Kindergarten Classroom

Handbook

Wichita Collegiate 2016-2017

Mrs. Tyla Ast
Dear Parents,
Welcome to All-day Traditional Kindergarten class at Wichita Collegiate! It is
important to me that your child has a successful adjustment to school. You can help
with this adjustment by understanding the skills with which I am working.

This booklet will answer some of your questions. It contains information about
classroom procedures and polices. You will be receiving newsletters and updates
throughout the year to keep you informed on your childs classroom activities.
Please feel to call me at any time throughout the school year if you have any
questions. I check my email regularly, and it is the best way to get in touch with me.
My door is always open! Please dont hesitate to ask a question or address a concern.
I am thrilled to have your child in my classroom! It will be a great year!

Sincerely,
Tyla Ast
tast@wcsks.com

Arrival and Departure Times

School Hours are 8:15am-3:15pm
There are many things that I do to prepare for your childs classroom experience and it is
appreciated when you and your child wait until I open the door each morning at 8:10. Your child is
not allowed to wait unattended. Please wait quietly in the hall with your child or feel free to use our
Kids Club as early at 7:15 a.m. at no charge. I like to greet each child personally and help them get
started into the daily routine. Class will begin promptly at 8:15. Please make every effort to have
your child to school by this time each day. (Parents please note that this is not the ideal time to
address concerns that you may have. If you have a matter you need to discuss, please email me or
send a note and I will be happy to set up a time to meet with you. I prefer to focus on your child at
this time as they are entering the room to ensure a successful start to the day.)

Upon Arrival
As your child arrives, they should put all belongings in their lockers. Please encourage your child to
take care of their belongings by allowing them to hang up their own items. They will need to take out
their folder and they will place it in the basket after entering the classroom at 8:10. Parents please
remember that this is your childs responsibility, not yours! Allowing them to complete these simple
tasks on their own helps them to build confidence and feel good about themselves. Also, you may
want to establish a routine of saying your good-byes at the door before entering the room. Class
will start promptly at 8:15! I understand being late happens, and when it does happen, please see
that your child enters the room quietly to avoid disruptions.

Departures
Just as arrival time is important to your in your childs day, so is departure time. Please plan to be on
time. I understand at times you may run late. If this happens, please communicate with me so that I
can relay the message to your child. If you need to grab your child early, please let me know (if
possible) so that I can get them packed and ready to go for you!

Absences and Illnesses

If your child will not be at school for the day, please call the school or let me know in advance, (if
possible). I always worry when my students dont show up! Please keep your child home for 24 hours
after vomiting or after a fever has broken to avoid spreading the illness to others at school. All
children will be going outside; therefore, they should be well enough to go outside when they come
to school.
If it is necessary to administer medications at school, we MUST have your permission and specific
instructions in writing.

Accidents and Allergies

I will try to let you know when your child has had those minor mishaps that may need TLC and a
Band-Aid. Please let me know if your child is allergic to Band-Aids because they are usually the cureall for this age group.
Please let me know immediately about any other allergies, medication, or special needs that your
child has. If at any time during the year there are changes that may affect your childs behavior, or
health, please let me know!

Communications
Your child will have a special folder that will go home with them each day, and will need to be
brought back to school the following day. The main purpose of this folder is to send home student
work and as a means of sending and receiving notes between parents, teachers, and the school.
Please take the time to check your childs folder when your child arrives home each day. Each
morning, your child is responsible for bringing their folders into the room. I will check the folders
each day soon after your child arrives. Please keep in mind communication between home and school
is extremely important!

Authorization for School Departures

Please always send a written note in your childs folder or an email if your child is going home with a
classmate or family friend. We will not release your child to any adult for whom we do not have
written authorization. If it is last minute, please call the office and have them relay the message to
me.

Phone Calls and Emails

If you need to get an important message to me during school hours, please call the office and ask
that the message be delivered to me in person. For non-urgent messages you may leave me a phone
message and I will return your call as soon as I am able. My preferred mode of communication is
email. I usually check this throughout the day and the evening- tast@wcsks.com

Classroom Behavior
In Kindergarten, there are many rules and procedures for the students to learn and follow. The
school year will be packed full of fun and learning. In order for each child to have a successful
school year, I believe it is imperative that they listen and follow directions as well as learn
classroom procedures. Behavior in the classroom is guided to help the children make decisions about
their actions before they occur, understand the consequences of their actions, and to take
responsibility for their actions. Children are encouraged to interact positively with those around
them. They will have classroom responsibilities and share in the decision making.
Respecting each child, no matter what, is important child management technique. At WCS, children
are treated with the utmost compassion, should the need for correction arise. Children treated with
respect will become respectful and that is our goal! We do expect appropriate behavior and each
child is aware of these expectations! If necessary, any behavior concerns will be communicated with
you with a note, email, or phone call. Below is a list of our five classroom procedures (rules) that are
expected of each child daily. These rules will be introduced on the first day of school and we will
review them daily.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Never hurt anyone on the inside or outside

Keep hands, feet, and other objects to yourself.
Voices off and eyes front when teacher is talking!
Voices off in lines, hallways, and in restrooms.
Raise your hand to talk or to get out of your seat.

Conferences
Parent conferences are held three times a year. It is very important that one or both parents
attend. If you wish to see me for any reason at a time other than regularly scheduled conferences,
please let me know. I will be happy to set up a time to meet with you. Your concerns are important
and I do want to hear them. Please keep in mind that I prefer not to talk about a specific student in
front of that student or others.

Field trips
Advance notice will be sent home regarding field trips. You will always need to sign and return a
permission slip in order for your child to go on the field trip. Parent volunteers are always needed as
chaperones and to provide transportation as necessary.

Clothing

This is a warning!! We love to do messy things inside our classroom and outside and we will be doing a
lot of it! Please send your child to school in play clothes. We will take our precautions such as
wearing paint shirts, etc., but we are not always successful. Children need to make mud pies,
paint, and do many other things involving the body in learning. Please dont admonish your child for
messy clothing. Eventually they will not want to participate in these important activities, thus
limiting their exploration of the environment and eliminating a very important avenue of learning. It
is always a good idea to have an extra pair of clothes in your childs backpack or locker just in case!
Please see that your child comes dressed with clothing that is appropriate for the weather
conditions, especially in the winter months.
Your child needs to wear tennis shoes on P.E. days. On occasion the students and parents forget and
children are unable to participate in P.E. that day if they dont have the appropriate shoes. You are
welcome to bring an extra pair of tennis shoes to leave in your childs locker. This would ensure that
your child never has to miss P.E.

Valuables
Money, jewelry, and toys need to remain at home due to potential loss or damage. Please clearly
label items of clothing such as jackets, coats, etc. Please no toys allowed unless it is Show and
Tell day!

Snacks
Beginning this year we are going to have SAGE, our school food service company prepare snacks.
This will be helpful as we care for children with food allergies and dietary restrictions. In the past,
parents provided the daily snacks. We are hopeful that parents will find the new snack plan to be a
welcome convenience. The cost of the snacks will be fee-based and will be billed monthly. We serve
water at snack time daily to keep our children well hydrated. The Kansas Department of Health and
Environment requires that each snack includes two of the following: A. milk, milk product or food
made with milk; B. fruit, vegetable, or full-strength fruit or vegetable juice; C. meat, or a meat
alternate; or D. bread, bread product or cereal.

Birthdays
Birthdays are an important event in a childs life. There is no need to worry about what to bring on
your childs special day! SAGE will provide your child with a special birthday treat during our morning

snack time! The class will also make a birthday book for their birthday friend! Please do not pass
out treat bags! I really appreciate your help and support in this area!

Holiday Parties
Party days are always so much fun for your child! School parties are usually one hour in length with
games or crafts provided by parents who have volunteered for the specific holiday. We ask that you
keep party activities simple. One craft, a non-competitive game, and/or a story always work great!
As with birthdays, we request no treat bags.

Parents Role
Rest, nutritious meals, and a secure loving home are all requisites for a child to
concentrate at school. The feelings that accompany learning have significant effects
on how children learn. If they have positive feelings, children tend to participate with
a high degree of motivations and involvement and are more likely to derive permanent
gain. If childrens feelings are negative they are poorly motivated, participate
minimally, and are less likely to derive permanent gains.
A parents relationship with the child plays an important role in the academic success
of his or her child. The teacher and school are just two factors in assisting the child
to reach his or her potential. It is the parents and schools joint responsibility to help
the child become an educated, caring person, who, as an adult, will recognize the
opportunities and obligations of freedom.
I sincerely appreciate your support and feel that by working together we can make
this year an exciting educational experience for your child. Please remember my door
is always open. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to
contact me!

Thank you!
Mrs. Tyla Ast

Here are just a few things you can do to help your child this school year:
Read with your child!!
Play phonics games: driving in car and ask, Do you see anything that starts with the
letter R?
Go on Word Hunts. Try and have your child find simple words (was, the, me, for) in
books, in stores, while driving, etc.
Have them practice writing their first and last name.
Review their phone numbers and addresses.
Count with them.
Review simple math facts: 2+2=4, and talk about simple stories, ex: if I had 2 pencils,
then someone gave me 3 more, how many would I have.
Help them learn to tie their shoes.
Help them learn to zip their jackets.
Most important Make learning fun!!!

An Apple for the teacher

Is really nothing new
Except when you remember
Parents are teachers too!