ABC's of Kindergarten

A

Absences

Please call the school and let us know if your child will be absent AND send a note when they return to school.  The  school number is 276-821-5740.  Your child is allowed 5 parent excused absences and then they must have doctor notes.  Please see the attendance policy if you have any questions.

Arrivals and Departures

All children need to arrive and depart at the center doors in the back of the school.  The doors open at 7:45, and the children can go to breakfast or the gym.  At 8:20, the bell rings to allow the children to go to class.  The tardy bell rings at 8:30.  At this time, the back door will close and all students arriving at this time must go to the front door and report to the office.  The children will dismiss at 2:50 with the Kindergarten car riders leaving first.  The students will be dismissed at the back of the building through the middle doors unless there is inclement weather.

B

Backpacks  

We recommend that your child bring a backpack to school everyday.  Important books and their folders will go home in their folders each day, and this will assure that the information is reaching you.  Please label your child's backpack. 

Behavior Chart 

The daily behavior chart is used each day to monitor your child's behavior.  We use a system of colors to reinforce good behavior and remind children of what is expected.  The colors are as follows Blue-good day, Green-warning, Yellow-Time Out, Red-Lose Playtime, Purple-Trip to the Office.  Each child starts his/her day on Blue.  If the children do not have their color changed to Yellow, Red, or Purple during the week then they get to go to the treasure chest at the end of the week.

Birthdays

We LOVE Birthdays and they are very special to us! You may bring cupcakes for your child's birthday.  We just ask that you let us know two days in advance because of some students with food allergies in our room.  If you would like to come and attend the party, plan to bring the cupcakes or cake at 2:00.  If not, you can send the treat and we will hand them out at lunch.   If you would like to send invitations for the students, we ask that you invite every student in the classroom.

Books

We do send books home throughout the year.  Some books can be left at home and other books need to be returned.  Their will be a note to let you know if the books need to be sent back to school.  Please read to your children each day if possible.  It is so very important for your child's success at school.

Book Orders

We will send a book order home in your child's folder each month. Once we send the order, it will take about 2 weeks for the books to arrive at school.  If you would like to order, please make your checks payable to Scholastic Book Club.

C

Clothing

Students need to wear appropriate clothing to school.  Please read the dress code in your conduct book.  Also, please dress your child in clothing that is weather and temperature appropriate.  We like to take the students outside and we ask that the students have a jacket/coat at school when the weather is cold.  Finally, each student needs a change of clothes in case they have an accident or spill.

Communication

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call or write a note.  You can also contact any teacher by email.  Throughout the year, you will receive notes from the Kindergarten teachers about events or important information.  We will also send a newsletter home every two weeks to inform you of what is happening in our room.

Conferences 

Parent/Teacher conferences are held in October and February.  We will be discussing your child's strengths and overall progress.  Please feel free to schedule additional conferences throughout the year if necessary. 

D

Discipline

We use a color code discipline policy in our Kindergarten room.  The school conduct book also contains a discipline policy for Stonewall Jackson Elementary.

Dismissal

At 2:50, one teacher will take the car riders to the back of the building. You must arrive to pick up your child before 3:10.  If you arrive after 3:10, your child will be waiting in the office.  The bus riders will remain in the room with another teacher until they are ready to be taken to the gym.  They will wait in the gym with a teacher  until their bus arrives.

E 

Early Dismissal

On early dismissal days, the car riders will leave at 12:50.  Please make arrangements to pick up your children ON TIME.  The bus riders when their busses arrive.

Email

Email is one easy way to reach me.  My email address is lebyington@bvps.org.

Emergencies

You will be contacted if your child is injured at school by the school nurse or secretary.  Please send contact numbers to school in case of emergency.

F

Fund Raisers

Our school PTA participates in several fund raisers throughout the year to raise money for our school.  We hope that everyone will participate in these fund raisers, but it is not required.

G

Guests

If you are a guest in the school, you must check in the office and receive a visitor pass.

H

Homework

Home will be sent home in your child's folder.  We send homework in order to reinforce concepts we covered during the day.  Please help your child complete this homework and send it back to school the following day in their folder.

I

Ice Cream

Ice cream is served on Friday.  The cost is 50 cents. On early dismissal days, the cafeteria will serve ice cream on Thursday.

J

K

L

Library Books

Several weeks into school, the  children will start bringing home a library book home on Wednesday afternoon.  They will be allowed to keep the book for an entire week.  Each parent is required to sign a library agreement form before the children can check out books. There is a replacement cost for lost or damaged books.

Lost and Found

We have a lost and found in the classroom and one located near the office inside our front door.  We encourage children to collect any missing items. 

Lunch

You are welcome to eat lunch with your child at school.  Please let your child's teacher know that you are eating lunch so they can notify the cafeteria. 

M

Meal Money

The cost of lunch for children is $1.50.  An adult lunch costs $2.25.

N

Newsletter

Each month you will receive a newsletter to let you know what we are doing in the classroom.  We also post our newsletter online so you can go to any Kindergarten teacher's website and view the newsletter.  Important dates are also included in the newsletter.

O

Open House

We will have open house in August so you can come to meet your child's teacher and also explore the room.

P

Parties

We will have class parties throughout the year.  The homeroom mothers will contact you to discuss what you will need to bring to the party.

Q

Questions

Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions.  We welcome any input that you may have and also are very please to help you in any way.  You can also make an appointment if you would like to have a conference.

R

Report Cards

Student report cards are given out every six weeks with the exception of the first six weeks.  These report cards reflect the progress students are making in certain areas related to Virginia SOLS

Restrooms

We have two bathrooms in our room. One for the boys and one for the girls.  Children are allowed to use the restroom at various times during the day.  Sometimes accidents do happen so please send an extra set of clothes with your child at the beginning of the year.

S

Show-N-Tell

We have show-n-tell one time during the year.  We let the children bring in a toy after Christmas so they can show the class one favorite toy that they received.

Snack

We eat lunch at 12:30.  This is a very late lunch so we will have a snack time.  Snacks should be something that is light and healthy.  We ask that you do not send soda, candy, cookies, or potato chips.  We will let you know by newsletter if we have any allergies in the room.

T

Tardies

Children need to be on time to school.  This is very important because we start learning as soon as the children come into the room.  School starts at 8:20 and the tardy bell rings at 8:30.  If your child is tardy, you need to accompany them into the office to explain why  you are late.  They will need to get a tardy slip before coming to class.

Toys and Jewelry

Please have your children leave all toys and jewelry at home. Children bring these items and lose them or break them. 

Transportation

Please send a written note if there is a change in how your child will be going home. All changes must be made IN WRITING.

U

Unique

Each child is unique in personality and academic development.  We work with your child's unique needs in order to provide the best possible education available.

V

Visitors

Visitors are always welcome at our school.  Please let us know in advance that you are coming. Also, you must check in the office and receive a visitors pass before coming to your child's classroom.

Volunteers

We LOVE our volunteers!  We could not do all we do without your help. We will send a sign up sheet home at the beginning of the year so you can sign up for a day. These volunteers are needed all year so please do not sign up if you can not commit once a week for the entire year.

W

Web Page

The school's web site is www.bvps.org.  It contains updated information about all the schools in the Bristol Virginia school system.

Z

ZZZZZ

Please make sure that your child gets plenty of rest.  Our children work very hard during the day so they will need to be rested and ready to go in the morning.  It is a good idea to have a set bed time for your child.  We usually have rest time in the afternoon.  Also, make sure your child eats a good breakfast so they can be very successful at school.