Miss Gimm's Kindergarten Handbook
General Information
Welcome to Kindergarten at the Colt Early Childhood Education Center! I am very excited to have your child as a part of this class. I hope that you will help me to provide an excellent year of learning and growing for your child. I know we will have a great year together! I hope you find the following information helpful. The handbook is a way for me to communicate a lot of information in one place. If you have any questions or comments or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me.
A little about Me...
I graduated from Michigan State University in 1995. I earned my teaching certificate from Central Michigan University in 2001. I have six years experience teaching preschool in Holt and I have been a part of the Waverly team since 2004!
I have three “kids” - a handsome chocolate lab named Fagus, a black sheltie/lab mix named Remy and an energetic kitten named Sully. I enjoy teaching, camping , knitting, reading and spending time with my family. I have one sister and one brother, both younger and I have one nephew and one niece.
I have three “kids” - a handsome chocolate lab named Fagus, a black sheltie/lab mix named Remy and an energetic kitten named Sully. I enjoy teaching, camping , knitting, reading and spending time with my family. I have one sister and one brother, both younger and I have one nephew and one niece.
Communication
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Between 8:00am and 4:00pm you can reach me at school. The number is 323-3777 and my room extension is 7537. Please don’t leave any emergency messages on the voice mail as I do not check that often during the day. If you have an emergency, you may contact Ms. Sewell in the office and she will notify me. The office extension is 7501.
Friday Folders
Weekly newsletters, papers, important building information, book orders, calendars and homework will be coming home every Friday in a white envelope. Be sure to check the envelope and return it to school on Monday. Use the envelope to send notes, book orders, etc. to school. Please be sure to save newsletters and notes for future use!
Supplies
Your child is encouraged to have a large backpack or school bag to carry papers to and from school. The school will provide crayons and pencils. If you would like to donate a roll of paper towel, a box of zip lock baggies (any size), Kleenex, paper plates (small or large size), disinfectant wipes or glue sticks we would appreciate them, but those items are optional, not required.
Parent Volunteers
I believe education is a team effort therefore I encourage all that are able to come and spend time in our classroom. I will be sending home a volunteer calendar for you to mark on the day or days you would like to come to school and help out. I have a variety of jobs including working or reading with students, clerical tasks, baking and art projects. I will also be sending home different sign up sheets for special occasions when I might need more than one parent to help. If you are a parent unable to come into the classroom, not to worry, I have laminating and stapling projects that can be done in the comfort of your own home!! I am looking forward to working with you!
After School
Please make sure I know and your child knows how he/she is getting home each day. This information includes if your child will be attending an after school child care program, bus number or who is picking up. If this information changes, PLEASE NOTIFY ME! You are encouraged to send that in writing or call the school. This helps us keep your child safe!
Pick Up and Drop Off
When you drop off and pick up your little darlings, please park in the lot and wait outside the building. School begins at 8:30am but students are admitted to the building at 8:25am. Students should wait on their fruit line for the teacher to invite them into the building. Dismissal time is 3:30pm. Students will be dismissed from the classroom door (number 8) around the side of the building. Please refrain from picking up your child early. If you must pick your child up early, building procedure requires you to come into the office and sign your child out. Ms. Sewell will let me know you need your child and I will send them to you. This procedure allows our students and staff to be safe and secure in the building at all times. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
Birthdays
Birthdays are an exciting event for children. If you choose, you are welcome to send in a birthday treat for your child’s birthday. Nutritious is best and drinks are not needed. I would appreciate a note or call of warning so I can plan extra time for distribution and celebration.
Star Student
We will highlight each student in our class throughout the year. Students will be interviewed so we might learn a little more about them. Students will draw a self portrait and receive a book filled with portraits drawn by their peers. Student’s self portraits will remain on display in the classroom throughout the year. I hope that you have a chance sometime during the year to stop in and take a look at our Star Student Bulletin board!
Our Website: www.gimmkindergarten.weebly.com
Our classroom website is a wonderful way for families to participate in their kindergartner’s learning. On the site you will find electronic newsletters, snow day information, pictures of classroom happenings, explanations of homework, classroom calendars and educational links. I will also pose questions on the blog for families and students. This is a place to share traditions, thoughts and ideas. Please share the address with relatives and friends far away too. We hope you will visit often!
We are also on Facebook. Just search Miss Gimm's Kindergarten and you should find us. Like our page and get Facebook updates too!!
We are also on Facebook. Just search Miss Gimm's Kindergarten and you should find us. Like our page and get Facebook updates too!!
Conferences
We will have two scheduled Parent/Teacher conferences during the school year. The first will be held in November and the second will be held in March. If you have questions or concerns at any time during the school year, please don’t hesitate to contact me and we can set up a time to visit.
Report Cards
Yes, Kindergarteners get report cards. Report cards will come home with your child in the fall and in the spring. You will be mailed a copy of their final report at the end of the school year. These reports are a formal way to show you what your child is learning and they allow you to very easily see growth.
Curriculum Information
Special Schedule
Each day students will have a “special”. Our specials include gym, music, art, Spanish and library. Please make sure that your child has tennis shoes and pants or shorts on gym days. If proper foot attire is not worn, students may not participate in gym activities for that day. Kindergarteners are allowed to check out one library book each week. They should take the book home for you to read to them and then return it before Library day the next week. Music and Art are wonderful times for the children to experiment with different mediums. The will sing and play instruments and bring home many delightful art projects!
We also have technology requirements for kindergartners! We will use many different types of technology.
We also have technology requirements for kindergartners! We will use many different types of technology.
Literacy-Reading and Writing
Waverly has adopted a new literacy curriculum. We chose Scott Foresman's Reading Street. A large part of our daily schedule involves different reading and writing activities. We will work to connect skills related to reading, writing, listening and speaking. The children will be involved in observing and practicing those skills in many ways through out the day. Students will be working in large groups, small groups and independently each day.
Math
The Waverly School District adopted a new math curriculum for grades K-4 in 2010. This program is called Envisions Math by the Pearson company. It has students working with digital and real manipulatives to solve math problems. We will count, read and create patterns, add and subtract, measure and even begin geometry! The program also includes homework from time to time and a place for parents to check online to see what we are doing!
Social Studies
Our curriculum is based on the State of Michigan Benchmarks and Standards. The Social Studies curriculum includes themes such as Myself and Others, Myself and Family, Myself and School and Myself and My World. These themes will be taught using hands-on activities which might include family homework projects. Social Studies themes are also integrated in the literacy and math curriculums.
Science
As with Social Studies, the Science curriculum is based on Michigan Benchmarks and Standards. Themes for Science include trees, plants, five senses and needs of living organisms. Again, these themes will be integrated in all curriculum areas and taught using hands-on activities.
We also have a Science Kit that will make it’s way home with each child in the class. The kit includes a lab coat, safety goggles, a book of experiments and several pieces of science equipment that may be needed by your little scientist to complete any number of experiments.
We also have a Science Kit that will make it’s way home with each child in the class. The kit includes a lab coat, safety goggles, a book of experiments and several pieces of science equipment that may be needed by your little scientist to complete any number of experiments.
Health
Michigan Health Model is the Health curriculum used in Waverly. This curriculum covers many themes that are directly linked with other curriculum areas. We will discuss how we are alike and different, community helpers, poisons and their dangers as well as talking to strangers and healthy eating.
Daily 5
You may hear your child talk about “Daily 5”. This is a time during our day when the students get to choose different learning centers to work at. The five areas they may chose from are read to self, read to someone, listen to reading, work on writing and word work. They may read big books with a friend, spend time in the classroom library, write or draw stories, work puzzles, listen to books on tape, read around the classroom, participate in activities in the pretend play area or work with math manipulatives. I encourage you to ask your child about their choices each day. The communication between school and home helps the children know you are aware of what is happening while they are at school!