Kindergarten

Parent Notes

Dear Parents,

During the year, the children will hear a wide variety of outstanding children's literature here in the classroom. Most of these selections are available for check-out daily. If your child picks out a book, it is done with the hope that you will find a moment in your busy schedule to read it.

Documented studies show a direct correlation between the number of books in the home, and the ability of a child to read well. I will do my part to see that a book is never out of your child's reach.

Please be sure to look inside your child's bookbag nightly. Not only will you find a book (and sometimes two) and homework, but also notes about school and community events.

A bookbag is easier to hold (and easier to identify if left behind) than a loose piece of paper or a single book. If an overnight book is forgotten, your child may take a paperback or a magazine, and a reminder.

PLEASE RETURN BOOKS DAILY so that others may share them. The same book may be brought home twice (or more) if a child chooses.

PLEASE NOTE:

Bookbags keep books and homework in good condition. Your child's homework should be brought to and from school in the enclosed folder. PLEASE KEEP THE FOLDER IN THE BOOKBAG. Bookbags help your child form a responsible attitude toward the possessions of others. They let your child know that he or she is trustworthy, and trusted.

One easy way to help your child remember to bring the bookbag daily is to place the bag in a prominent place near the front door. Be sure it's out of reach of unsupervised preschoolers, and pets. Place only books, papers and soft objects inside. No food. No pencils. Rainy days? No problem. The inside of the bookbag is water-resistant.

I collect and wash the bookbags at winter and summer break. If you need to wash it, please hang and allow it to drip-dry. A dryer would destroy the water-resistant material and the foam-padded backing. It dries quickly.

I am delighted to have your family belong to our book-lending program. I think you will find the books will enhance the close bond between you, your school-aged children, and preschoolers. It's also our best link to each other. Please use it to keep in touch. I appreciate your participation.

Sincerely,
Paula Walling

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Dear Parents,

Please note my mailing address, telephone number and email address in case you have questions and cannot reach me at school. (Not on web site.) Please feel free to keep in touch. The call is toll-free from Big Sur. (Sadly, the reverse is not true!) I hope you find the following suggestions and information helpful.

• Notes -- A number of important notes will come home throughout the school year. Please read each carefully; it will save confusion for you and your child. Where necessary, please read the note to your child.

• Playground Behavior -- Please take time to familiarize yourself with the Parent Handbook. Maintaining order and safety on the playground is of utmost importance to all the staff. Please reinforce these rules by reading them aloud to your child. Contact our playground supervisor, Gin Velasquez or our P. E. teacher, Merrie Potter, if you have specific questions.

• Bus Behavior -- Please stress that thoughtfulness on the bus contributes to a safe bus ride. Distractions to the bus driver constitute a hazard for everyone. Please read the appropriate bus rules to your child, in order to prevent bad habits from forming. Report unruly "bus stop" behavior immediately to our driver, Bob Tanzola. We want to be sure your child's trip to and from school is pleasant, as well as safe.

• Money -- Please send lunch, milk, bus, or book club money in closed, separate envelopes, and write on it your child's name and the purpose for which the money is intended. Send exact change or a check. Our secretary, Su Eikenberry, greatly appreciates your help here! Children should NOT bring their own personal money to school.

• Illness -- Please keep your child at home if he or she is sick, or overly tired. The average child this age requires a minimum of ten hours of sleep per night.

• Absence -- In the event of absence, call the school early in the day to let us know the reason your child is out and the expected length of absence.

• IMPORTANT -- If your child must be tardy, please be aware that a school lunch can NOT be assured unless you call the office by 10:00 A.M. Our school lunches are prepared at the Carmel High School Cafeteria, and brought daily by our custodian, Julio Olalia. Lunches this year are $3.00. Menus go home monthly. If it‚s misplaced, check the web site. Click on <Office>, then <School Lunches>.

• Tardiness -- Instruction begins immediately. Please avoid tardiness. Children are freshest and most receptive early in the day. Children get embarrassed and confused when they come in late, so please send them on time daily. Tardiness also gives children the impression that school (their job!) is a trivial matter, and that the needs of others in the class are somehow less important than their own.

• Snack -- Snack time is mid-morning, just before recess. A small, quick, nutritious snack should be sent daily. Children do best with a piece of fruit, carrot sticks, a piece of celery and peanut butter, raisins, seeds, nuts, etc. Sugared snacks cause one brief spurt of energy which lasts about as long as recess, then leaves them short of energy in class.

• P. E. and "Tennies" -- Though there is no dress code at Captain Cooper, I recommend that some kind of tennis shoes with good arch support be worn to school. Children slip and fall easily on concrete and asphalt when wearing sandals or any leather-soled shoes. Running, skipping, and other physical skills are also impaired by cowboy boots. We have a fine P. E. program, taught by Merrie Potter, and I want to see your child be at his or her best for it.

• Velcro -- An important, related matter: While learning to tie shoes is an important skill, velcro works. It saves time. It saves tripping. It saves tripping someone else--on untied laces. Safety as well as education is a paramount concern to the school, and to me personally. Birthdays, and special programs may suggest other footwear, but overall, for comfort, coordination and safety, "tennis" which have good arch support (and Velcro) win the gold medal.

• Sharing -- We have a brief sharing time most days. This time helps children develop oral language and listening skills. Parents should accompany children if expensive or delicate items are to be shared. Since animals are not allowed on the bus, a parent must accompany all pets. Pets in cages, bowls, etc., may be left for the day, only if they are picked up by 2:40. The children do love bringing pets, but please let me know ahead of time if pets are coming. Not all are compatible! If you wish to bring a dog, cat, or farm animal, please let me know in advance, and be prepared to stay with the pet.

• Labeling -- Please label jackets, and the OUTSIDE of lunch pails or lunch bags. Many tears have been shed over lunches and snacks mistakenly eaten. Also, a Rub-a-Dub OR Sharpie laundry marker can save a great deal of money in lost clothing. Labeling will help us place clothing in the right classroom.

• Lost and Found -- Whenever you come to school for any reason, please make it a point to check the clothing hanging outside Room 3, or in the lost & found box; it can save you money in lost clothes. Clothing left over long periods of time will be sent to the needy.

• More later--Homework, Book bags, Calendars, Birthdays, the Book Club, Library Visits, and the Time-line are subjects in themselves. Watch for further notes.

Sincerely,
Paula Walling

TODO SOBRE...LA MOCHILA

QUERIDOS PADRES, DURANTE EL ANO, LOS ESTUDIANTES APRENDERAN DE UNA GRANDE VARIEDAD DE LITERATURA PARA NINOS AQUI EN LA CLASE. PERO UN LIBRO DE VALOR TAMBIEN DEBERIAN TENER PARA COMPARTIR CON SU NINO-A.

LOS ESTUDIOS DOCUMENTADOS MUESTRAN UNA CORRELACION DIRECTA ENTRE LA CANTIDAD DE LIBROS EN EL HOGAR, Y LA HABILIDAD DE UN NINO/UNA NINA DE LEER BIEN. YO HARE MI PARTE PARA QUE UN LIBRO ESTE SIEMPRE AL ALCANCE DE SU NINO-A.

HAGAN EL FAVOR DE RIVISOR: HAGAN EL FAVOR DE REVISAR LA MOCHILA DE SU NINO-A CADA DIA EN DONDE ENCONTRARAN NO SOLAMENTE UN LIBRO O DOS, SINO NOTAS DE EVENTOS DE LA ESCUELA Y LA COMUNIDAD. POR FAVOR, DEVUELVAN LOS LIBROS DIARIAMENTE PARA QUE LOS OTROS NINOS LOS COMPARTAN.

HAGAN EL FAVOR DE ANOTAR: LAS MOCHILAS GUARDAN LOS LIBROS Y TAREA BIEN. LA TAREA DE SU NINO-A DEBE DE LLEVARSE A LA CASA DE LA ESCUELA Y DEVOLVERSE A LA ESCUELA EN EL CUADERNO INCLUIDO. POR FAVOR, GUARDEN EL CUEDERNO EN EL MOCHILA. LAS MOCHILAS LE AYUDAN A SU NINO-A A FORMAR UNA ACTITUD DE RESPONSABILIDAD HACIA LAS POSESIONES DE OTROS. LE DEJAN SABER A SU NINO-A QUE A EL/A ELLA SE LE TIENE CONFIANZA Y QUE EL/ELLA ES CONFIABLE.

PONGAN LA MOCHILA EN EL LUGAR PROMINENTE CERCA DE LA PUERTA DE LA ENTRADA DE SU CASA. ESTE SEGURO DE QUE LA MOCHILA NO ESTE DISPONIBLE DE NINOS PEQUENOS NO VIGILADOS-Y ANIMALES DOMESTICOS. PONGAN SOLO LIBROS, PAPELES Y OBJETOS NO DUROS ADENTRO. NO PONER COMIDA. NO PONER LAPICES. YO COLECCIONO Y LAVO LAS MOCHILAS CUANDO NOSOTROS INVENTARIAMOS LOS LIBROS: DURANTE LAS VACACIONES DE LAS PASCUAS, Y LAS VACACIONES DEL VERNO.

ME DELEITA QUE PERTENEZCAN A NUESTRO PROGRAMA DE PRESTAR LIBROS. PIENSO QUE SE DARAN CUENTA DE QUE LOS LIBROS FORMARAN UNA UNION MAS FUERTE ENTRE USTED, SU ESCUELA Y SUS NINOS QUE ASISTEN A LA ESCUELA Y LOS MAS PEQUENOS QUE TAMBIEN ASISTIRAN. YO APRECIO SU PARTICIPACION.

SINCERAMENTE, PAULA WALLING

P. S. ALGUNAS VECES ESTOS LIBROS QUE SU NINO-A TRAIGA A LA CASA, ESTARAN ESCRITOS EN ESPANOL.

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