ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE KINDERGARTEN HANDBOOK

Welome to St. Robert's! The year ahead is an important one for you and for your child. By working together we can make this year a truly rewarding, meaningful experience for your child. This booklet will help in the understanding of our total program.

ADMISSION - A child entering the Kindergarten Program must be five years of age on or before December 1st the year of entry. A copy of the birth certificate and baptismal certificate, a list of immunizations, the child's social security number and a $100.00 per child registration fee are required at the time of registration.

EVALUATION - All children registered for Kindergarten must be evaluated by a St. Robert Bellarmine Kindergarten teacher prior to admission.

ATTENDANCE - Our Kindergarten program is full day only, Monday - Friday, 8:05 - 3:15. Friday exceptions are 11:45 dismissal on the first Friday of the month. Half days for the entire school are scheduled from 8:05 - 11:45. The dates will be listed in the monthly calendars.

CALENDARS - Annual, monthly and class calendars are issued to all Kindergarten students.

BUS TRANSPORTATION - Bus transportation is provided for residents of South Redford only. A special schedule is arranged for any Kindergarten student who will be riding the bus. The South Redford School District established routes.

IMMUNIZATIONS - All Kindergarten students must have had their DTP and Polio boosters AFTER the age of four and received a second MMR, Chicken Pox and 3 HEP B vaccines before they are admitted into school. The exclusion date is the first day of school according to the Wayne County Health Department. Any updated immunization information must be on file in the school office before the child's first day of school.

CURRICULUM - The Kindergarten curriculum is developed around the child's needs, abilities and interest. Learning experiences are provided in the following instructional areas:

Religion
Reading Readiness
Math
Science
Social Studies
Computer, Library, Art
Music, Physical Education
The children will also have time for play and snacks.

DRESS CODE - Girls will wear black or red pants, (or shorts until Oct. 31st and after April 1st). They may also wear a black skort and a white monogrammed-banded polo shirt from Schoolbelles or a red St. Robert's monogrammed sweatshirt from Schoolbelles. Socks may be white or black. Athletic shoes may be white or black.

Boys will wear solid black or red pants or shorts, see dates above. They may wear a white-banded Schoolbelles monogrammed polo shirt or a red St. Robert monogrammed sweatshirt from Schoolbelles. Black or white socks and black or white athletic shoes may be worn.

The gym uniform for all is black athletic pants, cotton or nylon; black shorts may be worn according the dates listed above. A white "spirit" T-shirt or a red "spirit" sweatshirt with white socks and athletic shoes.

PROGRESS REPORTS - A parent-teacher conference is held at the end of the first quarter. No report card is issued at this time. Report cards are issued for the second, third and fourth quarters. Additional conferences, if needed, can be arranged between teacher and parent. V.I.P. DAYS - A total of two Very Important Person Days will take place from 9:30 - 11:30 on Fridays in December and March. On this day the parent or very important person accompanies the child to school to participate in a variety of activities within the classroom setting. The student arrives and departs with the VIP on these days. Dates will be published in the calendars.

BIRTHDAYS - Parents may send in a snack or a treat on their child's birthday. If the child's birthday falls on a Saturday, it will be celebrated on Monday. Summer birthdays are celebrated on a specified day.

SHOW AND TELL - Children will be asked to bring one show and tell item on his or her assigned day.

FIELD TRIPS - Field trips are arranged by the Kindergarten teacher. Chaperones are always welcome and needed.

SUPPLIES - Each student is required to have:
1 Pocket Folder
Elmer's School Glue
Glue Sticks
Paint Shirt or Smock
Crayons (classic colors)
4 Pencils
Scissors
Pencil Box
School Bag
2 Boxes of Kleenex
2 Rolls of Paper Towels
Fee for copy paper
Additional supplies may be needed.
A supply list is available on the website

SNACKS - Your child is to bring a light snack for a daily midmorning break. Something simple and healthy would be preferred (i.e. cheese, crackers, fruit, graham crackers, etc.). Purified water is provided.

LUNCH - 11:30 - 12:10 in the classroom. Hot lunches are available through school on certain days. You must order in advance via a hot lunch order form for each month. Milk is available for the students to purchase on a daily basis.

ONCE SCHOOL BEGINS
1. Make sure labels are on all outer personal belongings, with both first and last names, (jackets, sweaters, boots, mittens, show and Tell objects, etc.).
2. Encourage regular attendance and punctuality.
3. When you bring your child to school the first day, your child's fears and tears will best be overcome if you do not linger. (Sometimes the first day of school is more difficult for the parents.)
4. Show interest in the work your child brings home to help develop a good self-concept. Admire those "immature" pictures. Encourage him/her to explain them and talk about them.
5.When asking your child what happened during his/her day in Kindergarten, ask what happened first, second and after that. If you ask to have things listed in order, it will eliminate answers of "nothing" or "we just played".
6. Recognize that each child is different and that some develop faster than others do.
7. All children become discouraged. Help your child to be happy in the activities he/she can do well, but not to shed tears or give up when difficulties occur. Each child needs to feel he/she is loved, that he/she belongs and that his/her successes outweigh his/her failures.
8. If you help your child with lessons, kindness will win out. Shouting at a child only locks all doors to learning.
9. Remember, a good parent is the child's first and most important teacher.