Mrs. Ashley Peterson – Important “Back to School” Information
Welcome to Kindergarten!
Shade Gap Elementary
I am so excited to be your child’s teacher this year. This will be my 18th year of teaching, and this school year is definitely going to look a little “different.” I am looking forward to this school year with your child. This year may be a little unpredictable but that is okay because we will get through it together. Our district will be following a hybrid model to start the school year. I have always valued and tried to have good communication with my student’s parents; however, this year, it is going to be extremely important. Please do not ever hesitate to reach out to me. I will respond to you as quickly as I can.
Attendance – Student Arrival/Dismissal: Your child’s progress in kindergarten, both academically and socially is influenced to a great extent by daily participation in school and online. As your child’s kindergarten teacher, I feel that regular attendance is extremely important. Arrival – If your child is riding the bus, the buses will be unloaded one bus at a time starting at 7:45 A.M. Parents will not be permitted to drop any students off while the buses are unloading, and must wait until all buses have left. If you are bringing your child to school, you will pull in, drop your child off at the front doors and then proceed out the side gate. There will not be any turning around in the parking lot permitted. Students will have their temperature taken upon arrival at the front door and once they have entered the building they will go directly to their classroom. If they need breakfast then they will be permitted to go to the cafeteria to receive their breakfast then bring it back to our classroom to eat. Dismissal – Parent pick up is at 2:50 P.M. at the front doors. Students will be dismissed from their classroom to their buses as they arrive. The last bus is scheduled to leave Shade Gap Elementary by 3:10 P.M. If your child needs to have different transportation arrangements made for a particular day, please send a note to school to notify us of the change. Please do not rely on your child to tell us of this change. If we do not receive a written note or phone call, your child will be sent home by his/her usual method of transportation. If you will be picking your child up after school, please wait outside at the main entrance.
Student Grouping: As of today, I have 8 students total in kindergarten. There will be 4 students in each group. You should be aware of groupings; however, if you are not, please let me know. Group 1 (last names beginning with A – L) will attend school on Monday, Wednesday and every other Friday starting September 4th. Group 2 (last names beginning with M – Z) will attend school on Tuesday, Thursday, and every other Friday starting September 11th. If your child is from a blended family, they will be in the group of the oldest student’s last name. Mr. Pistner has contacted some students to change their groups, so if you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask. I will be sending home calendars to help you keep track of your child’s group.
Masks: Face coverings are required to be worn at all times unless the student is drinking or eating. We are also permitted to give the students 10-minute mask free breaks as long as they are social distanced. Face coverings can include various types of masks, bandannas, gators, face shields, etc. If a face shield or mask is needed, we do have them available for students at the front office.
Water: The school fountains are covered and will not be available for use. Students may bring their own water bottles if desired. Please label all water bottles. The school district will also be providing small water bottles that will be available, daily as well.
Heat: Unfortunately, it is hot in our classroom right now. Mr. Northcraft has stated that there may be early dismissals depending on the heat/weather due to the elementary schools not having AC. Please keep this in mind, and there will be assignments to be completed at home during these early dismissals.
Communication: I used Class Dojo last year as a means of communication with parents, and I really liked this tool for communicating. This year Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades are required by the school district to use this app for communicating with parents and for posting virtual assignments during remote/online days. I will also post updates on Class Dojo to keep you posted on weekly activities and upcoming events.
Hybrid Expectations: I know this is what most parents are concerned about (I am also a parent so I completely understand being concerned & unsure of how it is going to work). As mentioned above I am required to use Class Dojo to post assignments and communicate when students are not in school. If assignments are not completed on remote/online days then your child’s attendance, participation and grades will be affected.
Expectations for remote learning –
Instruction: I plan to attempt to cover as much as I can in person, and then have students work on homework, continued practice, learning apps on the I-pad, etc. when they are at home. For example – I may teach 2 math lessons during their face to face lessons with me in school then the day they are home I would expect them to complete a math worksheet for extra practice. There will be activities & assignments to complete on the remote days for multiple subjects. With this being said, I am fully aware that parents are working. I plan to keep the expectation as simple as I can while still providing your child with the best education I can under these circumstances. For the 1st day of school (August 31st) – group 1 will be in school and group 2 will be remote/online – group 2 please be sure to check Class Dojo for your August 31st assignment. For the 2nd day of school (September 1st) – group 1 will be remote/online – please be sure to check Class Dojo for your assignment and group 2 will be in school. Some days I may send home “paper” copies of work to be completed at home – if I send home a “paper” copy then I would also post a picture of it on Class Dojo in case the “paper” copy is lost. The paper copy would then need to be returned the next day to school to receive credit for attendance and participation. Students will also be required to work on various learning apps and websites during remote days. I will make sure that you have all the usernames and passwords for required apps/websites. This hybrid plan may be frustrating or a little confusing at first, but hopefully over a week or two things will get better – we will just remember to “have patience and show grace.”
Grading: I will keep record of participation, completion of assignments and accuracy of completion. I will not be giving percentage grades because Kindergarten does not follow the percentage grades/letter grade scale that 1st grade thru 5th grade does. I will provide feedback on assignments as quickly as I can. I will post assignments/expectations on Class Dojo on remote days. Students may return the work to me through Class Dojo (take a picture of completed work and send to me through Class Dojo) or return it to me the following day as a paper copy in person. I will give your child a red “Home/School” folder. This folder is to be used to carry information/work back and forth to school. Please check your child’s folder/backpack every day.
Attendance: During remote/online learning days, attendance will be taken based on the completion of assignments. When students are working from home, assignments must be completed. If assignments are not returned or completed during the remote days then I will have to mark that child absent for that day.
I-pads: Students will be bringing their I-pads home every day (starting their 1st day of school). They will be expected to responsibly use their I-pad when they are at home, charge it, and bring it back to school on their next day. I will be teaching about the importance of taking good care of these I-Pads – please do the same at home. If you do not have internet, feel free to contact the district. They will attempt to help you with this issue.
Food Allergies: It is very important that I be informed of any allergies that your child may have. We have a daily snack and on occasion we will be doing different activities that may involve food. So, PLEASE let me know if your child is allergic to anything. It is extremely important that I know of any and all allergies – food, bees, etc.
Breakfast/Lunch/Drink Money: Your child’s money for breakfast and lunch should always be sent to school in a sealed envelope. Please label all envelopes with your child’s name, date, and the amount of money enclosed. All items that are bought by your child in the cafeteria will be deducted out of his/her cafeteria account. If you are paying for your child’s breakfast and lunch by check, please also write the check number on the envelope. Your child may also pack his/her lunch. Please make sure to label your child’s lunch box and water bottle.
Breakfast: Your child has the option to eat breakfast at school every day – please make sure your child knows whether or not he/she is supposed to eat breakfast. Information will be sent home the first week of school on free and reduced meals.
Lunch: Your child may purchase lunch from the school or your child may pack a lunch to bring to school. Please put your child’s name on his/her lunch box and water bottle.
Snack: We will have a small snack each afternoon. Each student is responsible for bringing his/her own small snack and drink of choice every day. Your child may bring his/her snack in his/her lunch box or his/her backpack. Your child may also bring a drink from home (water, Capri-sun, juice box, etc. – Please no soda or glass bottles). Also, due to food allergies please talk to your child about the importance of not sharing his/her snack with other children.
Paint Shirts: We will be doing a lot of painting/”messy” work in kindergarten so please send in an old, over-sized t-shirt with your child’s name on it. This t-shirt should be one that covers your child’s clothing. Please try to send in a shirt that does not have any buttons. Old, baggy t-shirts are great for painting and messy activities. Thanks… PLEASE put your child’s name in his/her paint shirt.
Extra Clothes: If possible, please send in an extra set of clothes for your child to keep at school. Please put this extra set of clothes in a plastic bag and label the bag with his/her name on the outside. These clothes will be used only if your child were to spill something on him/herself or have some sort of accident requiring dry clothes. Please also include socks and underwear. Thanks…
Backpack: Your child will need a backpack for kindergarten. This backpack will be used to carry his/her folder and belongings to and from school. It is also strongly recommended that this backpack be large enough to store your child’s coat inside. The purpose of storing your child’s coat in his/her backpack is to eliminate head lice – if there would be an outbreak of it in the school. Please put your child’s name on his/her backpack. Also, please do not allow your child to bring any toys to school.
Book Orders: Each month I will send home book orders for you and your child to look through. These books orders contain quality literature at a reasonable price. If you are interested in purchasing books, you may order online using our class activation code (this is very easy) or please send in your order form by the date written on the back of the order form. Please put the money and form in a sealed envelope with your child’s name on it. If you are paying with a check PLEASE make the check out to the book order company. Please do not make the check payable to me or to the school.
Report Cards: Report cards will be sent home at the end of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th nine weeks. Kindergarten students will not receive a report card at the end of the 1st nine weeks; however, we will have Parent/Teacher conferences at this time. During this time, I will discuss where your child is currently at in Kindergarten and what is expected of him/her. When you receive your child’s report card during the 2nd and 3rd nine weeks, please sign the back of it and return it back to school as soon as possible. Parent teacher conferences will be held in November to discuss your child’s progress in kindergarten. I want your child to have a fun and successful year in kindergarten so if you feel that you would like to discuss an issue with me or have questions about something, please do not hesitate to contact me at school. Please do not feel that you have to wait until November to have a conference. I am always willing to schedule a conference with you at any time.
Supply List: Your child will need:
- Backpack (Large enough to hold a folder and your child’s winter coat)
- 10 pencils
- 3 boxes of Crayola 24 count boxes of crayons
- Headphones for using with I-Pads (please put your child’s headphones in a Ziploc bag with his/her name on the bag)
Classroom Wish list: Not a must/only if you would like to donate: 1 box of tissues and/or 1 container of disinfectant wipes.
Flex Plan Packets: You will be receiving a FLEX PLAN packet the first week of school. This packet will include the following: a list of usernames/passwords for important websites/apps, a letter from administration explaining Flex Days and 5 days worth of assignments on paper. Please do not stress about these assignments. You will just need to keep this packet somewhere safe. These assignments would be used for days we might shut down for flooding, snow, etc. If we would shut down due to one of these reasons then students would complete a Flex Day assignment and we wouldn’t have to make that day up. There is also the possible chance that the assignments will not get done at all throughout the year.
PTO: Shade Gap Elementary has an awesome PTO that does A LOT for our students, and I strongly encourage you to get involved!
Discipline: We use a behavior program called PBIS – Positive Behavior Interventions and Support. There is information about this program in the student handbook on the school districts website. My classroom rules are: respect school and others, use proper manners, listen & follow directions, everyone be responsible, slow walk & soft talk. I have an “Out of this World Behavior” chart in our classroom. This behavior chart is green (launch – this is where all students start the day), yellow (launch delayed) and red (refueling club). If students are not following the rules, I will move his/her clip to yellow which is warning. If the student continues not to listen to the rules he/she will need to go to refueling club and complete a think sheet.
“All About Me” Family Project: Due on our before September 15, 2020.
Project Information: I would like each student to create a poster or collage about themselves & his/her family. These posters/collages will be used in our classroom so that the students can get to know each other better, and they will then be displayed in the hallway. Be creative – feel free to add stickers, decorations, and/or any other information you would like.
I know this is very lengthy, and I hope this is helpful. I tried to be very clear about what I know at this point and what I expect. Things are continuously changing though so I will do my best to communicate and keep you informed. This year is going to require a lot of patience for all of us and a lot of working together! We will make it, and if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Thank you so much for your cooperation, and I am looking forward to working with you and your child this year. I know we will have a great year!!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ashley Peterson
At anytime through this process, please feel free to contact me.
apeterson@shcsd.org or (814) 447-5529 ext. 7100