ABC's of the Huard Huddle

               ABC's of THE HUARD HUDDLE

           

                                                                                 ✏A✏

Absences: Excessive absences hinder a child’s progress. If your child is absent, you must send

 a note to the school when he/she returns. Please include your child’s name, teacher’s name, 

date of absence, and the reason for the absence. Please call the school to report your child’s absence. 

Attendance: Regular school attendance is essential for your child to make the most of his/her education. 

Please make every effort to have you child at school everyday.
Alphabet Knowledge: We will learn the letters of the alphabet and the sounds that the letters make in Kindergarten.

I will do an alphabet knowledge assessment on your child several times throughout the year. 

Art: The students will have art class every Wednesday with Mrs. Roy.

                                           

                                                                                 ✏B✏

Books: Our classroom has a wonderful selection of books for students of all reading levels. Children learn to read

 best by being surrounded by books. Please set aside 10 minutes each night to read aloud to your child. 

Our R.A.H (Reading At Home) program will begin shortly!
Birthdays: Birthdays are very important to children! We will celebrate and honor your child’s special day in 

school by singing to them and making them a class birthday book. Due to the many food allergies and dietary

concerns, birthday treats will need to be discussed.
Book Orders: Each month I will send home book order forms for you and your child to look over. Scholastic 

offers many wonderful books at reduced prices. We also earn free books for our classroom library for every

 dollar spent. Please make one check payable to SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUBS or order online.

Backpacks: Backpacks help your child carry folders, notes, projects, snack bags and books to and from school.

 PLEASE CHECK YOUR CHILD”S BACKPACK DAILY! Rolling backpacks are a space and safety concern,

 I highly discourage their use. Also please do not use the small preschool backpacks. They don't hold our WESTON 

folder very well.
Bathrooms: We have bathrooms in our classroom and your child is able to go when needed. Unfortunately,

 accidents will happen. Please make sure your child has a FULL changes of clothes in a ziplock bag in his/her

 backpack each day.
Breakfast: Children can purchase breakfast every morning from 8:05 to 8:20 am. Check the Weston Handbook

for current price. 

                                                                                 ✏C✏
Clothing: Please dress your child in comfortable clothing that is appropriate for Kindergarten. It is a good idea

to label all coats, sweaters, snack bags and backpacks. Have a complete change of clothes in your child’s backpack

on a daily basis. You can keep them in a ziplock bag in the backpack. Food spills and bathroom accidents can 

happen. This will alleviate the need for nurse Hunter to have to call you at work.
Conferences: I will be scheduling Parent/Teacher conferences throughout the month of  September. Conferences

are scheduled for October. If you feel the need to meet at any other time do not hesitate to contact me!
Communication: Communication between home and school is VERY important!! If you need to contact me, 

please call me on my cell (759-9763), send me a note, or email me (jmhuard@mansd.org). I will get back to

you as soon as I can.  EMAIL and or TEXT is best. 

                                                                                ✏D✏
Discipline: Although I do not anticipate any behavior problems, we have a systematic plan in place to help change 

behavior to maximize learning for all. Our room is a busy and exciting place to be...when everyone is engaged...

behavior is minimized. If your child needs reminders after receiving a warning, the behavioral steps are followed

below.
PINK: OUTSTANDING
PURPLE: Great Day
BLUE: Good Day
GREEN Ready to Learn! (Everyone starts the day on GREEN)
YELLOW:  :/ Think about it. Slow down
ORANGE:   :(  Take another break
RED: I will talk with mom or dad at pickup.

If your child’s behavior still needs to be addressed after the above steps have been taken, I will call you to schedule

a conference so that we can discuss strategies for prompting positive behavior.  As you  know, good behavior and

learning go hand and hand. During the first few days of school, our class will learn/focus on 5 simple rules in order

to make our school days successful. Because the children are a part of the process, it will help build a sense of

ownership. At the beginning of school, your child may move their card several times because he/she may be testing 

limits. Understand that this is normal. Please discuss the rule(s) being broken, helping your child to understand that

if the behavior continues, consequences will be discussed. In order for all children in our class to learn, they need 

rules and guidelines to follow. Without this structure, the behavior of some children may distract others, prohibiting

them from learning. I am sure you desire your child to become all he/she can be. With your support or our classroom

discipline system, I will be able to teach and help your child reach his/her potential. Each student has his or her

name on a clothespin. They start  in the middle of the chart on READY TO LEARN! Students will move their clip

UP if they are working hard to follow our classroom rules/goals. Students will move DOWN if they are making a

poor choice. The great thing about the clip chart is that if a student moves down in the morning but then comes

back and demonstrates improved behavior they can move back up. The “Think About it” level is a warning or

reminder. There’s no consequence associated with the level. Just move your clip down and get back on task. 

Everyone needs a chance to show that they can learn from their mistakes. They know they are in control of

 "changing their behavior" and this improves their approach to their academics.

Dismissal: The students are dismissed at the front of the school. I WILL TAP EACH CHILD when they are free

to go. IF YOUR CHILD RUNS OVER TO YOU PLEASE SEND THEM BACK TO LINE UNTIL I DISMISS THEM.
If your child is going home with someone other than his or her usual ride, I will need a note releasing your child 

to this person and the individual will have to provide a picture ID. PLEASE BE PROMPT! If you are late, you will 

need to go to the office. 

                                                                                  ✏E✏
Email: I check my email every evening. Please do not hesitate to use my email address: jmhuard@mansd.org

                                                                                 ✏F✏
Family: It is very important to me that the children and I come together as a big family. We work together, play

together, learn together, eat together, and much more. From the start,  I encourage the children to respect, love 

and take care of each other. With our classroom family there are no limits to our accomplishments. We are 

“THE HUARD HUDDLE”
Fire Drills: Your child will participate in frequent fire drills throughout the year. We will practice the procedures

before our first fire drill so that your child will be prepared. If your child is anxious about these drills, please contact

 me so I can make sure they feel comfortable and safe!

                                                                                ✏G✏
Guidance: Our school counselor is Ms. Hodgdon. Feel free to stop in and meet her. She is always available to

 meet and talk with you if the need arises. 

                                                                               ✏H✏
Homework: Your child will have reading homework on a nightly basis - look for our “Reading At Home”

message in future newsletters. Once we begin our R.A.H program a sight word reader book or self selected book

will come home from our classroom library. Read it several times with your child. If it is to difficult for them to 

read independently-then simply read it to your child for enjoyment. 

Handwriting: The children will be working on handwriting through the FUNDATIONS program. I will send home

 the correct letter formations in UPPER and lower case letters in a fall newsletter.
Holidays: We celebrate some holidays with special events. You may be contacted by our room parent and asked to 

contribute to the occasion. If for any reason you would prefer your child not participate in a holiday celebration 

please let me know. 

Health: The children will have Health class every Monday with Mrs. McGilvray.

                                                                                ✏I✏
Illness: Please do not send your child to school if he/she is not feeling well. If your child becomes ill at school,

 you will be called to come and get your child. We need at least two working phone numbers at all times in order 

to contact you in case of illness or emergency.
Ice Cream: Ice cream will be sold on a pre-ordered basis this year. Late orders will not be accepted. Ice cream 

will be ordered on Thursday and the cost is 50 cents. Please avoid sending in ice cream money with lunch money. 

These accounts are kept separately from lunch accounts and we are not always able to make change within 

the classroom. 

                                                                              ✏J✏
Journal Writing: Each day the children will draw and write in their journals. The children will use concepts they

have learned in phonics and reading instruction in their own writing. I would encourage you to have your child write

in a journal at home, about thoughts, feelings or ideas that he/she may have. I use journals to teach important

concepts of spelling, sight words, sentence structure, punctuation, and other skills. Journal writing is a process

that begins with scribbles. I know you will be in AWE as your see your child’s work progress through the writing

stages. 

                                                                               ✏K✏

Kindness: Students in my classroom are encouraged and expected to treat all members of our class as well as

others with kindness and respect. Hitting, fighting, name-calling, and making fun of others will not be tolerated. 

                                                                               ✏L✏

Library: The children will visit the library once a week on Tuesdays. Our librarian is Mrs. McGinty. 

Laughter: Laughter is an important part of our classroom. Laughter is good for everyone, helps learning blossom,

and grow. Students are not expected to be perfect, but understand that everyone makes mistakes and learns by

trying new things and being able to laugh and learn from their mistake.
Lunch Money: Lunch money is collected on Fridays for the following week. You child may purchase lunch for

the whole week or for certain days.

                                                                                ✏M✏
Music: Music is a very important part of our classroom. I firmly believe that children can learn important facts

through song. We will learn a variety of fun, educational songs. The children will also attend Music class with

Mrs. Harkins every Thursday.
Mathematics: We will be learning from a few different mathematics series called: Everyday Math and My Math.

Your child will come to deeply understand the meaning behind many skills revolving around Numeration, Geometry, 

Patterns, Measurement and computation. Your child will be instructed in math each day. Please be sure to review the 

Manchester Academic Standards for Kindergarten! Math isn't just about learning the skills but learning how to 

explain your thought process!

                                                                               ✏N✏
Newsletter: Instead of a weekly newsletter I will invite you all to join our HAVING FUN IN THE HUARD HUDDLE

 BLOG! It will be updated on SUNDAY. It will contain information about our thematic units, classroom activities, 

announcements, and upcoming school events.
Nurse Hunter's Office: Nurse Hunter is our school nurse. She will take care of your child until you can be reached

to pick him/her up from school. She also administers all medications to students during school hours.

                                                                               ✏O✏
Outside: Your child will have outside time everyday, weather permitting. Please dress your child appropriately

 for the weather. (sneakers are best, boots in the winter!)
Ownership: One of my many goals as an educator is to help children become inspired to be life long learners.

 Taking an active role in their learning will foster ownership and help develop a sense of pride and accomplishment. 

                                                                                 ✏P✏
Physical Education: We will have physical education every Friday. Please be sure to have your child wear sneakers

 and pants. Our PE teachers are Ms. LaCassia!
                                                                                 ✏Q✏
Questions: Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s school experience.

 I will make every effort to meet with you and discuss your concerns. You can do this in a variety of ways. 

You can send me a note in your child’s folder, call me at Weston (624-6347) or call/text me (759-9763), or email

 me jmhuard@mansd.org

                                                                                 ✏R✏
Report Cards: Your child will receive a report card three times a year.
Rules: WE have several rules in Kindergarten
1.Follow directions quickly
2. Raise your hand for permission to speak
3. Make smart choices
4. Please do not interrupt a teacher when they are working with another student unless you are having a

    “B emergency”  (bathroom, blood, and barf)
5. Keep your teacher.....HAPPY! ☺

Reading: Studies have shown that those children whose parents are actively involved in the reading process will 

become the best readers. Reading to your child and listening to them read to you, taking them to the library and 

providing quality books at home is of the highest importance. Studies have also shown that those children who have

not learned to read well by 3rd grade will struggle throughout school. Both you and I have an extremely important 

task to undertake. Read to your child daily and let your children see you reading!

                                                                                ✏S✏
Snacks: We have a daily snack break scheduled for each day. PLEASE PACK HEALTHY choices along with 

water or juice. 

Schedule:  Please view our daily schedule under the TAB daily schedule on the home page of this blog. 
Sight Words:  A sight word is a word that is recognized by quickly looking at it and saying it with out hesitation. 

 Sight words are not sounded out. The more sight words a student can recite, the more fluently he/she will read. 

I encourage you to work on sight words with your child using flashcards and our weekly Sight Word Readers.

Our Goal: commit  ALL sight words to memory before entering first grade! These will be introduced slowly,

1-2 a week. 

                                                                                ✏T✏

Transportation: Please remember to NOTIFY US IN WRITING if there are changes in the way your child will be

going home from school. Without written instruction, your child cannot be released to anyone other than his or her

 usual ride. Please do not email transportation changes! Please include a phone number where a parent can be

reached during school hours in case of questions or concerns.
Tardiness: Students late to school will be considered tardy. The office keeps a record of these tardies and will 

document them on your child’s report card. Please make every effort to arrive to school on time.
Toys: Toys from home are NOT allowed unless they are brought for Student of the week activities. 

                                                                                 ✏U✏
Unconditional love: Your child will receive unconditional love and support from me!!! Please don’t hesitate 

to inform me if you feel your child may need a little extra on a given day! 

                                                                                ✏V✏
Vacation: If you are taking a vacation that is not during our scheduled vacation breaks, please write a note to the 

office and myself detailing the dates of your child’s absence. 

                                                                               ✏W✏
Writing: Writing is closely connected to reading. Students use skills that they need to read and apply them to writing.

Students also develop creativity through their writing. I encourage you to create a special place in your child’s home

for writing. Make a special box with crayons, markers, pencils, pens, erasers, stickers, glue, etc......your child will 

use these supplies to design and create wonderful stories. Students that write well also read well.
Weston Folders: Weston folders will be send home daily. They will be used to carry newsletters, homework, and 

some corrected class work. Please empty your child’s folder and look through all of its contents every night. Return

 the folder to school. If your child loses his/her folder s/he will need to bring in 50 cents to purchase a new one.
Wish Board: Our PTO has set up a “wish board” next to the entrance to our cafeteria. It is a bulletin board where

 teachers can post requests for supplies they would like to use in their classroom, but cannot acquire through the 

regular school budget. Please stop by our wish board if you would like to makes someone’s wish come true. I may 

also post these items in our weekly newsletter. Thank you!!

                                                                                ✏X✏
Xceptional Year: I look forward to working together in order to make your child’s kindergarten experience

 eXtra special.

                                                                                ✏Y✏
Year long learning and fun: Your child will learn a lot this year and will be sure to have lots of fun in the process. 

                                                                                ✏Z✏
ZZZ’s: Your child should get plenty of rest each night. Kindergarten students require 10-12 hours of sleep a day. It 

is so important for your child to be alert and ready to learn each day. Set a bedtime and be consistent. Working 

together will make this Z best year ever!