Welcome to Elementary School! The Kindergarten teachers are excited to lead your child through the first year of school at Payne Elementary. Our teachers use an early literacy model for reading, which is often theme based and includes a strong phonetic approach. Classroom activities and curriculum are very “hands on” or manipulative based. We can’t wait to explore, learn, and build friendships together!
Birthdays:
Each kindergarten teacher has a special way of celebrating children’s birthdays. Please feel assured that the kindergarten team makes sure that all of the children feel special and appreciated on their special day. Due to food allergy concerns and general health, please do not bring treats on your child’s birthday. In addition, summer birthdays are celebrated in June, sometime before the last day of school.
Homework:
Kindergarten homework will be sent home monthly. There are 2 main homework components:
1. Reading nightly to your child & systematically using a discussion guide to develop literacy skills
2. Completing the Everyday Math Homelink papers. These math pages are designed to actively engage your child in math.
Occasionally, a special assignment will also be sent home.
Field Trips:
Each year we go on three to four field trips. Past trips have included Prusch Farm, Happy Hollow, and California Children’s Theatre. There is often a fee which is collected prior to the trip and there is always a signed permission slip required. We are not allowed to take your child on trips without written permission. Promptly returning permission slips is very important. If the fee presents a hardship please notify your child’s teacher. Siblings are NOT allowed on field trips. Parent help is always needed and desired but is limited to the number we can accommodate both on the bus and at the site location. Lotteries will be held when necessary. Please keep in mind that some trips work best if the parent helper is someone who already knows the children by name. Parents serving as chaperones will be expected to monitor and interact with all the children assigned to them, not just their own child.
Schedule:
All Payne kindergarten children attend school Monday through Friday 8:15 to 12:05 P.M. through October 2nd.
Beginning Monday, October 3rd, the children will have lunch at school, return to class for an extended day and be dismissed at 1:45 P.M.
Children may buy the school lunch or bring a lunch from home. Our cafeteria uses a debit card system as well as cash. You determine how much money to put on your child’s card.
Wednesday will remain a shorter day with children being dismissed at 12:05 P.M.