Welcome to Kindergarten

My name is Beth Betthauser. I am thrilled to be your child’s Kindergarten teacher at Bradley Elementary School! Kindergarten is an exciting new time for both parents and children.My goal is to build confidence, encourage exploration and develop lifelong learners. I am looking forward to working with your child this year and helping him/her to achieve his/her full potential.

About me: My teaching career is a second career for me. I grew up in Kearney, Nebraska and graduated from the University of Kansas with a BS in Journalism in 1983. After being a stay-at-home mom, homeschooling for eight years, and then working for two years as a Title I Reading Aide, I decided to go back to school for a second degree. I received my BA in Elementary Education from Wichita State University in 2010. My husband, Bob, and I have been married for almost 31 years. We have four children, one daughter-in-law, and soon-to-be two granddaughters: Brian (age 29) and Mindy and Blakely, Drew (age 27), Philip (age 25), and Emily (age 22). Although my husband and I are not from military families, I do have some understanding of the challenges military families face. During our first eight years of marriage we moved six times and had four children! Also, our oldest son served two tours in Afghanistan as an infantry soldier. I love to read, travel, learn about history and other cultures, and spend time with my family.

Arrival and Dismissal: Kindergartners enter the building through the door on the south wall. The Kindergarten doors open at 7:55a.m. The door will be closed at 8:05 a.m.; after that time, your student will need to enter the building through the front doors. All students must be in classrooms by 8:05 a.m. Children who arrive after 8:05 a.m. will be marked tardy.

The children will be dismissed at 3:20 p.m. All students will exit through the playground door.An adult or responsible older child must pick up your Kindergarten child. Your child will only be released to the people you designate.

In order to ensure that every child is accounted for, I will not allow the children to leave the line until I see the person (adult or older sibling) responsible for picking them up. I know you will be eager to hear all about your child’s day, however, I would appreciate it if you would assist me by making sure that your child remains in line until I make eye contact with you and dismiss. THANK YOU!!

Anytime your child’s dismissal plan changes, please notify me by sending in a note or email.

Lunch: This is a big event in a Kindergartner’s day (and it can be very confusing at first). The children will eat their lunches in the cafeteria beginning August 19. The monthly hot lunch menu will be posted on the school’s website. The children choose their lunch from the selections offered. Please ensure that your child knows whether or not they are buying lunch.

Parents are welcome to eat lunch at school with your child. Please let me know by 9:00 a.m. if you plan to purchase lunch so that I can notify the cafeteria. It is recommended that you do not bring in fast food. The children eat from 11:35-12:05.

Rest Time: Kindergarten classes have a 30-minute rest time each day - affectionately referred to as “Brain Break”. The children should bring a floor mat (a thin mat will fit in their cubby) to use during brain break. The mat will remain at school in his/her cubby. PLEASE do not plan to visit your child during this time, as it is disruptive to the other children.

Snack Time: The children will have a small snack every morning. Please send in a nutritious, non-perishable, snack each day beginning Wed., August 10th.

Specials:

A day – Music

B day – Art

C day – P.E. (please wear rubber soled shoes)

D day – Library

Science TEAMS Lab – Mondaysat 10:45-11:15am

Computer Lab –Tuesdays at10:30-11:30am and Thursdays at 2:00-3:00pm

Home-School Communication: I believe that a good parent-teacher relationship is essential for maximum school success. Throughout the year I will communicate with you through notes, emails, telephone calls, newsletters, and parent-teacher conferences. I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns at any time. You can call me at school (651-6915 ext.1109), send me a note, or e-mail. Please check backpacks daily for information that may be sent home.

Absences: Please notify either me, or the school office, if your child is going to be absent.

Behavior Expectations: Establishing good classroom behavior expectations is important to each child’s success, confidence and well-being. Every child should feel that the classroom environment is safe and secure. Additionally, it is important that each child learn to develop self-discipline and good work habits, to resolve conflicts peacefully, and to think independently.

The children and I will brainstorm a list of rules for the classroom and I will simplify them into the following three rules:

  • Follow directions
  • Keep my hands and feet to myself
  • Be a good friend

I use a reward and consequence system with “warm fuzzies”. These are colored pom pom balls that students can earn (or lose) depending on their behavior. There are smaller one point fuzzies and larger sparkly five point fuzzies. Once a week will have the Fuzzy Store where they count and redeem their fuzzies for prizes. I will send home the prize information later on when we begin using the five point fuzzies and have the store. Initially, we will just use one point fuzzies and count them at the end of the school day. If they have earned five fuzzies, they get a colorful stamp on their hand. If they earn ten fuzzies, they earn a buffalo award.

Homework: Homework is not assigned in kindergarten. However, once a week, I will send home a handwriting paper that corresponds to the “letter of the week.” I will also, from time to time, send home phonics and math pages that reinforce the skills that we are working on in class. The students are not required to complete and return the “homework”.

Conferences: Conferences are scheduled three times during the year (August, October, and February). They are scheduled through your Skyward account.

Newsletters: Weekly class newsletters will be emailed.

Money: On occasion, it will be necessary for your child to bring money to school. Always send money in a sealed envelope with the following information written on it:

  • your child’s first and last name
  • the purpose for the money (book money, lunch money, etc)

With several students to keep track of, this helps me out tremendously and reduces the likelihood of errors. Also, if the envelope is dropped in the hallway, this information will help ensure the money is brought to our classroom.

Dressing for School: Please dress your child in comfortable clothing for school. It is best to dress children in “play” clothes instead of “dress” clothes since some activities require children to paint, sit on the floor, and play outside. In cold weather, please dress your child accordingly since we will go outside to play (unless it is extremely cold—20 degrees). Because we do many physical activities during the day, it is recommended that children do not wear clogs, flip-flops, or sandals to school. The children must wear rubber soled shoes to school on C days for P.E.

Birthdays: Children may celebrate their birthdays in school. Cupcakes, cookies, or any other creative idea you have may be sent as a special treat. Please be considerate of the allergies in our class: gluten, dairy, sugar, red dye, pineapple, and eggs. Please let me know ahead of time if you plan to celebrate your child’s birthday at school.

Please do notsend birthday party invitations to school unless the entire class has been invited. Although it may seem convenient to distribute invitations this way, it can result in hurt feelings for those not invited.

I am really looking forward to working with you and your child thisschoolyear.Thank you for entrusting your child to me!

Mrs. Betthauser

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