A Parent’s Guide to Kindergarten

George R. Martin School

445 Cole Street
Seekonk, MA. 02771
508-336-7558

Mrs. McKay: Principal

(email): mckayj@seekonkschools.org

TBD: Vice Principal

Mrs. Archambault: Teacher

Web page: https://archiek.weebly.com/
(email): archambaultt@seekonkschools.org
Classroom number: 508-336-7558 ext. 154

Mrs. Miguel: Teacher

Web page: https://kwithmiguel.weebly.com/
(email): miguell@seekonkschools.org
Classroom number: 508-336-7558 ext. 152

Mrs. Sherman: Teacher

(email): shermank@seekonkschools.org
Classroom number: 508-336-7558 ext. 151
Dear Parent(s),
Welcome to Kindergarten and thank you for coming to our Open House today! We
are very excited to be working with your children. It is our hope that this year will be an
exciting experience for your child. This packet is intended to answer some of the most
common questions that are asked at the beginning of the school year.
Starting kindergarten will mean some big changes for your child. This may be his
or her first separation from home and family. Your child will be taking some new steps
toward independence. They will become involved with new friends, new feelings, and new
experiences. By working together, we can ensure that your child will have a happy and
successful school year.
It is natural for your child to experience some anxiety before the start of
kindergarten. Reassure your child that it is normal to have concerns and that the other
children are feeling the same way. Tell them they should let the teacher know if they are
worried about something or if necessary that you will speak to us about their worries.
Take comfort in the fact that a child who tearfully leaves you, is usually smiling and
playing within minutes of reaching the classroom.
Your child will become an active participant in a group. We will work toward the
development of the social skills and work habits necessary to be successful students.
We look forward to getting to know you and your child this year. Please do not
hesitate to contact us throughout the year with any questions that may arise.

Sincerely,

The Kindergarten Teachers

 Is My Child Safe?

This is the most common concern for parents at the beginning of the year. When your
children come to school a teacher or the instructional aide meets them. They are also
walked to and from lunch, recess, and their itinerants. Your children are escorted to
either the bus or the adult designated to pick them up when they leave the classroom.
It’s important to make sure whomever is picking up your child brings a photo ID.

Arrival and Dismissal

The children should arrive at school by 8:45. If your child arrives at school by bus a
teacher or instructional aide will meet them by the office. If you are walking your child
or taking a car to school, please use the back entrance near the office. Departure time is
2:55. If your child is not taking the bus a dismissal door will be assigned. You will be
notified which door to pick your child up at in August. Please make sure anyone who picks
up your child has a photo ID at all times. All bus students will be escorted down by an
instructional aide.

********** Very Important *********

You must send in a note if your child’s form of transportation changes. For example, if
your child usually walks home and today, they will be picked up by car, we must receive a
note stating so. Also please call the secretary if your child is out sick, but we also
appreciate an email, text, or call if a child is out due to a contagious disease. Please
remember to date and sign all notes.
Snacks
The children will have a snack each day. Please send in one small healthy snack that can
be easily consumed.

Eating healthy foods is extremely important for the good health of your child. It’s not
only good for their bodies but it also helps them learn better. With this in mind we ask
that you only send in healthy snacks, such as cut up apples, bananas, grapes, cut carrots
and celery, cheese and crackers, granola bars, popcorn, yogurt, and other fruits and
vegetables. Unhealthy snacks such as chips, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, gummy snacks,
and candy are not encouraged.

Thank you for your support!

Lunch
Your child can either bring his/her lunch or buy lunch. The option to buy milk only is also
available. Please talk to your child daily about what he/she will be having for lunch. A
great option for Kinders to purchase lunch is to prepay online!

Backpack

Please send your child to school with a backpack. This is your greatest chance of receiving
notices that are sent home. Please make a habit of checking your child’s backpack daily.
The folder that was provided for your child should be sent into school each day. The
children’s backpacks should be large enough to hold two standard sized folders, a lunch
box, their snack, and extra items such as extra clothes.
Birthdays
We LOVE to celebrate birthdays in our classroom! You may send in a small prize such as
stickers, a pencil, toy rings, or so on. (Food items are not allowed.) Please do not send in
birthday invitations unless you invite EVERYONE to the party.

If your child has a summer birthday we will be celebrating it in June.

Holidays

We will learn about different holidays in kindergarten. If you

have specific concerns regarding holiday issues, please let us
know. We will exchange cards on Valentine’s only. If you
choose to send in cards with your child, we ask that cards be
sent for every member of his or her class without names on
them.

Newsletter

Kindergarten newsletters will go home often! They will let you know what topics we will
be covering in each of the academic areas as well as any special events or celebrations
being planned.

Scholastic Book Club

Every month or so we will be sending home a Scholastic Book Club order form. This is a
GREAT way to build your child’s home library. These books are all age and reading level
appropriate.

Volunteers

Parent’s will have an opportunity to volunteer at different events throughout the school
year. All volunteers must have an approved CORI check.

CORI
Important: Anyone who is interested in helping out in school or field trips must have a
completed CORI. This must be returned to administration with a photo ID by the person
applying for the CORI.

Attached to this packet you will find a blank CORI form. Please fill out one per person.
It could be a parent, grandparent, or any other person who may be interested in coming
into your child's class or on a field trip. It is best to fill one out even if you're not sure
you will need one. Once completed it will be good for up to 3 years.

Star of the Week

In an effort to build a better home-school relationship and to help build self-esteem we
will have a program called “Star of the Week”. Each child will be assigned a week to be
the star.
During this week your child will share an All About Me poster that will be completed at
home the previous week. We will display your child’s poster and picture in the classroom
during his/her week.

Assessments
Your child will be tested with an informal classroom assessment at least three times a
year. This allows us to understand how your child is progressing in terms of their own
development, as well as compared to the other students in the class. We will share the
results of the first assessment with you at our parent-teacher conference in October.
Please look at the attached school calendar.

You will also be receiving report cards three times throughout the year. At any time
should you need a conference with us, please let us know. Should we determine that your
child is experiencing difficulty with the curriculum, we will be in contact with you.

Mathematics
The Kindergarten classes in Seekonk will be working with a program called Everyday
Math, which is a spiral curriculum. The program is designed to develop students who
understand mathematics rather than simply compute arithmetic equations. Much of the
instruction is hands-on investigations and does not always end in a worksheet to bring
home. We also have a grant for ST Math, which is a grade specific interactive technology
based program to supplement the program.
 Language Arts

The majority of our academic time in kindergarten is spent developing reading, writing,
speaking, and listening skills. Our basic reading and phonics programs are Fundations and
myView.
Fundations® | Wilson Language Training
myView Literacy – Savvas (formerly Pearson K12 Learning)

Your child will take home worksheets but please keep in mind that much of the work we
do in school does not come home. We use games, manipulatives, charts, songs, poems,
journals, individual readers and other activities to help your child develop reading and
language skills.

It is important that your child develop not only the mechanics of the reading process but
also develop a fondness for the printed word. Every effort is made to help your child
begin to read and want to read more.

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”

Emilie Buchwald