WELCOME TO PRE-K

     Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year.  We are looking forward to a great year.  We realize that parents are the most important people in a child’s life, and we need to work together for the benefit of your child.  Please take a few minutes to read this letter so you can become more familiar with our classroom. 

     Thank you for bringing your child’s supplies to school on time.  This is very helpful.  We also want to thank you for your cooperation with our “no book bag” policy.  Our space is really limited and we appreciate your understanding. Your child needs to bring his/her lunch in a lunchbox, no paper bags.  We use your child’s lunchbox as a means of communication with you.  Please check your child’s lunchbox each day for any important notes that may go home.  Please send your child to school with a lunchbox every day, even on hot lunch days and 1:00 dismissal days.   

     Milk tickets (20 milks per ticket) are sold only on the first day of the school week.   The cost is $4.00 per ticket.  Milk money must be put in an envelope with your child’s name and Pre-K written on the envelope as well as the amount of money.  Please specify “Milk” on the envelope.   

     Please send a spoon with your child’s lunch if he/she needs one.  We do keep a small supply of plastic spoons for times that you might forget to pack one, but we cannot give your child a spoon each day.   Also, send a drink if you are not purchasing milk for your child. 

     All money that is brought to school must be put in an envelope with your child’s name and what the money is for, e.g., milk, raffle tickets, etc.   A separate envelope for each item must be used. The reason for this is that the money goes to different places in the building.  We will not accept any money that is not in a marked envelope.  It will be returned to you. 

     Please make sure that your child’s name is on everything he/she brings or wears to school.  It is very important that everything including lunchboxes, sweaters, coats, etc., is labeled with your child’s name.  This will prevent items from being taken home by someone else.   Forgotten articles, such as lunches, are to be taken to the office, not the classroom.

We realize that the children are only four-years old, and this is the time where they are learning to get along socially. We will be focusing on learning good social skills this year. The children will be taught to raise their hand and not call out during circle time, to use their words to communicate and not their hands, to walk in the hallway, to use the bathroom properly and not play in the bathroom. They will learn that it is important to share and take turns, listen to others when they speak and use manners. In regard to behavior, we have a behavior chart with each child’s name and a card with a happy face, sad face, and eyes for each child. If your child is behaving and following the rules of our school, he/she will receive a happy face. If your child is not following the rules, he/she will be given a warning and their card will be turned to eyes. If they continue to be disobedient, they will change their card to a sad face. If they behave the rest of the day, they will get their card changed back to a happy face. At the end of each day, children that have a happy face will get a sticker on their behavior chart and the children that have a sad face will receive a sad face on their behavior chart. We change all the faces to happy again at the end of the day. At the end of each month, your child will bring home their behavior chart. If your child is not behaving, he or she may be put in time-out for four minutes (one minute per age). Occasionally, a child will have to sit out during recess if they are having a really hard time behaving, for example if they hit someone.  If your child is having a problem (i.e. discipline or class work problem), we will notify you by note, email, or phone, and if necessary, will set up an appointment to meet with you.

     Please do not let your child bring toys to school.  We have plenty of things for your child to do during the day that he/she does not need anything from home.

     Regarding birthdays, you may send donut holes, mini-cupcakes, or cookies for the class to celebrate with your child.  We have 21 children in the class.  We usually celebrate birthdays during snack time.   

     All medications are to be taken to the office.  We are not permitted to administer medication in the classroom.  If your child needs to receive medication while at school, we need a doctor’s note.  Please refer to the Parent/Student Handbook for this information.  Please be sure to send us a note letting us know that your child has medicine at the office so that we will be sure he/she receives their medicine.   

     The morning bell rings at 8:00 A.M.  The children may not enter the building until the bell rings.  Classes begin promptly at 8:15 A.M.  If you arrive after the 8:15 bell, you need a late slip from the office before coming to class.   If your child needs to leave school early, you will need to obtain an early dismissal slip from the office.  If your child is absent from school, he or she must bring a note stating the reason for the absence.  This note is for the office records.  In addition, Ms. Donoghue has asked us to mention that parents are not to come to the classroom during school hours without her knowledge. Every visitor must report to the office to obtain a visitors badge.

     The children may enter the Pre-K classroom by the door on the cafeteria lot.  The Pre-K children are also dismissed at the same door.

     We will have gym on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday of each week.  Please be sure to have your child wear tennis shoes and comfortable play clothes on those days.

     Every Friday, your child will be bringing home his/her work in a folder.  Please look over your child’s work, remove the papers, and sign your name in the parent comments column to let us know you have seen his/her work. Please return the empty folder on Monday.

There will be no homework assigned to the children. I do ask that you please look over their papers in their folders and go over the work with them to reinforce what was taught at school. I also ask that you please help your child with writing his/her name. Please be sure to only use a capital letter at the beginning of their name and lower case for the rest of their name.

Your child will receive a report card in January and June. Please see the attached letter regarding the progress report. Your child will be assessed by hands on observation, class work, and orally.

     If there is a change in your home environment, such as a separation, divorce, loss of a loved one or pet, please let us know.  This will help us to better understand your child’s behavior and attitude.  This will also help us to assist your child in coping with the matter.

     In regard to field trips, all chaperones must be registered with the Office of Child Protection Services, filled out an application, be fingerprinted and attend a workshop.  If you need the forms, please see the office.  This is a one-time process that will cover you for the rest of your child’s school years at any Catholic school.

     If you have any questions, please send a note or call the office and leave a message.  I may be also be reached by email.  My email address is: byouhouse@stjeromes.org.   We will be happy to help you.  Thanks for sharing your beautiful children with us.

Thank you,

Mrs. Beverly Youhouse

Pre-K Teacher