Welcome to Kindergarten

Health Assessment Cards:

Ø It is Wake County Policy that children entering Kindergarten receive immunizations prior to the start of school. They will give a grace period of no more than 30 days to have health cards turned in. If the school does not receive your child’s health card, they will not allow him/her to attend school. If you have any questions, please contact the school nurse.

Transportation:

Ø It is very important for you to inform us if your child will be going home different than usual. For instance, if your child usually rides a bus and you want to pick him/her up in carpool one day, we must have a note from you indicating this. We will not send children home any other way than what they normally so, unless you have a note. This is to protect your child. In addition, if your child is going home with another child, we must have a note indicating this from both children’s parents. I know this may seem a little extreme, but we want to ensure your child’s safety.

Absences:

Ø If your child is absent, please call the school’s message line (662-2306) and leave a message stating the reason for the absence. Also, please send an excuse note with your child on the day he/she returns to school after being absent. A note will also be appreciated if your child is not feeling well, but is not ill enough to stay home. This will alert us to the fact that your child may need some extra tender, loving care that day.

Newsletter:

Ø This will be sent home every week in your child’s Monday folder. Our newsletter is called Kindergarten News, and includes class studies for the week and reminders of upcoming events for the class and school.

Lunch:

Ø The cost of lunch is $1.75 each day, and it may be purchased in quantity or daily. Your child may purchase just milk for $.50 or bring lunch from home. You may prepay on your child’s lunch account so that your child does not have to bring loose change to school on a daily basis. This works much better for kindergarten-aged children. They simple memorize a lunch number and present this number to the cafeteria everyday. Although desserts (cookies, cake, ice-cream, slushies) are available everyday, it is important to remember that the kids only have approximately 20 minutes to eat their lunches. With that being said, please know that my dessert policy is that the children must first eat their entire lunch before getting dessert.

Snack:

Ø Please send a nutritious snack with your child everyday. (A juice box is fine as well.) But please understand that we only have about 10 minutes for snack, therefore it should be something that your child can eat relatively quickly.

Rest time:

Ø For the first half of the year, we will have a 30-45 minute rest time, each day. The children are not required to sleep, but they are required to “rest” quietly. We stay really busy in kindergarten, and the majority of children need this down time. Please send a large towel with your child’s name clearly printed on it. We will send towels home every Friday to be washed. Please send them back the following Monday morning. Understand that if you do not send a towel with your child, he/she will lay directly on the floor…. so please don’t forget!

Change of Clothes:

Ø Please pack extra clothing (shirt, shorts, underwear, socks, etc.) in a large ziplock bag and keep this in your child’s book bag at all times in case of a bathroom accident. Even if your child has not had an accident in quite some time, it is better to have clothes here so we do not need to call you at home or work in case of an emergency. ( Please don’t forget to change this extra set of clothing as your child grows and the weather changes!!!)

Medication:

Ø All mediation will be administered in the office. The office can only administer prescription medicine with a doctor’s note. Please do not send these types of medication with your child to school. Please deliver medications to the office yourself. In addition, children are not permitted to bring cough drops, Tylenol, etc. to school for safety reasons. They will also have to be administered through the office and accompanied by a doctor’s note.

Birthdays:

Ø Parties are not allowed by Wake County policy. We set aside one day each month to have a special snack for the children with birthdays in that month. Also, birthday party invitations are not allowed to be passed out at school. However, we can provide you with a class list and contact numbers for your planning convenience.

Visiting:

Ø We have an open door policy in our classroom and invite you to volunteer as often as you can. We do, however, ask that you do not come in during the first six weeks of school. Your child needs time to adjust to new teachers, friends, and schedules. We want your child to feel very comfortable and independent, and we know that you want that as well. Also, all visitors must report through the Front Office and sign in. All doors remain locked throughout the day, and teachers are not permitted to open a locked for anyone other than a staff member.

Volunteers:

Ø In order to volunteer in the classroom, lunch bunch, and field trips, you must first register as a volunteer in the front office. When you have been approved, you will receive a volunteer badge that must be worn at all times when volunteering. If you are interested in doing lunch bunch and field trips, you must apply and be approved as a level 3 or 4 volunteer,

Questions:

Ø Any questions and /or concerns are welcomed at any time during the year! Please contact me by calling the school office (662-2300) and leaving me a message, by writing a note in your child’s communication notebook, or by sending me an email at nchisek@wcpss.net. I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Dismissal:

Ø Children may be picked up during the day for appointments through the Front Office. However, children will not be released to parents between 2:20 and 2:50 in the afternoon. We try to eliminate any traffic in the building right before and after dismissal to ensure every child’s safety.