Welcome to Kindergarten

1. Welcome to Kindergarten Please help your child find his/her seat, and put supplies on desk. Feel free to explore the room before we get started!

2. About Miss Griffith….. • Grew up in Miles City, MT • Graduated from Rocky Mountain College with Bachelor’s in Elementary Education • Taught three years in Oregon • Third year teaching kindergarten in Laurel • When I’m not at school, I like to spend time with my family (my new niece) and friends, coach my basketball team, travel, play golf, and read.

3. What will your child learn this year? • Letter Names and Sounds • Beginning Reading Concepts • Writing- basic sentence structure • Recognizing numbers • Counting to 100 by 1’s, 5’s, and 10’s • Patterning • Thematic topics • Much, Much, more!!

4. School begins at 8:40 (please don’t arrive before 8:25, there is no supervision) • Dismiss at 3:00 (2:15 on Wednesdays) • Lunch at 11:30 • Morning and Afternoon Recess • PE on Thursday at 2:20 • Music on Tuesday at 2:20 • Library on Monday at 2:20 • Counseling every other Monday at 10:30 Schedules and Times

5. School Routines • Parking Lot- West lot for parent use, please do not park in bus loop. Park in parking lot and assist your child to playground to avoid any hazards. • Upon arrival, please have your child go straight to the playground via the sidewalk on the east side of the building. Students are not permitted to enter building until the bell rings unless they are eating breakfast provided by the school. • Watch for signs to enter building on cold weather days. • Security System- Doors lock daily at 9 am. Buzz to be let in. Sign in!! • Lunch Money- paid in office with Mrs. Huvaere

6. Going Home…Please try to maintain a routine regarding after school plans. Changes can be very upsetting for some students. When your plans are different, PLEASE send a note or notify the office. I cannot allow your child to go home a different way without your permission. Do not rely on your kindergarten student to relay the message.

7. Parent/Teacher Conferences Conferences are scheduled for November and again in January. I will send out information then. Follow-up conferences will take place in April, if needed. Feel free to contact me anytime you have questions or concerns.

8. Classroom Rules • Be Responsible • Be Respectful • Be Safe Consequences • Verbal/Non-Verbal Reminder • Classroom Refocus • Refocus outside of classroom • Notify principal, parents, and write behavior slip Classroom Management

9. Two Types of Gotchas • Individual • Recognizes an individual student who is following the rules and procedures • Classroom • Recognizes an entire classroom who is following the rules and procedures Monthly Gotcha Assemblies Gotcha!!

10. We love to celebrate birthdays at school! Please feel free to send treats for the big day! Just let me know and we will share the treats after the last recess that day. • The school district asks that students do not hand out invitations to students for birthday parties at school. This alleviates hurt feelings when some students do not get an invitation Birthdays

11. Each day, your child will bring home work pages and projects completed at school. Please make an effort to set aside a few minutes each evening to allow your child to share his or her work. This increases their retention of the information learned and builds confidence, self-worth and desire to do well at school as they see your interest in what is going on at school. • Behavior/Communication folder Show and Share

12. Communication South School: 628-3380 Classroom Website: www.laurel.k12.mt.us Under ‘staff’ click on Griffith, Amber. Classroom News Calendars Additional information about our class Email: amber_griffith@laurel.k12.mt.us Infinite Campus Portal

13. Parents +Teachers= Success Thanks for coming. I anticipate a great year!