RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

The religious program strengthens and supplements the parents

responsibility in teaching their children about God. The Kindergarten
program will help students appreciate and understand at their own level, and
thus come to know God during their extremely impressionable and
formative years of life. The Faith First program we use is based upon the
four parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The key teachings have
been woven into four units of the Kindergarten program to meet the unique
learning and faith development needs of young children. At Incarnation
School, we instill a sense of values and provide an environment for spiritual
growth and Christian training, the heart of our mission statement. Our work
flows from the gospel and mission of Jesus. At Incarnation School, we are a
family - loving, caring, sharing, and respecting the uniqueness of one
another.

READING/LANGUAGE ARTS
Macmillan McGraw-Hills Beginning to Read, Write, and Listen is the
comprehensive reading-language arts program that we use. The program
contains and correlates reading, handwriting, auditory and oral language
skills. It provides the student with a thorough understanding of the letters of
the alphabet and their sounds. Students learn letter names, how to write
them, and will blend sounds together to form words. It is a multi-sensory
program which uses a variety of visual, kinesthetic, and auditory activities.
Students will learn basic sight words and will be challenged to blend and
read using word lists and beginning books, working at their own pace.

MATHEMATICS
The Kindergarten child builds a foundation of arithmetic through many real and
meaningful experiences. Hands on activities provide a rich source for developing number
concepts and building vocabulary. We use Sadlier- Oxfords Progress in Math, a
comprehensive basal mathematics program that emphasizes basic computation skills and
general problem-solving strategies. Skills include numbers and counting to 100, shape
recognition and basic geometry, measurement, patterning, counting coins, telling time to
the hour and half-hour, and addition and subtraction facts through ten. Progress in Math
is correlated to the Common Core Standards.
SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES

The science curriculum helps nurture the childs curiosity, gives them a better
understanding of the world, and develops an appreciation of the wonders around them.
Enrichment activities at this level provide opportunities to explore and learn about the
Earth, plants, animals, weather, and health. Students will learn to be accurate observers,
use judgment and reasoning, and to hypothesize and experiment.
Students are introduced to a rich content in all areas of Social Studies. Geographic
literacy skills, history lessons linking past and present, and active citizenship is taught
through skill lessons and interactive activities. Holiday background information is
presented and will be celebrated in the classroom. Room parents are invited into the
classroom to run class parties.

SPECIAL CLASSES

Kindergarten students attend computer class, library, gym, music, art, and Spanish once a
week. Students will need to wear their gym uniform and gym shoes to school on
Wednesdays. They can wear gym shorts until November 1st and beginning again in April.
Library books go home on Thursday and are due back on Tuesday.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

Kindergarten students line up directly in front of the main doors. Students should arrive
no earlier than 8:00 AM. Teacher supervision is not available before this time. Students
who arrive before 8:00 AM will be sent to extended day and charges will incur. Morning
Extended Day students will be walked to their line outside the main doors. The first bell
rings at 8:10 AM and all children will walk in with their class. The second bell rings at
8:15 AM. All students are required to be in class and ready to begin promptly at 8:15
AM, or they will be marked tardy. Please have your child at school by 8:10 AM for the
first bell. Most children arriving late get upset, disrupt the classroom flow, and this
usually sets the tone for their day. Being on time and beginning each day in a relaxed
way is important.
Kindergarten students are dismissed with the rest of the student body at 3:00 PM by the
cones in the parking lot. They will wait with me until we see you. If you are running late
and not there at dismissal, your child will be taken to Extended Day Care.
Please let me know on the dismissal form if your child will be going to Extended Day
after school. You can send a weekly, monthly, or daily schedule. Students will be walked
to Extended Day before the all school dismissal.

AM SCHEDULE
Prayers, pledge, calendar, weather, circle time
Religion
Reading/Language Arts/Handwriting
Washroom break/snack/ Free play
Math
Computer class, gym, library, and music (once a week)
PM SCHEDULE
Outdoor recess
Lunch
Story time/Rest time
Science, Social Studies, Enrichment, Gross Motor activities
Spanish and Art (once a week)

BEHAVIOR
Our rules are simple. Listen carefully, follow directions, work quietly, respect others and
property, work and play safely, and do your best. Students will learn to take responsibility
for their own behavior. Using a stop light system, students will keep track of how well
they are following the rules.
1. Everyone starts the day with their car on the green light. (Youre doing great!)
2. Students who forget a rule will need to move their car to the yellow light. (Slow
down and think about your actions! Warning!)
3. A student who continues to forget the rules will move their car to the red light.
This will incur a consequence. (Action will be taken- time out, consequence, note
home, no sticker for chart.)
A weekly record will be sent home.
Students who do not move their car to red will earn a sticker on the monthly behavior
chart. Students will be rewarded for receiving five green stickers in a row. This could be
going to the prize box, earning a coupon for extra play time, a group treat, etc.
The class will also be rewarded for positive group behavior by earning magnetic letters
on the cabinet. When a phrase is created using the magnetic letters, the whole class will
earn a special treat.

BIRTHDAYS
Every child will have an opportunity to celebrate their birthday. Summer birthdays will
be celebrated on the birthday or toward the end of the year. You may send in a store
bought or homemade treat. The less gooey the better. If your child has allergies, you
may send in a box of treats that will be kept for your child as we celebrate birthdays over
the year. Birthday invitations may be passed out in class if everyone is invited, or all of
the boys or all of the girls. Please be considerate of the feelings of all the children. A
birthday story will go home the day your child celebrates their birthday. Please return the
book the following day of school so others can enjoy their birthday in the same way.
BROWN ENVELOPES
Brown envelopes will be sent home every Tuesday with important school information.
Envelopes will go home with the oldest child in the family. Please review and remove
the papers then sign and return the envelope on Wednesday. If you have papers or notes
for the Kindergarten teacher, please do not place them in this envelope since they are sent
directly to the office. Notes for the homeroom teacher should be placed in the homework
folder.
FRIDAY FOLDERS
Your child will be given a weekly Friday folder. Inside you will find the monthly
behavior chart and completed class work. Please review and remove the papers from this
folder, leaving the monthly behavior chart. Please have your child correct mistakes and
review at home.
HOMEWORK
Homework will be assigned daily Monday through Thursday. Assignments will contain
practice activities that reinforce skills introduced that week. Please reinforce good study
habits by making sure your child completes the work neatly. Pencil and crayon only!

NEWSLETTERS
A Kindergarten newsletter will be emailed and sent home weekly.

REST MATS
Students will rest quietly for about 30 minutes each afternoon. Rest mats are to be
ordered through the school and will be sent home to be washed as needed.
REPORT CARDS
Kindergarten students receive report cards three times a year. There will be a mandatory
Parent-Teacher conference in November and an optional one later in the year.
Conferences may be scheduled at any time by teacher or parent request.

SNACKS AND LUNCH

Snack time is only ten minutes. Each student should bring in one healthy snack. Please
pack it separately from the lunch. No drinks at this time. Healthy snack examples are
fruit, cheese, pudding, crackers, etc. Be sure to send a spoon if needed. We will use the
napkins that are sent in with supplies.
Lunch will be eaten in the lunch room. Your child may bring a lunch from home or order
hot lunch. Please be sure to label lunches with your child's name. You may order milk or
send in a juice box or water bottle. Students may also order lunches from the Parent's
Club on Tuesdays. A separate order form will come home each month. Drinks are not
included with the Tuesday Hot Lunch. You will still need to order milk that day, or you
may send in your own drink. You must send a small towel for lunch every day, even if
your child orders hot lunch. Please pack it in the lunchbox or send separately in a baggie.

UNIFORMS
Please consult the handbook regarding uniforms. Remember that students may wear gym
or school shoes with their school uniform. No light ups. On gym day, students should
wear their gym uniform and any securely fastened gym shoe to school. During the
warmer weather, please make sure your child wears their gym shirt. You can send in the
sweatshirt if youd like, but it gets warm in the classroom and gym. Be sure to label all
items, especially sweaters and sweatshirts.

HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?

See that your child comes to school in a happy frame of mind. They should get a
good nights rest (bed by 8:00 pm the latest) and should eat a nutritious breakfast.
Show sincere interest in things brought home from school. Encourage your child
to relate school experiences. Focus on the positive.
Share information with the teacher that will help her better understand your child.
Call in absences before 8:20 AM. Send a written excuse to the teacher upon
return. You may request work to be sent home with a sibling or friend.
Read to your child every day.
Encourage your child to observe and listen carefully.
Give your child responsibilities and see that they are carried out.
Teach your child to accept discipline and consequences.
Encourage simple courtesies.
Teach your child to tie their shoes and put on and take off own wraps.
Practice full name, address, phone number, and birthday.
Set up play dates with peers.
Help your child accept the fact that he or she is not always the center of attention.
Teach your child to listen to and be interested in others.
Plan outings to the library, museums, zoo, park, etc. Discussing these experiences
will build vocabulary and knowledge.