Mrs. Maquinalez’ Kindergarten Handbook 2016-2017
Contact Information:
Jennifer Maquinalez
Room # C111
512-704-1250 (classroom)
512-704-1200 (office)
[email protected]
Contact Information:
Jennifer Maquinalez
Room # C111
512-704-1250 (classroom)
512-704-1200 (office)
[email protected]
Hello! My name is Jennifer Maquinalez and I am your child’s new teacher! This is my 8th year with Round Rock ISD and my 2nd year at England. I love teaching and learning! I believe very strongly in a child-centered classroom. Throughout the year, we will stay very busy with engaging, hands-on learning activities that meet the needs of all children. Activities will include Reading Workshop, Writing Workshop, Math Problem-Solving, Inquiry-Based Science, and Social Studies.
Here are a some quick pieces of information you might find helpful to get the year started. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. We will have an exciting year together. I know you will be amazed and excited to see how your child learns and grows. I look forward to working with you throughout the year!
Communication
Strong parent/teacher communication is essential for a successful year. I want to make sure that you always know what is going on in class. My classroom website has basic information—a schedule, classroom news, and tips for helping your child learn at home. At the end of each week you will receive a newsletter with information regarding what we have discussed in class that week as well as a look ahead to the following week.
In addition, I utilize a free, safe messaging tool called Remind to send messages and important reminders. To sign up to receive messages via text, text @mrsmaquin to 81010 or to receive messages via email, send an email to [email protected] . All of your information will remain private. For more information visit the website: www.remind.com .
I will also contact you through e-mail, phone calls and notes home when necessary. If you have any questions, you can contact me at (512) 704-1250 or [email protected] . E-mail is always the best way to contact me. If you have an emergency, contact the office, and they will contact me immediately as I am unable to answer my classroom phone throughout the instructional day.
Folders
I will send home a Daily folder every day. Please check it for important information, homework, notes and information from school. It will also contain a calendar for the 9 week grading period. Please check the your child's folder every night and return it the next day. You may also use the folder to send any notes or information back to me the next day. Please make sure you send any important notes and money in the clear part of the zippered pouch since things in kindergarten pockets or backpacks tend to disappear! I check the folders every day. Thanks!
Money
Please do not allow your children to bring money to school unless it is for a specific reason (book order, field trip, lunch money, etc). Please put the money, along with a note indicating the amount, the purpose (such as lunch money, book fair, ice cream money, etc.) and child’s name, into the zippered pouch in the daily folder.
Transportation
For your child’s safety, if there are any changes in the way your child will be going home from school, please notify me in writing, place the note in the front part of the zippered pouch, AND contact the office to ensure that I receive the message. Without written instruction from you, your child will be sent home in the usual manner (we cannot accept verbal changes from your child or a sibling). If a last minute transportation change arises, please call the front office before 2:15 and they will notify me.
Toys
Please do not send toys of any kind to school. Occasionally, children will be allowed to bring in items for “Show-and-Tell,” but you will be notified beforehand.
Arrival
Attendance is very important to your child’s progress. Children arriving at school between 7:15-7:35 will wait on the carpet in the common area. (We do allow students to come directly into the classroom on the first day of school only.) There is no supervision of students arriving at school before 7:15. Class begins promptly at 7:40. Students arriving after 7:40 will need to report to the school office for a tardy slip before coming to the classroom. If arriving after 8:30, the student’s lunch choice will need to be turned in to the office.
Dismissal Definitions:
Parent Walk-up:
You will park your car and wait at the front of the building for your child. Please do not pass the cones until you are called to do so. Your child will let the teacher(s) on duty know that he or she is leaving and the teacher must see the parent/guardian.
Car Rider:
You will drive up (at the back of the school), stay in your car, & your child will walk to your car when you are in the designated area. You will have a sign with your child's name and grade level to display in your window.
Bus Rider:
Your child will get on a yellow RRISD School Bus.
Daycare:
Your child will meet a representative from a Daycare facility and will board Daycare Transportation at the school, or YMCA.
Lunch
We eat lunch from 10:45-11:15. Please note the time in case you would like to visit for lunch.
There are 3-4 lunch choices every day. There is a link to the lunch calendar from our school website as well as on my website. Please be sure your child knows what he/she is eating for lunch each day. The menu will be read to the class daily, but once your child selects a choice, that selection is served. Keep in mind that extra food is not prepared, which makes it difficult to allow students to change their mind once lunchtime begins. You may, of course, send a lunch from home, but please be sure to label lunch boxes clearly!
Student lunches are $2.50. Student breakfasts are $1.35. You may pay for lunches online at: MySchoolBucks: https://www.myschoolbucks.com
This is the BEST and safest way to pay for lunches! If you choose to send in a payment, please make sure it is in the money pouch in the daily folder! Please try to pay for lunches ahead of time, and not daily. Our mornings are very busy and there isn’t always time to check for lunch money before lunch (which, as you see, is early).
If you plan to eat school lunch with your child and need a lunch for yourself, please send a note with your child or call the office and order your lunch by 8:00. Please wait in the lunchroom if you arrive early as we will still be busy learning in our classroom.
*I ask that you please wait to come to eat lunch with your child until the third week of school. This will help make our transition from the lunchroom to our classroom much easier for the children. Thank you!
Please let me know if your child has any food allergies or diet restrictions!
Water
Please make sure to send a water bottle (labeled with name) to school with your child everyday. It gets very hot during the day and proper hydration is essential for good learning. Unfortunately, we do not have water fountains in the classroom; however, we do have a sink to refill water bottles throughout the day as needed. Juice or Gatorade type drinks are not allowed.
Sleep
Please make sure your child gets good, uninterrupted sleep every night. It is also essential for growing and learning. Kindergarteners need between 9-10 hours of sleep per night.
Illness
If your child is sick, please keep them at home! Washing hands and hand sanitizers are great, but the best thing we can do to keep our classroom healthy is to keep the bad germs out to begin with! Your child must be fever-free (without medication) for 24 hours before they return to school! Please be sure to report your child's absence online at: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScNJ9EUCoDYo2EBlscwVcYtjnQ7xEHVeLFi9AmpezocEaaTfw/viewform (You can also find this link near the bottom of the school website by clicking on the blue rectangle that says "Report an Absence.")
Snack
Because lunch is so early, students will be allowed to eat a snack from home every afternoon. Only healthy snacks are allowed at school. Suggestions include pretzels, popcorn, graham crackers, animal crackers, goldfish, fresh fruit or veggies. Please do not send any drinks other than water. As we will be eating snack in the classroom, please do not send anything sticky, messy, or that requires a spoon (i.e. yogurt).
Book Orders
Your child will be bringing home a form to order Scholastic books about once a month. If you wish to order, simply fill out the form and send in the correct amount of money or a check made out to the book company in an envelope. There will also be an option to order online. These orders are provided as a convenient way for parents to buy quality books for their children at a low price. As an added bonus, for every dollar that is spent, bonus points are earned to purchase books for our classroom. Of course, you are never under any obligation to order!
Here's how it works:
Please make sure your child wears kindergarten-appropriate clothing everyday (remember—we like messy things—paint, playdoh, sand!) In addition, the district dress code must be followed at all times. Dressing in layers is always a good idea here in central Texas. It might be chilly in the mornings, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be downright hot by recess. Tennis shoes are required for P.E. days, but are a good idea everyday. (The playground is covered in tiny little pebbles). Please, please, please…label all of your child’s coats, jackets, gloves, hats—any article of clothing that can be removed. If something gets lost (and it will), please check the lost and found.
In addition, please keep an extra set of clothes in your child's bag which should include underpants and pants/shorts in case of an accident (including food/drinks spilling all over at lunch time).
Finally…
Encourage your child to discuss school activities with you. Talk positively about school. The way your child perceives your feelings about school and teachers will have a direct effect on how he/she feels about them. I am delighted to have your child in my class and look forward to working with you to make sure your child has a fantastic school year!
Your partner in education,
Mrs. Maquinalez
Here are a some quick pieces of information you might find helpful to get the year started. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. We will have an exciting year together. I know you will be amazed and excited to see how your child learns and grows. I look forward to working with you throughout the year!
Communication
Strong parent/teacher communication is essential for a successful year. I want to make sure that you always know what is going on in class. My classroom website has basic information—a schedule, classroom news, and tips for helping your child learn at home. At the end of each week you will receive a newsletter with information regarding what we have discussed in class that week as well as a look ahead to the following week.
In addition, I utilize a free, safe messaging tool called Remind to send messages and important reminders. To sign up to receive messages via text, text @mrsmaquin to 81010 or to receive messages via email, send an email to [email protected] . All of your information will remain private. For more information visit the website: www.remind.com .
I will also contact you through e-mail, phone calls and notes home when necessary. If you have any questions, you can contact me at (512) 704-1250 or [email protected] . E-mail is always the best way to contact me. If you have an emergency, contact the office, and they will contact me immediately as I am unable to answer my classroom phone throughout the instructional day.
Folders
I will send home a Daily folder every day. Please check it for important information, homework, notes and information from school. It will also contain a calendar for the 9 week grading period. Please check the your child's folder every night and return it the next day. You may also use the folder to send any notes or information back to me the next day. Please make sure you send any important notes and money in the clear part of the zippered pouch since things in kindergarten pockets or backpacks tend to disappear! I check the folders every day. Thanks!
Money
Please do not allow your children to bring money to school unless it is for a specific reason (book order, field trip, lunch money, etc). Please put the money, along with a note indicating the amount, the purpose (such as lunch money, book fair, ice cream money, etc.) and child’s name, into the zippered pouch in the daily folder.
Transportation
For your child’s safety, if there are any changes in the way your child will be going home from school, please notify me in writing, place the note in the front part of the zippered pouch, AND contact the office to ensure that I receive the message. Without written instruction from you, your child will be sent home in the usual manner (we cannot accept verbal changes from your child or a sibling). If a last minute transportation change arises, please call the front office before 2:15 and they will notify me.
Toys
Please do not send toys of any kind to school. Occasionally, children will be allowed to bring in items for “Show-and-Tell,” but you will be notified beforehand.
Arrival
Attendance is very important to your child’s progress. Children arriving at school between 7:15-7:35 will wait on the carpet in the common area. (We do allow students to come directly into the classroom on the first day of school only.) There is no supervision of students arriving at school before 7:15. Class begins promptly at 7:40. Students arriving after 7:40 will need to report to the school office for a tardy slip before coming to the classroom. If arriving after 8:30, the student’s lunch choice will need to be turned in to the office.
Dismissal Definitions:
Parent Walk-up:
You will park your car and wait at the front of the building for your child. Please do not pass the cones until you are called to do so. Your child will let the teacher(s) on duty know that he or she is leaving and the teacher must see the parent/guardian.
Car Rider:
You will drive up (at the back of the school), stay in your car, & your child will walk to your car when you are in the designated area. You will have a sign with your child's name and grade level to display in your window.
Bus Rider:
Your child will get on a yellow RRISD School Bus.
Daycare:
Your child will meet a representative from a Daycare facility and will board Daycare Transportation at the school, or YMCA.
Lunch
We eat lunch from 10:45-11:15. Please note the time in case you would like to visit for lunch.
There are 3-4 lunch choices every day. There is a link to the lunch calendar from our school website as well as on my website. Please be sure your child knows what he/she is eating for lunch each day. The menu will be read to the class daily, but once your child selects a choice, that selection is served. Keep in mind that extra food is not prepared, which makes it difficult to allow students to change their mind once lunchtime begins. You may, of course, send a lunch from home, but please be sure to label lunch boxes clearly!
Student lunches are $2.50. Student breakfasts are $1.35. You may pay for lunches online at: MySchoolBucks: https://www.myschoolbucks.com
This is the BEST and safest way to pay for lunches! If you choose to send in a payment, please make sure it is in the money pouch in the daily folder! Please try to pay for lunches ahead of time, and not daily. Our mornings are very busy and there isn’t always time to check for lunch money before lunch (which, as you see, is early).
If you plan to eat school lunch with your child and need a lunch for yourself, please send a note with your child or call the office and order your lunch by 8:00. Please wait in the lunchroom if you arrive early as we will still be busy learning in our classroom.
*I ask that you please wait to come to eat lunch with your child until the third week of school. This will help make our transition from the lunchroom to our classroom much easier for the children. Thank you!
Please let me know if your child has any food allergies or diet restrictions!
Water
Please make sure to send a water bottle (labeled with name) to school with your child everyday. It gets very hot during the day and proper hydration is essential for good learning. Unfortunately, we do not have water fountains in the classroom; however, we do have a sink to refill water bottles throughout the day as needed. Juice or Gatorade type drinks are not allowed.
Sleep
Please make sure your child gets good, uninterrupted sleep every night. It is also essential for growing and learning. Kindergarteners need between 9-10 hours of sleep per night.
Illness
If your child is sick, please keep them at home! Washing hands and hand sanitizers are great, but the best thing we can do to keep our classroom healthy is to keep the bad germs out to begin with! Your child must be fever-free (without medication) for 24 hours before they return to school! Please be sure to report your child's absence online at: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScNJ9EUCoDYo2EBlscwVcYtjnQ7xEHVeLFi9AmpezocEaaTfw/viewform (You can also find this link near the bottom of the school website by clicking on the blue rectangle that says "Report an Absence.")
Snack
Because lunch is so early, students will be allowed to eat a snack from home every afternoon. Only healthy snacks are allowed at school. Suggestions include pretzels, popcorn, graham crackers, animal crackers, goldfish, fresh fruit or veggies. Please do not send any drinks other than water. As we will be eating snack in the classroom, please do not send anything sticky, messy, or that requires a spoon (i.e. yogurt).
Book Orders
Your child will be bringing home a form to order Scholastic books about once a month. If you wish to order, simply fill out the form and send in the correct amount of money or a check made out to the book company in an envelope. There will also be an option to order online. These orders are provided as a convenient way for parents to buy quality books for their children at a low price. As an added bonus, for every dollar that is spent, bonus points are earned to purchase books for our classroom. Of course, you are never under any obligation to order!
Here's how it works:
- Use the information below to access the Scholastic Book Clubs Web site: www.scholastic.com/parentordering
- Create a profile with scholastic and register yourself with our class using this code: HKWP6
- Browse the titles with your child, and place your order with your credit card.
- Your order will come to me, and your credit card payment will go directly to Scholastic's secure server. There's no need to send money to school.
- After I submit the entire class's order to Scholastic, your order will be delivered to our classroom for your child to take home.
Please make sure your child wears kindergarten-appropriate clothing everyday (remember—we like messy things—paint, playdoh, sand!) In addition, the district dress code must be followed at all times. Dressing in layers is always a good idea here in central Texas. It might be chilly in the mornings, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be downright hot by recess. Tennis shoes are required for P.E. days, but are a good idea everyday. (The playground is covered in tiny little pebbles). Please, please, please…label all of your child’s coats, jackets, gloves, hats—any article of clothing that can be removed. If something gets lost (and it will), please check the lost and found.
In addition, please keep an extra set of clothes in your child's bag which should include underpants and pants/shorts in case of an accident (including food/drinks spilling all over at lunch time).
Finally…
Encourage your child to discuss school activities with you. Talk positively about school. The way your child perceives your feelings about school and teachers will have a direct effect on how he/she feels about them. I am delighted to have your child in my class and look forward to working with you to make sure your child has a fantastic school year!
Your partner in education,
Mrs. Maquinalez