Kindergarten Handbook
Classroom Expectations
In our classroom, we follow our school SLE’s: Serve, Lead, Love, & Learn:
• SERVE: Think outside of ourselves, give to our community
• LEAD: Show responsibility for our actions, good role modeling to our peers
• LOVE: Be kind and caring to others
• LEARN: Try and do new things together, embrace a growth mindset
Communication
E-mail is the most efficient way to communicate with me throughout the year! I am happy to answer any questions, concerns, or set up an appointment to discuss
any information that will help to ensure your child will have a successful year.
Absent? Sick? Going on a trip? Let me know.
Each Monday I will send out a weekly email with a class newsletter (classroom updates, important upcoming dates, what we’re learning) and our Week-at-a-Glance for the current school week.
Please communicate in advance if you will be picking your child up early or if they will be absent. Please include Ginny on the email as well!
- Laura Hange’s Email: lhange@stmadsophie.org
- Isabel Souza’s Email: isouza@stmadsophie.org
- Kindergarten Classroom Phone: 425-747-6770 Ext. 210
- Mrs. Morrissey’s Email: gmorrisey@stmadsophie.org
- School Office Phone: 425-747-6770 Ext. 201
Behavior / Classroom Management
Pom Pom Jar
This tool encourages kindness and daily acts of love all throughout the school day, and students can learn how they can fill other people’s buckets. With the bead jar, I can frequently reinforce expected behaviors and positive peer modeling.
DEBUG Strategy for Problem Solving
- Decide to ignore
- Exit/Move away
- Be Friendly
- Use firm words
- Get an adult’s help
This strategy helps support students in their discovery that there are unwritten rules about what we say and how we act. We can reinforce expected vs. unexpected behaviors in everyday conversations with students.
Homework
Each student will receive a folder that will be sent home on Monday and be returned back to class by Friday.
Homework is optional and includes opportunities for students to build their social-emotional skills, make memories with their loved ones, and try new things. There is no penalty if students are not able to complete their homework board.
Birthdays
I would love to help host a small birthday celebration for your child with our class community. Birthday celebrations typically happen at the end of the day. If your child would like to share a snack with the class, please let me know in advance so we can be cleaned up and ready to celebrate.
If your child’s birthday is on a weekend we will celebrate on the Friday before or Monday after!
If your child’s birthday falls on a non-school day or during the summer, we
can arrange a day throughout the year to celebrate.
Please make sure that all treats are peanut and tree nut free.
Ways to Help
There are plenty of ways you can help your child at home and at school!
Help your child at home:
1. Help him/her practice independence and responsibility. This can look like tying their shoes, putting homework in their own backpack, packing their own lunch, navigating the carpool line, gathering own materials for homework/project/recipe/traveling, or grabbing items at the store. All of these are great ways for your child to build self-confidence and learn independence. Do what works for your family!
2. Create a school and desk area for your child to be successful! Have a designated area for coloring and writing utensils.
3. Have fun and make homework time together exciting. This is a time to play games, set goals, and have a positive attitude towards your student’s growth in learning!
