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Frequently Asked Questions! |
* Thanks to these great
sites for the graphics on this page
~
what talent!
Here are some of the
most asked questions parents seem to have each year.
This information can be found in other places on the website
(especially the ABC Handbook and the Parents pages).
You will probably have more questions ~ don't be afraid to ask!
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What are the
Kindergarten hours? This year (2010-2011), Kindergarten at Beacon Elementary will offer two types of sessions. I will be working with the all-day Kinders. Mrs. Candy Hollatz will be working with two half-day sessions. School hours are 8:20 to 2:30. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Mrs. Hollatz Kindergartners: The
AM Session will be 8:20-10:50. All Kindergartners come directly to their classroom as soon as they arrive at school - we have beginning activities until school begins. |
Do Kindergartners
ride the school bus? Yes! Buses do start arriving about 8:00 and leave our school about 2:35. Please contact the Beacon Office [(360)249-2258] for more information or you may call the Transportation Office [(360)249-5454] for answers about bus routes, pick up locations, etc. There is NO bus transportation after the AM Session or before the PM Session. |
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What other classes
will my child be exposed to besides the Kindergarten classroom? We have a scheduled time each week (about 30 minutes a week per specialist) for Music and P.E. We will be working closely with these teachers to assure that the activities for our age are developmentally appropriate and an effective learning time. |
Can I find
current information online about the Montesano School District
and my child's particular class?
Yes! The Montesano School
District's website is: To go to our own
classroom page, click on "Teachers", There you will see I also have a personal classroom website (this one!). I try to only put school items for my parents and students on the District's website. This site (my personal one) is not only for parents, but for fellow Kindergarten teachers. |
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Can Kindergartners
take part in the breakfast program? Yes, it would be available for the full-day and AM Kindergarten students. A simple breakfast is served from 8:00 to 8:20 each morning. The cost is $1.75. The breakfast menu generally consists of cereal or muffins with juice and milk. Students who want to eat breakfast should enter the gym door facing the Office promptly at 8:00. If you believe your child could qualify for a free or reduced price for breakfast/lunch (based on family income), send in the application as soon as possible. |
What about lunch? Full-day Kindergarten students will eat lunch at school. They may bring a cold lunch or purchase a hot lunch in our Multi-Purpose Room. Lunch is $2.25. Monthly menus will be sent home at the end of the previous month. Milk only can be purchased for $.35. (There is no lunch available this year for the half-day Kindergarten children.) |
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May I send medicine
for my child to school? Yes, but any medication that needs to be administered during the day (including cough drops) will need to be taken to the Office and administered there. Please contact the school nurse or the school Office for more information. there are certain forms to be filled out for those who need medication regularly. |
May I pick up my
child early from school? Yes. Children are never released from their classroom directly. Parents must go to the Office, ask for their child (who will be called down with their things), and then sign them out. This is a safety issue and we appreciate your understanding and cooperativeness. It is helpful for you to send a note to the teacher if you plan on picking them up early so they can be ready.
May someone else pick
them up besides their parents? From time to time there are children who have people who should NOT pick them up for a variety of reasons. We need to know that immediately upon registration so we can be prepared. |
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May my child ride a
different bus or go home with a friend? Yes, but please send a note that day which should be taken to the Office to get a bus pass with the specifics. Children who ride a different bus than usual must have a bus pass for the bus driver. May my child ride
the bus if he/she is not a regular bus rider? |
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How can I find out
about events and activities at school? Beacon Elementary sends home a "Beacon Bulletin" every other week with information that applies to the entire school. Upcoming dates are usually included so you can plan ahead. Please look for these in the Beacon Boomerangs and read them carefully.
Also, updated information will be
available online. |
How can I find out
what is happening in my child's classroom? I will be sending home a weekly newsletter called "KinderBulletin" that has specifics of what we are doing and upcoming events. I also send home monthly calendars with specific Kindergarten activities which is helpful. The Newsletter will also be put online at our class website (see information to the left). |
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Are school pictures
taken? Yes - in September individual pictures will be taken of all the children. Whole class pictures are taken in the Spring (along with some special individual pictures with a fun background). The student body does make a small profit on pictures that are purchased and is used for items that will benefit all students. |
How can I get a hold
of my child's teacher? Parents can leave messages in the Office to return calls. Calls can also be forwarded to our voice mail. It can be difficult to have a lengthy discussion during the school day, but calls will be returned before or after school. Conferences can be arranged any time during the year to come in and talk, but must be prearranged. My e-mail is available on the District website or try: dconnolly@monte.wednet.edu. I try to read it each day, but may not get to it until after school. |
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When my child is not
well enough to attend school, what do I do? A quick phone call to the Office is encouraged. When your child does return after an absence for any reason, they MUST bring a signed note with the date and a general reason for the absence. These are required by state law and determine the amount of money we receive during the year. Please be PROMPT about these notes - even if your child was not sick or just had a doctor's appointment. Your help in this matter will be greatly appreciated! |
What if my child is
late at arriving at school? Students who are late need to report in at the Office for a tardy pass for their teacher. This helps our attendance information. |
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May I call my child
at school during the day? Students are not called to the phone unless it is an emergency. Likewise they are not allowed to call home unless it is very, very important (this would be up to the teacher's discretion). |
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May I volunteer in my
child's classroom or in the school? Parents are encouraged to help in their child's classroom. You will find out specifics from your child's teacher at Orientation. Parents who want to help out on a regular basis (such as once a week, etc.) will need to fill out a Washington State Patrol Background Check form (no fee). Those forms are in the Beacon Elementary or District Office. They are also available online to download - check the Montesano District website mentioned above. This process does take a little time, so do it right away. Parents who come to our school campus must sign in and sign out in the Office and must wear a "Visitor" badge while here. Your involvement is encouraged and welcomed! |
How will I know if
school is closed or closes early or starts later due to the
weather or extended power outage? Local radio stations will have that information (a current list will be coming home in the fall), but the best way is to go to the District Website and that information will be posted there. You may also call the school Office, but the staff may be late in arriving themselves. |
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How can I find out
the school's policies in general? Your child will be bringing home a "Parent/Student Handbook" with all of the policies and routines that concern the entire student body at Beacon Elementary. Please keep these in a safe place to refer to them throughout the year. If you do not receive one, please contact the Office. |