How to Navigate the TK Website Tutorial

Hi Parents,

I hope you are comfortable viewing the website.  If you are having trouble finding a section, you are always welcome to ask me.

I created a PDF tutorial of how to get onto the "Current TK Families" link (also known as the password protected section of the website).

Click on Image to download the PDF

Steps:
1.  Find the Current TK Families link.
2.  A prompt will appear on your screen and ask you to enter your password.  If you forgot the password, please email me.

*If you are having problems viewing the site, please make sure you are NOT using Safari or Internet Explorer.  The best browser to use to view this website is Google Chrome or Firefox.

**If you need me to walk you through how to view the website, come by in the morning or see me after school.

I am hoping this website makes it easier for you to access class related information.

Have a great day!
Mrs. Paragas

Week 2 Newsletter

Dear TK Family and Friends,

I hope you enjoyed your Labor Day weekend.  Even though school just started, I enjoyed that extra day off.

This week, TK will be working on the following:

• Jesus has special friends called apostles.
• Practice the Sign of the Cross.  
• The numbers 0 and 1.
• Letter recognition Aa-Hh.  
• Attributes is a fancy word to help us sort.
• Colors - Primary Colors make more colors
• Introduction to shapes
• Introduction to reading (I, see, a)
• We are all special and unique.
• The U.S. flag
• How to read a book (left to right; top to bottom)
• Parts of a book (front, back, cover, spine, title, author, illustrator)
• Introduction to the 5 senses (sight)

We are learning the routine and I can see how comfortable your child is becoming.  I can see their enthusiasm for learning and can't wait to feed them with so much knowledge.

During the month of September, I will be conducting a lot of assessments to get a feel of where each student is a the beginning of the school year.  I will send some work home this week, but it will not be as much since I will be keeping the assessments to share with you during our conference in October.

Some things to note:

• Scholastic Book Order
  I sent home 3 Scholastic Book Order catalogs today.  It is optional to purchase books, but I highly recommended starting a home library to encourage reading.  I do try to send a catalog on a monthly basis but will not during some short months.
  
  There are 2 ways to order:
1. Online -  click here to get instructions.  You can pay by credit card by ordering online.
2. By check - fill out the catalog form and send a check made payable to Scholastic Book Clubs
   
   Should you have any questions with how to order, please email me and I'll be happy to walk you though it.

• Birthday Celebrations
We will celebrate your child's birthday during a special day each month.  Parents of those children have the option to participate by preparing a special snack for the class.  The snack should be "healthy" and appropriate for the 9:00 am hour.  No cake or cupcakes, please.

FOOD:

Suggested snacks would be fruit, veggie sticks with dip, pretzels, yogurt.... additional food suggestions can be found here.

We do have children with food allergies.

ALLERGY ALERT:
Please do not bring the following items during class celebrations:
NO PEANUTS or NUTS.

It may be difficult to avoid these other food items, I do ask that if the food you do bring contains the following items, that you alert the teacher ASAP before setting the table for snack. Food with dairy or milk products, eggs, pears, beef, pork, or seafood.


GOODY BAGS and PARTY FAVORS:
Please refrain from bringing goody bags in the classroom for the student or teachers to pass out to the class.  I ask that if you do plan to pass out goody bags that you do so at pick-up outside the gates.  It is too difficult for me to keep track of what is inside the bags.  With all the allergies and possible choking hazards, it is best to hand the bags out with the child's guardian under their supervision so they can monitor what they can or can't have.


PARTY INVITATIONS:
As much as you'd like to invite the entire class, I do understand the cost and restrictions of having a birthday celebration and the need to cut back on the guest list.  If you plan to invite specific people from the class, you are welcome to do so, but please hand out the invitations outside the TK/K Gates.  This is to avoid other children from feeling left out.  However, if you plan to invite the entire class, you are welcome to give Miss Cuellar or myself the invitation and we will gladly insert them in the folders.  Please do not write specific children's names on the invitation to make it easier for us to distribute.  


• Homework/Extra Practice Work
  I will begin to add practice work in the Current TK Families link.  Please visit it some time this week.  I will upload it sometime today.

• Back to School Night is tomorrow at 6:30pm.  Since you have already met with me, there will not be a meeting specific to TK, however, I encourage you to attend the first part of the whole school meeting as Mrs. Hayden will address school-wide information.  This meeting will take place in the hall.
• Parent Conferences this week will be inside the Ed Building.  Feel free to wait by the TK room and I will greet you there.  Remember, this meeting is for you to tell me about your child.  I will not be giving you a report of how your child is doing at this time.  If you misplaced your "green sheet" and need a guide to help with the conference, you can download it here.
• St. Irenaeus Parish School Newsletter - if you are not receiving this very, very important newsletter, please make sure to sign up.  you can find it on the school website or by clicking on this link.  This is a must have newsletter by all parents and those involved in your child's education.

Lots of information is being shared as you are trying to familiarize yourself with the school.  If you are having trouble finding information, please let me know.  I am here to help you.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Paragas

Labor Day / Conferences

• This is just a reminder that we have no school on Monday.  Enjoy your long weekend :)
• Conferences are next week.  I can't wait to meet with you!  If you forgot you scheduled time, feel free to email me.

Birthday Celebrations

We will celebrate birthdays by doing a special snack once a month.  We will not celebrate September birthdays until the end of the month (after conferences) once I have discussed any food allergies in the class.

I will schedule birthday celebrations for Friday, September 25 during snack time.  

Here is an example of appropriate Birthday Snacks:

Approrpiate Birthday/Holiday Snacks * String cheese or individual cheese snacks * Crackers * Fruit - grapes, sliced, apples, oranges, etc * Lunch meat slices/rolls - turkey or ham * Vegetables with dipping sauce (example mushrooms/carrots with ranch) For those who want to bring in something sweet, I will allow ONE sweet treat from this list: * Jello (gelatin or pudding) individual cups/student * 1 cookie (per student) * Rice Crispy treat * Apple Sauce Appropriate Drinks: * water * milk  * chocolate milk * juice boxes

**Food Allergies have not yet been considered.  I will make a list of food that we must avoid.**

Week 1 Newsletter

Dear TK Family and Friends,

Our first week of school is running smoothly.  I appreciate all of you and your commitment to your child's education.

This week we will be learning about:

• Prayer and Love
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Calendar Skills - Days of the Week, Months of the Year, Numbers on the calendar
• Emergency Procedures
• How to be a good student
• Classroom rules and apply them
• We are all different and special
• Zero is a number
• We all can "read"

We are busy this week with learning how to be a student.  Remind your child of the 5 class rules and the importance of following those rules (safety and to learn).

1. Looking Eyes
2. Listening Ears
3. Quiet Mouths
4. Helping Hands
5. Walking Feet

Just a few reminders to help make the classroom run smoothly:

Morning Procedure

• Please do not leave your child unattended within the gated area at morning drop off until 7:30am (please wait for the bell).
• Have your child place his or her tote bag in the appropriate bin.  There are labels on the bin to guide you.
• Remove their daily folder (currently the blue folder) and place it in the tray labeled "FOLDERS".
• I will lead the class into the classroom at about 7:45 am.  Please have your child lined up and ready to go.

Tote Bags

• All tote bags must have your child's name clearly visible at all times.  If we placed a temporary sticker, we asked that you replace it with a luggage tag, iron sticker, or have it embroidered. Placing your child's initials inside the bag makes it really difficult for us to efficiently sort the bags.
• You are welcome to personalize the tote bag by decorating it.  Remember, your child will use the same tote bag in Kindergarten.

Snack Bags and Lunches

• If your child goes to Daycare, please separate snacks from the lunch by placing the snack in its own bag.  This makes it easier on your child to distinguish what you expect them to eat for lunch.  You may place the snack in a gallon size ZipLoc and the lunch can be placed in a lunch box/bag.

Emergency clothes

• If you have not done so yet, I have sent a gallon size plastic zip bag with your child's name.  Place the following items inside the bag:  t-shirt, shorts, socks, and underwear.  The purpose of these clothes is if your child has an accident, he or she can change themselves right away.  
• If your child does have an accident, we that you replace the clothes the following day.
• Half way through the school year, we will send home the emergency clothes to be checked for size.  If your child has outgrown the outfit, place the new appropriate size in the bag.  I will remind you of this in a couple months.

Labeling

• Be sure to label all your child's personal belongings - uniforms, snack/lunch bags, tote bags

After School Pick-up Procedure

• We will try to have the gates open before 11:30.  You are welcome to come in quietly and wait at the benches.  Please be mindful that Kindergarten will still be in session and to keep the volume to a minimum.
• We exit only using one door - the classroom door furthest from the gates.
• I will call your child to the door one at a time.  This will take a while especially while I try to get familiar with the grown-up faces.  I am starting to recognize you, but am still having trouble matching with the children.  I appreciate your continued patience.
• You must pick up your child before 11:45, otherwise, they will be part of the Daycare group.  
• I welcome parents to gather and chat, but I do ask that you take the conversation outside the gates as the Daycare children need the lunch tables to eat.  
• If you are running late, phone the office and let them know.  They will page me in the classroom.  This allows me to tell your child that you are on your way and not to worry.  

Current TK Family Link

• The link to this section of the website is now working.  I will upload photos, videos, practice work and other TK information to this section of the website.  I ask that you do not share the password.  I do use YouTube to upload some videos.  My settings on YouTube is strictly private and can only be accessed with a specific link.  I ask that you refrain from sharing the link on social media.

Conferences

• If you have not yet schedule a TK Conference, I still have some slots available.  As much as this conference is optional, it is a good way for you to tell me about your child.  
• This conference is not for me to tell you what I have assessed or have noticed, it is for you to tell me what your child's strength and areas of improvement are; medical conditions; family situations, and so forth.

I have provided you with tons of information in this week's newsletter.  I regularly try not to over-do the post, but this week was filled with information.  

If anything is confusing or you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Paragas

Happy First Day of School

Dear TK Parents,

We had a successful and happy First Day of School!  I can already see that we will be having a wonderful year.  I appreciate your cooperation this morning during drop off as tears were very little to none!  Wow!  That is amazing!  Great job Parents!

I will be sending home a gallon size plastic bag.  Please put emergency clothes in the bag (play clothes is fine).  These clothes will be used in case there is a spill, a potty accident, or an unforeseen reason to change clothes.  Include the following items: shirt, shorts, underwear, and socks.  Label all items with your child’s names.

The school has ordered the TK folders, but they have not arrived.  We will be using the blue folder as a temporary folder until the TK folders come in.  Use this folder as a way to communicate notes and paperwork.  

The TK website is up and running, however, the Current TK Family page has not yet been created has been created.  Please check to make sure you are able to get on.    I will continue to work on that section this week.  Just for your information, the password to enter this section will be ********* (please read your hard copy for the password).  Please keep this password handy, but refrain from sharing.  There will not be any “homework” packets available this week since it is the first week of school.  Remember, homework is also optional unless stated.

I would like to request parents to place a luggage tag or some type of permanent label (iron on labels, etc.) on your child’s tote bag.  This will make sorting 17 bags much easier.

If your child will be attending daycare, please send a separate bag for their nap items.  I suggest the reusable grocery bags such as the Target red bags.  Again, place your child’s name on the bag and all the nap items.  These items will stay at school for the duration of the week.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask.  I welcome you to St. Irenaeus School!  Great communication and teamwork between families and teachers will provide a successful school year!

Have a great start of the year!

Mrs. Paragas and Miss Cuellar

Welcome TK Families!

I just wanted l to do a quick post to welcome all of you to the 2015-16 school year! I am very excited to work with you and your children. Within the next few days, I'll be updating this website to add some reminders for the beginning weeks.  I will be providing a password during the first week of school for you to access the "Current TK Families" page.  As for right now, the current information on that page pertains to last years class.

To best view the site, please consider using using the following internet browsers: Firefox or Chrome.  Sometimes using Internet Explorer or Safari distorts the site and makes it much more difficult to view.

Feel free to email me with any questions or concerns. I am here and can't wait to work beside you.

Take care,
Mrs. Paragas :)