KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION
MADAME REAGAN’S CLASS 2012-2013
CONTACT INFORMATION
Teacher: Kathleen Reagan-Anderson
School: L’Etoile du Nord French Immersion School
Address: 1363 Bush Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55106
Phone: (651) 744-6997
Fax: (651) 221-1487
E-mail: kathleen.reagan@spps.org
SCHOOL HOURS
School hours are 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The classroom door opens at 8:15 a.m. I encourage you to bring your child as close to this time as possible. Please bring your child to the bathroom before coming into the room. A prompt start to the day makes for a relaxed child who is ready to learn.
ATTENDANCE (ABSENCES/TARDINESS)
Attendance and being on time are essential to the success of your child. Kindergarten is a continuous experience with each day’s learning built on the previous day’s. Poor attendance and frequent tardiness will not benefit your child’s learning. Children should be at school and ready to learn by 8:30 a.m. They will be marked tardy at 8:35 a.m. If your child is absent, please call the school in the morning stating the reason for the absence. Please let me know as well via phone or e-mail. Please notify me of any contagious diseases (chicken pox, strep throat, head lice, etc..), so I can send home the appropriate notices for other families. Families should schedule vacations during school days off. If your vacation does fall during school time, you will need to fill out a vacation request form at least 2 weeks prior to leaving. The principal will either grant you permission for an excused or unexcused absence after reviewing your request. Repeated unexcused absences and tardies will be turned over to truancy officials.
CHANGES IN TRANSPORTATION/EARLY RELEASE DAYS
If you need to pick up your child before the end of the school day, you must sign him or her out in the office. All transportation changes must be indicated in a note to me. If you need to pick up your child who normally rides the bus, please send me a note informing me of this change and arrive at school no later than 3:00 p.m. I am required to put your child on the bus unless I have received notice that you will be picking the child up. Children may not take the bus home with a friend, even with a note. It is school district policy that bus drivers may only accept children on their bus list. Changes in bus pick up/drop off should be made 10 days in advance in order for Transportation to add the new route to their list.
NAME TAGS/BUS SAFETY
All kindergarten students taking the bus should attach to their backpack the bus clip that I will provide. In addition, all kindergarteners should wear their laminated transportation card around their neck for the first two weeks of school, both coming and going. After that, the card should remain in their backpack. At the end of September we will be discussing bus safety with the students in French. Please read and review with your child the bus safety information you received before sending him or her on the bus. Parents are notified of student incident reports (“pink slips”), which are given to the school by the bus drivers for any rule violations children commit. Repeated offenses will result in suspension from the bus.
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Each child has a food services account set up in his or her name and has been given a personal identification number (PIN) for the computer. Each time your child eats lunch his/her account will be debited.
*Breakfast-To-Go is available to all students free of charge starting at 8:10 a.m. The children will go to the cafeteria first to pick up a breakfast bag and then proceed to the classroom. Breakfast will be eaten in the classroom.
*Lunch costs $1.90 per child (includes milk). If you qualify for reduced price lunch the cost is $.40. Extra milk is $0.50 (low-lactose milk $.75).
It is the parents’ responsibility to make sure the child’s account has sufficient funds:
*Cash or checks should be put in an envelope labeled “Lunch Money”, with your child’s name and PIN. Checks should be made out to St. Paul Public Schools’ Nutrition Services.
*You may also add money to your child’s account with a credit card by phone and online. You must register with the Parent Account Management System (PAMS). Go to www.paypams.com or call 1-888-994-5100.
*Visit Saint Paul Public Schools’ Nutrition Services website at www.sppscafe.org for more information.
*Nutrition Services requests that all families fill out free and reduced breakfast forms even if your family will not qualify for this.
AFTERNOON SNACK
Since we eat lunch at 10:30, we will be having an afternoon snack. Please send your child with something simple and healthy to eat for snack; remind your child to save it for the afternoon and not to eat it for lunch. Because some children have serious food allergies remind your child not to share their food (breakfast, lunch or snack). Be sure to label any container you send that you want back. Include a spoon or fork, if needed.
BIRTHDAYS/PARTY INVITATIONS
We observe birthdays (and half birthdays for those born in the summer). I make each child a birthday crown and a special gift. He or she will wear the birthday cape as we sing “Joyeux anniversaire” together. The birthday child will sound the birthday chimes. If your child’s birthday falls on the weekend, we will celebrate it on Monday. Please refrain from bringing treats to share.
I am happy to discretely distribute invitations (in the communication folders, "chemises") to birthday parties if you send them in with a note asking me to do so. Please advise your child not to discuss the party, so as to minimize hurt feelings on the part of those not invited or unable to come.
COMMUNICATION
Each child has a plastic communication folder ("chemise") for school notices, items to be signed/returned and weekly homework. I will use the right side (“à la maison”) to send papers home, and you will use the left side (“à l’école”) to send homework, forms and notes to me or the school. This folder will be sent home on a daily basis and should always be returned the following day, even if empty. You may also leave me a voice message at 651-744-6997, and I will get back to you as soon as possible. E-mail is another good way to contact me. I check my account every day after school and usually before school and during my prep. My email address is kathleen.reagan@spps.org.
HOMEWORK
On Mondays weekly homework will be included in your child’s communication folder. Homework is due back by Friday of that same week. If Monday works better for your home schedule, that is fine. Homework will be in English to ensure that your child can seek your assistance if needed. It will focus on math and literacy. I will begin sending homework the third full week of school (September 24).
NEWSLETTER
I will send home a newsletter at least monthly to keep you informed about our accomplishments and coming events. I will include themes of study, items your child might need to bring, special events and more. I will be updating my webpage regularly and posting my newsletters (www.frenchimmersion.spps.org/K,Reagan).
CLOTHING/CHANGE OF CLOTHES
Simple clothing is best for school. It is most convenient if your child wears sneakers to school. Velcro closures make life easier! Buttons, belts, and buckles can be hard to handle in the bathroom. Please practice buttoning, zipping, and tying with your child at home so he/she can get ready independently. Please label all jackets, hats, mittens, boots, snow pants, etc. Please send in one change of clothes (pants, socks, shirt, and 2 underpants) in a plastic bag labeled with your child’s name. This should remain at school all year in case of any accidents (bathroom, paint, lunchroom, or sickness).
TENNIS SHOES
Rubber-soled shoes are a necessity for your child’s safety. We will have Physical Education classes and daily outdoor recess, so shoes should always be appropriate for running and physical activity. Students are encouraged to wear tennis shoes or rubber-soled shoes to school each day, as a large group of children changing into “gym shoes” can take a significant amount of time away from learning. Unless your child is adept at tying, please consider Velcro or elastic closures.
ITEMS TO BE LEFT AT HOME
Gum, candy, toys of any kind (especially toy guns/weapons), trading cards, money (except on Fridays for Le Loup, the school store, which will be open sometime in October), perfume, makeup, indoor hats/bandanas, or fancy jewelry. Please call me if you have any questions regarding an item your child would like to bring to school.
VOLUNTEERING
I welcome parent volunteers in the classroom, regularly or occasionally! All the better if you can speak French! If not, I still have plenty of housekeeping and preparation tasks that need to be done. Volunteering in the classroom is an excellent way to be involved in your child's education, connect names with faces and gain an understanding of my expectations and how the day unfolds. It offers a little window into your child's world away from home. Please e-mail or phone me if you would like to offer your time and talents to the class.
I am so excited to start this year’s journey with your children and to work with you! Together we shall make kindergarten a rich and fulfilling year!