpack to help your child carry messages and information to and from school. Have your child share the contents of the backpack with you daily.
Birthdays	Birthdays are special occasions for young children. If your child wishes, he/she may bring a treat for the class. Parents are welcome to join us for a story and lunch. Please see/call us to arrange this.
Book Orders	We will be sending home book order forms for you and your child to look over. These clubs offer wonderful books at reduced prices. What a great way to build your home library! We order from Scholastic and all orders may be combined to pay with one check

Choice Time	The best way for kindergarten children to learn is through active play. Our classroom is set up in learning centers. We carefully plan the activities in each center to develop skills and meet the needs of all the students in the class.
Clothes	Please send your child to school in clothes appropriate for learning. Do not send your child to school so "dressed up" that you might be concerned about her or him "getting dirty." Becoming involved in kindergarten activities often means that the students will get a little "messy."
Conferences	Parent/Teacher conferences are held in October and February. We will be discussing your child's accomplishments, strengths and overall progress. Please feel free to schedule additional conferences at any time throughout the year as needed.

Discipline	Our philosophy of discipline is based on the belief that children need affectionate care and firm guidelines within a flexible structure. To establish good order and help the children learn self-control, the children will be guided to respect themselves, others and their environment through specific directions, positive reinforcement and logical consequences.
Dismissal	One teacher takes children who are taking the bus to the appropriate bus and the other teacher brings children who are being picked up to the wall. Children who are attending the PM program are dismissed to go to Furey Hall. If you are picking up your child early, please come to the classroom.

Extra Clothes	It is very important that you send an extra set of clothes in case of a bathroom accident or a messy spill. This way we do not have to bother you at work or home. Label each item and leave them in a large Ziploc bag in your child's cubby.
Email	You can contact us at home via our email address: k-kids@berkshirecountryday.org . Please keep in mind that while we try to check our email daily, we sometimes miss a day here or there. Please call if it's urgent!

Field Trips	We plan numerous field trips that are both fun and educational for the children. We often need parent volunteers on the trips. Class parents will contact you or you may let us know if you would like to join us.
Friday Folders	In an effort to consolidate information going home with students, we will be sending home Friday Folders. The folders will include all newsletters, notices, flyers, and completed work. Please be sure to look through the folder and return the empty folder on Monday
Footwear	Please have your child wear shoes that are appropriate for running and active movement. Cowboy boots, dress shoes, sandals or clogs for example, are not good for school activities because they are slippery and inappropriate for the gym or the playground.

Gym	Our class will have two 40-minute gym classes each week with Mrs. Heady and Ms. Mulcahy on Wednesday and Thursday. The children are asked to bring sneakers on gym days, and girls might consider wearing pants or having a pair of shorts to slip on under their dress.

Hands-on Learning	We feel that the best way to help children learn is to make learning fun. Important concepts can be learned by doing meaningful hands-on activities. There are times when seat work is required and necessary, but for the most part, our classroom will be an active learning environment
Illness	The question of when to keep your child home from school is often a difficult one, especially when decisions must be made first thing in the morning. It is important, however, to keep your child home if he/she is ill. This helps to make them more comfortable and prevents others from becoming ill. Children function more effectively in the classroom when they are healthy.

Journals	One strategy that will be used to help convey the vital concept that print conveys meaning is the use of journal writing. In these journals the kindergartners combine their emerging writing skills with their drawing skills. As the children are exposed to a variety of phonics and reading experiences, journal entries will move from drawings and inventive spellings towards more conventional writing.
Kindness	Students in our classroom are encouraged and expected to treat all members of our class as well as others with kindness and respect. Hitting, fighting, bullying, name-calling, and making fun of others will not be permitted.

Lost & Found	We have a Lost and Found bin in our cubby room. Items stay in this for several weeks and are then added to the large bin in the gym. We encourage children to check the lost and found collection for any missing items. Please label clothing items worn to school. This will help us return a lost article to its owner.
Lunch	Our class will be eating lunch at about 12:00 every day. Lunch is provided from home and eaten in the classroom. We encourage the children to eat at least half of whatever you send. Uneaten food is returned to the lunch boxes. We do not have refrigeration for lunches, or the ability to heat students' food for them
Library	We will visit the library every Monday. Our librarian, Mrs. Cohen, will read to the students and have activities for the children to do. Our kindergarten students will also be checking out books this year. They will check out and return their books every Monday.
	The kindergarten mathematics curriculum provides students with mathematical experiences that help them develop number sense and a positive attitude towards mathematics that will continue through their school career and their lives. We use many different activities to foster skill development utilizing a hands-on, problem solving approach
Music	Our music teacher, Mrs. Crawford, will be teaching the children the basics of music education and will be sharing many wonderful songs! We are scheduled to have music Tuesday and Thursday.

Newsletter	We will be sending home a newsletter every week to keep you informed of the happenings in our classroom. This is a great way to stay abreast of our curriculum, classroom news, special activities and upcoming events. Required reading for all!
Nurse	We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful nurse at BCD. We take care of minor hurts in the classroom, such as scratches and scrapes, but send the children to Mrs. Drees for more serious injuries and illnesses. Please be sure to send in any change of contact numbers in case she needs to get in touch with you.

Outside Time	The children will be going out for a 40-minute recess every day. Please keep this in mind when helping your child to select clothing for the day. In snowy weather, children who have boots/winter outerwear will be allowed to play in the snow; those without will needto stay on the deck.
Parental Support	Your support of school activities makes your child feel important and sends the message that you value school. The Parent Association is a vital part of BCD. Volunteer! There will also be a variety of special classroom activities and celebrations throughout the school year. We hope that you can come and join in the fun!
Parties	We will have class parties from time to time for occasions such as Halloween, December holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa), and Valentine's Day. The class parents usually organize these events and coordinate volunteers and donations.
Peer Readers	Once a week, our class will be getting together with the 3rd grade class to share books and read together. This is a greatlearning experience for both the older and younger students.

Quiet Time	The children rest for about a 30-minute period each day. The children must lie quietly and rest, but they are not expected to go to sleep. We listen to books on tape and read chapter books. Small towels or blankets are the perfect resting mats, as they are easy for the children to fold and they fit nicely in the trunk. Don't forget to send a bag to put rest things in!
Restrooms	We have 2 bathrooms in our classroom. Children are encouraged to use the bathroom as needed. We always make sure we all wash our hands- with soap! - before snack and lunch.
Report Cards	Student profiles are issued three times a year, in December, March and June. These reports reflect the progress your child has made toward various kindergarten objectives and uses a grading system that reflects the developmental nature of kindergarten learning.

Science	The focus of the kindergarten science curriculum in the classroom is on developing an awareness of the world in which we live. The concepts presented include life cycles of plants and animals, habitats and the solar system. These areas will be explored utilizing a literacy based hands-on approach. K-Kids also have science with Mr. Bye once a week in the science lab where they explore and experiment.
Snack	Every morning we have a short period for snack. Your child should bring a small snack that should take no more than 5-10 minutes to eat. Packing snacks separately from lunches will avoid the mistake of eating them both at snack time. Healthy snacks are encouraged and items that are easy for the children to open themselves make snack time run more smoothly.
Social Studies	The kindergarten social studies curriculum focuses on the students and how they relate to others in their families, classroom, school, and community. Activities will help the children focus their natural curiosity about the world around them.

Toys	Bringing toys to school is discouraged for a number of reasons. If a toy is accidentally lost or broken, feelings will be hurt. Books are okay to bring in. Please be sure that they are clearly marked with your child's name.
Transportation	If you plan to pick up a child who normally rides the bus or you wish for your child to go home with someone else, you must send a written note. Do not rely on your child to tell us this information, because children often become confused and relay information incorrectly. If no written note is received, your child will be sent home by his/her usual method of transportation.

Uinique	Kindergartners learn that they are special and unique. They have opportunities to describe how they are alike as well as different from others. They share their culture and learn about different cultures within the class.
Visitors	Visitors are welcome in the classroom. Please let us know in advance so that we can check our schedule and advise you of any changes.
Website	BCD has a website which can be accessed at http://www.berkshirecountryday.org . Check in regularly to find information about curriculum, special events and school news. We hope to be able to add our own Kindergarten weekly newsletters and pictures of the K-Kids in action!

	We have fifteen children in our class. Please keep this in mind when sending in things to be distributed to the whole class.
Younger Siblings	It is in your child's and the program's best interest to have our parent volunteers available without younger children on most of our field trips. Thank you for making childcare arrangements.
	Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give to your child. It will help them to be alert and ready to learn each day!

The ABCs of Kindergarten