Morning Routines
In the morning, students gather in the Kindergarten Hallway and sit with their classmates until the first bell rings at 7:35. At this time, children and parents will be allowed to head towards their classrooms.
As you arrive, please give hugs and say goodbyes at the hug zone.
When children enter the room, they will make their lunch choices and "unpack and unstack." At this time, they are responsible for unpacking their backpack, turning in any materials that need to be turned in for the day (folders, reading bags, homework, notes, etc.) and hanging up their backpacks and belongings in their cubby. Next, they will unstack their chairs and either begin the work at their desk or read a book on the floor (depending what our morning activities are that day). We begin learning this routine on the very 1st day of school.
When the 7:40 bell rings, all children should be in the classroom and quietly taking care of their morning responsibilities. Any students not in class when the bell rings will be asked to get a "tardy" slip from the Safe and Secure Entrance to enter class.
As you arrive, please give hugs and say goodbyes at the hug zone.
When children enter the room, they will make their lunch choices and "unpack and unstack." At this time, they are responsible for unpacking their backpack, turning in any materials that need to be turned in for the day (folders, reading bags, homework, notes, etc.) and hanging up their backpacks and belongings in their cubby. Next, they will unstack their chairs and either begin the work at their desk or read a book on the floor (depending what our morning activities are that day). We begin learning this routine on the very 1st day of school.
When the 7:40 bell rings, all children should be in the classroom and quietly taking care of their morning responsibilities. Any students not in class when the bell rings will be asked to get a "tardy" slip from the Safe and Secure Entrance to enter class.
Clothing
All children must keep an extra change of clothes, socks, and underwear at school to be used in case of emergencies. Please place all of the items in a large Ziploc bag and label it with your child's first and last name and your teacher's name (ex: K-Cardenas). Our nurse does not have spare clothes, so please be sure to keep a set here! We will send them home when the weather changes to be replaced with a cold weather set.
Kindergarten goes outside every day, except when the weather is extreme heat, extreme cold, or raining. Please keep this in mind when getting ready in the morning. On cold days, your child will need appropriate clothes to take to recess!
Please label ALL jackets, sweaters, coats, hats, mittens, etc. MANY unlabeled items will be left on the playground or will end up in the lost and found.
SHOES- It is HIGHLY recommended that kindergarten students wear tennis shoes every day! They must have tennis shoes on to participate in P.E. (3 days a week). Since we go outside for recess every day, it makes the most sense for them to have on shoes they can run and play in and not accidentally trip or fall or shoes that may break easily (sandals, etc). Please send your child in shoes he/she can fasten on their own.
Kindergarten goes outside every day, except when the weather is extreme heat, extreme cold, or raining. Please keep this in mind when getting ready in the morning. On cold days, your child will need appropriate clothes to take to recess!
Please label ALL jackets, sweaters, coats, hats, mittens, etc. MANY unlabeled items will be left on the playground or will end up in the lost and found.
SHOES- It is HIGHLY recommended that kindergarten students wear tennis shoes every day! They must have tennis shoes on to participate in P.E. (3 days a week). Since we go outside for recess every day, it makes the most sense for them to have on shoes they can run and play in and not accidentally trip or fall or shoes that may break easily (sandals, etc). Please send your child in shoes he/she can fasten on their own.
Backpacks
Please send your child with a backpack every day, as items are often sent home throughout the week. It should be large enough to fit many items at the same time, such as weekly folder, lunch box, and other miscellaneous materials. If your child does not have a backpack, it would be a worthwhile purchase. Due to limited cubby space, please do not buy a backpack with wheels.
Snack Routines
All children need to bring a small healthy snack every day. The snack must be nutritious and nut-free. We have snack around 1:00 each afternoon. We suggest sending a small snack no bigger than your child's fist. You may also want to send a small water bottle when the weather is hot for your child.
Parents, please remember to send a healthy snack with your child each day. Please put it on an outside pocket of your child's backpack (and discuss the location with your little one), and NOT in their lunchbox. Suggested snacks from RRISD: 4 saltine or Ritz crackers, 5 vanilla wafers,1/2 plain bagel, 1/2 cinnamon raisin bagel, 1/2 plain English muffin, small package of goldfish (many varieties), animal crackers, teddy grahams, cheese crackers, peanut butter crackers, nutraGrain bars, low-fat granola bars, Fig Newtons, 1/4 c nuts and fruit trail mix, 1 sm box of raisins, or 1 cup of Cheerios. NO CHIPS, COOKIES, CANDY FOR SNACK. Please remember to remind your child that we DO NOT share our food. We do have a few children with peanut allergies, etc., and we want to keep everyone safe! Thank you so much!! :-)
Parents, please remember to send a healthy snack with your child each day. Please put it on an outside pocket of your child's backpack (and discuss the location with your little one), and NOT in their lunchbox. Suggested snacks from RRISD: 4 saltine or Ritz crackers, 5 vanilla wafers,1/2 plain bagel, 1/2 cinnamon raisin bagel, 1/2 plain English muffin, small package of goldfish (many varieties), animal crackers, teddy grahams, cheese crackers, peanut butter crackers, nutraGrain bars, low-fat granola bars, Fig Newtons, 1/4 c nuts and fruit trail mix, 1 sm box of raisins, or 1 cup of Cheerios. NO CHIPS, COOKIES, CANDY FOR SNACK. Please remember to remind your child that we DO NOT share our food. We do have a few children with peanut allergies, etc., and we want to keep everyone safe! Thank you so much!! :-)
Lunch Routines
At the beginning of the year, we do not allow parents to visit during lunch. This parent-child separation after lunch can often disrupt class routines early in the year. Your child's teacher will let you know when we have all settled in and we will welcome you with open arms to come and enjoy lunch with our wonderful class!
We have lunch every day at 10:45 or 10:55. We take a bathroom break before lunch to wash hands and all walk down to the cafeteria together. Students have assigned seats in the cafeteria. An adult will go through the lunch line with our students buying lunch and help them through this process. You may put money in your child's account before school, online at the school website, or you may send a check in with your child. Be sure your check has your child's name and their teacher's name written on the envelope.
Please do not send sodas, we are working hard to encourage healthy habits for all children at school (and they can make a huge mess for our hardworking custodial staff)!
We do not allow kindergartners to purchase "extras" in the cafeteria line (ex: chips, ice cream, etc).
The PTA is ALWAYS looking for wonderful volunteers to help in the cafeteria.
We have lunch every day at 10:45 or 10:55. We take a bathroom break before lunch to wash hands and all walk down to the cafeteria together. Students have assigned seats in the cafeteria. An adult will go through the lunch line with our students buying lunch and help them through this process. You may put money in your child's account before school, online at the school website, or you may send a check in with your child. Be sure your check has your child's name and their teacher's name written on the envelope.
Please do not send sodas, we are working hard to encourage healthy habits for all children at school (and they can make a huge mess for our hardworking custodial staff)!
We do not allow kindergartners to purchase "extras" in the cafeteria line (ex: chips, ice cream, etc).
The PTA is ALWAYS looking for wonderful volunteers to help in the cafeteria.
End of Day Routines
At the end of the day we "clean, stack, and pack" We all work together to get our room ready for the end of the day. We clean up our afternoon activity, clean the room, stack our chairs, and pack belongings. We gather on the floor, recap our fun for the day, and discuss important things to remember for the next day. At 2:45 all of the Kindergarten classes leave their classrooms to deliver students to their drop-off points. Students will follow their teacher to either the Basketball Court/Black Top (Oakview Walkers), Buses, Car rider line, YMCA, Flagpole (Carlwood Walkers), or Daycare Bus.
There will be a couple of changes this year at dismissal:
1. All students will have an I.D. tag secured their backpack by their teacher.
2. Students walking home with parents from the Basketball Court and the Flagpole side of the school. Students walking home from these two locations will need to sit behind their grade level assigned cone. Once students are sitting, another teacher will match students with parents. Please do leave with your little one until that teacher is able to match you with your child. We appreciate your patience in helping us ensure that each child goes home safely.
If you ever have a change in your "going home" routine, please send a note in the morning with your child or send your child's teacher an e-mail the day before. If it is the day of and you need to change your procedure, you can call the office and they will be sure to inform us of the change. We are often unable to check our e-mail throughout the day. so it is always best to inform the office to be sure we get the message.
Any children not picked up by 3:00 will wait in the main office and a parent or guardian must come in the building to sign for the student.
There will be a couple of changes this year at dismissal:
1. All students will have an I.D. tag secured their backpack by their teacher.
2. Students walking home with parents from the Basketball Court and the Flagpole side of the school. Students walking home from these two locations will need to sit behind their grade level assigned cone. Once students are sitting, another teacher will match students with parents. Please do leave with your little one until that teacher is able to match you with your child. We appreciate your patience in helping us ensure that each child goes home safely.
If you ever have a change in your "going home" routine, please send a note in the morning with your child or send your child's teacher an e-mail the day before. If it is the day of and you need to change your procedure, you can call the office and they will be sure to inform us of the change. We are often unable to check our e-mail throughout the day. so it is always best to inform the office to be sure we get the message.
Any children not picked up by 3:00 will wait in the main office and a parent or guardian must come in the building to sign for the student.