Dear Parents,
Welcome to St. Agnes School and Pre-Kindergarten! What an exciting time this is for you and your child. I am so very eager to get to know your child and be a part of his/her early childhood education. Sometimes it gets confusing as new parents on how things actually work. Here is a sheet of helpful hints until we meet again at Open House on August 25th at 6:30.
1. Please send 2 snacks daily so your child has a snack for morning recess at 9:00 a.m. (no drinks please) and an afternoon snack also, usually around 2:00. This presents us from being liable for children who may have special needs (allergies to dairy products, strawberries, peanuts etc. or childhood diabetes.) Please have snacks that are healthy and nutritious. Mark their name on both snacks!
2. School supplies, book bags and St. Agnes t-shirts/sweatshirts should be marked with your child’s name. A note will be sent home if you need to update supplies over the year.
3. Please keep a set of clothes in your child’s book bag in a marked ziplock bag at all times. Accidents do occur at this age and we may have to change a child from head to toe. (Include undies, and socks. Replace as necessary and when seasons change.)
4. Please send in their church envelope by Friday.
5. Each child has a blue and white folder, which is to be kept in their book bags and returned to school daily. The parents should check this folder every evening for daily papers. You will receive a folder from the school office every Friday with letters to the parents, school communications, and billing statements (once a month, these are due weekly or by the 15th of the month).
6. You will find an incentive chart in your child’s folder for behavior management. This chart will let you know what kind of a day your child had at school. We will record a smiley face or a sad face (after several warnings) each day. In previous years, we were asked to write a short notation if there was a problem, which we will do again.
7. We will celebrate your child’s birthday at school. You may send a prepackaged birthday treat to be shared with their classmates. No drinks are allowed. Summer birthdays will be celebrated toward the end of the school year. Please do not send invitations to be handed out at school for home parties. This is against school policies.
8. Your child will be given a quiet/rest time daily. Your child’s mat, pillow, cover, and small stuffed animal will need to have your child’s initials on them.
9. Parents should have received a medication form in their school folder. This could help if your child runs a slight temperature for us to administer Tylenol or Motrin or prescription medicine. Please have you doctor fill out and return to Miss Donna’s office.
10. A more detailed outline of your child’s schedule will be given out at Open House when I will explain in detail what skills will be taught.
11. Your child will attend Holy Mass on most Fridays and Special Occasions. We will begin attending Mass in the cry room while I explain parts of the Mass. My rules for church behavior – We sit when everyone sits, we stand when they stand and eyes on Father and NO TALKING. This applies to all children. Please practice this on Sundays also.
12. Please send 50 cents in an envelope with your child’s name on it so your child can purchase yogurt, granola bar, fruit, or extra milk if they do not care to eat their lunch. We will try to encourage a bite of everything which is sometimes impossible with some children. We will send a note when more money is needed. If your child brings their lunch they need $.25 for milk. Each day they have a choice of white whole, skim, chocolate, or strawberry milk.
13. In previous years we have had a “Reading Together Program.” Since Pre-K hasn’t much homework we ask that you give your child “Special time” by reading together. (A super activity for winding down before bedtime.)
14. Scholastic Book Club and Click (computer programs) order forms will be sent home once a month.
15. We try to prepare a weekly newsletter for you. This keeps you updated on classroom happenings. We have some part-time children and try to send this home on Thursday or Friday.
If at any time you have a question or comment, please feel free to call me at school (between 3:00 and 5:00) or at home usually after 6:00 p.m.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Barb Brace
(Miss Barbie)
Revised 08/09
Morning Drop Off – All Pre Kindergarten children should be dropped off no earlier than 7:20 on the front church parking lot by the handicapped ramp. Feel free to walk your child to the classroom. I will be available at that time. I will be the only one to supervise until 7:30 when the aide arrives. Later in the school year they may be permitted to go outside with the older children at your discretion.
After School Pick up – You will pick up your child on the front church parking lot at 2:50. You should pull in and go up by the paper recycling bins and drive down to the first parking spaces available facing the fence and Y Highway. I will walk them out to the yellow barriers where you will be standing to meet them. I will not be able to communicate with you at that time about your child’s day. It is my responsibility to see that all children leave the school grounds safely.