Sign-in at table by door. Put names on mats using sharpies and place on shelf by American Flag.

1. Instructions before Orientation • Sign-in at table by door. • Put names on mats using sharpies and place on shelf by American Flag. • Find your child’s folder and fill out all papers in folder and return to the basket by the door. • Place change of clothes in blue tote on horseshoe table/ make sure your child’s name is on the bag. • Put your child’s name on their plastic box with a sharpie, put 2 pencils, a pack of crayons, a pair of scissors, and 2 glue sticks in the plastic box and place it in the green basket at the end of the table. • Place all other supplies in the correct bin at the front of the room. • Your child may look at a box from the book box.

2. Please Sign In! You have an orange magnet in your folder. Please put this on your refrigerator! Please feel free to call, text, or e-mail me if you ever have any questions or concerns!

3. Kindergarten Readiness Kindergarten readiness does not take the place of kindergarten. When your child completes kindergarten readiness, they will be prepared for kindergarten.

4. Major Focus Colors/color words Alphabet Knowledge Phonics Numbers Shapes Patterns Position Words Weekly Themes

5. Our Schedule Morning Work/ DEAR Time Morning Circle Writing PE 8:30-9:00 Counseling on Tuesday @10:30-11:00 Library on Wednesday @ 10:30-11:00, Fine Arts on Thursday @ 10:30-11:00, Computer on Friday10:30-11:00 Reading/Language Arts Language Arts Centers Lunch 11:00-11:30 Recess Math/Math Centers Snack

6. Attendance - A successful school experience is the responsibility of the child, the parents, and the school. Your child's progress, both academically and socially, is influenced to a great extent by daily participation. Regular attendance is critical. Absences - Students need to be in school as much as possible. We are building language, working on auditory development, and using hands-on materials to enhance our learning. These activities cannot be duplicated for students who are missing. Excessive absences hinder a child’s progress. If your child is going to be absent, you must call the office at 731-989-8145. Please try to plan family trips during our scheduled breaks. Arrival – Kindergarten Readiness students should arrive at school before 8:00. Students can come to the classroom at the 7:35 bell. Allergies - If your child has any allergies, please make sure that we are aware of them. We especially need to know about food allergies and insect bite reactions.

7. Birthdays - Birthdays are very important to children. In class, we will celebrate your child’s birthday in a special wayat the end of the day during our snack time. School policy does not permit party invitations to be brought to school and shared unless everyone in the class is being invited. Book Orders - We will send home Scholastic book orders each month for you and your child to look over. If you want to place an order, please make checks payable to Scholastic. It may take up to two weeks for the orders to come in. Backpacks - Backpacks help your child carry folders, notes, projects, and books to and from school. Your child will be expected to empty their backpacks each morning. Please make sure the backpack is big enough to hold at least a regular size folder. We ask you to not send backpacks that have wheels. Breakfast- Breakfast is offered for free to all East Chester students. Your child will need to go to the cafeteria to eat breakfast before coming to the classroom.

8. Clothing – We have P.E. everyday, please make sure your child’s clothing is appropriate for the weather. Counselor- Students will have Guidance with our counselor Mrs. Missy once a week for 30 minutes. Calendar- Your packet should include a school calendar to help you keep up with special dates and holidays. Conferences- We have 2 scheduled conference times for the school year. Once in October and the other in February. If you have any concerns before or after that please feel free to message me about meeting anytime.

9. Dismissal- Dismissal time is at 2:40 for Kindergarten and Kindergarten Readiness students that are car riders. You will need to get a car rider number from me today, this number helps the loading of your children to go smoother in the afternoons. If you need to change the way that your child goes home in the afternoon please let me know with a note, or let the office know before 2:00 (and they will let me know). Discipline- Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red Blue- Outstanding Behavior Green- Good Day! Yellow- Reminder (had to be reminded to do the right thing many times) Red- Talk to Parents (after being reminded many times child continues to make bad choices)

10. Email- My e-mail is michelle.hopkins@chestercountyschools.org, feel free to e-mail me anytime. Early Dismissal- Please make sure to sign-up for constant connect, Mrs. Kim is able to get out information quickly incase of a need for early dismissal. Expectations- Everyday our class will go over the rules and expectations for the classroom. Our main rule that I have the children repeat everyday is “I will do the right thing!” Emergency Procedures- We have special procedures that we will practice at school incase of emergencies to keep all of our students safe.

11. Field Trips- Kindergarten Readiness will go on a Field Trip. We travel to our Fieldtrip on a bus and we will take the trip with Kindergarten. I will let you know a couple of weeks in advance so that you will be able to make plans if you would like to attend the field trip. Parents are required to drive themselves to the fieldtrip. Fire Drills- We practice fire drills once a month. Folders- Your child will have a folder that will come home with them each night. It will include their behavior chart, please initial it daily and remove any papers that need to stay home. Facebook- Our class will have a Facebook page, I will update it often with things we are learning in our class.

12. Great Behavior- I expect great behavior all of the time. There are many rewards-notes, praise, treasures, and treats. Gym- We have P.E. everyday some days we are outside on the playground and other days we are in the Gym. Students do need to wear tennis shoes everyday for P.E.

13. Hands On Learning- The majority of our days will be spent in centers working with hands on activities. Health Policies- Please make sure that when your child is sick that you wait until your child is symptom free of their sickness for 24 hours before they return back to school. Homework-Homework will start later in the year. Through the year we will have family project to complete.

14. Illness-Please make sure that when your child is sick that you wait until your child is symptom free of their sickness for 24 hours before they return back to school. Independence- Your student can do a lot more than you think. Look for times to allow them to do the work. Ice cream- There is ice cream available for purchase at lunch.  I prefer you to specify they only get ice cream on Fridays.

15. Joyful Learning- I want to make this year a positive experience for you and your child. I hope to help your child develop a love for learning that they will take with them all of their life!

16. Keeping Updated- Please check for a weekly newsletter from me with important updates.

17. Library- As part of our weekly schedule students will get to visit the library. We will begin checking out books after Christmas. Lunch- Our lunchtime is from 11:00-11:30. Please give us the first couple of weeks to establish routines and then you are welcome to come visit us for lunch. Full price lunch is $2.00 and reduced is .40 cents. Literacy Stations- We will have literacy stations “ELA centers” everyday. This is an important time of day for the students to practice the many reading skills we will be learning each day.

18. Math Stations- We will have Math Stations “Math centers” everyday. This is an important part of our day where the students will be practicing the math skills we are learning this year. Music- Music is a big part of our day. We also are very lucky to have a wonderful Fine Arts teacher that the students will be able to visit once a week for 30 minutes. In this class student will learn about music and art. Money- Please send any money in a plastic bag or envelope. Make sure that the money is labeled with your child’s name and the purpose of the money.

19. Newsletters- I will send home a newsletter each week on Friday. Please make sure to check your child’s folder for the newsletter. Nightly Reading- Reading to your child each night 15 minutes is greatly encouraged! Nurse- We are blessed to have a school nurse. Notes- Please put any notes you have for me in your child’s folder, I will check it each morning

20. Office- When visiting the school, please make sure you stop by the office and sign-in! Open-Door Policy- Please feel free to call, text, e-mail, write me a note, or set up a time to talk if ever the need arises.

21. Parties- We will celebrate birthdays in the afternoon at our snack time. Please let me know if you plan to send a special birthday treat. We will celebrate other special days with “center” parties. These days are a wonderful opportunity to volunteer in the classroom. Parent Involvement- We will have several Parent Involvement nights during the school year. Please be on the lookout for these fun nights to share with your child. PTO- Please join PTO. I will be sending more information soon about our PTO membership drive.

22. Questions- If you ever have any questions please feel free to contact me. Please hang your magnet on the refrigerator to help you remember all of my contact information.

23. Report Cards- Your child will receive a report card once every 9 weeks. Please review the information, sign, and return. Restrooms- We have restrooms in our classroom. We will have certain times that we take breaks to go to the restroom and the students may go at anytime as needed without asking as long as we are not on the rug for our lesson. Recess- We will have recess everyday for 15 minutes. We will go outside when weather permits and we will have activities inside for the days that we are not able to play outside.

24. Snack-At the beginning of each month, I will send home a snack calendar. You will be responsible for providing a snack for the whole day on your child’s snack day. Please try to send healthy snacks. Supplies-Our supply list is the same as kindergarten. You may send a towel and a mat for students for rest.

25. Tardies- Please try to be on time. Class will begin promptly at 8:00 with DEAR time. Toys- Please do not allow students to bring toys to school. There will be special days that students will be able to bring special things to share with their friends at school. Title I- Our school is a title one school and all students benefit from the money we receive.

26. Unique- Each student is wonderfully unique. I look forward to working with each student this year! Unfinished Work- If your child brings home unfinished work, please help your child to complete it and send it back to school.

27. Volunteers- We love them! Please give us a few weeks to get our routines down. I will let you know in the newsletter when we are ready for volunteers.

28. Weather- Your child will have P.E. everyday. Please keep that in mind as the weather changes. Writing- We will have a separate writing time each morning for 15 minutes in addition to the writing we will be doing in our ELA centers each day.

29. eXperience- Kids come to school with all sorts of them. Please don’t worry about if your child is ahead or behind at this point. Your child will do a lot of growing and learning this year. Xciting- Starting school is very exciting and we are going to have a wonderful year together!

30. Your help- Please check the folder each day, do any homework, read nightly, and clean out their backpacks daily.

31. Zzzz’s- Kids need lots of sleep. Expect them to be tired at the end of the day- they work hard in school and it takes awhile to get used to. Zoom- This year will zoom by enjoy watching your child grow this year!

32. Any Questions? Please remember to turn in your child’s completed information and especially their How My Child Gets Home Sheet before you leave today☺

33. Thank You! You may take your child home with you at this time. Please remember your child’s group!