Welcome to Kindergarten!

1. Welcome to Kindergarten! Mrs. McKenzie’s Magnificent McIntoshes Murdock Elementary School

2. All About Mrs. McKenzie: • Born in Jamaica. • The eldest of three. 1 brother and 1 sister. • Bachelor’s Degree from Florida State • Master’s Degree from Florida Atlantic • Husband ~Merritt • One daughter~Nylah~ 2 years old • Greater Swiss Mountain Dog ~ Romey • Hobbies – Reading, Movies, Traveling • This is my 13th year of teaching!!! • I LOVE KINDERGARTEN!!!!

3. All About Mrs. Michalek: • Born in Marietta, Georgia. • The eldest of three. 2 younger brothers. • Attended Kennesaw State. Graduated from Sprayberry High School. • Husband ~ Greg • Three children- Kayla, Mandy, Reid • Golden Retriever – Cooper & BrichonFrise - Bentley • Hobbies – Gardening, Photography, Animals (pandas) • This is my 12th year in Cobb County Schools!!! • I LOVE KINDERGARTEN!!!!

4. Murdock’s got the “write” stuff! • Learn to use the tools of writing • Daily practice using the writing process • Communicate ideas using drawings and/or letters and words • Use of graphic organizer

5. McIntosh Schedule (Tentative) • 7:25 – 7:55 Arrival/Morning Work • 7:55 – 8:00 Announcements • 8:00 – 8:20 Calendar/Morning News • 8:20 – 9:00 Wow Math/Math Centers • 9:00 – 9:15 Writing Mini-Lesson • 9:15 - 10:50 Guided Reading/Handwriting Practice/Writing Conferences/Learning Centers/Author’s Chair • 10:54 – 11:24 Lunch • 11:35 – 11:55Recess • 12:00 – 12:30 Science/Social Studies • 12:30 – 1:15 Specials: Mon: P.E., Tues: Art, Wed: • P.E., Thurs: Music, Fri: Fitness • 1:20 – 1:40Shared Literacy • 1:40 – 1:55Snack & Pack • 1:55 – 2:15Rest for dismissal • 2:20 Prepare for dismissal • 2:25 Dismissal

6. McIntosh Class Rules • Follow directions. • Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself. Hands are for helping. • Use quiet voices inside. • We take turns. • Walk inside. Run outside. Respect yourself, others, and property.

7. McIntosh Behavior • Apple Tree – Calendar in Kinder Keeper lets you know the kind of day your McIntosh had. (Sunshine – superb day/Blank – great day/OR letter code that indicates behavior – a # beside a letter indicates the frequency of the behavior. Example – 2A would mean there were 2 occasions when your child wasn’t following directions.) • McIntoshes always get a warning first. • Apples can always get moved back up (1st part of year). • Classroom Economy/Fun Fair Trade Fridays – Students start each week with 5 minutes and earn an additional 5 minutes of Fun Friday each day they stay in the tree or sunshine. • Thinking chair • We love to earn monkeys!

8. Curriculum & Assessment • Check Cobb County Website: www.cobbk12.org and our handbook for an explanation. • Report Cards – every nine weeks. • GKIDS – continuous assessments. We will review assessments at our first conference (10/24 – 10/28).

9. Attendance Policy: • Be here before 7:55 a.m. • If your McIntosh is absent, please send in a written excuse. Emergency Info: • Inform office of changes. • Let us know of allergies/medical conditions. • Medications given to school nurse.

10. McIntosh Birthdays • During snack time at 1:40. • Mini cupcakes, brownies, cookies or ice cream sandwiches, etc. are easy to serve and eat. • No invitations distributed at school. • Birthday Bear Visitations: • Front office – sign in/out and get visitor sticker. • Lunch visitors – same procedure. Sit at visitors table. Please wait 2 weeks before coming for lunch. • Send a note for ice cream (Fridays), bottled water, or someone else having lunch with your child. • Lunch is $1.65. • Pay online - Mealpay Plus is on Murdock’s homepage.

11. Transportation • First week of school – Please fill out ABCs of Dismissal form and give it to Mrs. Michalek before you leave. We will send a new form each week for the month of August. Fill out the orange dismissal form to indicate your child’s regular dismissal schedule, starting in September. • Please make sure that your child knows how he/she is going home each day. • Changes - please put them in writing ~ signed/dated in your daily folder. A form can be printed from Murdock’s webpage. We cannot accept dismissal changes via email.

12. School Bus Information • Friday, 8/12 – Ride your bus route. K-2 students only. Parents must accompany students. No siblings please. Board at your designated bus stop. Ride to school and return home. Cobb County homepage has more info. • Through September, students (K-2 only) will be allowed to bring water containers with twist-on lids only to drink during their PM bus ride.

13. McIntosh Stuff • Kinder Keepers – send daily • Snacks – Send one healthy snack daily. Place snack in outer pocket of bacpacks. No drinks please – water fountain. • P.E./Fitness days – wear tennis shoes. • Backpacks – check daily/no rollers/keep clean. • Money – send in sealed envelope. Write name, amount, and purpose on the envelope. • T-Shirts - $9.00 - wear on Spirit/Field Trip days • Label coats

14. How can you help your little one get ready for kindergarten? • Read to your child every day! You might also let your child look at the pictures in a book and make up a story about it. • Read a story to your child and stop in the middle. Let your child tell you how the story will end, then finish the story. • Read a story and let them draw a picture of their favorite part or their favorite character. • Ask your child to retell the story to you. Work on sequencing ~ what happened first, next and last.

15. Finishing Touches • Blog –http://murdock10.typepad.com/mckenzie/ • Sign up for FeedBlitz (left side of blog page) and you’ll receive emails letting you know when our blog has new information. • Homeroom parent • Volunteers are always welcome. Room parents will coordinate. • Name Changes • Questions • McIntosh Wishes • See Mrs. Michalek before you leave regarding dismissal! The dismissal form is your ticket out the door.  • Put completed paperwork in the tray before you leave. • Thanks for coming!