Welcome to Kindergarten
Important School Information
School & Office Hours
Gate opens for students at 8:45 a.m. - Students are encouraged to be at school by this time.
Instructional Time 9:00 a.m. - 3:11 p.m.
Tardy Bell is at 9:00 a.m.
Office Hours 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
School Phone Number
799-2680
School Family Handbook
Go to the Ortwein website and read the Handbook. It has very important information about school policies and procedures.
Click on the link...Family Handbook.
School Calendar
Go to the Ortwein website…https://www.ortweinelementary.com/our-calendar
School Social Media
Our school’s website is www.ortweinelementary.com
Like us on Facebook – OrtweinES
Twitter – ortweines
Instagram - ortwein_es
Like our Parent Teacher Organization on Facebook - Torch Bearers PTO
Our School Vision
We are a community of learners working together as a team to strive for victory in all areas of life.
Our School Values
We value friendship, respect, excellence, courage, determination, inspiration and equality.
Our School Motto
We are victorious!
Leader in Me - 8 Habits of a Happy Kid
Habit 1: Habit 1: Be Proactive® You're in Charge.
Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind® Have a Plan.
Habit 3: Put First Things First® Work First, Then Play.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win®
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood®
Habit 6: Synergize®
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw®
Habit 8: Find Your Voice, Find Your Passion
https://www.leaderinme.org/the-7-habits-of-happy-kids/
I recommend purchasing this book to reinforce skills and expectations we will learn together in class. It also has amazing discussion questions after each habit and baby steps to work on creating those habits.
Important School & Classroom Information
Arrival
The gates will be open from 8:45 - 9:00 a.m. After the gate is closed, a student is considered tardy. Please take them to the office to get a tardy note and then they will walk to class.
Attendance
Attendance is very important to your child’s success. Please bring your child everyday and on time. The only excused absences are for illness, death or a religious holiday. If your child is absent, please let me know through an email and complete the Ortwein absence form which is on their website. Click here for the form. If your child is sick please keep them at home. This is for the safety and health of other students and staff.
Students who are repeatedly absent or tardy can be retained.
Backpacks
Please make sure the backpack is large enough to fit a folder, their lunch, a chromebook and a change of clothes. Please write your child’s name on their backpack and room #C133. If possible, write your child’s name on anything and everything they can put on and take off, like jackets, hats, etc. This will help with it's safe return. If it doesn't return to us by the next day, it may be in the lost and found in the multi-purpose room.
Bathroom
We have 2 bathrooms in the classroom and community bathrooms throughout the school. Students may go anytime they need, unless I’m teaching a lesson. Please dress them in comfortable and easy to fasten clothing. Also send a change of clothing in their backpack in case of an accident.
Book Care
Please practice proper book care with your child. Please remind them and practice how to turn the pages correctly by using two fingers to turn the page from the corner. I would also recommend keeping a plastic bag in their backpack for when they start checking out expensive books from the school library. This will protect their book from damage caused by leaks from their water bottles and lunches.
Birthdays
Birthdays will be acknowledged in class with a special hat, pencil, book and song. Please let me know, before the day, if you’d like to bring something to give to the class. I’d prefer if you want to do a special treat that it be popsicles (due to the many food allergies students have) OR send goodie bags for the students to take home. If you bring popsicles, please drop them off in the office with my name on it and ask the office to hold them for me. Or you can bring them at lunch time to pass out. Lunch time is from 11:15-11:35. After students eat their lunch you may hand them out. If you send goodie bags, please try to do non-food items like pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners, bubbles, etc. Your child and I will pass them out to students to take home, at the end of the day if you prefer.
If, for religious reasons, you’d prefer I not celebrate your child’s birthday, please let me know.
Boo Boos
As you know, children can get bumped, they can trip and fall, they can play fight and get hurt. We try to do everything we can to keep them safe but things can happen. Usually, they can be taken care of with the teacher or supervising staff member. If it is a bigger concern, we will send them to the nurse and they will call you to let you know. When your child does report an incident, I do respond to it and help them. If they don't report it to me, please encourage them to do so and please let me know.
Breakfast
Please make sure your child eats a filling healthy breakfast. Lunch is not until 11:25 am. Breakfast is available for FREE in the multi-purpose room before school from 8:40 - 8:55 a.m. Kindergarten students will be accompanied to the Kindergarten teachers at 9:00 a.m.
Dismissal
The gates will open at 3:11 p.m. After 3:20, students will be taken to the multipurpose room. Please pick them up there. If you are late picking up your child, call the office to let us know because your child may get scared when they see all of their friends are gone and they don’t see you yet. If you are late repeatedly, it disrupts your child’s routine and sense of security.
If someone other than you will be picking up your child, please let me know in advance by sending a note or emailing me at least 24 hours in advance.
Emergency Contacts
For the safety of your child please keep information updated at all times on Infinite Campus, such as contact numbers, home address, and work information. Also, please make sure your child memorizes their phone numbers and address, as soon as possible.
First Day
The first day of school may be difficult for some of our children (and parents) and some children may cry. Please know I will do everything I can to keep them happy and safe but please try to prepare your child by talking to them about school and the routine you will have every day. Explain that you will bring them to school, leave them with their teacher and friends to listen and learn. Tell them they need to listen, respect and be kind to their teachers and friends. Then let them know you will be back to pick them up.
Grades
Grades are based on your child's demonstration of skills and their progression toward the mastery of the standard. I will be sending home Progress Reports monthly with details on what your child knows and needs to work on.
Report Cards are sent home twice a year. Kindergarten students receive a 1 or a 2 as a grade.
1 = Approaches Standard
2 = Meets Standard
Most students will receive a 1 on the first report card and hopefully 2's on the second report card because we expect mastery of the standards as an end of the year goal.
Home-School Communication
There are several ways we can communicate to ensure your child’s success.
Homework
Homework is not a mandatory part of Ortwein Instructional Curriculum, but I recommend it. It builds good healthy work habits.
I will be sending home a monthly reading log and ask that your child practice reading to you or you read to them 10-20 minutes a day. I will send the log home in the Tuesday Folder the 1st week of the month. I ask it be completed and returned the last week of the month. I will send an optional monthly homework choice board too.
I also expect students to learn 50-100 sight words from the Race to Read Program. Please work on reading, writing and spelling the sight words.
Soon we will have some online program logins for each student to use at home too.
Lunch
Lunch is available for students for free but if you want to bring your own lunch please make sure your child’s name and our room #C133 is on it. Very often students lose them. The quickest way it will return is if their information is on it. Otherwise it will be put in the lost and found in the multipurpose room.
VERY IMPORTANT-Please practice eating lunch within 20 minutes (that is the allotted time we have before they go to recess). Also make sure your child can independently open/close food items and containers. This will maximize their lunch time so they aren't waiting for help and that will make them good helpers for others. It will also ensure there isn't a mess or leak in their lunch when it returns home.
Parent Volunteers
Parent Volunteers are welcome. I would like to get my routines and rules set up first and then have volunteers start in September sometime. Your presence in the class is very important to support the learning environment and success of our children. Volunteers can help in class or from home. In class, you can assist with supervising students, help with holiday celebrations, prepare activities, make copies, sharpen pencils, and sanitize. At home, you can help with preparing activities for our class.
Recess
We go outside every day. Children are encouraged to wear…
- Shirts that cover their shoulders (no spaghetti straps)
- Velcro gym shoes (unless they can tie their shoes-please work on this skill at home)
- Hats
- Sun block
- Sunglasses
- We do have water fountains but your child may also bring a water bottle with their name on it. Please teach your child how to close their bottle properly. There have been times when students destroy their library book because their water bottle isn't closed.
Scholastic Book Orders
Scholastic book order forms will be sent home several times throughout the month but you can also go online to order anytime at http://www.scholastic.com to register. My class code is MHVZ3. When you order, our class earns points which allows me to buy books and supplies for our children!
Specials
We have one special per day for 50 minutes. Kindergarten specials are PE, Music, Art, Library, STEM, Social Emotional Learning with our counslor. Specials rotate on a 7 day system called "VICTORY." If we have a day of no school, students do not miss a specials class. They will continue with the next special in the “VICTORY” schedule.
Tardy
If you are late at drop off and the gate is closed, you will need to go to the office.
Students who are repeatedly absent or tardy can be retained.
Toys
Toys from home should not be brought to school. Our room is filled with wonderful materials; I don’t want any of your special items to get broken or misplaced.
Please contact me if you have any questions, ideas or concerns. Thank you for your patience, positivity and flexibility.
School & Office Hours
Gate opens for students at 8:45 a.m. - Students are encouraged to be at school by this time.
Instructional Time 9:00 a.m. - 3:11 p.m.
Tardy Bell is at 9:00 a.m.
Office Hours 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
School Phone Number
799-2680
School Family Handbook
Go to the Ortwein website and read the Handbook. It has very important information about school policies and procedures.
Click on the link...Family Handbook.
School Calendar
Go to the Ortwein website…https://www.ortweinelementary.com/our-calendar
School Social Media
Our school’s website is www.ortweinelementary.com
Like us on Facebook – OrtweinES
Twitter – ortweines
Instagram - ortwein_es
Like our Parent Teacher Organization on Facebook - Torch Bearers PTO
Our School Vision
We are a community of learners working together as a team to strive for victory in all areas of life.
Our School Values
We value friendship, respect, excellence, courage, determination, inspiration and equality.
Our School Motto
We are victorious!
Leader in Me - 8 Habits of a Happy Kid
Habit 1: Habit 1: Be Proactive® You're in Charge.
Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind® Have a Plan.
Habit 3: Put First Things First® Work First, Then Play.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win®
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood®
Habit 6: Synergize®
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw®
Habit 8: Find Your Voice, Find Your Passion
https://www.leaderinme.org/the-7-habits-of-happy-kids/
I recommend purchasing this book to reinforce skills and expectations we will learn together in class. It also has amazing discussion questions after each habit and baby steps to work on creating those habits.
Important School & Classroom Information
Arrival
The gates will be open from 8:45 - 9:00 a.m. After the gate is closed, a student is considered tardy. Please take them to the office to get a tardy note and then they will walk to class.
Attendance
Attendance is very important to your child’s success. Please bring your child everyday and on time. The only excused absences are for illness, death or a religious holiday. If your child is absent, please let me know through an email and complete the Ortwein absence form which is on their website. Click here for the form. If your child is sick please keep them at home. This is for the safety and health of other students and staff.
Students who are repeatedly absent or tardy can be retained.
Backpacks
Please make sure the backpack is large enough to fit a folder, their lunch, a chromebook and a change of clothes. Please write your child’s name on their backpack and room #C133. If possible, write your child’s name on anything and everything they can put on and take off, like jackets, hats, etc. This will help with it's safe return. If it doesn't return to us by the next day, it may be in the lost and found in the multi-purpose room.
Bathroom
We have 2 bathrooms in the classroom and community bathrooms throughout the school. Students may go anytime they need, unless I’m teaching a lesson. Please dress them in comfortable and easy to fasten clothing. Also send a change of clothing in their backpack in case of an accident.
Book Care
Please practice proper book care with your child. Please remind them and practice how to turn the pages correctly by using two fingers to turn the page from the corner. I would also recommend keeping a plastic bag in their backpack for when they start checking out expensive books from the school library. This will protect their book from damage caused by leaks from their water bottles and lunches.
Birthdays
Birthdays will be acknowledged in class with a special hat, pencil, book and song. Please let me know, before the day, if you’d like to bring something to give to the class. I’d prefer if you want to do a special treat that it be popsicles (due to the many food allergies students have) OR send goodie bags for the students to take home. If you bring popsicles, please drop them off in the office with my name on it and ask the office to hold them for me. Or you can bring them at lunch time to pass out. Lunch time is from 11:15-11:35. After students eat their lunch you may hand them out. If you send goodie bags, please try to do non-food items like pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners, bubbles, etc. Your child and I will pass them out to students to take home, at the end of the day if you prefer.
If, for religious reasons, you’d prefer I not celebrate your child’s birthday, please let me know.
Boo Boos
As you know, children can get bumped, they can trip and fall, they can play fight and get hurt. We try to do everything we can to keep them safe but things can happen. Usually, they can be taken care of with the teacher or supervising staff member. If it is a bigger concern, we will send them to the nurse and they will call you to let you know. When your child does report an incident, I do respond to it and help them. If they don't report it to me, please encourage them to do so and please let me know.
Breakfast
Please make sure your child eats a filling healthy breakfast. Lunch is not until 11:25 am. Breakfast is available for FREE in the multi-purpose room before school from 8:40 - 8:55 a.m. Kindergarten students will be accompanied to the Kindergarten teachers at 9:00 a.m.
Dismissal
The gates will open at 3:11 p.m. After 3:20, students will be taken to the multipurpose room. Please pick them up there. If you are late picking up your child, call the office to let us know because your child may get scared when they see all of their friends are gone and they don’t see you yet. If you are late repeatedly, it disrupts your child’s routine and sense of security.
If someone other than you will be picking up your child, please let me know in advance by sending a note or emailing me at least 24 hours in advance.
Emergency Contacts
For the safety of your child please keep information updated at all times on Infinite Campus, such as contact numbers, home address, and work information. Also, please make sure your child memorizes their phone numbers and address, as soon as possible.
First Day
The first day of school may be difficult for some of our children (and parents) and some children may cry. Please know I will do everything I can to keep them happy and safe but please try to prepare your child by talking to them about school and the routine you will have every day. Explain that you will bring them to school, leave them with their teacher and friends to listen and learn. Tell them they need to listen, respect and be kind to their teachers and friends. Then let them know you will be back to pick them up.
Grades
Grades are based on your child's demonstration of skills and their progression toward the mastery of the standard. I will be sending home Progress Reports monthly with details on what your child knows and needs to work on.
Report Cards are sent home twice a year. Kindergarten students receive a 1 or a 2 as a grade.
1 = Approaches Standard
2 = Meets Standard
Most students will receive a 1 on the first report card and hopefully 2's on the second report card because we expect mastery of the standards as an end of the year goal.
Home-School Communication
There are several ways we can communicate to ensure your child’s success.
- Tuesday Folder - Check your child’s backpack every Tuesday for the school's Tuesday Folder for important papers. Please review and remove all papers. Then return the folder Wednesday with all required forms signed.
- Email me at [email protected]
- Set up an appointment with me.
- After School – For the safety of our children, please wait to talk to me until after all the students are dismissed. Then I can give you my full attention.
- Send a note with your child. Tell them to give it to me. I will write back the same day.
Homework
Homework is not a mandatory part of Ortwein Instructional Curriculum, but I recommend it. It builds good healthy work habits.
I will be sending home a monthly reading log and ask that your child practice reading to you or you read to them 10-20 minutes a day. I will send the log home in the Tuesday Folder the 1st week of the month. I ask it be completed and returned the last week of the month. I will send an optional monthly homework choice board too.
I also expect students to learn 50-100 sight words from the Race to Read Program. Please work on reading, writing and spelling the sight words.
Soon we will have some online program logins for each student to use at home too.
Lunch
Lunch is available for students for free but if you want to bring your own lunch please make sure your child’s name and our room #C133 is on it. Very often students lose them. The quickest way it will return is if their information is on it. Otherwise it will be put in the lost and found in the multipurpose room.
VERY IMPORTANT-Please practice eating lunch within 20 minutes (that is the allotted time we have before they go to recess). Also make sure your child can independently open/close food items and containers. This will maximize their lunch time so they aren't waiting for help and that will make them good helpers for others. It will also ensure there isn't a mess or leak in their lunch when it returns home.
Parent Volunteers
Parent Volunteers are welcome. I would like to get my routines and rules set up first and then have volunteers start in September sometime. Your presence in the class is very important to support the learning environment and success of our children. Volunteers can help in class or from home. In class, you can assist with supervising students, help with holiday celebrations, prepare activities, make copies, sharpen pencils, and sanitize. At home, you can help with preparing activities for our class.
Recess
We go outside every day. Children are encouraged to wear…
- Shirts that cover their shoulders (no spaghetti straps)
- Velcro gym shoes (unless they can tie their shoes-please work on this skill at home)
- Hats
- Sun block
- Sunglasses
- We do have water fountains but your child may also bring a water bottle with their name on it. Please teach your child how to close their bottle properly. There have been times when students destroy their library book because their water bottle isn't closed.
Scholastic Book Orders
Scholastic book order forms will be sent home several times throughout the month but you can also go online to order anytime at http://www.scholastic.com to register. My class code is MHVZ3. When you order, our class earns points which allows me to buy books and supplies for our children!
Specials
We have one special per day for 50 minutes. Kindergarten specials are PE, Music, Art, Library, STEM, Social Emotional Learning with our counslor. Specials rotate on a 7 day system called "VICTORY." If we have a day of no school, students do not miss a specials class. They will continue with the next special in the “VICTORY” schedule.
Tardy
If you are late at drop off and the gate is closed, you will need to go to the office.
Students who are repeatedly absent or tardy can be retained.
Toys
Toys from home should not be brought to school. Our room is filled with wonderful materials; I don’t want any of your special items to get broken or misplaced.
Please contact me if you have any questions, ideas or concerns. Thank you for your patience, positivity and flexibility.
Ms. Perillo’s Kindergarten Class Rules
Additional Classroom Rules
- Love yourself and be kind to others.
- Be a problem solver.
Positive Reinforcement
Praise children for making good choices. Instead of pointing out negative behaviors, focus on the positive. Some examples…
Give affirmations like…
“You are doing a great job with ______.”
“I can see you are trying really hard to ______.”
“I like _____.”
“Thank you for ______.”
Give rewards like high fives, smiles, winks, thumbs up, stickers, special activity time, pick from Treasure Box.
Be Kind
It’s simple, just “catch” people being kind and give them positive reinforcement!
Fill a Bucket
Be a bucket filler. See info at the bottom of this page.
Marble Jar
When the class does a good job overall with rules and expecations, we will earn a marble in the jar. Once the goal of the number of marbles have been reached, students will receive a reward like sidewalk chalk party, bubble party, extra recess, etc.
Thinking Center
It's a place in our classroom that student/s can go when they have a problem to solve or are not following the rules of the classroom repeatedly. When a student/s sit there, they will use resources there to help them solve the problem with the help of the teacher. If there are repeated problems over several days, we may fill out a parent note to go home. If you receive this, please discuss the problem with your child.
If there are daily repeated problems, the school has a discipline policy that will be followed and you will be notified and involved.
If you have a concern or question, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thank you for your understanding and support!
- Love yourself and be kind to others.
- Be a problem solver.
Positive Reinforcement
Praise children for making good choices. Instead of pointing out negative behaviors, focus on the positive. Some examples…
Give affirmations like…
“You are doing a great job with ______.”
“I can see you are trying really hard to ______.”
“I like _____.”
“Thank you for ______.”
Give rewards like high fives, smiles, winks, thumbs up, stickers, special activity time, pick from Treasure Box.
Be Kind
It’s simple, just “catch” people being kind and give them positive reinforcement!
Fill a Bucket
Be a bucket filler. See info at the bottom of this page.
Marble Jar
When the class does a good job overall with rules and expecations, we will earn a marble in the jar. Once the goal of the number of marbles have been reached, students will receive a reward like sidewalk chalk party, bubble party, extra recess, etc.
Thinking Center
It's a place in our classroom that student/s can go when they have a problem to solve or are not following the rules of the classroom repeatedly. When a student/s sit there, they will use resources there to help them solve the problem with the help of the teacher. If there are repeated problems over several days, we may fill out a parent note to go home. If you receive this, please discuss the problem with your child.
If there are daily repeated problems, the school has a discipline policy that will be followed and you will be notified and involved.
If you have a concern or question, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thank you for your understanding and support!