Handbook
Welcome to Mrs. Germain’s Kindergarten
Welcome to Kindergarten at Colt Early Childhood Education Center and the apple room!! 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 all have a great year!!
About Myself
This is my fifteenth year of teaching Kindergarten here at Waverly. I graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Early Childhood Development I have completed my Master’s Degree from Michigan State University. I presently live in Holt with my husband and two sons. My oldest son Mitchell is 19 and lmy youngest son Collin just turned 1.
Communication
Please feel free to contact me anytime from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Colt phone number: 323-3777
A message can be left on the classroom phone: 323-7538. Please do not leave important information since I cannot always check messages right away.
You may also contact me by email:
[email protected]
Friday Folders
Weekly Newsletters, papers and information will be coming home every Friday in a white envelope. Be sure to check the envelope and return it on Monday. Use the envelope to send notes, book orders, lunch money, etc. to school. In addition, the folder you found this newsletter in will help organize school notes. Please be sure to save all newsletters and notes for future use.
Supplies
Your child will want to have a large backpack or schoolbag to carry papers to and from school. The school will provide crayons, but we do not have storage space for children to bring their own things. If you would like to donate a box of Kleenex and/or glue sticks, we would appreciate it, but it is OPTIONAL!
Parent Volunteers
I will be sending home a calendar at the beginning of each month. Please mark on the calendar the day or days that you would like to come to school and help out. I have a variety of jobs, ranging from working or reading with students to clerical tasks to art projects. I will also add on the calendar any special projects, field trips or parties where I will need more than one parent to help. After I receive your calendar with the dates marked, I will let you know if the times will work out. I love to have parents help out and so do the kids!!
After School
Please make sure I know and your child knows how he/she is getting home each day, including the bus#, or who is picking them up. If the plans change, let me know in a note or a phone call to school.
If your child rides the bus, please make sure that the bus tag stays in your child’s backpack and is updated during the school year in case of any problems.
Birthdays
Birthdays are an exciting, important event in the life of any child. During calendar time, we celebrate by singing and talking about the birthday. Snacks or treats will be shared during our snack time and simple treats work best. Cupcakes and cakes are very messy and not always enjoyed by the kids, so please send snacks such as fruit snacks, brownies, cookies, or doughnuts that are all easy to share. Plan to send in treats for about 23 children. If your child has a summer birthday, you can plan an “unbirthday” celebration. Please send a note letting me know your plans ahead of time.
Book Orders
About once a month I will be sending home book orders from Scholastic. The book orders are a terrific way to find fun and interesting books for your child at a reasonable price. Usually the orders need to be returned in about a week so that I can send them off to the company right away. When returning a book order, be sure to make the check out to Scholastic.
Conferences
Conferences will be held two times during the fall and spring.
November 9 & 10
March 27 & 28
Report Cards
Report cards are sent home three times a year; once in the fall, once at spring conferences and at the end of the year. The first two report cards will be sent home with your student or given to you; the third report card will be mailed after school is out.
Waverly Elementary PTO
Starting this year we are combining our elementary to form Waverly Elementary PTO . The PTO meets once a month and works in committees. The meeting is always preceded by dinner and child-care is provided. We are always looking for parents who are able to help with events, hospitality, grounds, fundraising and more.
I hope to see you there.
Curriculum Information
Curriculum Information Most of our time each day is devoted to literacy and math skills. We will rotate through Science, Social Studies, and Health within themes during the school year.
Literacy—Reading & Writing 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, helping and then practicing those skills in many ways throughout the day. Any opportunities to practice at home helps your child become a better learner!
Poem Books
Each week your child will learn a new poem. There will be a special folder to hold all of the poems. Your child will bring it home when it is completed later in the year.
Handwriting
Our school has adopted d’Nealian handwriting for our students. D’Nealian was created to make learning to write in print and cursive easier and faster for children. You will find a sample of the letters that we will be learning to write at the end of this handbook.
enVision Math
The district has adopted the enVision as our math curriculum for Kindergarten. This program has students working with objects called manipulatives to solve math problems. We will work to build counting and addition skills while we solve those problems.
Computers
Our classroom will be visiting the computer center this year. We will first learn about the computers here at school. Then we will use our math skills on the computers by making patterns and counting books.
Social Studies,Science, and Michigan Health Model
Our curriculum is based on the State of Michigan Benchmarks and Standards. The Social Studies and Science curriculum are taught using hands-on activities.
Themes
This is a list of general themes for kindergarten. There may be other smaller themes interspersed during they year. These themes will be delivered within the curriculum standards.
Nursery Rhymes
All About Me Seasons/Trees
Apples/Pumpkins Fire Safety
Giving Thanks/Family Winter/Snow
Five Senses Multi-Cultural
Health/Safety Authors
Spring/Summer Plants
Daily Homework
Please make sure that you are reading to your child everyday. Also make sure that your child practices writing their own name, letters, and numbers. It is also very important to read to your child daily. Here are some other areas for your child to practice everyday.
Recognizing letters
Recognizing sounds
Writing
Recognizing numbers
Counting 1 to 100
Family Homework Projects
Approximately once a month your child will bring home a project for the family to complete. It will be based on a theme that your child will be learning about in the classroom. Families will have approximately a week to complete and return the project to school.
Specials
Our class will attend a special every day. Our specials are:
gym, art, library and music.
Wear gym shoes for gym.
You will find a Specials schedule in this packet. Please post this at home where you can easily refer to it.
Field Trips
Our class will be taking at least one field trip this year. You will need to sign the yearlong field trip permission slip and return it so that your child may join us. Our field trips often require extra adult hands. I will let you know ahead of time so that you may sign up to join us. All parents who attend the field trips must fill out a volunteer form with the school or they will not be allowed on the field trip.
Welcome to Kindergarten at Colt Early Childhood Education Center and the apple room!! 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 all have a great year!!
About Myself
This is my fifteenth year of teaching Kindergarten here at Waverly. I graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Early Childhood Development I have completed my Master’s Degree from Michigan State University. I presently live in Holt with my husband and two sons. My oldest son Mitchell is 19 and lmy youngest son Collin just turned 1.
Communication
Please feel free to contact me anytime from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Colt phone number: 323-3777
A message can be left on the classroom phone: 323-7538. Please do not leave important information since I cannot always check messages right away.
You may also contact me by email:
[email protected]
Friday Folders
Weekly Newsletters, papers and information will be coming home every Friday in a white envelope. Be sure to check the envelope and return it on Monday. Use the envelope to send notes, book orders, lunch money, etc. to school. In addition, the folder you found this newsletter in will help organize school notes. Please be sure to save all newsletters and notes for future use.
Supplies
Your child will want to have a large backpack or schoolbag to carry papers to and from school. The school will provide crayons, but we do not have storage space for children to bring their own things. If you would like to donate a box of Kleenex and/or glue sticks, we would appreciate it, but it is OPTIONAL!
Parent Volunteers
I will be sending home a calendar at the beginning of each month. Please mark on the calendar the day or days that you would like to come to school and help out. I have a variety of jobs, ranging from working or reading with students to clerical tasks to art projects. I will also add on the calendar any special projects, field trips or parties where I will need more than one parent to help. After I receive your calendar with the dates marked, I will let you know if the times will work out. I love to have parents help out and so do the kids!!
After School
Please make sure I know and your child knows how he/she is getting home each day, including the bus#, or who is picking them up. If the plans change, let me know in a note or a phone call to school.
If your child rides the bus, please make sure that the bus tag stays in your child’s backpack and is updated during the school year in case of any problems.
Birthdays
Birthdays are an exciting, important event in the life of any child. During calendar time, we celebrate by singing and talking about the birthday. Snacks or treats will be shared during our snack time and simple treats work best. Cupcakes and cakes are very messy and not always enjoyed by the kids, so please send snacks such as fruit snacks, brownies, cookies, or doughnuts that are all easy to share. Plan to send in treats for about 23 children. If your child has a summer birthday, you can plan an “unbirthday” celebration. Please send a note letting me know your plans ahead of time.
Book Orders
About once a month I will be sending home book orders from Scholastic. The book orders are a terrific way to find fun and interesting books for your child at a reasonable price. Usually the orders need to be returned in about a week so that I can send them off to the company right away. When returning a book order, be sure to make the check out to Scholastic.
Conferences
Conferences will be held two times during the fall and spring.
November 9 & 10
March 27 & 28
Report Cards
Report cards are sent home three times a year; once in the fall, once at spring conferences and at the end of the year. The first two report cards will be sent home with your student or given to you; the third report card will be mailed after school is out.
Waverly Elementary PTO
Starting this year we are combining our elementary to form Waverly Elementary PTO . The PTO meets once a month and works in committees. The meeting is always preceded by dinner and child-care is provided. We are always looking for parents who are able to help with events, hospitality, grounds, fundraising and more.
I hope to see you there.
Curriculum Information
Curriculum Information Most of our time each day is devoted to literacy and math skills. We will rotate through Science, Social Studies, and Health within themes during the school year.
Literacy—Reading & Writing 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, helping and then practicing those skills in many ways throughout the day. Any opportunities to practice at home helps your child become a better learner!
Poem Books
Each week your child will learn a new poem. There will be a special folder to hold all of the poems. Your child will bring it home when it is completed later in the year.
Handwriting
Our school has adopted d’Nealian handwriting for our students. D’Nealian was created to make learning to write in print and cursive easier and faster for children. You will find a sample of the letters that we will be learning to write at the end of this handbook.
enVision Math
The district has adopted the enVision as our math curriculum for Kindergarten. This program has students working with objects called manipulatives to solve math problems. We will work to build counting and addition skills while we solve those problems.
Computers
Our classroom will be visiting the computer center this year. We will first learn about the computers here at school. Then we will use our math skills on the computers by making patterns and counting books.
Social Studies,Science, and Michigan Health Model
Our curriculum is based on the State of Michigan Benchmarks and Standards. The Social Studies and Science curriculum are taught using hands-on activities.
Themes
This is a list of general themes for kindergarten. There may be other smaller themes interspersed during they year. These themes will be delivered within the curriculum standards.
Nursery Rhymes
All About Me Seasons/Trees
Apples/Pumpkins Fire Safety
Giving Thanks/Family Winter/Snow
Five Senses Multi-Cultural
Health/Safety Authors
Spring/Summer Plants
Daily Homework
Please make sure that you are reading to your child everyday. Also make sure that your child practices writing their own name, letters, and numbers. It is also very important to read to your child daily. Here are some other areas for your child to practice everyday.
Recognizing letters
Recognizing sounds
Writing
Recognizing numbers
Counting 1 to 100
Family Homework Projects
Approximately once a month your child will bring home a project for the family to complete. It will be based on a theme that your child will be learning about in the classroom. Families will have approximately a week to complete and return the project to school.
Specials
Our class will attend a special every day. Our specials are:
gym, art, library and music.
Wear gym shoes for gym.
You will find a Specials schedule in this packet. Please post this at home where you can easily refer to it.
Field Trips
Our class will be taking at least one field trip this year. You will need to sign the yearlong field trip permission slip and return it so that your child may join us. Our field trips often require extra adult hands. I will let you know ahead of time so that you may sign up to join us. All parents who attend the field trips must fill out a volunteer form with the school or they will not be allowed on the field trip.