General Information

FIRST DAYS! On the first days of school say goodbye confidently at the school building door. We will be ready to provide lots of TLC. If a child should remain in great distress I will contact a parent promptly. (This has never been necessary, but I want you to know our policy!)

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL: The first bell rings at 8:20 am. There is no supervision outside in the morning. Bring your child as near to 8:20 as possible. The final bell rings at 8:30 am. All children should be in the classroom at this time. If you arrive after 8:30 am, you must get a tardy slip for your child in the school office before your child comes to the classroom.

Kindergarten dismisses at 11:30 during the month of September. Beginning October 1st kindergarten will be dismissed on the regular school schedule -- 2:00 pm Mondays, and 3:00 pm Tuesday through Thursday. On Fridays, kindergartners are dismissed at 11:30 am.

DROP OFF AND PICK UP: Please make yourself aware of the traffic pattern around St. Monica for arrival and dismissal times and observe it carefully. BE SURE THAT YOUR RELATIVES, FRIENDS, NANNIES AND OTHERS WHO MAY OCCASIONALLY PICK UP YOUR CHILDREN ALSO KNOW THE PATTERN. This is for the safety of all children. Please refer to the St. Monica School Handbook for more details on dropping off and picking up students.

KINDERGARTEN WILL BE DISMISSED AT 11:30 DAILY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 28th. (Beginning Oct. 1st the kindergarten will follow the school-wide daily schedule, except on Fridays when they continue to be dismissed at 11:30 am.) Some children will be very tired after school. Signs of stress, even tantrums, are normal reactions to such a big change. Please feel free to keep me informed – we will all work together to smooth out the rough spots.

TEACHER/PARENT COMMUNICATION: I will send home a weekly newsletter each Friday. PLEASE be sure to look for the newsletter in your child’s folder EVERY Friday. The newsletter is an integral part of home/classroom communication. The newsletter is also updated every Friday on the St. Monica School website – www.stmonicasea.org. The best way to get a note or letter to me is to put it in your child’s daily folder. This folder will go home daily and should be sent to school in your child’s backpack daily. I will check their folder every morning as part of out morning routine. Please feel free to call me if you have questions about anything. Your children are my first priority at school and your concerns are important to me.

You may also email me at trastetter@stmonicasea.org

CONFERENCES AND REPORTS: There will be Parent/Teacher Conferences in October and an Optional Conference Day in March. This is a good time to ask questions, voice concerns and share thoughts about your child. I will also be available for conferences throughout the year. Kindergarten report cards will be issued in February and June.

SUPPLIES: A supply list was sent home this summer and is also available on the school webpage. If you need another copy please let me know. Each student must have a lunch container (labeled clearly on outside) and a backpack large enough to carry a folder and all those treasures that will go to and from school. BACKPACKS AND FOLDERS SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY.

Please put your child’s name on the outside of their lunch container and folder.

CLOTHING: Kindergartners are expected to wear the school uniform. Girls should wear shorts under their skirts EVERY DAY.

We go outside for recess unless it is pouring rain. Your child needs a warm coat and a head covering appropriate for northwest weather.

PE CLOTHING: Kindergartners wear gym shoes with non-scuff soles on PE days (Attached is a sheet of Specialist days – please refer to it as the days for PE are different each week). We do not change shoes.

LABELS: DO NOT SEND ANYTHING TO SCHOOL WITHOUT YOUR CHILD’S FIRST AND LAST NAME ON IT! Uniforms look alike. I suggest the fine point indelible laundry markers. Save grief for your child, your child’s teacher and yourself – LABEL EVERYTHING NOW! (Especially those sweatshirts…)

BUDDIES: Each kindergartner is paired with a 4th grade class buddy. The buddies participate in a variety of learning and recreational activities. 4th grade buddies also attend mass with their kindergarten buddies as part of the Family Program at St. Monica.

LITURGIES: The kindergartners will be included in the First Friday Masses. These liturgies are wonderful and usually handled by different classes. You are always invited to attend.

BIRTHDAYS: At school we will observe your child’s birthday on or near the actual date. If you would like to you may send a small special treat to school with your child on their birthday (or half birthday if they are a summer birthday). CONTACT ME BY PHONE OR EMAIL TO LET US KNOW IF YOU WILL SEND A TREAT. Please send the treat in the morning as the children will enjoy it at lunch. If your child’s birthday falls on a weekend day during the school year, please send the treat on the day closest to it. Do not send cake or drinks of any kind – cupcakes or cookies (napkins, too, please) are appropriate and easy-to-eat treats.

Invitations to out-of-school parties are not to be distributed at school unless EVERYONE in the class is invited (either all of the boys or all of the girls or both). Limiting guests is understandable but untold hurt results when students are made conscious of the fact that they are not invited because invitations were passed out at school. For the same reason I discourage any discussions of parties at school.

LUNCH: Kindergartners will begin eating lunch at school on October 1st. Here is the information given on the St. Monica School website regarding the Chartwells hot lunch program.

FIELD TRIPS:

  • PERMISSION SLIPS: The kindergartners may take a neighborhood “walking” field trip. One permission slip signed in the fall will give us parental permission for walking field trips throughout the year.

  • Every time we go on a field trip that requires transportation I will send home a separate permission slip.

  • EMERGENCY FORMS: All families MUST complete the form about your family’s car insurance coverage, regardless of whether or not you plan to drive on field trips. This form is required by the Archdiocese. We must have a form on file for each vehicle you may use on a field trip. These forms are kept on file in the school office for the year. If you have children in another class you only need to complete this task once.

  • MONEY: To facilitate the ease of collecting money when necessary, please send the exact amount in an envelope with your child’s name, the amount and the purpose.

  • BOOSTER SEAT REQUIREMENTS: This is a reminder that all children under 60 lbs. (weight, not age, is the deciding factor) are required by law to ride in a booster seat in the car – this affects us because each student in kindergarten must have a booster seat for field trips. Please CLEARLY LABEL your child’s booster seat to eliminate confusion on field trip days.

  • LIABILITY ISSUE: On some field trips in years past we have had drivers who have taken children to places besides from school to field trip destination and back. THIS CANNOT BE DONE. From the moment a group of students gets into your car until the moment they are returned to school, they cannot be taken anywhere except to and from the field trip destination. Thank you.

WE TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES: At times we will ask if anyone would be willing to develop some pictures for us here in kindergarten. If this is something you would be interested in doing, possibly one time this school year, please send me an email or call my voicemail to let me know. I will put your name on a list. When we finish with a camera, I will send it home for you in a Ziploc bag with developing instructions. I appreciate your help with this – pictures of kindergartners in action really brighten up the room, and the class will love to see themselves at work!

BOOK ORDERS: This is a strictly optional program! Periodically the children will bring home the current book order form. When ordering, please fill out the form, mark your order and send in the money and order by the following week. CHECKS ARE TO BE MADE PAYABLE TO THE BOOK CLUB (Scholastic). Please send checks ONLY – no cash. Book orders are wonderful ways to encourage a child’s excitement about reading!

YOU MAY BE WONDERING, CAN WE BRING PETS INTO THE CLASSROOM? Some parents want to bring pets into the classroom. It is possible to arrange to do this during your child’s designated sharing time. I only ask that you please, please call me in advance to arrange your pet’s visit. Please keep small pets (guinea pigs, bunnies, etc.) in cages and dogs on leashes. Cats should be in parent’s arms only.

Sharing:   I have attached a list of your child’s sharing day. Please only have them bring sharing on their day.  If they are sick they may bring it the following day.  PLEASE DO NOT SEND TOYS WITH YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL UNLESS IT IS THEIR SHARING DAY! I will remove the toy from the student for the day if they are playing with it at school, and if it is brought back I will remove it until further notice.

Thank you,
Ms. Rastetter