Extended Family Packet

8/4/2019 Extended Family Packet

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The Preschool

Survival Handbook!

A welcome packet for families full of resources,

ideas, procedures, schedules and everythingyou

need to know to have a child in

Ms. Sadowskys & Ms. Angels Preschool

classat

Robert Brent Elementary School* Please read immediately. To be read carefully and put in a place that

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will be safe and easily accessible throughout the academic year.

Table of Contents

WelcomeLetter.................................................................................... 3

Guardian Questionnaire (loose leaf- to bereturned)................................ 5

Volunteer Checklist (loose leaf- to bereturned)....................................... 7

Folder Procedures & Regular CommunicationOutline............................. 8

Contact Information

Guideline................................................................... 9

ClassroomSchedule.10

Classroom Promises & HHHExplanation.................................................11

Responsive ClassroomOverview.............................................................12

Classroom Community Calendar (bottom half to bereturned).................13

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Quick Tips forParents..............................................................................15

ToiletingExpectations16

Student ShareInformation........................................................................17

Lunch TimeInformation.....................................................................18

Snack TimeInformation19

SnackSchedule..20

August 29, 2011

Dear Families,

Welcome to Preschool! I cannot wait to begin to build ourclassroom community for this academic year. Together we canmake your childs year a highly productive, enriching and

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empowering experience. This year we will be talking a lot aboutthe dreams of what we want to be when we grow up, andemphasizing how learning puts us on the path to make thesedreams come true! Our class theme will be Launching intoPreschool and throughout they year we will be shooting for the

stars as we work hard to reach our goals.

We will be building a supportive, safe, and energeticclassroom community. The success of our community willdepend on all students meeting certain behavior expectationsand continually striving to do their best academically! I haveincluded some information about our classroom promises in theattached packet.

One of my top priorities is getting students excited to

READ and WRITE. We will be reading books togethereveryday, and students will have time to read and writeindependently in our library and writing centers. I am alsovery excited to announce that we will have a lendinglibrary system so that students can sustain their learningat home. I am encouraging families to spend at least20 minutes a night reading with their child, which Iam sure is a time that both you and your childrenwill grow to cherish.

Families will be an essential part of ourclassroom. You are always invited to join us andhelp us in our learning any time, any day (afterthe first 6 weeks of school). Younger students LOVE tohave family visit their school environment; whetherits a grandmother that sits with them or an aunt thatwatches the hard work they do, or a mother or fatherthat comes in to read a book to us or help us do an artproject! Many volunteer opportunities will beavailable, and you can feel free to sign up

yourself or other family members for as many asyou like on our family board in the classroom.The family board will serve as a communicationtool to keep you informed on what we areworking on as well as exciting announcementand classroom events. In addition, a monthlynewsletter will be sent out to keep you updated on

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what is going on in Room 108, also look for weekly e-mail blasts!

Please communicate with me! I want to know allof your questions, concerns, and ideas! I will be more than happyto talk with you about your child, our classroom, and everythingin between. I especially look forward to communicating with youabout your childs progress. I will be calling your homeregularly, sending e-mails regularly and sending home acomplete progress report every weekend. In addition tobeing a means of communication for us, all important schoolpapers will be sent home in your childs school folder every

Tuesday, so please check your childs folder every Tuesdayevening. Our communication station will also be a major tool forschool to home communication, so please make sure to readabout that in the At Home Connection section of this welcomepacket.

Additionally, please feel free to call me, text me, write me anote, e-mail me, or set up an in person conference. I am veryexcited to get to know each and every one of your families andam honored to be working with you to supporting your child toreach their fullest potentials as students. With all of us workingtogether, this will be a great year!

Sincerely,

Ms. Julia Sadowsky

Julias Cell Phone: (413) 271-4077

Julias Email:[email protected]

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Parent/Guardian Questionnaire

Childs Name:_________________________

Parents/Guardians Name: ________________________

I am looking forward to getting to know your child and working withyou to make this a wonderful kindergarten year! Our classroom issensitive to the strengths and needs of each child. Because you arethe person who knows your child best, please share thoughts aboutyour child that you think might be helpful for me to know. Yourreflection will help me to better match my teaching style and thecurriculum to your child and his/her individual needs. Please be sureto complete both sides of this questionnaire.

1. What is your relationship to the student? (mother, father,grandmother) Does your child have siblings at Brent?

_________________________________________________________________

2. What are your goals for your child this year?

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

3. What sorts of things is your child most interested in (in or out of

school)?

_________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

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4. What motivates your child?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

5. What games does your child like to play?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

6. When your child is upset, what are some strategies that you find

helpful?

__________________________________________________________________

(Over)

__________________________________________________________________

7. When your child has conflicts with other children, what are some

ways he/she works them out?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

______________

Please share any information I should know about your child

(medications, conditions, special seat requirements, bathroom needs)

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

______________

Please answer the following so we can regularly communicate:

1. Phone number(s) where I can reach you:

Home Phone: ________________________________

Cell Phone: __________________________________

Work Phone: _________________________________

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2. Convenient times to call: ____________________________________

3. Email address: ________________________________

4. I prefer to be contacted by E-MAIL PHONE(circle one)

5. Will your child be attending our after care program?________________________

6. Who will be picking up your child everyday from school?

____________________________________________________________________

7. Please provide the names of those people allowed to take your

child home:

_____________________________________________________________________

Thank you! I look forward to communicating frequently and workingclosely with you this year!

Sincerely,

Ms. Julia Sadowsky

Volunteer Checklist

Dear Families,

Young children love to have their families connected to theirclassroom. This connection makes the transitions from home to schooleasier. I sincerely invite you to be a part of our classroom community!Here are some of the ways you might help out. Please check any thatinterest you. Complete the form and return it to school with your child.Thank you, and I look forward to working with you!

Sincerely,Ms. Julia Sadowsky

I would be interested in volunteering in the following ways:

___ Share family traditions or a special skill,

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___ Pick up and return books at our local library.

___ Help with math or literacy small group activities in the classroom.

___ Teach the class words in a foreign language you speak.

___ Cut things out and prepare projects in advance from home.

___ Chaperone on field trips.

___ Lead a craft or cooking project in the classroom.

___ Read a book to the class.

___ Attend teacher led parent workshops.

___ Be our PTA classroom parents.

___ Join us during our center time.

___ Lead/help out with a different type of activity (Specify: -_____________________)

Please add any special skills you or another family member couldcontribute to the classroom (sewing, quilting, cooking etc.)

Please add any interesting careers/hobbies you or other familymembers could come speak to the classroom about: (Grandmother is adoctor, Dad is a fisherman, etc.)_____________________________________________________________________________

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Folder and RegularCommunication

The School FolderEvery Tuesday, your child will

bring home their school folder. It isimportant that you check the folder every Tuesday night so you can beup to date on classroom announcements. Student work, classroomnewsletters, Tues News (the school-wide newspaper), permission slipsand other important paperwork and forms will be sent home in thisfolder as well. Please fill out all forms & permission slips that night, andreturn them in the school folder. Every Wednesday your childsfolder should return to school in their backpack, with the

appropriate completed paperwork and forms.

Communication StationOur communication station will be located in the

student cubby area, hanging on left-hand the wall. Eachchild will have their own clearly labeled mailbox inthe station. This will be where student work andpaperwork is stored until it is sent home in their schoolfolder on Tuesday. If you have anything to distribute tostudents or their families (invitations, thank-yous,

memos, etc.) please feel free to distribute them intothese student mailboxes and they will be promptly senthome in their Tuesday folders.You will also findmailboxes for both Ms. Sadowsky and Ms. XXXX atcommunication station. This is where you shouldplace any notes, forms, or paperwork on nightsthat the school folder is not sent home. We willcheck these mailboxes daily. Finally, there will be pockets that houseextra newsletters, permissions slips, forms, etc. If you happen tomisplace the copies that were sent home, please go to these pocketsto find the extra copies that you need.

Weekly Progress UpdatesEvery weekend you will receive an e-mail blast from me,

providing a brief recap of our week as class as well as any remindersfor the upcoming week. Attached to this e-mail you will find yourchilds WEEKLY PROGRESS UPDATE! This document will serve as aprogress report and will include GLOWS (accomplishments &successes) and GROWS (A skill we are going to focus working

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on) for your child, as well as pictures of your child workinghard that week. Families in the past have enjoyed forwarding theseupdated to other family members to keep them connected!

Monthly Classroom NewslettersOn the first Tuesday of each month our classroom newsletter will

be sent home in your childs school folder! This will provide you withannouncements, updates, anecdotes about our classroom experiences,special thank-yous, and of course lots of beautiful photos of ourclassroom community at work! A digital copy will also be e-mailed toyou in that weeks e-mail blast.

Contact information Summary

I want to contact Ms. Sadowsky, what

are my options?

E-mail me anytime:[email protected] me anytime: 413-271-4077

Call me before school (starting at 7 am) or after school (until 8pm): 413-271-4077Leave me a message at Brents front office during the schoolday: 202-698-3363

*You can also feel free to stay and chat with me in our classroom atpick-up, any day besides Tuesday (when I leave immediately to travelto Graduate School).

I want to contact the main office,what are my options?

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Call the front office during school hours: 202-698-3363

Send mail to the front office: Robert Brent Elementary School301 North Carolina Ave. SEWashington, D.C. 20003

Other points of contact:

Peter Young, Principal: [email protected]

Denise Diggs, Business Manager:[email protected]

Andrea Casula, Office Manager: [email protected]. Casula is the point of contact for absences.

Karen Neal, Special Education Coordinator: [email protected]

8:30-8:50 Arrival8:50-9:10 Morning Meeting9:10-10:00 Small Group10:05-10:50 Specials11:00-11:25 Outdoors/Movement11:25-11:45 Read-a-Loud

11:45-12:15 Lunch12:15-12:30 Story & Bathroom12:30-1:30 Rest Time1:30-2:00 Outdoors/

Discovery2:00-3:00 Center Time

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= A great time for you to join

us!

= a CRUCIAL time for you to

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3:00-3:15 Afternoon Meeting

* Any lapses in time represent transitioning and traveling time.

The fun, growth and academic progress we make as a class thisyear hinges on the guidelines and expectations of the classroom andschool. Because understanding and following these classroompromises is so imperative to our classroom community anddevelopment, I want to make sure that each family is aware of andcommitted to encouraging the children to follow the expectations ofthe school and my classroom.

The following are our classroom promises:

1. Follow directions the first time.

2. Be Safe. Keep hands, feet and objects to ourselves.

3. Use Kind words.

4. Always do your best!

It is imperative to our growth as a class and to the children asindividuals to feel like the safety rule applies and is carried out to themat all times. We will be discussing each of these promises as a classcontinually, but please make sure you also talk with your child aboutthese expectations and what it means to follow them at all times.

Hugs, Handshakes and High-Fives

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When members of our classroom community arefeeling sad, mad, etc., they will be asked to sharetheir feelings, explain what is making them feel thatway, and choose what they would like to make themfeel better: a hug, a handshake or a high-five from

one of their peers.

When social conflicts arise in ourclassroom community (ex. a student grabs a blockfrom a friend), students will be asked if they thinkthey made a good or bad choice, why it was a goodor bad choice, how they would feel if that wouldhappen to them, and then they will need to ask theirclassmate what they need to feel better: a hug,handshake of a high-five.

Take a Break: Lets Cool DownWhen members of our classroom community make repeated

negative choices, they will be asked to take a break. There is a specialcomfortable area in our classroom, stocked with pillows, tissues andvisual reminders of ways to calm down and fix our choices wherestudents will cool down and relax until they are ready to rejoin ourclassroom community. Students can alsochoose to visit

the cool down area at anytime throughout the school dayif they are feeling that they need some independenttime to calm down and collect themselves.

Guiding Principals:

The social curriculum is as important as the as the academiccurriculum.

How children learn is as important as what they learn.

The greatest cognitive growth occurs through social interaction.

There is a specific set of social skills that children need to learnand practice in order to be successful academically and socially:cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control.

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Knowing the children we teach - individually, culturally, anddevelopmentally - is as important as knowing the content weteach.

Knowing the families of the children we teach is as important asknowing the children we teach.

How we, the adults at school, work together is as important asour individual competence

Logical Consequences:

Responsive Classroom believes in logical consequences foractions taken. In our classroom, we value choice. Every child

chooses his/her behavior and actions each day. For positive choicesand actions, the childs behavior will be reinforced with praise,acknowledgement and encouragement. For negative choices andactions, the child will receive logical consequences according to thespecific action taken (example: taping a book back together if he/sherips it).

Classroom Practices:

Morning Meeting- Daily whole group meeting to buildcommunity and warm up

Rule Creation- The class works together to create classroomrules

Interactive Modeling- Teaches children to notice andinternalize expected behaviors

Positive Teacher Language- Words and tone to promoteactive-learning & self discipline

Guided Discovery- Introducing materials in a way thatpromotes creativity & responsibility

Academic Choice- Promoting student choice and differentiationin instruction

Classroom Organization- Set up that promotes independence,cooperation & productivity

Working with Families- Hearing family insights & sharingschools teaching approaches

Creative Problem Solving- Engage students in problem solving(conferencing, role playing, and other strategies)

Learn More:www.ResponsiveClassroom.org

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Our Classroom Calendar

Dear Families,

Each day, our classroom will look at our classroom calendar anddiscuss the days of the week, the weather and anything special aboutthe particular day or week. Typically, special days include studentbirthday, holidays, field trips, classroom visitors and any specialactivities our assemblies happening at school. This year, however, I

would like to make our classroom calendar a CLASSROOM COMMUNITYCALENDAR, so we can become ever closer as a community and bridgean even stronger connection between school and home. This means,we want to hear about all of the special days going on in your homeand family so we can talk about them and celebrate them as acommunity!

Grandpas birthday? Family Tradition? Cousins bat mitzvah?Parents wedding anniversary? We want to know about it so we canhighlight all of the different special days family have!

Together, we will make this year both exciting and fulfilling, and I lookforward to celebrating all of your families special days with yourchildren.

Sincerely,

Ms. Julia Sadowsky

Please detach the paper below the line, complete and return to

Ms. Sadowsky a.s.a.p.

_______________________________s Special Family Days

Please list Family Birthdays: Please List AtLeast 3 other special days1. _______________________ 1. _______________________2. _______________________ 2. _______________________

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3. _______________________ 3. _______________________4. _______________________ 4. _______________________5. _______________________ 5. _______________________

** LABEL everything!

Clothing, socks, backpacks, notebooks- anything that your child brings to schoolshould have his/her name on it.

** Lost and Found

I will always keep a classroom lost and found for items that were foundunclaimed or unidentifiable. Please feel free to come look through the lost and found is

your child has misplaced an item at any point during the school year. The bin will be

located in the student cubby area.

** Check out our family information board!

Updated weekly with classroom newsletters, school fliers, Tues News, notices,important memos, birthday announcements, PTA information, all activities and our

classroom calendar. Do you have something to announce or share with the class? Feel

free to post it on our family board, this is a tool for you! Use it!

** Birthday PartiesBirthday parties are always a fun way to celebrate your childs birthday for all of

the kids in the class! I am more than happy to help host or aid in a small birthday partyof your child at the end of the school day. If you are interested in having a small party

for your child, please contact me at least two weeks before your childs birthday.

Birthday parties typically occur at 2:30pm in our classroom, and family and friends arewelcome to join us. I suggest coming at 2:00 to join us for center time (to make the day

extra special for your child), and then we will start the party at 2:30! I invite you to bring

a snack for the class, but please be sure there is enough for each child to have an equalshare. I look forward to watching your child make a wish and blow out the candles with

you!

** Lending Library

The sign up sheet for our lending library can be found on our Family Information

Board. Feel free to sign any of our classroom books out to take home and enjoy with your

child and family! Your family may sign out one book at a time.

**Toys From Home

The pre-k 3 classes provide many toys and stimulating activities for students.

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Therefore, toys from home are not permitted. This will help to avoid broken toys, lost

toys, and a lot of hurt feelings and tears. Children will have the opportunity throughout

the year to share experiences, pictures, and special family items at share time duringmorning meeting.

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All Brent students must be fullypotty trained before entering school!

This means that there are no pull-ups allowed and that yourchild must be able to independently use the bathroom and followproper bathroom procedures. We understand that accidents areprone to occur, that is not our concern. We want to ensure that allstudents at Brent have a safe learning environment, and weappreciate your cooperation in achieving this goal.

As a result of health code requirements, Brent is not equippedwith the facilities to accommodate students who are not potty trained,and furthermore the staff is not trained to potty train children. Withoutthe proper facilities, there is a high risk for potential infection andconsistent accidents may put the entire class at risk. In addition,crucial instructional time is lost when teachers must frequently assistin toilet training.

In the event that your child is having consistent accidents, acommittee will be convened in order to address the schoolsconcerns, and how best to support your family. If an action plan isimplemented, and this continues to be an issue, further action may betaken.

If you have any more questions or concerns regarding toileting atBrent please dont hesitate to contact Peter Young.

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Share Time Schedule

Dear Families,

On Tuesday, September 12, 2011 we will begin our share timeschedule.

Each student will be able to bring in one item, announcement, or pieceof news per weekfrom home that he/she would like to share with the

class. Please only have your child bring this item on the day he/she isscheduled to share with the class. This will be a time for the class tobuild community and practice their speaking skills.

Listed below is the share time schedule for the next semester,please follow it closely.

Due to time constraints and our rigorous schedule, if a student missestheir share day because of a holiday, professional development day,absence or field trip they will not be able to share on the next day.They can bring in their item to share the following week.

Sincerely,Ms. Julia Sadowsky

Mondays:

Mira, Elijah, Max

Tuesdays:

Mirabelle, Nora, Jack, Kathryn

Wednesdays:

Kiera, Wade, Joseph

Thursdays:

Corina, Ethan, Carlos

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Fridays:

William, Cecilia, Ray

Lets Make Lunch a Happy and Healthy

Time!

As you know, it is crucial to the development of a childsbody and mind that they eat a full and healthy lunch every

day. Especially being in an academically rigorous setting, it is

imperative that children are re-fueling and getting energy to push

through the afternoons at school. As children can be very picky

eaters, it is important that we work together to ensure that each

child has a lunch they will enjoy eating each day because

unfortunately, if they do not like their lunch, it may return to you

uneaten. When a student does not eat lunch, it is very difficult forthem to participate in the afternoon activities and make the most

out of their learning time.

What are we doing at school?

Teachers encourage students to eat lunch and talk

about the importance of eating so we can grow up

big and strong.

We will be incorporating health and nutrition into

our curriculum.

How can you help us?

If your child eats school lunch, please review the menu

before to ensure it is something your child will eat and

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enjoy.

Have your child pack their lunch with you, so there are no

surprises when they open their lunchbox.

Leave the experimenting for home meals, please send your

child with a food that you know they will eat and enjoy.

Starting on Monday, August 29th

, we will begin our weekly snack rotationsystem. One family will be responsible for bringing in snack for the

entire class for the whole week.

Things to keep in mind while choosing your snack to bring:

1. We are a nut free school! Absolutely no nuts allowed.

2. We are only looking forHEALTHY SNACKS. Our children are

working really hard throughout the day and need nutritious

food to keep their energy levels up and their brains growing.

(No cookies, chips, or things of that sort)

Great healthy snack examples:

1. Grapes, strawberries, others fresh fruits

2. Dried fruits (apricots, mangos, etc)

3. Fruit bars, Granola Bars

4. Cheese sticks

5. Raisins6. Yogurt

7. Carrots, Celery, Hummus

8. Whole Grain Snacks

9. Sugar-free fruit snacks

10.Veggie Stix

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A copy of the snack schedule is on the following page, and another

copy will remain posted on the parent/teacher communication board

throughout the year. Please make sure to write your snack weeks on your

home calendar, so we can ensure the students have a snack to eat each day!

When you have decided what you will be bringing on your week, please

fill it in on the parent/teacher communication board copy so that other

families will be aware of what their child is being given for snack.

Thank you so much for your help in making this system work and

keeping our students healthy and energized!

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( Insert Snack Schedule Here)

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Documents

Extended Family Packet