Dear Families,

The Big Day has arrived! Welcome to Lewis and Clark School and to our kindergarten
classroom! I am looking forward to getting to know you and your special child this year. This
is a letter to inform you of some of my policies and procedures for the year.
Sample schedule
8:23 Meet on playground, line #3. Please be on time every day!
8:25-9:40 Inquiry Centers and Guided Reading
8:35-9:05 Monday and Friday Creative Movement
9:40-9:55 Recess
10:00-10:50 Writers Workshop
10:55-11:40 Lunch first, recess second
11:50-12:40 Math and literacy centers
12:45-1:00 Shared Reading
1:00-1:30 Whole Group Inquiry
1:40-1:55 Recess (Thursday 2:00 dismissal, no recess)
1:55-2:20 Show and Share, closing circle and pack up
2:20-2:50 Essential class of the day-gym, media arts, Spanish, music
2:50-2:55 Closing meeting and dismissal-bus friends to the bus,
riders/walkers out front at south entrance
*Art 7-8 times a year with our Art Specialist
** Wear gym shoes every day!!!
Transportation: In the morning, children stay outside and meet me on line #4. Children are
not allowed in the school before 8:00 for breakfast, and 8:25 for everyone else. Please drop
off at the door just north of the office for breakfast. Please fill out the transportation
information on the back of the yellow card. Buses will start transporting on Tuesday, August
29th . Your child must wear the bus tag for the first quarter of the school year. If there is a
change as to who will be picking up your child after school, it will need to be informed in
writing. Suggestion: Write a note on masking tape and stick it on your childs shirt .
This works for any change in the daily routine. If you forget to send a note, please call the
office. I do not change the routine unless I have a note!!! I stick with our written
agreement.
Lunch: Your child will eat at school everyday! They may eat hot lunch, or bring a sack lunch
from home. There is a menu on the district website. Lunch or milk money can go directly to
the office or you may send it in with your child, and I will get it to the office. Checks are made
out to Lewis and Clark, please. Put a note on your childs shirt if there is money in the
backpack for lunch!

***On Thursdays, you will find school newsletters and other important information
from the school and me. We will use a special envelope, which you empty on Thursday
night, and I collect again on Friday. You do not need to sign the packet. There are many
times when your child will get notes on days besides Thursday. Please check your childs
backpack every day!!! On all Thursdays, dismissal time is 1:55.
Clothing: Children should dress appropriately for playing outdoors and for the weather
conditions everyday. Please keep in mind that messy projects do take place inside as well.
Please label backpacks and clothing for easy identification when items are left at school.
Gym shoes must be worn to participate in gym class, so please have your child wear
gym shoes every day. School policy is no flip flops, and no thin strapped tank tops. Please
make sure toys stay at home!
Book Orders: I will send home book orders from Scholastic Book Company this year. It is
an opportunity for you to purchase childrens books and software at an inexpensive rate.
Bonus points are awarded to the classroom to use for educational materials. You may order
on line, or with the order form through me. If there is more than one order form at any given
time, you still write only one check. Please make the check payable to Scholastic (no
cash) and send it with the order form in an envelope labeled with your childs name.
V.I.P. Helpers: Each child will have a turn to be the V.I.P. about once a month. The V.I.P.
will bring home the V.I.P. backpack the night before their turn. Toy guns or weapons of any
kind are not permitted at school. The show and share item should be a home-made
or found item, one that pertains to the unit we are studying, or a family cultural item.
Return the pack and snack the next day for your child to share with the class. Remember to
practice the hints at home with your child! Your child will bring a snack for the class to share
in the afternoon. Please stick with the healthy snack list at the bottom of this letter. Sweets
are only o.k. for Birthdays!
Parent Helpers: I encourage you to become involved in the classroom! We will need
helpers during our math centers (12:10-12:40) and to help with library. Please indicate on the
back of the yellow parent card which days work best for you to come into the classroom, and
then I will get back to you about a schedule. It may be that you are unable to come in the
classroom, but could organize book orders, or complete a project at home for us. It is
important for your child to know that you are involved with his/her school activities! We will
start parent helpers in about a month. Please remember to turn off cell phone ringers when in
the classroom, and talk in the hall. Thanks!!!
Birthdays: Oreos, rice crispy treats, or muffins are welcome on your childs birthday! Please
do not send invitations to birthday parties to school unless every child in the class is invited,
otherwise children are sure to feel left out.

Updates: If you have changed your address, phone number, or emergency contact for your
child, please update this information as soon as possible with Bridget Allen, the school
secretary, at 542-4035. Safety first! Please call Bridget if your child is sick, or if you have an
excused absence!
Communication: If you should have any questions or concerns, or just want to chat,
please feel free to call me at school 728-2400 ext. 4358. If I am not available to answer,
please leave a message and I will call you back as soon as possible. I do not answer the
phone during class time, so if there are any after school changes with transportation or other
important information, please call Bridget at 542-4035. My e-mail address is
macooper@mcpsmt.org . If you have information for me, one of the best ways to tell me is to
put a message on masking tape and put it on your childs coat or shirt! I will blog almost
every week at http://cooperskindergarten.weebly.com/ .

The best things you can do for your child to ease the transition to school: Come on
time every day (they hate coming in late!!!), make sure they have regular attendance, and
GET A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP!!! These first weeks are exhausting!
Thank you for entrusting me with your child. I am looking forward to a great year!
Sincerely,
Melissa Cooper
Snack list-
Washed grapes, cut oranges, or other fruit or veg that is ready to eat!

Baby carrots
Crackers and pre-cut cheese
Please, nothing with nuts!

The point here is that at school we share healthy snacks-save the sweets and super salty
snacks for special occasions at home
Woohoo! Here we go!