Welcome!

Welcome to the wonderful world of Kindergarten!  My name is Terra Pickwick and I am excited to be your child’s teacher.  My classroom is a place where children are welcomed, respected, supported, listened to and loved.  It is a place for them to feel safe as well as to learn, wonder, have fun and explore the world around them.  Please carefully read this entire letter, as it contains important information that will help your child ease into Kindergarten, and will make the journey we are about to embark on together a smooth one!

This week: Since this is your child’s first experience in school, Kindergarten begins a little more slowly to allow your child time to become familiar with their new surroundings and the new routines of a classroom.  The children will be dismissed at 12:00 Thursday and Friday.

Monday, September 12th will be our first full day, with dismissal at 2:43.

School supplies:  The Kindergarten team purchases all of the supplies that your child will need for the school year.  We ask that you please bring in $20 to cover the cost of these supplies. 

Drop off:  Parents and children are eager to start their day, but I ask that you please wait outside until the bell rings at 8:43. Once the bell rings, parents, I encourage you to help your child settle in to the day by staying for the first 15 minutes of class time.  Each morning from 8:43 until 9:00 we begin with Books and Puzzles.  If you can, please stay to share this learning time with your child and help them do one of the activities that are out on the tables.  At 9:00 the children and I will move on to other learning activities.

Dismissal: At the end of our day, at 2:43, please wait for your child on the far side of the hall outside of our classroom.  I will then dismiss your child to you or their after

school care provider.  This routine helps to keep your child safe and helps build important independence skills.

Communication:  Strong, effective communication between home and school is very important to me.  A strong parent-teacher partnership will help your child be excited about school and will help them have a successful Kindergarten year.  It will also help me tailor my approach to your child and their unique learning style. This year I will be using several different technology tools to help keep you informed and involved. These tools will provide you with a “peek into our classroom” and will allow you to see  and discuss the process of your child’s learning.  They will also help you gain an understanding  of why the learning that we are doing is so important. I will send a letter home explaining  each of these tools shortly. 

 

Agenda:  Each day your child will bring home an agenda. This is one of the main communication links between home and school and should be returned to school each day. Please check the agenda each day for notes, forms and your child’s work.  It is important to take the time to look over your child’s work with them.  Seeing their work will help prompt them about their day.  It also lets your child know that you value them and the work that they are doing.  I check the agenda each morning, so please feel free to jot down any information that you would like me to know(e.g. – doctor’s appointments, alternative pick-up arrangements, etc.).

Website: Please be sure to add your email address(es) to the “Follow By Email” box on the right hand side of this web page to ensure that you receive a notification every time I update the website.

Indoor shoes and extra clothing:  Please ensure that your child has a pair of indoor shoes (preferably Velcro – not slippers for safety reasons) as well as a complete extra set of clothing that is labelled with your child’s name  and can be kept at school in case of spills, accidents, inviting mud puddles, etc.

Quiet Time: Each afternoon we will be having a short quiet time so that the children can refocus and recharge their bodies and brains for the rest of the school day.  Please send a small stuffy that your child can use during this time and that can be kept at school.

Family Photo: I want the children see the classroom as “their space”-  a place that reinforces  their sense of identity and belonging, as well as a place where they feel a strong connection between home and school. Please send a 4x6 photo of your family in to school so that we can help that vision come to life!

Snacks: Please send a healthy snack and lunch each day.  Try to include at least one fruit and one vegetable in their lunch and limit the sweets to just one.  I ask that you please send a re-usable water bottle to school each day.  To promote healthy living and proper tooth development, no juice boxes please. Please note that children do not have access to a microwave.

Please feel free to come talk to me any time.  Come in, call, send a note

or email me at tpickwick@sd61.bc.ca.  I look forward to working with you to create a strong and successful partnership between school and home.

Kindergarten is an extraordinary year, and I cannot wait to start this journey with you!

 

Sincerely,

Terra Pickwick