Washington Charter School

Kindergarten Highlights

2012-2013

Classroom Configuration:  Our Kindergarten program consists of three classrooms, with one teacher per classroom.  Each teacher has a morning session of 21 students and an afternoon session of 21 students. 

Drop-Off/Pick-Up Procedures:  In Kindergarten you MUST walk your child to the Kindergarten playground when bringing them to school.  PM families must enter campus through the front office only.  Kindergarteners are not allowed to be dropped off curbside!  AM students will be picked up directly from the classrooms.  Mrs. Blakey and Mrs.Housken's classes will check out in Room 3102 with Miss Brenda. Miss Morgan's class will check out in Room 3101 with Miss Monica.  PM students will be picked up directly from their own classrooms and checked out by their teacher.

Kindergarten Rules:   Our Kindergarten program is based on the following five principles:

Listen when the teacher is talking.

Follow directions the first time.

Raise a quiet hand to speak.

Respect yourself, respect others, respect your school.

Be safe, be honest.

I think I can, I know I can, I will learn a lot today!

BehaviorManagement:  

Green--Super

Yellow--Good

Orange--Difficult

Red—Unacceptable (Rule Ticket)

Behavior management is consistent throughout each classroom.  There are four colors to categorize your child’s behavior for the day.  Each child has a designated clip.  Every child starts each day with their clip on green.  The goal is to make good choices throughout the day in order to stay on green.  If a poor choice is made, the child will move his/her clip to yellow.  If yet another poor choice is made he/she will move the clip to orange and so on.  If a child’s clip is on a red, a rule ticket will be sent home.  The rule ticket needs to be signed and returned ASAP.  Keep in mind that there is always opportunity for a child’s clip to “move back up” if the behavior improves throughout the day.

Super Student:  Some  children will earn the honor of being “Super Student” of the week.  Of course, we hope to see everyone earn this distinction!  In order to earn this award your child must demonstrate the following qualities:

Complete daily work.

Return completed homework packet on time.

Be responsible by taking home and returning notes to school.

Follow classroom and school rules.

Arrive to school daily and on time.

*If a child does not follow these guidelines, they will not be considered for Super Student.*

Homework:  Students will receive a weekly homework packet on Fridays that should be completed and returned on the following Friday.  Please return the homework packet in the homework folder provided for your child.  There are 10 points possible for each homework packet.  If any portion of the packet is incomplete (including no signature) or the work is of poor quality due to lack of effort, it is considered incomplete.

Homework Rubric:

1 pt. Parent and student signature

1 pt. Complete book list (minimum of 10 books!)

3 pts. Journal page

(1-title, 1-quality illustration, 1-writing)

2 pts. Language Arts pages

2 pts. Math pages

1 pt. Quality tracing page

Snacks:  A snack schedule will be provided at the beginning of each month.  Each child will be responsible for bringing a healthy snack to share with the class once a month. 

Spirit Day:  Every Friday is Spirit Day!  We strongly encourage every child to wear a RED uniform shirt on Fridays! 

Absences:  All schools depend on attendance for their budget; therefore it is imperative that your child attends school daily and on time unless they are truly ill.  An Independent Study Packet may be completed only for those absences that we know about ahead of time.  These packets must be requested through the office.  The teacher will then provide you with the work.  All work must be completed and turned into the office on the 1^st day that your child returns to back to school.  If the packet is incomplete or late the school will not receive credit and your child will be marked absent.   Independent Study Packets have generated enough money in the past to fund many important programs at WCS!

Monthly Calendars:  At the beginning of each month a new calendar will be sent home in your child’s homework folder.  This will keep you updated on important dates and events happening in Kindergarten.  The calendars will also be available on our website, as well as posted outside of the classrooms.

Parent-Teacher Conferences:  Unlike the rest of WCS, Kindergarten is on a semester schedule.  Our conferences are scheduled during the month of February.  There will be a sign-up sheet posted outside of the classrooms prior to the conference dates.  If an earlier conference is needed, you will be notified in November. 

Birthday Parties:  Birthdays are celebrated on a monthly basis.  We collect a $15.00 donation which allows a parent planner to purchase pizza, drinks, and sweet treats for each party.  Children receive birthday crowns and special recognition on their party day.  August birthdays are celebrated in September and June & July birthdays are celebrated in May.  Please note the dates of the parties and plan to attend your child’s party if at all possible.  Please include your $15.00 donation in the Birthday Money Envelope provided in your Parent Packet.

  Memory Books:  Each year we have dedicated parent volunteers that make beautiful memory books for each child.  We ask for monetary donations to help with the purchase of pictures and supplies.  We know that you and your child will treasure these books for years to come!  Please include your $20.00 donation in the Memory Book Envelope provided in your Parent Packet.

  Parent Volunteers: All classroom volunteers must complete the Volunteer Application form in your Parent Packet.  Also, all volunteers must sign in at the front office using our Lobbyguard before coming to the classroom.  If you are interested in being considered for field trips, you MUST be fingerprinted.  Some volunteer opportunities include…

Memory Book Designer

Memory Book Assembly Parents

Homework Parent

Birthday Party Planner

Take Home Prep Parents

Gardening Parents

Reading Parents