Dear Parents,
I would like to welcome you and your child to Kindergarten. This year is an important step for your child’s education. I have many wonderful activities and challenges planned for the students this year.
The following useful information will help the school year start off smoothly at home and at school.
Curriculum: Your child will be taught Reading, Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science.
Arrival: The first bell rings at 7:45. The kindergarten students will eat breakfast in the cafeteria and be picked up by their teacher at 8:00. Breakfast is optional and is free to ALL students.
Dismissal: The students will be dismissed at 2:45 to walk to their spots. I will be walking all students to their spots. If you need to make a change to your child’s after-school arrangements, or if your child will be going home with a friend for one day, please send me a note or email signed by a parent. Otherwise, I will dismiss your child according to your written carpool instructions.
Health: No medications, including over the counter drugs, such as cough drops, are NOT allowed in the classroom. Teachers cannot administer medication under any circumstances. Please see the school nurse when a medication is needed during school hours.
Absences/Tardies: Children who are absent or tardy must bring a note from home the next day stating the reason for their absence so I may count the absence as excused. These notes must be received within 3 days. If your child needs to leave school early, please send a note in the morning so I can have your child ready when the office calls. Also if you are going to a dr. appointment and plan to come back to school on the same day to get an official dr. note and it will be excused and your child will not be counted absent.
Conferences: Conferences may be scheduled whenever there is a need for one. My conference period is from 12:15-12:55. Please send a note, e-mail, or call the office to schedule a conference. Please make plans to attend our open house on September 14 where you can get more information about my class.
Wednesday Folders: The Wednesday folder is my way of staying in communication with you and is vitally important to me. I need the folder returned on Thursday’s unless you have written me a note or spoken with me about the need for more time to review materials. Thanks for your active involvement in this process.
Conduct: Your child’s conduct is kept in the classroom on a daily basis. Every day your child’s green communication/behavior log folder will need to be reviewed. It will be kept in your child’s backpack. Please sign on Friday’s and feel free to make any comments you feel necessary. If there is a serious situation that occurs, I will be in immediate contact. Otherwise, please look at the green folder nightly to see behavior. If you have any further concern, please contact me.
Daily Schedule: A daily schedule is attached to this letter.
Lunch and Snacks: Our lunch time will be from 10:30-11:00. You are always welcome to join your child for lunch. In fact, I encourage this. Please be advised that according to school policy, your child may ask only one other child to join him/her to eat out on the patio with you. I ask that you not allow your child and friend to play on recess equipment after your lunch together, as I am worried about number of students on the playground already. Otherwise, you are welcome to join your child for lunch with the class at the table. Prepaid lunch cards, a convenient way to take care of lunch purchases, can be paid for any before school in the front office or on the school website at www.bgroadrunners.org.
Your child may bring a small, healthy snack to eat early afternoon, such as fruit, raisins, nuts, trail mix, carrot sticks, crackers, a half sandwich, etc. Cookies, candy or potato chips are an inappropriate snack. No soda is allowed, although your child is encouraged to bring a bottle of water if desired.
If you would like to have a small birthday celebration for your child, please contact me so we can schedule an appropriate time.
Cell Phones: Students are not permitted to use their cell phones during the school day (7:30 AM-3:15 PM). If your child needs to use a phone, he/she may use the school phone with permission from his/her classroom teacher. Inappropriate use of a cell phone will result in confiscation by school personnel.
Uniforms: Briargrove follows a strict uniform policy. Please refer to the school handbook or website for more information. Also jeans and spirit shirts should only be worn on Friday’s and field trips. Students out of uniform will be sent to the office and have to wait for a parent or guardian to bring them a change of clothes.
Reminders: Please be sure to sign and return the acknowledgement form found in the center of the Code of Student conduct (I have flagged it with a post it note and highlighted where you and your child need to sign). Also, please return enrollment cards no later then Friday if you have not already done so. Be sure the card is completely filled out, including a neighbor or relative to contact in case of an emergency, and a doctor’s name and number. If you do not have a pediatrician or family doctor, please tell us where you would take your child in a medical emergency.
For more information, please refer to the parent/student handbook.
I look forward to a great Kindergarten year with your child. Please sign the acknowledgement form to indicate you have received this letter and reviewed it with your child. You only need to return the acknowledgement form, please keep this letter for your reference.
Sincerely yours,
Jamie Bronstein-Sawyer
jbronste@houstonisd.org
