Proverbs 22:6 provides the foundation for Christian education: “Train up the child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Parents have the primary responsibility and privilege to provide the first Christian education and training for the child. However, school, as an extension of the church, can strengthen and support the parents in this responsibility by assisting and nurturing the child to acquire a healthy, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual life.

Kindergarten Goals 


Trinity Lutheran School will provide a fun, flexible atmosphere of teaching and learning experiences to enable children:
• To develop a strong positive self-worth as a valued child of God
• To develop social and emotional skills appropriate for home and school
• To develop cognitive/motor skills appropriate for each child through the philosophy that a child’s work is his play
• To develop spiritual growth through weekly Bible stories and daily interaction of activities focusing on Jesus Christ as their Savior

Age Requirements 


A child must be five (5) years of age on or before August 1st of the school year to be eligible for Kindergarten entrance. It is required that the age be verified by a birth certificate. The children will build upon skills and behaviors learned previous to this year in Kindergarten.

Social Skills
• Pay attention and follow directions
• Follow three-step command
• Try to solve own problems
• Carry out an independent task from beginning to finish
• Raise hand when wanting to talk
• Share and take turns
• Keep hands to self
• Express feelings through words
• Listen while others are talking
• Respect other’s feelings and property
• Be responsible for personal belongings and school materials

Math Skills
• Identify circle, square, triangle, and rectangle
• Recognize the numbers 1 thru 10 randomly
• Match numerals 1 thru 10 to sets of objects
• Count by rote 1 thru 50
• Know phone number and address
• Know and identify the eight basic colors

Language Arts Skills
• Know full name (First & Last)
• Recognize first name
• Write first name in proper manuscript
• Express ideas through art
• Know birthday
• Know parent’s names (First & Last)
• Recite ABC’s
• Recognize introduced letters, randomly (Upper Case)
• Know sounds of introduced letters
• Do homework correctly

Developmental Learning Skills
• Color and cut within lines and without lines
• Trace a pattern
• Run, jump, hop, and skip
• Repeat a fingerplay
• Button/zip own coat

Attendance Times 


The doors are open for 15 minutes before starting time (8:00am). Children arriving before 8:00am must go to the extended care areas (come through the front doors). After 8:15am, children are considered late and must obtain a tardy slip from the office.

Transportation 


Parents are responsible for transporting their children to and from the school. Children should be picked up promptly at 3:00pm. After 15 minutes, remaining children will be sent to Trinity Care. All children are dropped off and picked up at the back door. During pick-up, parents are asked to form a line in the area and follow the car in front of you and promptly pull away when filled. If there is any day that you make arrangements for your child to go home with anyone other than the usual method, written authorization and directions are necessary.

Recess 


Since large muscle activity is important to the development of your child, the classes will go outside daily if the weather permits. Please dress your child accordingly – cold weather means mittens, hats, warm coats, and slacks for boys and girls.

School Clothes 


We want to warn you that often the children use messy art materials. Even our smocks do not completely prevent accidents. Also, for safety reasons, please send your child in closed-toed shoes (no thongs, sandals, or open backs). Socks are recommended since we don’t always know when we will be going to the gym for recess. Clothing should be comfortable and comply with the school’s dress code.

Reporting to Parents 


Conferences afford one of the best ways in which teachers and parents can work together in bringing about the best educational program for the child. In the fall, a conference will be scheduled with the parents of each child for the purpose of reporting student progress. Additional conferences may be necessary; the parent or teacher can initiate such. Thus, to enable the school to make prompt contact, it is highly important that the school be kept informed of any change in address or telephone number. Reports will be forwarded to you at the end of each quarter advising you of your child’s progress. Parents should feel free to seek an appointment with the teacher to discuss any concern related to the child’s kindergarten program.

Continuation 


It is sometimes in the best interest of a student to continue in the kindergarten program for a second year. This decision is weighed carefully and arrived at the by teacher, principal, and the parents in terms of the child’s developmental readiness to perform the tasks of grade one. While it is true that some kindergartners now enter with some skills in reading and math, the true value of kindergarten is not measured in terms of scholastic achievement only. Almost without exception, five year olds need opportunities to learn to work with others, explore creativity, develop emotionally, and seek ways of self-expression. Kindergarten teachers provide suitable experiences for the wide range of maturity and development in the classes.

Sending Money and Notes to School 


Please put any money that comes to school in an envelope. On the outside put your child’s name, the amount, and the purpose for the money. Likewise, any notes that you send with your child should be treated in a similar manner. It is a good idea to pin the envelope to your child’s clothing to avoid it getting misplaced or left in the book-bag. As a step in learning responsibility, the student, not the teacher, checks the book bag to return forms, money, or notes.

Special Day Celebration 


Each child will be given a special day, close to his birthday, if possible. Children who have summer birthdays will have their “un-birthday” some time during the school year. The special child will be invited to bring the snack for that day. Suggestions that work well include: cookies, pudding cups, cupcakes, and donuts. Please do not send whole birthday cakes. Special day napkins and cups are optional.

Church and Sunday School Attendance 


Each Monday the Church and Sunday School attendance will be taken and we encourage that you attend your home church or Trinity Lutheran Church regularly with your child. Daily family devotions and prayers are also important. The children will learn several prayers and they can share them with you at home.
Weekly School News 
The Trinity School Newsletter is posted to the website every Thursday. A special “Kindergarten Highlights” newsletter will also be sent home on Friday. Remind daycare providers to assist in getting the papers to you.

Field Trips 


We will go on several field trips during the year. An information sheet will be sent home about the activity. If there are any fees necessary the money must be returned to the school prior to the trip. If the money has not been received, children will be sent to Trinity Care. It would be most helpful if you would return needed fees the day after the form is sent home so the money can be deposited for the trip. Parents provide transportation. Usually a two-week notice will be given so parents desiring to attend can make arrangements.

Show and Tell 


All toys and games used in the school are carefully selected to implement teaching objectives. You are asked not to send toys, purses, or food to school except for a specific class activity such as “Show and Tell.” All such items will remain in the book-bag until the appropriate time and then will be placed back in the book-bag for the remainder of the day. Because the children share cubbies, send back to school any items that do not belong to your child.

Medication 


If your child has to take any medication during the day, you must send a note with directions. Also, please call the office if your child will be absent for any reason. To prevent the spread of a contagious illness, it is imperative that certain rules be followed. In the event a child appears to have symptoms of an illness, the parent will be called to take the child home. A child should not be sent to school if any of the following exist:
• If they have or have had a fever in the past 24 hours
• If there is heavy nasal discharge
• If there is a constant cough
• If they are cranky, fussy, and generally not themselves
• If there is an earache
• If there is any communicable disease (These generally include sniffles, reddened eyes, sore throat, headache, fever, and/or abdominal pain.)
• If in the past 24 hours there has been an upset stomach, diarrhea, or vomiting

Parent Volunteers 


We would like to encourage all of the parents to volunteer to help throughout the year; however, please wait until after the first month. It is nice to have extra hands. At Trinity, we realize that volunteering can be difficult because of work schedules. Feel free to volunteer as your schedule allows it. However, if we know you are going to volunteer, then we can plan accordingly. There have been many studies that show that there is a correlation between parent participation and student achievement.

How Parents Can Help
• Start each day right. A calm beginning at home makes the school day much better.
• Be sure your child gets enough sleep – 10 hours is recommended.
• Start your child’s day with a nutritious meal.
• Help your child develop good health and safety practices around the home.
• Provide opportunities for your child to play with other children.
• Teach your child hot to snap, button, and zip their coats as well as how to put on their shoes and tie them.
• Mark your child’s name in their coat, sweater, gloves, raincoat, and boots.
• Teach your child his/her address, phone number, birthday, and how to print his/her first name.
• Dress your child for the proper season; we will be going outside when weather permits.
• Encourage your child to follow simple rules of courtesy and good manners.
• Have your child spend some time away from you before entering school.
• Acquaint your child with the school in as many ways as possible.
• Show him/her the route to school.
• See that your child has as many experiences as possible to become familiar with crayons, scissors, paints, clay, etc.
• Provide a special place to display art work or whatever treasures may be brought home from school.
• Provide experiences such as visiting parks, zoos, museums, and sharing stories and books that are suitable for the age level.
• Keep your child in school regularly, except when ill.
• Pin envelopes containing notes securely to your child’s jacket/coat.
• Encourage your child to develop some independence whenever possible in solving problems and quarrels at home.
• Supervise your child’s television viewing and limit what and how much television is being watched.
• Tell your child that you love him/her and you are proud of all of his/her accomplishments.

When We Play, We Learn
• Problem solving
• Number/Numeral association
• Volume
• Weight
• Texture
• Social Skills
• Responsibility
• Independence
• Measurement
• Fine motor skills
• Large motor skills
• Language skills
• Play is constructing, building, motivating, doing, experimenting, and learning!

Checklist for Parents
• Have you taken your child to visit a doctor for a thorough physical examination including eyes and ears?
• Have you taken your child to a dentist?
• Have you complied with the recommendations of the doctor and/or dentist?
• Has your child received proper immunizations and tests as required?
• Have you taught your child the safest way to cross the street as well as enter and exit from vehicles?
• Has your child been away from you for several hours at one time?
• Is your child learning to take turns and share?
• Can your child put on his boots and outdoor clothing unaided?
• Has your child learned to sit quietly for 10 to 15 minutes while someone reads to him/her?
• Is your child learning to express ideas in a communicative manner by your encouraging him/her to talk about things that are of interest to him/her?
• Does your child attend regular worship and Sunday School along with you?

For more information, please call (317) 897-0243, or contact the Kindergarten teacher Rebecca Hoff.

Mrs. Hoff’s Contact Information:
• School Phone: (317) 897-0243 ext. 514