The ABCs of Kindergarten:

A Handbook for Parents

A
Absences: Please call the office if your child will be
absent that day. (979) 649-5801. If you are aware ahead
of time of an absence your child may have, please let me
know so we can plan on your child being absent!
Allergies: Please let me know of ANY allergies your
child may have. It is important for everyone to be aware
of what special actions need to be taken in case of an
allergic reaction. Any food allergies will be sent home in
a note to all parents to prevent any unnecessary reactions!
Alphabet: Learning the alphabet is an important part of
kindergarten. In the beginning, we say A, /a/ (making the
short a sound like in cat), and apple (any item that
matches the letter sound). For example, B, /b/, bear
C, /c/, cat. We also make the sign language sign for each
letter. Play fun games with your child at home; such as,
pointing to letters on food items or billboards you pass,
making letters with things like straws, blocks, or Play
Doh, and spelling out siblings names to see what letters
they have in their name. These easy games will help
expand your childs alphabet development.
Arrival/dismissal: School starts at 7:45 a.m. and ends at
2:35 p.m. Students may start arriving at the first bell

which rings at 7:45 a.m. Please try to have your child to

school on time so we can start learning right away!
Art: Kindergartners have art once a week. Check your
childs backpack for their beautiful works of art!

B
Backpacks: Your child should bring their backpack to
school every day. They will have things to bring home
daily including their Folder!
Birthdays: Birthdays are VERY special in kindergarten!
Your child may bring in a birthday treat on the day of
their birthday, if they would like. Please contact me ahead
of time so we can plan for the treat! You can send the
treat in the morning with your child or arrange a time to
bring the snack in if you would like to join the
celebration. If your child has a summer birthday, we will
celebrate it in May! Please be aware of any classroom
allergies. If your child is having a birthday party and
would like to invite the whole class, they may bring the
invitations to school. Otherwise, please invite children
during non-school hours to avoid hurt feelings!
Book Orders: We will occasionally send home book
order forms. You are never obligated to purchase books,
but books are always a great gift for your child!

Bus Riders: If your child rides the bus, I will walk them
to their correct bus each day after school! Dont forget to
send in a change in transportation note if their original
means of transportation home changes!

C
Car pick up: If you are picking up your child by car,
please park in a parking space and walk up to our meeting
spot by the big tree at the back of the school. This ensures
each child gets to where they need to be safely!
Centers: The kindergartners will participate in centers
throughout the school year. Sometimes centers are free
choice in which the child chooses where he/she would
like to work. Other times, centers will be more structured
and determined by the teacher. These structured learning
centers often occur during literacy time early in the day.
Computers: Your child will receive computer instruction
once a week. Be sure to check out their computer skills!
Conferences: You will have the opportunity to
participate in two formal parent/teacher conferences
during the school year. Of course, if any concerns arise,
we can schedule a meeting at your convenience.

D
Discipline: We believe in using positive reinforcement

and praise as our main discipline tool. We strive to

encourage good behavior!

E
Early Dismissal: Occasionally throughout the school
year we have days with early dismissal. On these days,
school ends at 12:10 p.m. These dates will be in the
weekly newsletter!
E-mail: E-mail is the quickest and easiest way to contact
me. I am able to check email throughout the school day
and will respond as soon as possible to questions or
concerns! My email is s.stagg87@tamu.edu

F
Field trips: Kindergartners have some opportunities for
field trips throughout the year. Permission slips will be
sent home when dates and times are determined. Parent
volunteers are always welcomed and encouraged on these
trips!
Fine motor practice: Fine motor activities help develop
hand muscles. Working with Play-Doh, using markers,
crayons, pencils, pens, and scissors will strengthen your
childs hand muscles. Stronger hand muscles will help
your childs writing skills and encourage proper letter
formation throughout the year.

G
Gym: We have gym twice a week! Please be sure to send
in tennis shoes with your child. Shoes can be left in
classroom cubbies or backpack throughout the school
year.

H
Hands-on: We believe that young children learn best by
hands-on activities. We strive to make your childs
learning developmentally appropriate and meaningful.
Homework: Your child may occasionally be sent home
with homework. This will be in their Folder. Please
remember, if the homework becomes a frustrating
experience at any time, please let me know!
Half Days: Throughout the year, we will have some half
days of school. On these days, school will dismiss at
12:10.

I
Illness: Please report your childs absence to the office
(979) 649-5801. In an effort to keep our children as
healthy as possible, we ask that you keep your child

home until he/she has been symptom-free for 24 hours

(fever, vomiting, diarrhea). THANK YOU for your
cooperation! Please dont worry about any work your
child missed while absent. For extensive amounts of days
off, I will send home any missed work.
Independence: Kindergarten is a big transition for
children and families! We gently encourage the children
to be as independent as possible. We are focusing on how
to be kind, helpful and responsible! Be sure to encourage
your child to continue these behaviors at home.

J
Journals: The kindergartners will have a variety of
journals to work on throughout the year. Writing journals
will be composed of childrens writing on specific or free
choice topics. As a kindergartner, writing is not limited
to correctly written sentences. Sometimes writing is a
combination of words, letters, shapes, or drawings that
show their thoughts.

K
Kindergarten: The kindergarten year is a special time
for you and your child. Although academics are
important, they are not the sole focus of our program. We
aim to support and develop your childs social, emotional,

and physical development, as well. We want your child to

become the best kindergartner they can be!

L
Label all of your childs items: This cuts down greatly
on lost items! Also, check throughout the lost and found
throughout the year for any missing items!
Library: We have library once a week with Mrs. Rhodes.
Your child will have the opportunity to pick out a book to
be kept until the following week. If your child forgets
their book, they can bring it in any time to return it to the
library!
Lunch: Your child has a choice of bringing their lunch or
buying lunch from school. There are always 2 hot lunch
choices. You can send money in with your child or pay
online. If you send in money, please label it with your
childs name, grade, and put it in the Folder. Go to the
Forest Ridge Elementary website to pay ahead of time for
your childs lunch. Lunch is $2.50. The monthly lunch
calendar will be sent home in your childs Folder.

M
Math: Math concepts are covered daily. Encourage your
child to explain what they are learning in math throughout
the week. You can always expand your childs math

knowledge by using everyday objects to count and add.

Show your child how you use math every day, as well!
Music: We have music once a week. Ask your child what
they are learning about in music!
Mystery Reader: We encourage all
parents/grandparents/friends to participate in this fun
activity! Simply sign up with your childs teacher to
share a story with the class. The mysterious part is that
your child doesnt know youre comingthe kids love
this! Keep an eye out for available dates and times in the
weekly newsletter.

N
Newsletter: A weekly newsletter will be sent home in
your childs Folder, you can also find it on Ms. Staggs
website. Be sure to check it out for important updates,
what we have been learning about, and other special
news!
No School: Scheduled days off of school are as follows:

O
Outdoors: Recess is outdoors everyday, weather
permitting. Please send your child in with weather
appropriate clothing and extra warm clothes in the winter

months!

P
Parties: Kindergarten loves to celebrate holidays and
other events. We will be having parties throughout the
year which I will let you know ahead of time in the
newsletter. Volunteers and donations are greatly
appreciated so be on the lookout for upcoming events!
Phone Calls: Feel free to contact me through phone calls
whenever needed. My cell number is (210) 364-5110.
However, during the school day, I am actively engaged
with students. Hence, I do not answer my phone. Phone
calls interrupt the education time throughout the day but I
will return your call within 24 hours.

Q
Questions: Please dont hesitate with questions or
concerns! Feel free to write me a note and send it inside
your childs Folder!!

R
Reading: We will start, establish, and expand reading
skills in kindergarten! Please read with your child every
day. Also, allow your child to read to you! In

kindergarten, we have three ways to read: read the words,

read the pictures, or retell the story. All these forms of
reading help your child develop reading skills and an
excitement for reading! Encourage any and all reading
your child may do!
Recess: We have recess everyday! This is a great time for
your child to go out and give their brain a break. If the
weather is rainy or too cold, children will have indoor
recess. Please dress your child according to the weather or
send in extra clothes for those iffy weather days!

S
Science and Social Studies: We integrate our science
and social studies instruction within our teaching themes.
We will be exploring a variety of topics throughout the
year! Check the website for what we are currently
working on!
Snack: We will have a snack each day. Please send your
child with a healthy snack every day. If you send it in
your childs lunch box, be sure to mark it snack so your
child remembers! Healthy snacks could be fruit,
vegetables, pretzels, yogurt, etc.
Show and Tell: Children will have a chance to share an
item a few times a week depending on the letter we are
learning. Days that your child will share are included in
your Folder as well as on the calendar I have included in

my website. If your child brings in a toy from home,

please be sure it fits in their backpack and is
inexpensive!! No IPods, DSs, or other breakable items.

T
Toys: Please remind your child that toys from home
should not be brought to school unless the toy is a show
and tell item!
Transportation: It is very important that we safely get
your child to their proper form of transportation each day!
In order to keep everyone updated on how your child will
get home, please fill out the transportation form on the
Getting Ready for the First Day form. If there is a change
in the way your child will be getting home, send in a note
in your childs Folder. If there is a last minute change,
please call the office to let us know of the change! Unless
we hear otherwise from a parent/guardian, your child will
be sent home the way thats normal for him/her on any
given day!

U
Unique: Each child comes to us with gifts and needs that
are unique to him/her. We rejoice in each childs
uniqueness and will do our best to teach him/her
according to his/her individual needs. We strive to
differentiate our teaching so that each child can be the

best kindergartner he/she can be!

V
Visitors: When visiting the school, please sign in at the
office and youll receive a visitor sticker. When
leaving, please remember to sign out!
Volunteers: There will be many opportunities for parents
to assist us this year. Volunteers are greatly appreciated
throughout the year to keep our classroom running
smoothly. Be sure to check your Folder and the website
for events to volunteer at or any other volunteering we
may need throughout the year! I welcome volunteers in
the room!!! I always have jobs and can use an extra set
of hands!

W
Web Page: The school website is a great place to keep
updated with current school events. Also, Ms. Stagg has a
webpage that is updated regularly with any information
you may need. msstagg.weebly.com
Writing: Kindergartners are beginning to learn so many
new things and writing is one of them! Your childs
writing will develop tremendously throughout the year. A
kindergartners writing may not look like an exact letter
formation, and that is okay! Squiggles and scribbles are
the beginning of the writing process! Encourage your

child to write about what they draw at home. If you dont

know what it says, you can ask your child, Can you read
this to me? or Wow! Tell me what you are writing
about. That looks interesting! These are ways to
encourage your child to excitedly continue writing!

X
Xtra clothes: If in doubt, go ahead and send extra
clothes in your childs backpack (please make sure
theyre labeled). Even seasoned bladder-control experts
can have an off day! In case of an emergency, there are
extra clothes in the office for accidents.

Y
Younger siblings: We realize that situations may arise
when younger siblings need to accompany a parent to a
volunteer commitment or class party. We are very
understanding of this. We do encourage you to find a
time to help at school that doesnt conflict with a younger
siblings schedule. It means so much to your
kindergartner to have your undivided attention when you
are at school with him/her!

Z
Z-z-z-zs: Please make sure your kindergartner gets a
good nights sleep and has a good breakfast before

coming to school! This will help your child have the best
day possible!