A
Regular school attendance is essential. Please make every effort to have your child at school on time each day. If your child will be absent from school, please call the school office 810-299-4454. Students should arrive no earlier than ten minutes before the start of school. Upon arrival, children are to report directly to the classroom through door 24. Allergies to food or other things, please inform the school in writing. I will alert the parents of allergies so we can avoid those foods in snacks.
B
A backpack should be big enough to hold a pocket folder and library book. Please have your child bring it to school on Friday. Bus Tags should be worn for the first 4 weeks. It helps all of us to get your child on the correct bus as well as other teachers to learn your child’s name. Pin it to the backpack inside so we can refer to it. Birthdays will be recognized at school in an appropriate manner. The new district policy in the elementary handbook is as follows:
“We will continue to recognize each child’s birthday within our school. Children with summer birthdays will receive birthday recognition on his/her half birthday. We ask that no treats or gifts be sent to school for your child’s birthday. We want to preserve instructional time, avoid allergic reactions, assure equitable recognition for each child, and adhere to federal/state/local health and nutrition guidelines. Realizing that not all families celebrate birthdays, if you prefer that your child not receive birthday recognition from school, please inform your child’s homeroom teacher. To avoid hurt feelings when children are excluded, we ask that you not send birthday invitations to school. Please find an alternative means of distributing invitations to a birthday held outside of school.”
Scholastic Book Club orders are sent home the first Friday of each month. If you wish to place an order, payment may be made by check or my preference is online directly to Scholastic. Online instructions will come home with first order. Checks should be made payable to the book club.
C
Even at the young age of five and six, children need to learn the importance of accepting responsibility for their choices. I use Conscious Discipline procedures based on positive reinforcement and calming techniques. I do not use negative words to describe behaviors. Children are not “bad” or “naughty” instead they make mistakes or poor choices. They are learning! I want them to feel the classroom is a “safe” place to make mistakes and learn from them. The calendar for the school year is available on the school district’s website. Formal conferences are held starting in October. Communication is a priority of mine. Please feel free to contact me regarding any concern.
D
Kindergarten is a busy place that sometimes can get messy! Dress your child in comfortable clothing and appropriate footwear. Tennis shoes should be worn to physical education class. In the winter months you child will require snow pants and boots for recess. PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING WITH YOUR CHILD’S NAME! Parents who are picking their child up at dismissal time are asked to go to the front office area. If you are late picking up your child, they will be waiting for you in the school office.
E
Any money sent to school should be in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s name, the amount, and what it is for. My e-mail is: strachm@brightonK12.com. Emergency forms are kept on file in the school office. Please inform the office of any changes in address or telephone number.
F
A Friday Folder will be sent home with your child at the end of each week. This folder will contain completed work as well as district communications.
G
Your child will have gym class one or two times a week. Please have your child wear tennis shoes on gym days. I will let you know the rotation so children can be aware.
H
Homework - Please read to/with your child for 20 minutes each night. Occasionally, I may ask you to complete a family project intended for fun, not stress. This will likely occur on Wednesdays.
I
Deciding when to keep your child home from school is often difficult, especially when a decision must be made first thing in the morning. It is important, however, to keep your child home if s/he is ill. Children should be fever free or not be vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school. New protocols were put in place for this year. Please read through the district policies carefully.
J
Junk Food is not the best choice for our class snacks. Children are generally more likely to try new foods when their peers eat them. We cannot hand out snacks this year, please remember to send in a snack each and every day!
K
Students at Hornung Elementary School are expected to treat all members of our learning community with kindness and respect. Unkind behavior, bullying, and interrupting learning are not permitted.
L
Mrs. Richards will visit our rooms to provide library (STEAM CENTER) each week. After listening to a story, they are able to check out one book. Books need to be returned in order for another one to be checked out. Label items such as coats, backpacks, hats and mittens with your child’s name. Children have a choice of bringing lunch from home or purchasing one from school. Even if you plan to have your child bring his lunch each day, it is a good idea to deposit enough money for two-three lunches in your child’s lunch account. That way a forgotten lunch isn’t an issue! There will only be one choice for hot lunch this year.
M
Kindergarten children participate in music class one-two times a week.
N
Notes to school should be pinned to your child’s shirt or coat. That way there’s no missing it! District policy is that we put a child on the bus if we do not have a written note.
O
If you pick up your child for an appointment, you need to go to the office door first.
P
Parent involvement is crucial to your child’s success. Watch for opportunities in the newsletter. If we get to a level 6 for COVID precautions, I will set up opportunities A.S.A.P.
Q
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Do not post them on Facebook. Remember, quick goodbyes tend to leave drier eyes on days your child is having difficulty separating.
R
Report cards come home three times a year. Please sign the report card envelope and send it back to school; paperwork inside is yours to keep. Your child will have three recesses each day: One in the morning, one at lunchtime and another in the afternoon. I would like to utilize the outdoor learning classrooms. Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for outside play. Rest time is still being discussed. It may occur once a day in the afternoon. Your child will be provided a yoga mat that we can wipe down. It will be assigned to them. This will be phased out when developmentally appropriate.
S
The children have snack time each afternoon. Suggested items include pretzels, baked snack crackers, low fat graham crackers, fresh fruit, vegetables, and dairy items that do not require a spoon. Please refrain from items high in sugar or fat. Sweets and treats are meant to be saved for special occasions. Safety is a priority. Please send a note or call the school if s/he is to go home a different way than usual. Verbal changes from your child or a sibling cannot be accepted; in this case, your child will be sent home in the usual manner. If you are telephoning a change, please call before 2:45. Getting the children ready to leave for the day is a busy time; I may not hear the telephone ring if you call during the last fifteen minutes of class. You will need to pick up youngest to oldest children. Hornung siblings will not be allowed to pick up at our classroom doors.
T
Toys need to be left at home. They distract learning and if it becomes lost or broken, feelings become hurt. Toy weapons should always be kept at home. Your child’s education takes teamwork. All of us at Hornung Elementary School look forward to working with you and your child this year!
U
Each child brings to school unique qualities and strengths. We will build on them during the school year.
V
Please consider Velcro shoes if your child is not yet able to tie. We enjoy having our parents volunteer in our classroom! I will do my best to begin this when I've been instructed it is safe to do so.
W
The school district’s website is http://www.brightonk12.com/. My weebly is: coyoteroom.weebly.com. Your child is welcome to bring a labeled water bottle. Bottles will be sent home each day for washing.
X
Kindergarten is an Extra special year! In order for a child to be successful s/he must feel physically and emotionally safe! Keeping your child safe is my most important job. Your child’s most important job is to help me keep him/her safe.
Y
You are your child’s most important teacher and role model. Please work with me to provide your child the best education they deserve.
Z
ZZZ-ZZZ! Based on current research, your child needs 10-12 hours of rest each night. Children who are well rested are alert and ready to learn each day.
Regular school attendance is essential. Please make every effort to have your child at school on time each day. If your child will be absent from school, please call the school office 810-299-4454. Students should arrive no earlier than ten minutes before the start of school. Upon arrival, children are to report directly to the classroom through door 24. Allergies to food or other things, please inform the school in writing. I will alert the parents of allergies so we can avoid those foods in snacks.
B
A backpack should be big enough to hold a pocket folder and library book. Please have your child bring it to school on Friday. Bus Tags should be worn for the first 4 weeks. It helps all of us to get your child on the correct bus as well as other teachers to learn your child’s name. Pin it to the backpack inside so we can refer to it. Birthdays will be recognized at school in an appropriate manner. The new district policy in the elementary handbook is as follows:
“We will continue to recognize each child’s birthday within our school. Children with summer birthdays will receive birthday recognition on his/her half birthday. We ask that no treats or gifts be sent to school for your child’s birthday. We want to preserve instructional time, avoid allergic reactions, assure equitable recognition for each child, and adhere to federal/state/local health and nutrition guidelines. Realizing that not all families celebrate birthdays, if you prefer that your child not receive birthday recognition from school, please inform your child’s homeroom teacher. To avoid hurt feelings when children are excluded, we ask that you not send birthday invitations to school. Please find an alternative means of distributing invitations to a birthday held outside of school.”
Scholastic Book Club orders are sent home the first Friday of each month. If you wish to place an order, payment may be made by check or my preference is online directly to Scholastic. Online instructions will come home with first order. Checks should be made payable to the book club.
C
Even at the young age of five and six, children need to learn the importance of accepting responsibility for their choices. I use Conscious Discipline procedures based on positive reinforcement and calming techniques. I do not use negative words to describe behaviors. Children are not “bad” or “naughty” instead they make mistakes or poor choices. They are learning! I want them to feel the classroom is a “safe” place to make mistakes and learn from them. The calendar for the school year is available on the school district’s website. Formal conferences are held starting in October. Communication is a priority of mine. Please feel free to contact me regarding any concern.
D
Kindergarten is a busy place that sometimes can get messy! Dress your child in comfortable clothing and appropriate footwear. Tennis shoes should be worn to physical education class. In the winter months you child will require snow pants and boots for recess. PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING WITH YOUR CHILD’S NAME! Parents who are picking their child up at dismissal time are asked to go to the front office area. If you are late picking up your child, they will be waiting for you in the school office.
E
Any money sent to school should be in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s name, the amount, and what it is for. My e-mail is: strachm@brightonK12.com. Emergency forms are kept on file in the school office. Please inform the office of any changes in address or telephone number.
F
A Friday Folder will be sent home with your child at the end of each week. This folder will contain completed work as well as district communications.
G
Your child will have gym class one or two times a week. Please have your child wear tennis shoes on gym days. I will let you know the rotation so children can be aware.
H
Homework - Please read to/with your child for 20 minutes each night. Occasionally, I may ask you to complete a family project intended for fun, not stress. This will likely occur on Wednesdays.
I
Deciding when to keep your child home from school is often difficult, especially when a decision must be made first thing in the morning. It is important, however, to keep your child home if s/he is ill. Children should be fever free or not be vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school. New protocols were put in place for this year. Please read through the district policies carefully.
J
Junk Food is not the best choice for our class snacks. Children are generally more likely to try new foods when their peers eat them. We cannot hand out snacks this year, please remember to send in a snack each and every day!
K
Students at Hornung Elementary School are expected to treat all members of our learning community with kindness and respect. Unkind behavior, bullying, and interrupting learning are not permitted.
L
Mrs. Richards will visit our rooms to provide library (STEAM CENTER) each week. After listening to a story, they are able to check out one book. Books need to be returned in order for another one to be checked out. Label items such as coats, backpacks, hats and mittens with your child’s name. Children have a choice of bringing lunch from home or purchasing one from school. Even if you plan to have your child bring his lunch each day, it is a good idea to deposit enough money for two-three lunches in your child’s lunch account. That way a forgotten lunch isn’t an issue! There will only be one choice for hot lunch this year.
M
Kindergarten children participate in music class one-two times a week.
N
Notes to school should be pinned to your child’s shirt or coat. That way there’s no missing it! District policy is that we put a child on the bus if we do not have a written note.
O
If you pick up your child for an appointment, you need to go to the office door first.
P
Parent involvement is crucial to your child’s success. Watch for opportunities in the newsletter. If we get to a level 6 for COVID precautions, I will set up opportunities A.S.A.P.
Q
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Do not post them on Facebook. Remember, quick goodbyes tend to leave drier eyes on days your child is having difficulty separating.
R
Report cards come home three times a year. Please sign the report card envelope and send it back to school; paperwork inside is yours to keep. Your child will have three recesses each day: One in the morning, one at lunchtime and another in the afternoon. I would like to utilize the outdoor learning classrooms. Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for outside play. Rest time is still being discussed. It may occur once a day in the afternoon. Your child will be provided a yoga mat that we can wipe down. It will be assigned to them. This will be phased out when developmentally appropriate.
S
The children have snack time each afternoon. Suggested items include pretzels, baked snack crackers, low fat graham crackers, fresh fruit, vegetables, and dairy items that do not require a spoon. Please refrain from items high in sugar or fat. Sweets and treats are meant to be saved for special occasions. Safety is a priority. Please send a note or call the school if s/he is to go home a different way than usual. Verbal changes from your child or a sibling cannot be accepted; in this case, your child will be sent home in the usual manner. If you are telephoning a change, please call before 2:45. Getting the children ready to leave for the day is a busy time; I may not hear the telephone ring if you call during the last fifteen minutes of class. You will need to pick up youngest to oldest children. Hornung siblings will not be allowed to pick up at our classroom doors.
T
Toys need to be left at home. They distract learning and if it becomes lost or broken, feelings become hurt. Toy weapons should always be kept at home. Your child’s education takes teamwork. All of us at Hornung Elementary School look forward to working with you and your child this year!
U
Each child brings to school unique qualities and strengths. We will build on them during the school year.
V
Please consider Velcro shoes if your child is not yet able to tie. We enjoy having our parents volunteer in our classroom! I will do my best to begin this when I've been instructed it is safe to do so.
W
The school district’s website is http://www.brightonk12.com/. My weebly is: coyoteroom.weebly.com. Your child is welcome to bring a labeled water bottle. Bottles will be sent home each day for washing.
X
Kindergarten is an Extra special year! In order for a child to be successful s/he must feel physically and emotionally safe! Keeping your child safe is my most important job. Your child’s most important job is to help me keep him/her safe.
Y
You are your child’s most important teacher and role model. Please work with me to provide your child the best education they deserve.
Z
ZZZ-ZZZ! Based on current research, your child needs 10-12 hours of rest each night. Children who are well rested are alert and ready to learn each day.
