Back To School Night Packet
Welcome to Back to School Night!
August 24, 2023
Mrs. Reis
Mrs. Bettencourt and Mrs. Ghelfi
Dear Kindergarten Families,
I would like to welcome you all to Kindergarten at St. Mary School. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to learn more about your child’s classroom and to become familiar with the kindergarten curriculum. I look forward to working with your children this year. I hope to provide them with the social and academic skills that they will need in order to be responsible and productive citizens.
While you wait, will you please write a note to your child? On Friday morning, the children will be thrilled to see a letter from you.
Communication
Communication is key to making this year a productive one for your child. Since my job is to educate your child, we will be in close contact throughout the year. Conferences are scheduled in October to set individual goals for achievement. If you have social or academic concerns about the school day please send a note with your child, call me at school (925) 935-5054, or email me at mreis@csdo.org. Emails and phone calls will be answered within 48 hours For attendance please call or email the office by 8:30am. Please let me know any way that I can assist your family with your child’s learning this year.
Arrival
School begins at 8:00 a.m. Kindergarteners are dismissed at 3:00 p.m. (Except on Wednesdays, Kindergarteners are dismissed at 2:00 p.m.) Children should not arrive on campus before 7:45 a.m. There will be no supervision before then. Morning Kids club is open at 7:00am. It is extremely important that your child arrive on time, so they do not miss out on any instructional time!
Behavior Expectations
All throughout our school days we practice our routines and procedures We also talk about how we would like our classroom to be. We discussed how everything can be simplified into two rules:
Listening and Loving
Classroom meetings are held as needed so that students can discuss topics that are bothering them, or upcoming events. For example, we might discuss how to deal with problems on the playground.
Homework
Students will receive a monthly homework packet starting in September. Please work on the packet throughout the month and return it on the last day of the month.
Schedule
Please see attached weekly schedule.
**Please look at the school calendar before planning your trips or vacations. Missing valuable school time can be difficult to make up for many students and puts them behind when they get back.
Math
The main priority for math instruction is teaching for understanding. The students will receive math instruction that emphasizes basic skills, conceptual understanding, and problem solving. Kindergarteners will be encouraged to explain and write about their mathematical thinking.
Language Arts
Reading
We use a variety of instruction methods to teach reading. This includes reading aloud to the students, asking the students to read with me using big books, working with students in small groups and individually, and making sure the students start reading independently.
Writing
The students have a daily writing period. During Writers’ Workshop, they pre-write, draft, and make a final copy of a piece that they choose to write. This writing process is important in the development of a writer. Kindergarten students focus on writing words and a few sentences about a topic.
The students print by using the traditional ball and stick method.
Zaner-Blozer Handwriting Program
Phonics
Kindergarten students use a sound wall to learn how to spell frequently spelled words. Spelling instruction emphasizes spelling sounds and encourages students to write the sounds they hear. Most of our phonics instruction comes from the UFLI Phonics Program.
Social Studies
Kindergarten students will study broad concepts of their rights and responsibilities in the world. Geographic and economic aspects of life in their neighborhoods are compared to those of people long ago. The children will learn about the backgrounds of American citizens and the culture that reflects our common heritage.
Science
The students will become excited about science through hands-on experiments. They will use scientific process skills like observing, classifying, measuring, collecting and interpreting data, controlling variables, inferring, analyzing, and communication results. Reading and writing is integrated into science.
Kindergarten: Trees and Weather, Materials and Motion, and Animals
Religion
Each week, students will learn more about their faith through the Gospel stories. Students will engage with the weekly Gospel story, relate the Gospel stories to their own lives, and live out the message of the Gospel stories. We will also have a Bible Verse of the Week to deepen our understanding of God’s message to us.
Additionally, we will learn the Sign of the Cross, The Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, Grace before meals, Petitions and spontaneous prayers.
Class Counseling
Connecting with Mrs. Martinez is taught by Mrs. Martinez every Monday afternoon.
Library
Students visit Mrs. Prickitt in the School Library every Thursday. Each week, as long as the previously checked out book is returned, your child will be able to check out one library book.
Assessment
I use a variety of ways to assess children, including observations, discussions, and students’ writing. I keep some of the students’ work in a portfolio. Please let me know if you would like to see it.
Standards-based grading communicates how students perform on a set of clearly defined learning targets called standards. The purpose of standards-based grading is to identify what a student knows, or is able to do, in relation to those learning targets - as opposed to simply averaging grades/scores over the course of the grading period, which can mask what a student has learned or not learned. Teachers will grade based on what each student has learned and how that student meets the standards. In no way does a 4, 3, 2, 1 relate to A, B, C, D letter grades.
Friday Folders
Please look at your student’s papers with him/her. Homework and classwork will be marked. A star means it looks like the child did his/her best work. A smiley face means the child performed adequately. O.K. means the child completed the assignment, but could have demonstrated better effort.
Conferences
Goal setting conferences will begin in October. We will be able to talk about your child and make goals for this year.
Field Trips
We are hopeful that we will be able to take Field Trips this year. Field trips are related to the curriculum. If you are interested in being a chaperone for any of the field trips, please get your fingerprinting and TB test done ASAP!
You will be notified about a field trip with a permission slip.
Volunteers Requirements
Livescan fingerprints, Safe Environment certification, and TB Risk Assessment. More information about these requirements can be found under the Parent Tab on our school website.
Birthdays
Your child will have his/her name read aloud during morning announcements on his/her birthday. The class will sing “Happy Birthday.” You may bring a treat for all 27 students, but please do not bring any edible items. A pencil or eraser is a great idea. For summer birthdays, we will celebrate in late May, early June.
I know this will be an exciting year and I appreciate your support along the way.
Sincerely,
Melissa Reis