Welcome to Kindergarten

1. Welcome to Kindergarten Grand Prairie Elementary School 2019-2020

2. Meet Mrs. Johnson! My son Blake (7) and Owen (4) My family in my favorite place…DISNEY WORLD!

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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 and notify the office a.s.a.p! • 815.469.3366

6. 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.

7. Behavior In my classroom, there will be a clip system. Students start on green at the beginning of each day. According to their behavior, I ask them to move their clip up and/or down throughout the day. (Their clip can only be moved one color in either direction at a time.) At the end of the day, students that end up on red “Parent Contact” at the end of the day will receive a red note that explains what they did and parents are expected to sign and return the next day. Students that land on purple will receive a purple note to take home as a reward! Each day the clips are reset at green so students can start over the next day. Those students who make it to purple by the end of the week, get to spin a spinner and land on a prize.

8. 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

9. 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.

10. Snack • Students will have a brief snack break each day. • Please pack a healthy snack each day. • You may send your child to school with a water bottle but no juice for snack time, please.

11. Folders • Your child’s yellow 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. • Be sure to check your child’s teacher webpage through the district website for newsletters and important events/dates.

12. 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.

13. ELC • 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 the SeeSaw App) • Check TIGER schedule on website

14. Kindergarten Specials

15. 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.

16. Student Celebrations • Star Student • Tiger Stripes – school wide. • when students are caught being setting a good example • Character Counts – trophy on desk • Student of the month – t-shirt • Classroom behavior/clip chart

17. Field Trips • 3 field 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.

18. Parent Involvement • Parties • school-wide sign up sheet will be coming home sometime soon • One party per parent volunteer • Only 3-4 parent volunteers per party • Fall, Winter and Valentines Day • Mystery Reader • Library Volunteers

19. Conferences • Week of Thanksgiving • Sign up through email invite • 20 minutes • Set-up alternative day if traveling this week due to Thanksgiving holiday

20. SeeSaw app • An email will be sent out about how to sign up for communication through this App! 815-469-3366 - Voicemail only checked at the end of the school day • ejohnson@msd143.org • Check my webpage weekly on the school district’s website. www.fsd157c.org

21. 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

22. give. grant. grow. • MISSION: Raising funds throughout the year to fulfill teacher written grants for the classroom. • GRANTED TO: Grand Prairie, Chelsea and Hickory Creek • FUNDRAISERS: Annual Dinner Auction, Golf Outing, Coin Drive, Frankfort Fall Fest BETA Tent • For more information and volunteering opportunities visit our websiteat www.ef157c.org

23. Don’t Forget…..

24. Thank you for coming!