Dear Kindergarten Families,
I hope you are enjoying the three day weekend! Congratulations – we made it through our first full week of Kindergarten. I know getting used to a full day is a transition.
We have spent the last three weeks establishing routine, making new friends, learning the school wide Tribe Agreements, singing songs, living our faith and expressing creativity. By completing the Boom Chicka Boom Boom coconut tree on Friday, our lively learners are glue bottle, glue stick and scissors certified. Way to go, Kinder Friends!
As you debrief with your Kindergartener, I wanted to address some questions and concerns which were brought to my attention.
Full Day Kindergarten
Children at this age thrive on the security of routine and structure. Our schedule started with half days easing into a full day. We had the disruption of the Hurricane day off and this week, another extra day off with Labor Day. Now hopefully, our routine can start and you can see your children happily settling in.
Please note that on Wednesdays, all students are dismissed at 1:30 pm.
Homework
This past Friday, September 1st, a monthly packet was sent home via the front pocket of the green folder. Monthly, one packet will be sent home and needs to be completed and returned by the last school day of each month. Completed packets can be turned in earlier.
As a reminder, your child’s Seesaw log-in is in the plastic sleeve of the green folder. Thank you to all the students who completed the Introduction to SeeSaw assignment. I loved seeing everyone’s selfies!
Starting Tuesday, September 5th, homework assignments will be posted daily on the Seesaw app and due every Friday by 4:00 pm. There will be no homework assigned on Seesaw on Fridays. Your child’s Math practice/homework book will be sent home on Tuesday. Please keep this book at home in a safe place as you will be uploading a picture of completed Math pages on Seesaw.
If you have any questions or your child is having difficulty completing assignments, please email me directly.
Playground Usage
The play structure is shared between grades K-2. Kinder has usage during lunch on Tuesdays and Fridays.
With three kids of my own, I understand children need to play but while in our care at school, Kindergarteners need to play safely and be adequately supervised. For these reasons, Kindergarten has its own playground rules. Please help me to reinforce the following rules:
· Walking only
· No monkey bars
· One at a time, seated, down the slide, feet first
· No standing on the slide
· One at a time on the curved climbing ladder
These rules are in place to prevent accidents which have happened in previous years.
With 27 Kindergartners, the play structure is too small of an enclosed space for everyone at once thus requiring an adult in the play structure area and an adult outside the structure. Unless there is adequate supervision during yard duty, Kindergarten may miss their designated days to play. On days of extreme heat, the play structure is closed.
Back to School Night, Thursday, September 7th, 6:30-8:00 pm
September 7th is in-person Back to School Night starting in the Hall at 6:30 pm. There will be two identical 15-minute sessions in the Kindergarten classroom following the General Parent Meeting. Please find a sitter for your children. No daycare is available.
This is the first of three mandatory General Parent Meetings throughout the year. Non-participation results in a $50 fine each time, per your signed tuition contract.
In the Kindergarten classroom, please sign-in. There will also be sign-up sheets for the upcoming Parent-Teacher conferences starting October 2nd and volunteer opportunities.
The school will close at 8:00 pm sharp. This does not allow a lot of time for conferencing. Please email me if you would like to meet.
Come early to sign in for credit and pick up your chocolates in the Hall.
Uniforms, hair and accessories
Kindly refer to the handbook by clicking here.
PE uniform is required on Wednesdays.
If you’ve read this far in this email, you have no doubt let out a yawn or two yourself. I understand the physiological need of yawning and would like to share with you what happened last week. Mrs. Grey reported to me that someone was concerned the children are not allowed to yawn. For context, this is what happened. One student yawned which prompted the student next to that student to yawn adding an exaggerated yawning noise. Not to be outdone, a third student added flailing arms to the loud exaggerated now open-mouthed yawn. Soon, copy-cat exaggerated fake yawning behaviors were seen from a third of the class. At which point, I said, I don’t like yawns. As we continue with full days, please be sure your child gets enough rest.
This brings me to my last point. If you have any questions or concerns about what happens in class, kindly bring it to my attention first. I am at school from 7:15 am to at least 4:00 pm daily and usually only check emails once all children have been dismissed safely from my class. Right before the bell rings in the morning or at pick-up in the afternoon can be hectic. If needed, please email if you would like to meet.
I understand that you are your child’s primary teacher and I am excited to partner with you in your child’s education this year!
Blessings,
Mrs. McCabe
UPCOMING EVENTS
School calendar can be found (clicking here)
- Sept 4 – Labor Day Holiday, NO SCHOOL!
- Sept 7 – Mandatory Back to School Night, K-8, 6:30 pm in the Hall
- Sept 16 –Keep Gardena Beautiful Day Service project 8am-12 noon, all families welcome to help, register at www.cityofgardena.org/events
- Sept 17 – Catechetical Sunday, all families welcome! 11am Family Mass
- Sept 21 – FALL School Picture Day 8:30-10:30!
(Wear your complete Formal Mass Uniforms with white blouses and Oxford shirts, cardigans, vests, and ties for Yearbook photos) Please no PE sweaters, sweatshirts or windbreakers. We are hoping for a uniform look for the yearbook and student ID photos.
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