Kindergarten Handbook
by Jeff Privia
November 15, 2004
Dear Parents:
We would like to welcome you to the Underwood Community School System. As your child enters kindergarten we are sure it will be an exciting event for you and your youngster.
Starting school is a tremendous step for a five year old, and the importance of the first five years of life cannot be over-emphasized. Parents observe dramatic growth in many areas of their child’s development. Parents are children’s first teachers and you help establish a foundation of skills and attitudes toward learning. You are aware of the individual strengths and assets of your child.
As your child begins the formal educational process, we ask you to join us in serving the best interest of your son or daughter. We want your child to experience the joys and excitement of learning and interacting with classmates. We would like to provide a stimulating environment to expand each child’s knowledge. We will try to create an atmosphere of acceptance and assistance.
We hope this Kindergarten year will be a source of many pleasant experiences for you and your child.
Sincerely,
Patricia Schreiber Kris Gunderson
Kindergarten Teacher Kindergarten Teacher
Jeffrey L. Privia Shawn Darrington
Elementary Principal Kindergarten Teacher
AREA 13 EDUCATION AGENCY PERSONNEL:
Speech Correction Program -Jo Thielen
Hearing Consultant -Michelle Millinex
School Psychologist-Ellen Dosen
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES:
Nurse – Ginny Moore
KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS:
Teachers -Patricia Schreiber, Kris Gunderson & Shawn Darrington
GUIDANCE PROGRAM:
Teacher-Martha Burchett
SCHOOL PROGRAM:
Principal –Jeffrey Privia
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If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with acceptance and friendship, they learn to
Find love in the world.
HOW YOU CAN HELP PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR KINDERGARTEN
There are many ways in which you can help prepare your child for the readiness activities he/she will encounter in school. Call attention to the differences in shapes and sizes of objects during discussions. Have your child notice things that are the same color and look alike. You should encourage your child to listen politely when others are speaking. It is wise to give your child experiences in counting objects, to five or ten, such as: dishes, silverware, glasses, signs, cars, etc.
School is a friendly place where children learn to get along with others, to share, and to listen. School is a place to look at books, to use new words, and to establish an interest in learning new things.
School is a place to learn to read and write. We use many readiness activities to insure success of both reading and writing. Your child need not be able to print his/her name before entering Kindergarten but it is helpful. If your child is showing interest in writing his/her name, please help him/her write his/her name with the first letter capitalized.
SUCCESS
So many things affect the success of children in school. What happens in the classroom is only one phase of your child’s total development.
The home environment, the attitude of parents toward education, the difference in backgrounds of children and teachers, the children’s readiness for learning, their feelings of self-esteem and self-acceptance, are all important to the success of any Kindergarten program aimed at providing the best possible education.
LUNCHES
Children may wish to bring their lunch or eat hot lunches. If they bring their lunch and desire milk, they may purchase milk at school. Please do not send pop to school in a sack lunch.
A lunch/ milk /breakfast account is set –up for every student. When a milk, lunch or breakfast is purchased the cost is deducted from this account. Siblings will share one account. You will find the prices for lunch, milk and breakfast in the newspaper prior to school starting, and there will be a district newsletter that should give you that information also. Free and reduced price lunches are available. Please inquire at the office.
Whenever you send money to school, please put it in an envelope and mark the name of the child, the amount of money, and tell what the money is for on the outside of the envelope. This makes it easier for the teacher and helps guard against loss.
NEEDS
Time changes, but children’s needs stay the same. They need parents who love them, who correct them, and who help them learn values by which to live. They need a chance for independence, and a guiding hand that keeps them from running away with it. They need confidence in themselves, the confidence that says, “I can.” They need to see themselves and others people the same way. They need protection, but not over-protection. They need to be allowed to grow, helped to grow, but not pushed nor rushed.
SCHOOL DAY
The Kindergarten school day is from 8:30-3:17 each day. Children will attend school all day every day.
Tune in to any of the following radio or television stations if the weather appears threatening: KMA (960 AM), KFAB (1110 AM), KMXM (94.1 FM), KMTV (Channel 3), WOWT (Channel 6), and KETV (Channel 7). In the event school has to be dismissed early because of inclement weather, or for some other reason, the school must know where your child is to go in case you are not home. Please make sure you inform the office of your current phone number. Please do not call school to see if we are dismissing because of bad weather. Please listen to the radio announcements.
KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM
The Kindergarten program is a “learning to be in school” program – to respond and function as an individual in a group situation. A major objective and concern is social development and adjustment – learning to accept responsibilities and desired behavior toward others.
From the smaller group of “family” your child enters the larger miniature “society” of Kindergarten.
The first weeks have an emotional impact on children. We try to get and keep everyone happy. This is very important and basic to learning. We do fun things and have free playtime. Happiness and self-confidence is contagious and results in emotional stability.
The Kindergarten society has a variety of personalities each with different backgrounds and experiences.
The Kindergarten program develops desirable behavior and group living skills: getting along with other children, taking turns, sharing, respecting rights of others.
Physical acts such as hitting, kicking, biting, grabbing, are relatively rare but do occur. These acts are less frequent as the children become more socially mature.
Aggressiveness is desirable to some extent but needs to be guided.
Other children may lack confidence and need to have recognition for their efforts and accomplishments to develop self-confidence.
Accepting responsibility for care of materials and community property are growth factors in Kindergarten. (We always have a case or two when a child will use crayons on the tables or chairs – and as a group we decide that crayons should be used on paper only.)
During “conversation time” (show and tell) habits of courtesy are practiced: taking turns, not interrupting, and being a “polite listener.”
Lunchtime provides opportunity to use social skills and manners. The children also use motor control skills when they handle their trays and milk cartons.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
§ Box of regular color crayons
§ 4 - #2 pencils
§ Glue-8 oz. Elmer’s (not paste)
§ Large box Kleenex
§ Paint T-shirt (any old shirt large enough to go over their clothing will do)
§ 1 set of watercolor paints
§ 2 glue sticks
§ Rug or mat (for rest time)
§ Small eraser
§ School bag (back pack)
§ School box
§ Scissors (Fiskar suggested)
§ Box of markers for classroom use (please do mark with your child’s name)
§ 2-Blank pads of paper
**Please mark all supplies (each crayon and pencil) with your child’s name.
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP!
Kindergarten teachers and elementary principals have made the following suggestions as ways which you, the parents, may be most helpful in making your child’s stay in Kindergarten a successful one.
v Your child needs plenty of rest and relaxation. All children should get a full eight-ten hours of sleep every night. Weekends should not be too exciting and should not tax energies too much.
v Whenever your child has been absent or tardy, please send a written excuse to the teacher or principal stating the cause.
v Help the school prevent the spread of colds and communicable diseases by observing your child carefully each day for red eyes, nasal discharge, fever, body rash, skin eruptions, sore throat, and upset stomach.
v It is important that your child attend school REGULARLY and without tardiness whenever possible.
v It is important to you and to your child that you attend parent-teacher conferences.
v Whenever your child brings home a piece of art work, or some other school work which has been done, praise it highly and show that you are interested in what he/she is accomplishing at school
v You should notify either the child’s teacher or the school principal if you find it necessary to keep your child home for a prolonged time. The school should be notified of any change of address.
v Mark your child’s name on all clothing, toys, books, etc., which are brought to school.
v Buy boots large enough so your child can pull them on and off easily.
v Help your child by helping the teacher and the school. Feel free to visit the classroom or lunchroom when you want to do so.
v Start in on a reading program whereby you interest your child in the reading of books. This can help considerably to prepare the student for reading and what is expected in later grades. Buy books and have them available. Read to your child and encourage him/her to look at books and retell the story to you.
v Always take a positive approach to school. While you may feel that the school or the teacher is not doing things exactly as you would like to have them done, don’t discuss such matters in front of your child. This gives your child the idea that a teacher is not doing their job and does definitely have an effect on the student’s later progress.
SOCIAL SURVIVAL SKILLS
Social survival skills are “skills generated by kindergarten and early childhood special education teachers as critical for successful functioning in the normal school environment.” (Lisbeth J. Vincent et al.)
TASK-RELATED SKILLS WHAT A PARENT CAN DO
1. Holds and/or manipulated Provides colors, scissors, paste,
materials magazines to cut, play
dough, puzzles, etc.
2. Follows three-part direction Give directions such as: “Take
related to task off your shoes, carry them to the
basement, set them by the washer.”
(Be sure to get eye contact and use as
few words as possible when giving directions.
3. Make choices When possible, give 2 or 3
choices for clothes, foods or jobs.
4. Find materials for task Give jobs to do around the house,
and show your child where to find
needed items.
Ex. Broom, dustcloth, polish.
5. Works on assigned task for Encourage your child to attend
15 minutes to one activity at a time, rather than
moving from one to another.
6. Completes task at ability Give jobs that can be done alone-
level independently don’t
expect perfection.
7. Self corrects errors Help your child look at what he/she
does and correct errors. (Be sure task
is within your child’s ability.)
8. Recalls and completes task Show your child how to do a task.
demonstrated previously. Let them do it, then check to see if it
was completed.
THAT BIG DAY!!!!
It’s the night before school starts. How quickly it arrived! What can be done to make the first day of Kindergarten a thrilling experience for your child?
Plan a special time to talk privately with your child. There may be fears or questions disturbing your youngster. Teasing by older children can paint an undesirable picture of school. Warnings about behaviors that will be punished or ridiculed do more harm than good. Talk about fears but emphasize the positive aspects. Use the teachers name and encourage your child to ask for extra assistance when necessary. This will help both your child and the teacher.
Plenty of sleep is easy to advise, but excitement can interrupt the regular rest schedule. Perhaps an earlier bedtime could compensate for lost sleep.
Clothes can be a source of needless tension. If your child has a favorite outfit that will boost self-confidence, it might be a good idea to let them wear it instead of the new outfit.
Your child might appreciate a special breakfast or lunch in honor of this red-letter day. On the other hand, excitement may lead to loss of appetite before school. A nutritious after school snack may be more appropriate.
Encourage your child to prepare for school independently; washing, getting dressed, brushing teeth, and combing hair.
The most difficult time for a parent is often the moment when your child says good-bye and enters school. Some parents decide to say goodbye at home and arrange for their child to go to school on the bus with friends or brothers or sisters.
If you do accompany your child, encourage your youngster to walk to the classroom alone or with other classmates.
After school your child will have much to tell you. Plan plenty of time to listen and to ask questions. A long school career stretches ahead for your son or daughter. Help us, as we work together to make it as rewarding as possible.
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
I used to be little, but not any more.
Tomorrow I’ll get up and walk out the door.
I’m going to school – it’s the first time for me.
It’s great to be big, but I’m scared as can be.
My tummy is in knots. Do you want to know why?
I’m thinking that maybe, just maybe, I’ll cry.
When Dad leaves the school and I’m there all alone,
I’m thinking that maybe I’ll want to go home.
But wait – Mommy said I’d play lots of new games,
And meet lots of friends-I can learn all their names.
The first day of school, oh! There is so much to do!
There’s painting and books and a big playground, too.
I used to be little, but not any more.
Tomorrow I’ll get up and walk out the door.
I’m going to school – it’s my first day, you see.
It’s great to be big! I’m so glad that I’m me.
Hey Mom and Dad Did You Know?
• I need plenty of rest with regular hours.
• I need nourishing food and time to eat.
• I need plenty of time to prepare for Kindergarten.
• I need a physical check-up before starting Kindergarten.
• I need to see a dentist and brush my teeth daily.
• I am required to have immunizations up-to-date.
• I need to know good toilet habits.
• I need clean clothing over a clean body.
• I need clothing suitable for the weather.
• I need to play outside if the weather permits.
• I stay home from school when I have: sore throat, earache, nausea and vomiting, fever over 99°.
• I can expose others and I do not do well when I do not feel my best.
• 
I stay home when I have: red or watery eyes, chills
or fever, rash, or diarrhea.
• It takes me time to recover from an illness, even when I begin to feel better.
• I should be kept home until I have a normal temperature for 24 hours.
• I should be on time but not too early.
• Money I bring should be in an envelope with my name and what is for.
• Always inform school of any telephone and address changes.
• You will to call school if I am going to be absent.
• The teacher welcomes a telephone call, a note, or a visit.
• Clothing should be simple, washable and comfortable.
• Large buttons, zippers, and snaps are easiest to learn.
• Slippery-soled shoes are so dangerous.
• Labels in clothes help me keep track of my own.
• 
Place my name in each boot. Felt markers work
well.
• Short shoestrings are hard to learn to tie.
• I’m glad my parents or other important adults know and understand that it takes a lot of time trying and repeating to learn these things. I get tired very quickly before I learn, so be patient.
• It takes time to learn: to lace, tie and buckle my shoes.
• It takes time to put on and take off my outdoor clothing.
• It takes time to tend to my toilet needs and wash my hands.
• It takes time to learn my first and last name and my parent’s names.
• It takes time to learn my parents and babysitter’s address and phone numbers.
• It takes time to learn my teacher’s name.
• It takes time to learn my way around school.
• 
Sometimes my teacher asks if I can bring special things, I
like to feel a part of the planning by trying to help.
• Play is one of the most important ways I learn.
• I like to imagine and pretend. Being able to have playtime helps me do just that.
• I like to practice what I have learned.
• Experiences at both home and school help me to begin to see relationships in my world.
• Playing is really my work.
• I like to feel I can be a part of a group.
• 
Sometimes I get along better with classmates than other
times, but I am learning.
• Using my abilities allows me to feel I can do things.
• Learning to enjoy and work with others is one of the most important things I will learn this year. Pasting, coloring, clay modeling, painting, cutting, and chalk drawings let me explore many types of art. They let me express some of my feelings. They let me feel satisfaction from creating a work of my own.
CARES HEAVY ON FIRST SCHOOL
BY Irma Bombeck
This could be titled “Confession of a Child Entering School for the First Time Who According to Adults Has Nothing to Worry About.” My name is Donald and I don’t know anything. I have new underwear, a new sweater, a loose tooth and I didn’t sleep last night. I am worried.
What if the school bus jerks after I get on and I lose my balance and my pants rip and everyone laughs?
What if I have to go to the bathroom before we get to school? What if a bell rings and everyone goes into a door and a man yells, “Where do you belong?” and I don’t know?
What if my shoestring comes untied and someone says, “Your shoestring is untied. We’ll all watch while you tie it?”
What if the thermos lid on my soup is on too tight and when I try to open it, it breaks?
What if my loose tooth wants to come out when we’re supposed to have our heads down and be quiet?
What if the teacher tells the class to go to the bathroom and I can’t go?
What if I get hot and want to take my sweater off and someone steals it?
What if I splash water on my nametag and my name disappears and no one will know who I am?
What if they send us out to play and all the swings are taken? What do I do?
What if the wind blows all the important papers out of my hands that I’m supposed to take home?
What if they mispronounce my last name and everyone laughs?
What if my teacher doesn’t make her D’s like Mom taught me?
What if I spend the whole day without a friend?
What if the teacher gives a seat to everyone and I’m, left over?
What if the windows in the bus steam up and I won’t be able to tell when I get to my stop?
I’m just a little kid but maybe I’m smarter than I think I am. At least I know better than to tell a 5 year old with a loose tooth who has never been out of the yard by himself before that he has “nothing to worry about.”
