Green Frog Class Handbook
Information for Mrs. Kane’s Kindergarten Parents
(Please note, some of the information below may be impacted if health related restrictions are put back into place.)
Welcome to kindergarten! It is going to be a busy and exciting year. Listed below is information about our day . Please contact me if you have any questions. I will provide further details at the Back to School Night on September 23.
Arrive at 8:05
All Green Frogs will meet Ms. P in the dining hall when they arrive at school. Bus students will enter the front door. Students walking to school or being dropped off should enter the side door by the play structure. Ambrose staff will be outside to help the kids get where they need to be. Ms. P will walk the class down to our classroom to start our day at 8:10. The kindergartners will be responsible for giving me notes from home and letting me know if they are buying lunch. We will review the morning routines often to help with this part
Dismissal at 2:15
The Kindergarten classes walk to the dining hall early to avoid the crowded hallways at dismissal time. Parents/babysitters should wait on the blacktop in front of the play structure. Once I see the person picking up, I will ask the kindergartner to meet you outside. If being picked up by an Ambrose sibling, s/he will come to the dining hall when they are dismissed from their class to pick up the Green Frog. PLEASE send a note if there is a change in your child's dismissal plans (playdate, someone else picking up). Thanks for your help! Staff members will walk the students taking the bus or going to an after school program to where they need to be.
Schedule
Monday: PE (remember to wear comfy clothes and sneakers) and art
Tuesday: library
Wednesday: library (remember to bring back your book)
Thursday: music
Friday: Rotating Special. Each semester we will either have a second art, pe or music class
Communications
Please send in a note of any changes in your child’s daily routine (another person picking up or playdate). The note will make sure I get your child to the right place after school.
Call the office (1.781.721.7012) if your child is going to be tardy, dismissed or absent.
Make sure to check the photos section of our Green Frog Resource Page to see what is happening in the classroom.
I will email a newsletter several times a month. It will be a list of questions. Parents have told me it helps them start a conversation with their kindergartner.
My school phone number is 1.781.721.7012 (x163)
Email me anytime with questions, I am always happy to help and love an open line of communication. My email is lkane@winchesterps.org
Conferences
We have parent/teacher conferences twice a year; once in October and then again in the spring. We will use this time to discuss your child's social, emotional, and academic progress, as well as, set goals for the remainder of the year. Report cards will be posted in Aspen in December, March, and June. You will receive information on how to access your Aspen account. Please contact the office if you have technical questions.
Birthdays and Class Parties
We will decorate a t-shirt to celebrate your child's big day. If your child has a July, August or early September birthday, we will choose a date during the school year to celebrate their day. The children are invited to wear their decorated shirts on Field Day in June.Please send all birthday invitations from home. This will avoid any hurt feelings of those classmates who are not invited.
Due to allergies, we will not be having food on birthdays or at class parties. Thanks for understanding.
Science Share
The children are invited to share science or nature objects on any Wednesday. Send in an interesting science news clipping, photo, real bird’s nest, shells, leaves, magnets, etc, I will send it home at the end of our day. This is a great opportunity for science, speaking, listening, observation, and taking turns.
Snack
Please send your child to school with a snack and drink each day. Due to the many kids in our class with allergies, please do not send food containing peanuts or tree nuts.
Lunch
Kindergartners will go to lunch at 12:00. The kids have the option to bring lunch or purchase one. Lunch menus will be sent home each month. Each student will be provided a number for their lunch account. Ms. P will go to lunch with our class each day. She will have all the pin numbers to help any kindergartner who may forget. Please do not worry if there is no money in your account on a day that your child is buying lunch. You will receive a bill, but more importantly, we will always make sure the kindergartners have something to eat.
Clothing
Kindergarten is about exploration and discovery. It can get messy. Please send your child to school in washable clothing. It would be helpful if your child practiced how to button, tie, and zip their own clothing. Please label all removable clothing (jackets, hat, mittens, boots, snow pants, etc.) with your child’s name. Thank you.
Parent Volunteers
There will be many opportunities for you to help in our classroom; class parties and academic workshops. I like to spend a few weeks getting to know the children and helping them adjust to the kindergarten routine before I invite parents into the classroom. There will be sign up sheets and information about becoming involved in future newsletters. I look forward to all your help.
Buddies
Our class will meet with Mrs. Traugot's fifth-grade class to participate in buddy projects and activities. This usually ends up being one of the kindergartners favorite times of the day and lends itself to a great mentorship for the 5th graders, and friendship for the kindergarteners.
Global Center Postcards
Throughout the year, I would love for you to tell your family and friends to mail us postcards from where they live and travel. It is always exciting to see how many of the states we can receive postcards from, and even more exciting to hear from someone outside our country.
Our address:
child’s name
c/o Lorri Kane
Ambrose Elementary
27 High Street
Winchester, Ma 01890
Schedule for a Typical Day in Kindergarten
The Kindergarten Experience....
Welcome to Kindergarten at Ambrose Elementary! This is sure to be an exciting time for you as your child begins their official journey to becoming a life-long learner. My main goal for your child is to love school! The Green Frogs and I will work together to create a classroom where everyone feels happy, included, appreciated, safe, and a special part of our team. You will see your child blossom into an early reader and writer in addition to building many math skills. We will explore several topics in science and social studies. The focus of our lessons will be on participation and process rather than a product. Children will be supported and challenged in a way that will help them grow in confidence and problem solving. "Childhood is a journey, not a race."
I look forward to working with you to make this a wonderful year for your child!
Lorri Kane =)
