The ABC’S of Kindergarten
in Mrs. Rice’s Room
at Chinook Elementary School
Our Class Website: sites.google.com/vansd.net/srice
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Absenses: In an ideal world, we would have zero tardies and absences, because regular attendance is essential to your child’s educational growth. Please try to have your child at school an on time every day unless they are sick or other circumstances inhibit their attendance. To report an absence, please contact our absent line: 313-1402.
Arrival: Our first bell rings at 8:00 and students are allowed into classrooms. The 8:10 bell signals that the school day has begun. During those ten minutes, students are completing a lot of tasks to get ready for the day. We start our day promptly at 8:10. Please ensure that your child enters the classroom as close to 8:00 as possible; students who enter the classroom late often feel lost as they start the day.
B
Birthdays: We will celebrate each child’s birthday this year! Birthdays are announced over the intercom during our morning announcements. On your child’s birthday, the class will create a Birthday Book and your child will receive a birthday hat and pencil. Families are welcome (but not required) to send in a small non-edible treat for the class (such as pencils, erasers, playdoh, etc). I can deliver birthday invitations in Blue Friday Folders.
Behavior Plan: My educational philosophy centers around building strong relationships with my students. I want my students to feel loved, valued, and safe to make mistakes and learn. I use non-verbal cues to remind students of our class expectations. If a student continues to struggle with positive choices, we may use some of our play time to conference and talk through the issue. I will contact parents if we reach the point of conferencing!
C
Communication: I value open communication! We will be using the ParentSquare app to make communication quick and easy! Please look for more information regarding ParentSquare!
Conferences: Conferences will be held during scheduled times in October. I will share my sign up sheet at our Curriculum Night! I am happy to schedule additional conferences during the school year should you feel the need!
Curriculum Night: You are invited to see what Kindergarten is all about! Our curriculum night is September 23rd! Times coming soon!
D
Dismissal: Our school day ends at 2:30. Five minutes prior to the end of the day, I will open our outside door and walk the students to their appropriate destination. If at any point during the year your child’s going home plan changes (even for just one day) please write a note for me so that I can ensure your child gets to the right location.
Donations: It takes all kinds of goodies to make learning fun in Kindergarten! In our Friday Newsletters, I will try to post items that may be needed during the school year. Any donations are greatly appreciated!
E
Emails: Email is a vital form of communication between school and home. I will be checking email often during the day and try to respond as quickly as I can. Please remember to use the ParentSquare App when reaching out.
Early Release Days: VPS schedules Early Release Days every Monday. Students will be released 2 hours earlier than regular dismissal time on these days.
F
Family: Family is super important to me! I met my husband, Eric, at Eastern Washington University in 2003. We celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary this past June! We are the proud parents of Riley (16), Reghan (13) and Parker (10). We also have a kitty (Kitty Jacques) and a 2 year old Yellow Lab named Rembrandt.
Friday Folders: Every Friday a blue Chinook Folder will come home in your child’s backpack. This folder is due back to school the following Monday. In this folder you will find our weekly newsletter, school news, notes home, PTSA news, and other miscellaneous items. You may also send any notes, PTSA items, etc. back to school through this folder! Please be sure to return this folder each week!
FAB: We are so fortunate that our district values the arts. Our kiddos will get to visit the stage for Creative Movement, the Music Room, our Art Room, the gym, and the library weekly.
G
Grades: You will receive a report card for your child four times a year (fall, winter, spring, and end of the year). We use the 4 point system. Your child will receive a score of Rarely, Sometimes, Often, or Consistently for non-academic goals. Academic goals will be scored with a 1, 2, 3, or 4.
Go Storm: Mr. Rice and I have been proudly supporting Skyview Athletics since 2007! Mr. Rice is the Drawing and AP Art History teacher at SHS where he is also the Quarterbacks coach! 2025 will be my 17th year coaching the Freshman Cheerleaders at Skyview! My cheer obligations require me to leave Chinook by 3:15 each afternoon.
H
Homework: Life is busy! Extracurricular sports, recitals, church and other obligations can keep a family busy. The best ways to support your child in school are: strive to eat dinner as a family, read 15 minutes each night, and ensure a proper bedtime. It is important for kindergartners to learn the beginning steps in time-management. I can provide additional work when requested.
Health Conditions: Be sure to update the office with any health conditions that may need attention throughout the day. I will strictly follow all health plans provided.
Heart Words: We call our sight words “HEART WORDS”. Students will learn how to decode these words throughout the year. See our class website for a full list of our heart words!
I
Independence: This is a goal for students because it builds self-esteem and self-confidence. Kindergartners are very capable of doing many things on their own, and I encourage kiddos to try as much as they can for themselves in our classroom. Please continue to work on self-help skills at home: zipping, tying, dressing, etc.
iReady: DIBELS is one of our digital assessments given (up to) four times a year. Reports will come home following each grading period. Keep in mind that these reports are simply a snapshot of your kindergartners’ capabilities! We love to see growth between each assessment period!
J
Journey Home: If your child’s going home routine changes at any point in the year (even for just one day), please connect with me via ParentSquare and/or handwritten note. Contact the office to ensure we follow the changes in routine.
Joyful Learning: Kindergarten should be FUN and MEMORABLE! It is my job to provide educational opportunities to learn, however, it is my goal to make each day joyful and engaging! I love to see those smiles and build lasting memories for each of my kiddos!
K
Keeping Updated: We will be using the app ParentSquare for our communication this year. I send weekly newsletters and updates via ParentSquare. I will also update our class website! Be sure to explore our website: sites.google.com/vansd.net/srice
Kids in the Classroom: It is our policy to respect the privacy of every child and family in our classroom. Information regarding a particular child may only be shared with his/her parents. At the beginning of the year parents are often eager to set up play dates. Please remember that we are not allowed to give our phone numbers, addresses, or email. Contact me for help connecting with other families.
L
Library: Our classroom will get to visit the Library weekly. Your child will learn how to take care and enjoy books! Our librarian, Mrs. Cast, will let students check out one book a week. Stay tuned for our Library Day!
Lunch: You may choose to pack a lunch or have your child receive school lunch. Lunch menus are located on the VPS website. Lunches and breakfasts will be provided at no cost for the 26-27 school year!
Labeling Items: It is encouraged to label your child’s belongings: backpack, coat, hats, gloves, lunchbox, etc. This will help us find the owner when items go missing! We do have a lost and found located in our building!
M
Math: Our math curriculum is called Eureka. You will learn all about what is taught in Kindergarten at our Curriculum Night this September! Our essential math standards include knowing how to identify, read, and white numbers 0-20, addition and subtraction within 5 and counting fluently to 100!
Making a routine: Your child will learn our routines most easily if they are followed right from the start. Getting to and from school should be routine from the beginning of the year. We will be establishing, practicing, and maintaining our routines in the classroom.
Mrs. Rice: I am so excited to have your child in class this year! Kindergartners are my absolute favorites! I have been teaching for Vancouver Public Schools since 2007. This will be my 15th year teaching Kindergarten!
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Newsletter: You will receive weekly newsletters via ParentSquare. In our newsletter you will find our weekly learning, important dates, activities to work on at home, and any other exciting news! Our newsletters will be sent each Friday! Please take the weekend to review!
Notes from home: Should you need to send a note from home, please remind your child to deliver your message my way! I do not check backpacks daily!
Need anything?: Please do not hesitate to reach out with a question or concern! Any question is a good question!
O
Open Communication: I highly value open communication! Please do not hesitate to reach out with any question or concern. I believe my relationship with families is vital to the learning experience for each kiddo! As a reminder, download the app ParentSquare for the easiest and quickest way to reach me!
Outside recess: We live in a rainy climate. Children will often go outside to recess when it’s raining. Every child should be dressed for the weather, including a warm coat. Be sure your child can independently zip, button, Velcro, or snap the coat. Occasionally children will stay inside for recess if the weather is severe. Due to the large amount of lost and found items left each year, it would be helpful for you to write your child’s name in the clothing.
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Pick Up: Getting your child home safely is extremely important to me. Be sure to update me when your child’s going home routine changes! If you are picking your child up from school, please follow the pick up line in front of Chinook. Stay inside your car and we will bring your child to you! You might also choose to park in the parking lot and meet us at the deer statue between Chinook and Alki. If you should need to pick up your child before the school day ends, please enter the office and they will call down to our classroom!
PTSA: Our wonderful PTSA supports our school in a number of ways. Please check out their website for more information on how you can support as well!
https://chinookptsa.home.blog/
Q
Quick Goodbyes: Quick Goodbyes Leave Drier Eyes! ☺
Questions: Reach out if you have any questions! Any question is a good question and I reply as quickly as possible!
Quality Work: One of our class motto’s is “Neat and nice for Mrs. Rice or do it twice!” From the onset of the year, I will be teaching the importance of taking our time to produce our best work. We will respect that each of us has our own level of quality work!
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Report Cards: Report cards will be provided four times a year- Fall, Winter, Spring, and End-of-Year. Your child will be scored on a 4 point scale.
Reading: Reading is such a large part of our kindergarten day! We will be avidly encouraging our kiddos to READ, READ, READ at home. Reading can happen in a number of ways: looking at pictures, retelling a familiar story, looking for letters to identify, looking for heart words to identify, sounding out words, listening to others read, etc. Learn about our Reading Curriculums (McGraw Hill: Wonders and Really Great Reading: Countdown) at our Curriculum Night in September.
S
School Day: Our school day starts at 8:00 and ends at 2:30. Our day is full of academics, movement, play, and social time. Thank you for helping make sure your child is on time and present every day!
Snack Time: We schedule snack time in between breakfast and lunch. Students are allowed to bring a small, easy-to-open, dry snack. This helps us get through the long stretch between breakfast and lunch. Please provide an easy-to-open water bottle! Water bottles will come home daily for washing and refilling. Snacks from home should be PEANUT FREE!
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Tardies: In an ideal world there would be zero tardies. I appreciate your help in ensuring your kiddo is in our classroom as close to the 8:00 bell as possible!
Timeline of the Day: See the last slide of this slideshow!
Toys: We have many center tools that will be used during our daily play time. Students are asked to leave toys and play things from home at home! Any items brought to school will be tucked back into backpacks!
U
Unexcused Absences: When your child is absent from school, the absence is automatically considered “unexcused”. You will be contacted by the school. If your child is sick enough to go to the doctor, please send a doctor’s excuse. If your child is absent but does not go to the doctor, please send a note explaining the absence.
Universal Snacks: I like to have some “emergency snacks” on hand for students who may have forgotten theirs. If you are able and willing, I accept small snack sized bags of goldfish, teddy grahams, animal crackers, etc. I appreciate any and all donations! ☺
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Volunteers: I LOVE volunteers! I will be reaching out for assistance after our October conferences! To ensure that you are “ok’d” for volunteering, please visit www.vansd.org to fill out the appropriate forms. Contact our main office if you have any questions. Volunteer clearance is good for two years!
Vancouver Public Schools: Visit our district’s website for up-to-date information on the happenings of our district. www.vansd.org
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Weather: We often go outside to play during wet weather. We learn how to avoid muddy puddles and wet slides, however, kiddos can often get wet. Wet and dirty clothes can be uncomfortable. Consider sending a spare change of clothing in a ziplock baggie in your child’s backpack.
Website: One of my goals is to provide clear and easy-to-find communication! I will be updating our class website often during the year. Take a moment to explore our class website:
sites.google.com/vansd.net/srice
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Expectations: Each day we recite our class expectations just after the Flag Salute:
- We have watching eyes
- We have listening ears
- We have whispering mouths
- We have helping hands
- We have walking feet
- We are safe, respectful, responsible and kind!
Extracurricular Activities: I love to visit my kiddos outside of school! Please keep me updated with any extra curricular activities that your child is participating in. I will try to make a game or recital when possible!
Y
Your ideas… and suggestions are always welcome! ☺
You: can help your kiddo feel successful this year by reading each and every night! This encourages a love and comfortability with books. Remember to discuss the school day. Ask questions like, “What did you learn today? Who did you play with? How did you show kindness today? What was your favorite part of the day?”
Z
ZZZZZZZZ…. A good night’s sleep goes a long way in our classroom! Setting and keeping a bedtime provides consistency and much- needed- rest.