Handbook

Homework Folders: This folder is our main way of communicating with each other! It will come home with your child every night and it MUST be returned to school the next morning. The folder may contain important notes from the school, PTA or myself. Please check it every night as it may contain something extremely urgent. If you have anything to send to school (notes, money, information for the PTA, etc.), please place it the folder. I will remind your child to check their folder and give the contents to me every morning. If this folder is used properly, it will eliminate both you and I digging through your child’s backpack to find information!

Newsletters: I will be sending home a newsletter on a weekly basis. The weekly newsletter is where you will find the most up to date information about what is happening in our classroom and around the school. The newsletter will also include a list of important dates, supplies I am in need of, and a list of sight words we are learning in school. Please read the newsletter carefully every week so you have insight as to what is going on in our class. Please send in any supplies as you are able to! I appreciate your support!

Parent Teacher Conferences/Report Cards: Conferences will be held twice a year (more on an as needed basis). One conference will take place first quarter and one third quarter. A report card will be sent at the end of each quarter. Please rest assured that I will keep you informed of your child’s progress through phone calls, emails, and notes. Please read your newsletter closely and check your child’s folder for more information about report cards and signing up for conferences.



Volunteering in Class: I am in need of MANY volunteers to help our class run smoothly. If you would like to volunteer to come into the classroom, go on field trips or come in for holiday centers the FIRST thing you need to do is get VOLUNTEER CLEARANCE. It is Wake County policy that every parent who intends to be around children during school hours must complete online clearance. This means you will need to fill out a form online at school. Depending on what you intend to do you MAY need a criminal background check before you are allowed to come into school and work with children. I will need weekly volunteers along with parents to complete projects at home. Please note that you are welcome to come into class at anytime. However, please let me know in advance so that I can have something planned for you to do.

Snack: We will be having a community snack this year. I will be sending home a snack calendar each month along with a list of recommended snacks. If your child has food allergies please let me know. I will keep a pantry of extra snacks for children with food limitations.

Centers: Centers are a very important part of our day. Each student will rotate through each center at his or her own pace. The centers will focus on Language Arts, math, science or social studies. The centers will be based on the curriculum skills we are learning and what we are studying in class. Please be aware that centers will be introduced slowly at the start of the year to ease students into the proper skills.

Behavior Policy: HSES adopted the “S.P.O.T.S.” management plan for our school. “SPOTS” stands for: S (safety first), P (polite), O (own my actions), T (think about what’s right), and S (success is sure to follow). During the first day of school we will be talking about what “SPOTS” should look like in our classroom. We will be making a “My Job, Your Job” chart, listing the actions/behaviors that will make our classroom a great place to learn. We will also take extra time during the first few weeks of school to chart a "Daily Behavior" record. Your child and I will conference each day before they head home to discuss their day's behavior. This calendar will be sent home nightly for you to discuss with your child. Please remember to praise the positive, and discuss solutions for possible problems. Please be aware that many students will explore their boundaries at the start of the year. This is the most important time to show a consistent/united front. Working together: student, parent, teacher; will assure the best success and learning experience for each child.

Homework: Every month, students will receive two homework assignments. One assignment will be the weekly assignments, which will be found on the weekly newsletter. Please return completed homework to school on Fridays in the “Homework Folder.” The second assignment is a family project based on what we are learning about. Each month, directions for the assignment will be sent home. Generally, you will have about 2 weeks to complete the assignment WITH your child. Homework is not mandatory but it is recommended.

Finished Work: Every week students will bring their finished work (projects, books, papers, letters, etc.) home in their Friday Folders. Please take the time to look over the work WITH your child. The students will have worked very hard on these tasks and the work will serve as a review and reflect their understanding of different concepts. If your child is struggling with a skill, I will make note of this on their assignments.

Transportation: As ANY permanent changes to your child’s transportation occur, please notify me in writing. If your child has ANY temporary change of transportation (doctors appt., going to a friend’s house, etc.) occurs, you must send in a note. Students WILL NOT be permitted to go home a different way without written permission from their parent or guardian. Please note that this is a countywide policy. All permanent and temporary changes in transportation must be approved by administration. Please note that children are not allowed to ride any bus other than their own (example: no riding home with a friend for a play-date). Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this policy. Our ultimate goal is to keep your child(ren) safe.

Parties: It is a countywide policy along with a school policy that we will not participate in any parties. Please understand that this policy is in place to ensure the best education for your child. So…. instead of having parties, our class will have academic, FUN holiday centers. I will work with the room mom and the holiday centers committee to make our holidays together memorable. We will also have occasion for both academic and holiday “celebration.” The room mother or a committee member will contact you as they need help with planning or supervising the centers and celebrations.

Birthdays: Your child’s birthday is a very special day. To celebrate it, your child will wear a special crown, be the line leader and pick a special birthday treat from the office. I welcome you to bring in a STORE bought treat to celebrate your child’s special day.

Inclement Weather: In the case that there is (or a chance of) poor weather conditions, school may be cancelled. The local news stations, radio stations, and Wake County website (http://www.wcpss.net/) will inform you of delays or cancellations. If school is in session and the weather gets bad, children MAY be sent home early. In this event I will make every effort to call and notify you that your child will be coming home early. However, the news, radio, website and school will have the most up to date information. Please be aware that MANY of the after school vans DO NOT run in severe weather. If your child rides a van such as: Hunt Center, All about Kids, or YMCA, you will be required to come to school to pick up your child ASAP. PLEASE CALL THE SCHOOL AT 919-557-2660 WITH ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WEATHER.

School Hours/Attendance: School Hours are from 9:15 am to 3:45 pm. Children are permitted into the school at 8:45 am. Attendance will be taken sharply at 9:15, when instructional time begins. Children will be marked absent if they are not in the classroom when the bell rings. A child who arrives anytime after 9:15 and before 12:15 will be marked tardy. Please note that in order to receive credit for attending school, your child must be in school at least a half-day. A half day is considered 12:15 pm.

Accidents: Sometimes, accidents do happen. In order to be prepared please have a change of clothes (shirt, pants, socks and underwear) available at ALL times at school. Please label all clothing that you send into school with your child’s name and place it in a CLEAR ZIP-LOC baggie. If your child has an accident, they will put on their change of clothes. I will send you a note that says your child had an accident- this note will remind you to send in a NEW change of clothes THE NEXT SCHOOL DAY. Please note that if your child does not have a change of clothes at school and they have an accident, they will put on clothes that have been donated to Holly Springs. In the case that your child has consistent accidents, I will call you to discuss the issue and some possible solutions.

Library: Students will have library once a week. At the beginning of the year they will be permitted to check out one library book at a time and the book will remain at school. After the students learn how to take care of books, they will be allowed to bring the book home. Please understand that any lost or ruined books will be your responsibility to pay for. I will also need one or two media volunteers to accompany the children to library.

Take Home Books: Students will participate in weekly guided reading groups. After reading a book with the teacher, your child will bring home a book that he or she has read in class. The book will come home in a plastic bag. Inside the bag you will also find a note that reads, “This is a book that your child read in class today during guided reading! Please have your child read it to you on his or her own”. If your child gets stuck on a word, have him or her use the pictures to help figure out the words! Make sure as your child reads to you, he or she is pointing at each word! This book MUST be returned to school on Friday. If the book gets lost, you will be required to pay for it. The cost of each book is $6.00. Please understand that it is vital for your child’s success for you to reinforce skills that are taught in school and that is the reason I have chosen to send this book home. I am sure you will be SO proud of how well your child is reading!” There will also be “paper” take-home books sent home weekly. These books are created to stay at home for continuous practice.

Eating Lunch at School With Your Child: After the FIRST TWO weeks of school, you are welcome to come to school and eat lunch with your child. I ask for your cooperation with this policy as many children have trouble transitioning to Kindergarten and being away from their parents. These two weeks will allow children to adjust to their new schedule and surroundings. You will receive a schedule which tells you our class’ lunch time. If you plan to eat with your child you DO NOT need to let me know in advance. Please meet our class outside the cafeteria. Please Note: On early release days, we will not be eating at our “normal” time, as school will dismiss early. Please do not plan to eat lunch at school with your child on early release days.

Questions/Comments/Concerns: I believe that the key to a child’s success in school is communication. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns you have, as I will do the same with you. I will return your call, email or note as promptly as possible. Please understand that together we can ensure a great year for your child!

Contacting Me: The best way to contact me during the school day or after school is through email. My email address is: kesterline@wcpss.net. If you do not get a reply from me within 24 hours, it means I did not get your email. Please send it again or call me. You can call the school at anytime during the day and I will get the message. The school phone number is: 919-557-2660. I also have a class web page which you will be able to access from the Holly Springs website. This will contain the most up to date newsletter and other important information you may misplace. For your convenience, I have attached a few business cards so you will be able to reach me.

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Agreement:

I have read and understand the policies which are stated in Mrs. Esterline’s handbook. If I have any questions, comments or concerns regarding my child’s Kindergarten experience I will contact my child’s teacher, Mrs. Esterline.

Parent/Guardian Signature: ______________________ Date: ________

I have read and understand that my child will be bringing home practice reading books. I understand that if any of the books are lost or damaged I will be responsible to replace them at a cost of $6.00 each.

Parent/Guardian Signature: ______________________ Date: ________

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