Welcome to kindergarten!

The school year ahead is full of excitement, trepidation and questions. We are going to do our best to make this a great year for your child. Kindergarten is a dynamic year, full of tremendous growth. It is also a time of great transition for children and parents. Below you will find some important information to help you get ready for kindergarten.

Home/School Folder: The PTO has provided folders to facilitate home school communication. Please place all notes, forms and lunch money into the folder. We will check the folder every morning. We will also send home notices, notes and completed work in the folder. Please check and empty the folder daily. Please send the folder to school every day.

Notes: If there will be any change to the way your child is dismissed at the end of the day, send a note with your child to school. Make sure your child’s first and last name is on the note and that you dated and signed the note. The note is sent to the office so that the office is aware of the change. Notes can also be sent in to let us know about things that might be affecting your child. For example, if they did not sleep well or had a bad dream it would be helpful for us to know so that we can support them throughout the day. Notes are better than emails since the teacher might be absent.

Independence with clothes and shoes: Due to the pandemic and the need for distance please have your child wear clothing and shoes that they can put on themselves (shirts/sweaters/sweatshirt/pants/jackets/shoes/boots they can zip, snap or pull on independently).

Backpacks/bags: Your child should have a backpack or bag that they bring to and from school every day. It should be big enough to fit their supplies for the day (snack, lunch, outdoor clothing, notes, completed work…).

Arrival/Dismissal: Arrival: Students will be met in the bus loop by kindergarten staff. Drop offs will be met by school staff and brought/directed to the classroom. Dismissal: Bus students will be brought to the buses by Norris staff. Pick ups and afterschool students will be brought where they need to go by Norris staff.

Lunch: We eat lunch at 11:00 each day in our classrooms or outside. Students may purchase lunch through the cafeteria for $3.75 (lunch and drink) or a drink (milk or juice) for $.50. Lunch orders are taken at the beginning of the day. Please help your child know if and what they will be ordering for the day. This helps lunch count go smoothly and quickly during our busy morning. Monthly menus are sent home at the beginning of the month and can also be found on the school’s web site (www.wmnorris.com). Keep in mind that we are a peanut/nut safe school. This means that foods that contain nuts or have been processed in a plant that processes nuts should not be brought to school. Please help your child know which food is meant for snack and which food is meant for lunch.

Lunch money: We will send home a lunch slip every week. Please complete the information on the front of the slip and return it in or attached to an envelope with the week’s lunch money. Fill the slip out even if your child is bringing lunch from home. This helps us ensure all students have lunch. If purchasing lunch from school, please make checks payable to the Norris School Lunch Program. Lunches should be prepaid.

Snack: We have snack time each afternoon. Please pack a healthy snack such as fruit, yogurt, cheese, crackers, or veggies. Keep in mind that we are a peanut/nut safe school. This means that foods that contain nuts or foods that have been processed in a plant that processes nuts should not be brought to school. Please help your child know which food is meant for snack and which is meant for lunch. If your child forgets a snack they can get an apple from the cafeteria and their lunch account will be charged $.50.

Quiet time: Students should bring in a towel to use at quiet time. The towels will be sent home every week for cleaning. Towels may be used outside during snacks, outside learning and lunch. The towels will help define the space that students can use while remaining socially distanced.

Something special from home: Entering kindergarten is a big transition. It can feel overwhelming and a bit scary. To help with the transition it is okay for your child to bring in a picture of their family. It will be kept in their cubby and when they need a bit of reassurance they can look at it.

Recess: We go out every day unless it is raining or it is too cold. Please help your child select suitable clothing and shoes so that they will be safe and comfortable on the playground. For your child’s safety flip-flops are not allowed on the play structure.

Specials: More information to come - we will give you the specials schedule as soon as we can. Students must wear sneakers during PE so they can participate safely in all the activities.

Extra Toys/Personal Items: Please do not bring in toys or extra personal items - this is especially important this year with all the added safety and sanitary precautions.

Clothes/Extra Clothes: Please label all coats, backpacks, sweaters, sweatshirts and lunchboxes with your child’s name. It is amazing how often children forget what their clothing looks like. It also helps when looking for lost items in the lost and found. Please send in an extra set of clothes to have on hand in case of accidents (spilled drink, paint…). Place the clothes in a labeled zip top bag. Make sure all clothing is labeled with your child’s name. The extra clothes will be kept in their cubby or backpack.

Birthdays: Birthdays are very important to young children. They are exciting and bring great joy. We want to celebrate your child and make them feel important. Unfortunately, with everything that is happening with the pandemic we are unable to share special treats. Instead, consider making a video of you reading a favorite story or put together a short photo montage that can be emailed to their teacher and shown to the class. We are open to other, COVID safe possibilities so if you have an idea let us know.

Conferences/Communication: We will be having weekly office hours on Wednesdays. More information to come. Official parent teacher conferences are held twice a year (November/March) but at any time if you have questions and/or concerns about your child we can meet/Zoom or talk on the phone. The school’s phone number is 527-0811. We can also be reached by email. Please know that we check email in the morning before school starts and then often don’t get a chance to check it again until the afternoon when classes go to specials.

Classroom Supply List/Donations: This year the supply list is more important than ever since everyday classroom supplies will not be shared. Please see the attached supply list. If your family is unable to provide the supplies please let us know and we will make sure your child has a set ready to go. Throughout the year we will include classroom donation ideas in the newsletters that are sent home.