• Welcome! This set of information will also be coming home in your child's take home folder on the first day of school. Please contact me with any questions, suggestions, or concerns. If you would like another copy as the year progresses, please let me know.
     
     

    Welcome to Universal PreK! I look forward to a year of fun and learning with your child.  Together we can make this a wonderful, positive experience.

    There is a great deal of information to pass on to you at the beginning of the year.  Here are a few reminders about the details of UPK.

    Clothing:  Your child will need an extra set of clothes, including socks and underwear please, to keep at school in case of an emergency.  Please send clothing in a large Ziplock bag with your child’s name on the outside of the bag.  If an accident does occur, please make sure your child’s extra clothing is replaced as soon as possible.

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    Snack:  We will have a school provided snack available each day. If your child has any food allergies please talk with me so we can make their day as safe as possible! Students are welcome to bring their own simple snack in to eat during our snack time. (I might not have extra spoons and such here for them so please plan accordingly with their snacks). Families are welcome to send in snacks for the classroom as well. If it is perishable, please contact me to schedule a date for your snack, just in case we have a birthday or other snack-type event already planned for that day. Healthy snacks are preferred and encouraged.

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    Breakfast: PreK students (AM ONLY) have the option to have breakfast when they arrive at school. Please fill out the application for free or reduced breakfasts and lunches to see if you are eligible for this service. You have the option of sending money each morning for breakfast or adding money to your child’s breakfast account in the cafeteria. Currently, the cost of breakfast is 75 cents. Please notify me if you would like your child added to the breakfast list, as well as whether you will be sending money in daily or utilizing the cafeteria account. I will not send students down to breakfast without notification from you.

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    Times: Our AM PreK session runs from 7:45 AM-10:30 AM. Our PM PreK session runs from 12PM- 2:45 PM.

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    Absences and Tardiness: If your child is absent for any reason you will need to notify the main office (ext 5600) or school nurse (ext_____). If your child is tardy they will need to check in at the main office upon arrival; otherwise they may be counted absent for the day. 

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     Dismissal Time Changes: If your child will be going home with or picked up by someone else for the day, the school needs a signed and dated note stating this. On days the school is scheduled for a ½ day dismissal, AM PreK students will stay a bit longer and be dismissed with all of the elementary students. PM PreK classes will be canceled.

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    Toys:  Please leave all toys at home.  I have plenty!!! Each child will have several chances throughout the year to take home our “Share Bag.” This is a safe way for children to share toys from home that they are excited about, without distracting from the planned learning for the day or running the risk of lost, broken, and stolen items. More information about the Share Bag will come home to you soon.

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    Birthdays:  If your child has a birthday during the school year you are welcome to send in a treat to celebrate their day. Please contact me about the date you would like to send in the birthday treat.  Summer Birthdays will be celebrated at the end of the school year. I will keep everyone informed of any allergies we might have in the class this year. If your child is having a party I ask that your child not hand out invitations at school, unless all students in the class are invited. I can easily send invitations home to selected students in their folders if you would like to plan a smaller birthday event. J

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    Family Hour: I will soon send home a list of expected dates for our PreK Family Hours this year. Each month we try to plan an event where you can come into our PreK to learn and work with your child. These dates are tentatively scheduled, and may change as the year unfolds.  We plan this monthly event with the hope that you might be able to make it to one or two events during the school year. I like to give a lot of opportunities- please do not feel guilty if you can not make it to an event!!! The children and I talk about this prior to each event. In the past, the students have been very understanding of family schedules.

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    Monthly Family Project: Each month, a family project will come home with your child, to be worked on and returned to school for display and discussion. If you would like a work bag sent home for these with crayons and a glue stick, please let me know!

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    Book Orders:  I will send home Scholastic Book Order forms with your child monthly.  If you order from more than one form you may write one check to Scholastic. This is a great way to add to your child’s home library and earn new books for the classroom. Scholastic also has the option for families to order online. This option allows you to pay with a credit card. The books will be shipped to the classroom to be sent home, and each time a parent orders online the classroom gets a free book for our classroom collection. I will get information to you about our classrooms code for this in the coming weeks.

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    Box Tops for Education, Campbell’s Labels for Education: Our school participates in both of these fundraisers. For each Box Top returned to school, we receive 10 cents to use towards supplies, curriculum, and special events. Campbell’s UPC’s earn the school 1 pt or 5pts towards supplies and materials. Help us by collecting and sending in your Box Tops and Campbell’s UPC’s.

     

    I hope this information is helpful to you!  Please check your child’s backpack daily. I will check your child’s Take Home folder daily, so please return it to school each day, and place any notes you’d like me to see in the folder.

    Please feel free to talk to me if you have further questions not answered here.  The school’s phone number is 257-3436 and my extension is 2213.  Or, e-mail me at rsinger@cattlv.wnyric.org.

    Miss Singer J