Welcome! Miss Filis’ Kindergarten 2014-

2015

My Background • I grew up in BISD

• I graduated from Texas Woman’s University in Denton TX

Foster Village Elementary

North Ridge Middle Richland High School

Family

Kindergarten Team

•Teri Clifford•Gail LeBreton•Carrie Hollingsworth •Lauren Filis •Mindy Anstey, Deaf Ed•Cara Cagle, Deaf Ed.

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Porter Staff• Mr. Greg Bicknell, principal• Mr. Ryan Holzberger, vice principal• Mrs. Donna Wood, secretary• Mrs. Paula Obermueller, attendance clerk• Mrs. Pat Ashley, office assistant• Mrs. Tracy Jennings, nurse• Mrs. Nancy Sinclair, speech therapist• Mrs. NEW & Mrs. Julie Brooks, librarians• Mrs. Carol Fields, BEARS lab/CSI• Ms. Kim Harrington & Mrs. Donna Ruiz. P.E. coaches• Mrs. Katie Dupre, music• Mr. Dillon Pappas, custodian

W.A. Porter

Lauren FilisLauren.filis@birdvilleschools.net817-527-2900Conference time:

Hours/Absences/TardiesIt is NOT “Just Kindergarten” Anymore!

• School starts at 8:10 and ends at 3:25.

• Students are allowed in the classroom at 8:00, but must wait in the café if arriving earlier. Students will be counted tardy if they are not in the classroom at 8:10.

• After school, students will be walked out to the front of the school building. Bus children will be picked up on the north side of the building. Please call if you will be late picking up.

• Absences: If your child will not be in attendance, please call the office. Send a note to excuse your child if there has been an absence. Kindergartners can be retained if excessive absences hinder their progress.

To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late,

and to be late is to be behind.

Snacks• There are no regular snacks provide by the district. We ask

each family to help by providing snacks for one week each semester. Your teacher will send home a pre-assigned list for the class.

• Peanut-free snacks may include animal crackers, pretzels, popcorn, graham crackers, or cereal. Two or three boxes should be adequate.

• We are NOT allowed to serve “foods of minimal nutritional value”, which would include gummies, candies, and marshmallow products.

Lunch• Children may bring their lunch from home, or order lunch through the

café. Milk or water is also available if a student is bringing lunch from home.

• If bringing lunch from home, have your child practice opening containers independently. Microwaves are available in the café, however, due to time, meals that need to be heated are discouraged.

• First semester kindergarten will have two choices, either the plate lunch for the day or grilled cheese on M/Th, and munchables on W/F.

• Buying additional snacks is discouraged.

• A monthly menu and prices may be found on the Birdville website under Departments, “Child Nutrition”.

Our lunch time will be10:45-11:15

Please remember to discuss with your child table manners and being respectful in the café.

Medication and Allergies• All medications are to be dispensed by the school nurse and

must be in their original containers.

• If your child has been ill, they should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.

• Please notify the nurse and your teacher of any child with asthma or medical conditions that we should be aware of. We also need to know allergies of any kind.

Birthdays! We LOVE Birthdays, and your child will be

recognized in class! However, please know…• NO invitations are to be sent to school and handed out, not

even if there is one for everyone. If you need addresses, the room rep can be contacted for a list.

• NO treats can be sent to school that are not on the approved snack list. That being said, if you would like to send a birthday treat for the whole class to enjoy during our snack time, it has to be on the approved snack list!

Curriculum

• Kindergarten uses a themed-based, integrated approach to cover all subject areas of curriculum. We have a balanced language arts program which focuses on oral language and phonemic awareness, as well as knowledge of alphabetic principles, within a literature-rich environment.

• Our math and science program focuses on a variety of hands-on, learner-centered, activities, which often are connected to the literature selections of our theme.

High-Frequency Words

• The kindergarten curriculum focuses on one word each week.

• These words will come home in your child’s folder. Please display them in a prominent place and help your child practice reading them daily.

Sig

ht W

ord

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Reading“Children are made readers in the laps of their parents”

Emilie Buchwald

• When easy readers get sent home, if they are too hard for your child please send them back.

• Reading at home should be fun, parents should not have to teach, but should be supportive and encouraging.

• Make reading interactive! • Remember to read to your child EVERY DAY!

Progress Reports

• A standards based report card and a report of your child’s social skills and work habits goes home every six weeks.

Testing

• Kindergarten reading readiness assessments are done in October, January and April. Math assessments are completed in January and April.

Conferences• Individual parent/teacher conferences will take

place during the second six weeks of school.

• Parents or teachers may also request conferences at any time during the school year.

• To schedule a conference, please call the office to set up a time to talk without your child present.

Folders• Each child will have a daily take-home folder. This folder

will contain weekly homework assignments, notes on behavior, and schoolwork.

• This folder is our means of communication. Please check with your child and review the contents of the folder daily.

• Folders will be checked upon return for any information from home.

Poems and Songs Book

• The “ I Can Read Poems and Songs” Book will be sent home most Fridays. Please read, sing, and review this over the weekend and return on Mondays.

Computer Lab

• We will be going to the BEARS lab once a week during the first semester. Beginning in January, we will attend BEARS two days a week for 50 minutes each day.

• Volunteers are needed to assist during BEARS lab second semester. If you are interested, contact your teacher.

(No experience necessary)

Library• We will be attending library once a week.

• Each child may check out one book for one week.

• Please remind your child to return the book the following week so he/she can check out another one.

Kindergarten Attire• Children need to dress for active and involved play.• Children will need to wear tennis shoes for P.E.

daily. • It is also a good idea to keep a change of clothes in

your backpack.• Please label jackets, coats, and hats. No hats are

to be worn in the classroom unless it is a special occasion.

• Your child is welcome to bring a sweater or sweatshirt to keep in his/her locker. Just be sure to label with names!

• See BISD Student Handbook for dress code.

“Sharing Time”• If at any time you have materials that might

interest the class and pertain to our unit of study, please feel free to send them in!

• Discourage children from bringing toys to school unless it is a teacher request or they have prior approval.

Class Parties

• Christmas- NO gift exchanges• Valentines Day- exchange cards• Spring-Egg hunt• End of School- Splash Day!

Room reps will be contacting families for help and any needed supplies.

Pictures

• Each year we attempt to document your Child’s accomplishments and special occasions in kindergarten by taking photographs. I do need the photo and video release signed and returned in order to include your child in our class pictures and videos.

• Pictures will be posted on our class website.

VolunteersYour help is greatly appreciated!

• If you plan to be up at school helping in the classroom, attending field trips, or joining us for class parties, make sure that you are a registered volunteer!

• Go to the BISD home page, scroll down and on the bottom left hand side you will see the volunteer application.

• We can also use volunteers at home to prepare materials.

Sign up with your teacher for volunteer opportunities!

Helping Hands

• Take a hand with the item on it that you will be sending back to class with your student. This is voluntary!

• Throughout the year there will be different items that we will ask for depending on the season, holiday, or occasion.

It is going to be a wonderful year!

Be positive- “The process is more important

than the product.”

Kindergarten 2014-2015