Welcome Class of 2028

Caledonia Elementary

• Caledonia Elementary….The Heart…The Heritage!

Our school theme for 2014 is Caledonia Pride!

Our community is critical to what we do each day.  Parents and loved ones are always encouraged to become involved in their child’s schooling experience as this helps to secure scholarly achievement.

MTSS Reading OverviewMulti-Tiered Support System for Reading Instruction

• Within each grade level, students are screened (quick assessments) to determine abilities. These assessments are quick and provide information to staff members for instructional purposes.

 • In kindergarten, there are multiple screeners given several times per year. These screeners help to

give a comprehensive view of student abilities. In this way, if a student scores below a particular level, staff members dig deeper.

 • Assessing students through screeners (PASI and DIBELS) allows skills-based groups, where students

of similar abilities are combined and taught accordingly.

 • Qualified paraprofessionals or teachers facilitate instruction to the small groups based on their

individual needs.

• Examples of skills assessed include, deciphering sounds, understanding terms such as first, middle and last.

 • If the child is working below the expected level for a number of weeks, they will qualify for Title I

services, which allows for a continuation of targeted services. Should this occur, further conversations will take place with classroom teachers. In addition, a letter and Title I compact will be sent home to notify parents.

Zoo Phonics

• Zoo Phonics teaches the letters and sounds through a visual, auditory and kinesthetic (movement) approach.

• Each letter is presented with an animal, sound, and movement.

• Presenting the letter in this manner, helps children to remember the letter sounds.

Literacy

• We use the Treasures reading series for our whole class instruction.

• This series encompasses all literacy components. (phonics, phonemic awareness, oral language, listening comprehension, letter recognition, vocabulary, handwriting, and reading.)

• We also incorporate Daily 5 in our classroom! This is a literacy model that encourages literacy independence. The 5 choices are; Read to Self, Read to Someone, Work on Writing, Word Work, and Listen to Reading.

MAISA WritingMichigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators

• Throughout the year we will be talking about Narrative, Informational and Opinion Writing.

• At the beginning of the year we will be immersing in oral storytelling to lay a foundation for great writing.

• Through the writers workshop model, students will be using dictation, pictures and invented spelling to express their ideas on paper.

• Your child will be involved in many different fine motor activities to help build strength and stamina.

• We will be working on letter and number formation using Handwriting Without Tears. This is a great program that helps your child develop proper penmanship.

Math• We emphasize hands-on activities, real life application, and

many practical problem solving strategies through a workshop style called Math Exchanges.

• The kindergarten math curriculum provides students with mathematical experiences that help them develop number sense and a positive attitude towards mathematics.

• This year we will focus on geometry, measurement, counting, cardinality, base ten, graphing, addition and subtraction.

ABC’s of Kindergarten• If your child is absent, please call the office (891-8181) to let us know. A note

stating the reason for the absence must be brought to school as soon as possible to avoid an unexcused absence. School begins at 8:45. Students are considered tardy at 8:50.

• If you would like to send a birthday treat with your child on or near his/her birthday, please feel free to do so. These treats will be eaten during our snack time. Birthdays are recognized during our calendar routine as well. We will recognize summer birthdays at the end of the school year. Please do not send birthday party invitations to be distributed at school unless all children receive an invitation. 

• We will send home book order forms for you and your child to look over for the first few months.  Book clubs offer books at reduced prices.  It's a great way to build your child's home library! Check out the ONLINE ordering! Online ordering will be available all year.

ABC’s of Kindergarten

• Parent and Teacher conferences are a great way for us to discuss your child’s progress.  Watch for information and reply accordingly.  Conferences will be held on November 6/ November 10, as well as March 12/March 16.

• Communication is important. Feel free to contact us whenever you have a question or concern. You can reach us by email: petersenk@calschools.org, kingj@calschools.org, flandersb@calschools.org, by note, or in person after the students have been dismissed. You can also call the school and leave a message for us to call you. Also check your child’s communication folder everyday. Please give us a 24 hour window to respond. Please leave all school related items to email or calling school. Check the our weekly newsletters for important dates and times before calling.

ABC’s of Kindergarten

• Information about field trips will go home in the Communication Folder and on the website. We will visit a greenhouse/orchard, go to a farm, and a play through out the year.

• SAFETY- During the year we will be practicing different safety drills. We will practice: Fire, Tornado and Lock Down Drills.

ABC’s of Kindergarten

• Students will have some homework in Kindergarten. It is usually in the form of words or letters to practice, a name writing activity and/or Book Envelope Program.

• Independence is a goal for students because it builds self-esteem and self-confidence.  Kindergartners are very capable of doing many things on their own, and we encourage them to do as much as they can for themselves in the classroom. Please work on the following skills at home with your child: Asking for help, zipping, tying, dressing, blowing noses, washing hands, using the restroom independently, packing their backpack, recognizing their mittens, snow pants, etc.

ABC’s of Kindergarten

•Our class eats lunch at 11:10. If lunch money is sent to school, please send it in a labeled envelope in the communication folder . Hot lunch can be purchased for $2.20 per meal. Milk is .50 cents per day. Lunch money can be sent in by the day, week, month, or semester. Money can also be added to your child’s account online when your child gets his/her student number @ http://sendmoneytoschool.com.

ABC’s of Kindergarten

• The children will have music class twice a week. Mrs. Smith is our talented music teacher. The holiday concert for K-3 is Monday, December 1st.

• The children will have Spanish class twice a week. Senora Wanamaker is our fantastico Spanish teacher.

• We go to art class once a week. Ms. Hentchel is our artistic teacher.

• Our class will have a 30 minute gym class twice a week.  Mr. Burd is our active teacher. The children need to wear sneakers to gym class so if they don’t wear them to school, they should have a pair available to change into before gym class. We have room for them to store a spare pair of gym shoes at school.

• Our class will visit the library once a week for a special story time. Our librarian is Mrs. King. Your child will have the opportunity to check out a book. After the book has been read at home, it can be returned and a new book can be checked out.

ABC’s of Kindergarten

• Outdoors Please dress your child for the weather. If they are not wearing snow pants when there is snow they will not be allowed to play in the snow. We go outside regularly. Keeping an old sweatshirt in the locker is always helpful. It is so important to PLEASE label your child’s gear. We have a class/school lost and found but we have many items that get left behind and never claimed.

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• Kindergarteners have recess from 11:40-12:00 and from 1:35-1:50. We will go outside as long as the weather cooperates.

• Quick byes lead to drier eyes…in teaching independence and responsibility, it is imperative that you give your child that last hug, high five, and goodbye at the office doors.

ABC’s of Kindergarten

We will have a SNACK each day. We will NOT be providing snack for the students, so you will need to make sure they have an extra snack in their bag OR they may purchase a snack off the snack-cart during the day. Please encourage your child to make healthy choices for our snack time. We will be having our snack in the afternoon. The cost of snack-cart will come off your child’s lunch account.

Keeping Clean- This year we are reducing the amount of chemicals used is our classrooms. We will not be using CLOROX or LYSOL

wipes. We will be using WATER and an ANTIBAC cloth called Norwex. If you have questions about this product please let us know.

ABC’s of Kindergarten• If your child has any changes in their transportation please let us know in

writing or by calling the office at 891-8181. Calls for changes in transportation need to be made by 3:00 to our office. They will let us know of the changes by 3:20 when we get ready to leave. Get to know our wonderful secretaries; Christy Tape and Pam King. You should also say hello to Mr. Traughber the principal.

• Volunteers and visitors must register in the office and pick up a badge.• Parent volunteers are welcome to help us in our classroom. Please let us

know if you are interested in working with us. All parent volunteers need to have a criminal background check on file with our office. Volunteers will start after September.

• Junior Achievement is a program where volunteers educate students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.

• Donations Our goal as Kindergarten teachers is to make learning as fun as possible. In order to accomplish this we often need to purchase or collect materials. Throughout the year, we will list materials we are in need of in our newsletter. Please consider donating materials whenever possible.

ABC’s of Kindergarten• Parents and family members may eXit and enter via the main school

entry.

• Please pack a change of clothes for the first few weeks, as we do see accidents. Donations of clothes/underwear are appreciated.

• Your ideas…and suggestions are welcome!

• Zzzzzzz - Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest.  Setting and keeping a bedtime is a wonderful gift you can give your child. We will be having a rest time at school. It will be limited, 10-15 minutes. We will no longer be needing rest time items. Please keep stuffed animals and toys at home.

Discipline

• What is Capturing Kids' Hearts?

• We use Capturing Kids’ Hearts to get to know our students and also to make them responsible for their own behaviors. They take ownership on how they want to be treated and how they treat others.

• We have four steps of consequences for negative behavior

1. Teacher asks the 4 questions;

~What are you doing?

~What are you suppose to be doing?

~Were you doing it?

~What are you going to do it now?

2. Student will serve a 5 minute “thinking chair” time where we will ask the 4 questions at the end of time served.

3. Student will make a visit to Mr. Traughber’s office where he will also ask the four questions.

4. A phone call will be made to parents explaining the negative behavior and how the student plans of fixing it.