Welcome to Kindergarten at South School! Home of the Vikings!
Our Mission ● We are South Elementary School, a community of learners committed to building a foundation of academic and social excellence. ● We want to partner with you to help our students become prepared for meaningful lives. ● We want to communicate with you often about the progress of your child both socially and academically. ● We want to see you at Parent/Teacher Conferences in October and February.
Meet the Team! ● Kindergarten teachers: Mrs. Jennifer Lawson Mrs. Michelle Graham ● Principal: Mr. Tim Chipman ● Dean of Students: Ms. Heather Staats ● Secretary: Mrs. Rachael Jones ● Nurse: Mrs. Lisa Lillpop, RN ●
Arrival Procedures & Attendance ● Students may arrive at South between 7:30 and 7:50. ● Breakfast is served during this time. Please drop your student off at the front door of the building. ● Students will sit in the gym in the K section until 7:50 and will then come to the classroom. ● The tardy bell rings at 8:05, students will be counted tardy if they are not in the classroom when this bell rings. ● ATTENDANCE IS KEY! ● Tardiness and absences=lost learning time
Dismissal Procedures ● Dismissal is 2:30 for bus and day care students. They will be taken to the designated area to be dismissed by school faculty . ● Dismissal is 2:35 for all pick up students. We will walk out the south end doors of the building. We will line up on the sidewalk and wait until we see the person appointed to pick up your student. ● IMPORTANT: Changes in after school plans should be sent by note or called to the office before 2:00. We will not allow students to change plans unless we have direct instructions from home.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks ● Students may eat breakfast between 7:30-7:55 each morning at South. ● Students will eat lunch and enjoy recess from 10:50-11:25. ● Breakfast and lunch could possibly be free due to a grant. ● We have a mid morning snack when it is available. PLEASE send snacks if you are able to help. Our favorites include: crackers, cereal, pretzels, chips, fruit snacks, cookies, fresh fruit/veggies. We depend on your help for this!
Let’s Stay Healthy ● SLEEP is key! Kindergarten is exhausting. Research shows that 5-6 year olds need 10-12 hours of sleep each night to be ready to learn and grow. ● Please call the school office to report an absence and the reason for the absence to the office before 8:00. If your child will be late, please call so we can order them a lunch. ● If your child becomes sick at school you will be called. This includes a temperature over 100 or other sickness. Policy states children must be symptom free for 24 hours to attend school. Please be sure that emergency contact info is current! ● Students must have a certified birth certificate, physical, dental and eye exam on record with the office. Please contact the nurse if you have any questions. NEW THIS YEAR: measles immunizations must be completed by the first day of school. ● Please see the handbook for the medicine at school policy.
Curriculum ● Calendar Time Special Classes ● Phonemic Awareness o Physical Education ● Shared Reading o Music ● Guided Reading o Computers ● Writing o Library ● Math o Art ● Social Studies ● Science o Notes about Supplies: ● Handwriting o Please consider over the ear headphones instead of ear buds . o 1 two pocket folder is enough. o No binder needed!
Reading ⚪ Follow words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page ⚪ Recognize and name all upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet ⚪ Know the sounds of the letters and blend those sounds together to make words ⚪ Recognize and produce rhyming words ⚪ Change beginning sounds of words to make new words (cat to bat) ⚪ Recognize sight words ⚪ Answer questions about stories and retell familiar stories
Writing and Language ⚪ Write one to three complete sentence by the end of the year on their own ⚪ Form letters correctly and write their name legibly ⚪ Give an opinion about a book that we have read (For example: I like this book because…) ⚪ Add drawings to their writing for more description ⚪ Spell simple words phonetically ⚪ Write letters corresponding to their sounds ⚪ Capitalize first words in sentences, the pronoun I, and ending punctuation
Math ⚪ Count to 100 by ones and tens ⚪ Write numbers 0-20 ⚪ Count up to 20 objects ⚪ Know which groups are greater than, less than, or equal ⚪ Add and subtract within 10 by using objects to represent numbers ⚪ Add and subtract fluently within 5 ⚪ Categorize objects ⚪ Correctly name shapes
YOU are your child’s first teacher! ● Work on recognizing and writing your child’s name ● Read nursery rhymes ● Sing, say and write the ABCs ● Count as high as your child can ● Sort items around the house Never too early to ● Read together- every night! start loving books!
Ways to Help Your Child be Successful ● Send your child’s backpack ● Read the weekly newsletter & and take home folder to school monthly calendar to find out everyday. important information ● Check and empty your child’s ● Ask your child to tell about the folder each night- Look at your best part of their day (and tell child’s class dojo report daily. the best part of your day too!) ● Keep in contact with the ● Have a consistent routine at teachers and we will do the home and make sure your same. This is a partnership child is well-rested for school and communication is the key each morning
We Need Your Help! Any way you are willing to help in our classroom is greatly appreciated and exciting for our students. You can: o Work in the classroom with students during centers or other activities o District policy is to fill out the secure volunteer form online to be able to help in the classroom. This is available on the JSD website. o Send supplies to help with center activities, special projects, and classroom rewards o Attend PTO meetings and help with activities like fundraisers, book fairs, school pictures, penny wars, carnival, and fun day. Please send snack/napkins whenever possible. We will let you know when we are running low.
Contact Us ⚪ Phone: (217) 245-5514 ⚪ Address: 1700 S. West Street ⚪ Email: jlawson@jsd117.org, mgraham@jsd117.org ⚪ A note in the take home folder ⚪ A message via Class Dojo ⚪ Please know that emails and phone calls will be returned after students leave for the day. ⚪ Check out the South Handbook and Parent Packet for additional information on the South School website
Important Dates and Places ● Online Registration open May 1-June 15, 2020 ● Visit jsd117.org and south.jsd117.org for updated information
First Day Tips ● At Meet the Teacher Night you will bring supplies and see your classroom. ● Get kids to bed early the night before and have a great breakfast in morning- the first day requires “brain food”! Pack backpacks and lay out clothes the night before for a smooth routine. ● Take a deep breath, try to relax, and know that we are here to make this a wonderful first day and first year in school for you and your kiddo! We are partners! ( And a few tears are OK☺)
Tell us what you think! Any Questions or Concerns? We can’t wait to meet you! Thank you, Mrs. Lawson and Mrs. Graham
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