Welcome to Kindergarten

1. Welcome to Kindergarten Grand Prairie Elementary School 2018-2019

2. Absences/Tardiness • Call the Grand Prairie office to report an absence. 815.469.3366 • If your child is late, he/she MUST stop in the office before going to class. • Tardy or early release that is after/more than 15 minutes is recorded on attendance record as a half-day. • If your child is going to be absent or on vacation, PLEASE let the office know ahead of time if possible.

3. The BUS • Bus Riders will be dropped off in front of the school 8:05-8:25. • Please wear the colored paw print to school for the first week. • First day: Teachers will greet them in the front of the school. Day 2 +: on designated playground. • Every morning, the children will be directed to a playground sorted by community until the day begins or stay in designated areas if indoor recess. • Students will exit according to their bus numbers along with 1st and 2nd grade.

4. Bus Changes • A WRITTEN NOTE is required for any change of transportation at the end of the school day! • If you are picking up your child early, you will need to sign him/her out in the office. • Please notify the office at least 30 minutes prior to the end of the school day. • PLEASE attach your child’s bus tag to his/her backpack as soon as possible. Please double check your child’s bus route at Meet and Greet and notify the office a.s.a.p! • 815.469.3366

5. Car Riders • Car Riders will be dropped off in the East (Sutton Dale Dr.) parking lot. • Teachers on car rider duty will bring children to the car rider line at dismissal. • PLEASE do NOT get out of your car. This will help with the flow of traffic. They will find you. • Please do not email the teacher regarding bus/car rider changes. Please let the office know 815.469.3366 • If your child will be a regular car rider please fill out a transportation form and return to your child’s teacher or the office.

6. Lunch/Recess • A supervised lunch and recess will occur daily. • If you would like to volunteer to help in the lunchroom, please refer to Grand Prairie and FSP monthly newsletters for a link to sign up. • All Kindergarten classes will have lunch first (11:15-11:35) and recess second (11:35-11:55). • Please be sure to LABEL your child’s lunch box, and/or water bottles with his\her name. • You can sign up for Hot Lunch via District website. Click on FORMS. • ALLERGY TABLE – contact child’s teacher and the office • Parent lunch visits

7. BirthdayCelebrations • Your child’s birthday will be celebrated in his/her classroom. • Invitations will only be passed out at school if there is one for everyone, all boys or all girls. • For safety reasons, we do not give student addresses and/or phone numbers for invitations. • For the safety of all, we only allow non-edible treats.

8. Snack • Students will have a brief snack break each day depending on the daily schedule. • Please pack a healthy snack each day (in a separate spot from lunch). • You may send your child to school with a water bottle but no juice for snack time, please.

9. Folders • Your child’s take-home folder will come home each day and should be sent back to school each morning. • Please check all correspondences and clean it out each evening. *Keep behavior calendar in folder  • Be sure to check your child’s teacher webpage through the district website for newsletters and important events/dates.

10. Labels • Please be sure to label any and all removable clothing. • An EXTRA complete change of clothing must be sent to school in a bag labeled with your child’s name on it. • possible sweatshirt for the classroom • This helps us be prepared for accidents and spills throughout the school year.

11. ELC (G day) • Grand Prairie check-out: • One book/week • Class scheduled time • Due back following week • Your child’s teacher will remind you of library day! (with remind 101) • Check TIGER schedule

12. Kindergarten Specials

13. Toys • Please do not allow your child to bring toys to school unless a specific request has been made by the classroom teacher. • The school is not responsible for lost/stolen toys brought to school.

14. Student Celebrations • Star Student • Tiger Stripes – school wide. • when students are caught being setting a good example • Character Counts • Student of the month • Classroom behavior calendar/clip chart

15. Field Trips • 3 or 4field trips. • A field trip notice will come home each time prior to the trip, but payments will be made through RevTrak. Your payment grants your permission. • Volunteers will be determined at that time. • You may only attend one trip for the school year.

16. Parent Involvement • Parties • school-wide sign up sheet will be coming home sometime this week • One party per parent volunteer • Only 3-4 parent volunteers per party • Fall, Winter and Valentines Day • GP believes all students should be able to participate • Mystery Reader • Library Helper • Classroom Volunteers • starting sometime in October/November

17. Conferences • Monday, November 19th • Tuesday, November 20th • Sign up tonight!!!!!  • 20 minutes • Set-up alternative day if traveling that week due to Thanksgiving holiday

18. Remind 101 app • Take out your phone  • Open a text message • Enter 81010 as the recipient • Text: @vbraml

19. The FSP is the Parent Teacher Organization for District 157-C. Our mission is • designed to strengthen the partnership between home and school through parent • volunteer opportunities, student enrichment activities and family fun events. • Some of the ways that we have enriched and supported the curriculum include: • Funding for field trips • Sponsoring special assembly programs • Providing scholarships • Providing curriculum enrichment funding to each school • Coordinating volunteers for all our events and programs • Each year we also hold FREE family fun events such as: • Family Fun Night and Creative Arts Showcase at Grand Prairie • Exploration Night and Family Fitness Night at Chelsea • Come visit our table at Curriculum Night and visit us at www.fsp157c.org • Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FamilySchoolPartnership157c • Contact us via email at fsp157c@gmail.com

20. give. grant. grow. • MISSION: Raising funds throughout the year to fulfill teacher written grants for the classroom. Over $2 million granted to date. • GRANTED TO: Grand Prairie, Chelsea and Hickory Creek • FUNDRAISERS: Annual Dinner Auction, Golf Outing, Coin Drive, Frankfort Fall Fest BETA Tent • RECENT GRANTS: • SMART BOARDS in 20 classrooms at Chelsea • Rebecca Caudill, Blue Stem and Monarch Book Programs • Electronic Signage at Chelsea • Razkids and Math Fact Programs at Grand Prairie • Hickory Creek guitars, music, green screen and PE Equipment • Netbooks and Tablet PCs at Hickory Creek • For more information and volunteering opportunities visit our website at www.ef157c.org

21. Don’t Forget…

22. Thank you for coming!