August 31, 2006

Dear Parents,

          Welcome to the 2006-2007 school year at Assumption School .  We welcome you to the KinderBear classroom. We are very confident your child is going to have a wonderful experience in our room.  We have many learning tools and books for them to use in their exploration.  We encourage and teach the children to be good Christians so we can create a warm, comfortable classroom in which for them to learn.  I have put together this packet of information to help you make your child’s experience a good one.  Hopefully I will answer many of your questions, but we have a wide open door policy where you can always feel free to ask us any question or bring us any concern you may have.  I feel bringing the situation to our attention as soon as possible helps us to solve it.  We look forward to getting to know each of you, so that together we can give your child the best school year possible!

Snack---The children are to bring a snack in a small brown paper bag labeled with their name every day.  Some examples of good snacks are fruit (cut if possible), granola bars, crackers, applesauce, pudding, Jell-O and so on.  Candy is NOT acceptable.  We ask for you to also send a juice box with the snack.  The children get very thirsty especially during the hot months.  We will send the paper bag home each day to reuse if it is in good shape. 

Lunch----We have a hot lunch program.  Information will be sent home regarding this program.  We recommend that you look over the menu with your child to determine the days he/she will want hot lunch.  You can purchase tickets by putting money in an envelope labeled with your child’s name, grade and how many tickets you wish to purchase.  Checks are made out to MANCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS or MPS not Assumption.  You may also send cash.  We keep the tickets at school unless you request to have them sent home.  The children can bring a lunch to school in a lunch box labeled with their name on the front.  They can either bring a drink or buy milk in the lunchroom. 

Backpacks---Please send a backpack with your child every day.  Please be sure it fits in the locker.  We do not allow backpacks with wheels because they do not fit in the locker and we just do not have the space to keep them.  It is important your child has a backpack every day.  This makes it much easier for him/her to take belongings and school materials home.  Please be sure the backpack is labeled with your child’s name since we tend to have duplicates.

Rest Time----The children have a rest period each day.  They each have a cot with their name.  Since rest time is usually only 30-40 minutes, they do not need pillows and blankets.  It is important for the children to rest each day.  They do not have to fall asleep, although some of them do; they just need to rest.  We have parent volunteers who watch the children each day while we have our lunch.  If you are interested in volunteering let me know.  This is a great way to get your volunteer hours done.

Supplies--- You do not need to send in any school supplies for your child.  We supply the materials needed for the pencil box and ask you to send $3 to cover the cost.  We do this so the children have the same materials in the box.  We do ask for you to send in paper towels, Kleenex, and napkins throughout the school year.  This helps us out tremendously.  Thank you for your help.  I will call upon you throughout the year to send in various materials we may need for cooking and art activities.  I will let you know by a note sent home.

Volunteer Hours----Each family is required to give the school 15 hours of volunteer service.  I strongly recommend getting the hours done in the beginning of the school year rather then waiting until the end.  There are a variety of things you can do.  Many people go above and beyond the required hours and we really thank them.  It is important for your child to see you involved in the school because they see it is important and special to you.  Some ideas include, rest time, lunch time, art time, field trips, special classroom functions, school functions, filling blue folders, and so much more.  Be sure to attend the mandatory Home and School Meeting on September 7^th  at 6:30 p.m. since school functions will be posted on this night, and you can sign up to volunteer.

Blue Folders----Blue folders are sent home every Wednesday.  The folders are very important because they contain information from the office, Ms. Ouellette, and at times, myself.  Be sure to read all the material sent home because there are always important reminders and dates to remember.  Please sign and date the back of the folder, then send it back to school.  We advise you to send it back the next day so it doesn’t get misplaced.  If your child does not have a blue folder, we do not send the information home until you send in $1 to replace it. 

After school Program----The after school program is from 2:00-5:30 p.m. in the Kindergarten classroom.  Mrs. Liz Barry runs the program.  The children have an open playtime, mostly outside weather permitting, and a snack.  The snack is provided for them.  You must sign your child up for this program ahead of time.  If you have any questions, please direct them to Mrs. Barry.

Attendance and Tardiness----If your child is sick and won’t be attending school on a particular day, it is very important that you call the office to let them know.  If we do not receive a phone call, we will call you to find out the reason for the absence.  You need to send a note regarding the reason for your child’s absence the day your child returns to school.  If your child is absent five days or more, you need to send a doctor’s note to school.  If your child is going to be late for school, please call the office to let them know.  It is very important for your child to be on time for school because it is a great distraction when children are late.  We begin school promptly at 7:45 outside near the flagpole (weather permitting).  Please go to the office for a late slip if you do not see anyone outside or if you arrive later then this time.  Your child will not be able to enter the classroom without a late slip.  Ongoing tardiness is not acceptable.  My policy is that if a child is late several times a week, I take time away from recess for every minute he/she is late.  Unforeseen and emergency situations are certainly excusable, but tardiness that occurs many times without reason will not be tolerated.  If you have any questions, please let us know.

Birthdays---We are NOT allowed to distribute birthday invitations unless the entire class is invited to your child’s party.  Please see the office for a list of addresses. We have a small birthday celebrations in class.  We ask that you send in cupcakes or cookies for your child to distribute to the class.  We have seventeen children this school year.  We have a special routine we do for each child’s birthday that includes wearing the birthday hat and picking a prize from the birthday cake box.  Your child also receives a birthday award certificate. 

Arrival----The children line up outside in the front of the school near the flagpole.  There will be a teacher on duty beginning at 7:30 a.m. so if you arrive before this time, you need to wait with your child.  We gather outside, weather permitting, for group activities, which include prayer, pledging to the flag, singing a song, and any news announcements.  We proceed to begin our day inside the classroom.  If the weather does not permit us to do this, we ask you to send your child directly to the classroom 7:30 a.m. and beyond.  The children will put their belongings away and look at books at the tables.  We will begin our day promptly at 7:45 a.m.  We ask that you let your child show his/her independence by letting him/her carry the backpack and put it away. It is the responsibility of the child.  The morning time is not a time to ask us questions or have long conversations.  We need to tend to the children and begin our day.  If you need to ask us something, it is always a good idea to write a note or give us a call. 

Dismissal---We dismiss at 2:00 p.m. I will take the children out the back door if a parent is picking them up.  Please wait at the bottom of the back steps.  I will dismiss the children one by one. It is very important for me to see with whom each child leaves.  It is important all the time, but especially the first few weeks of school, since we will be getting to know people.  If someone different will be picking up your child, you need to let us know.  We will not dismiss your child to anyone we do not know or about whom we have not been informed.  If your child takes a bus home, he/she will line up at the classroom door and be dismissed into the foyer where he/she will wait with the other bus students.  If your child will stay in the after school program, he/she will wait with Mrs. Barry in the classroom.  The dismissal time is not a time for lengthy conversation since it is very important I see whom the children are leaving with at the end of the day.  I am very available for meeting with you at another time or conferencing on the phone.  You can also jot me a note regarding any questions or concerns and I will respond promptly.

Specials----The children have specials once a week.  They have Spanish, music, art, gym and library.  They have computer starting in January.  They do need a gym uniform.  They are to wear the uniform the day of gym class.  If you need to purchase a uniform, please contact the school office for information.  The children do borrow books from the library.  It is very important that you return the borrowed books by the following week.  We keep them in a basket that is sent to the library on library day.

                             Specials Schedule

                       Mondays----------Spanish

                       Tuesdays----------Gym

                       Wednesdays------Art

                       Thursdays---------Music

                       Fridays------------Library

Thank you for taking the time to read this important information.  Together we can make this school year a very good one for your child.  Thank you for choosing Assumption school !!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Mary Mitchell

                                                          Mrs. Liz Barry

Notes: