3K Teacher: Shannon Rogaczewski (Mrs. R.) [email protected]
3K Teacher Aide: Lynda Gilpin (Mrs. Gilpin) lgilpin@hanb.org
Goals
The 3-year-old kindergarten program at Holy Apostles offers children the opportunity to begin their education in a play-based Catholic environment. The program encourages social and academic growth through exploration, hands-on activities, music, and movement. Lessons are very engaging, based on weekly thematic units, and designed to inspire all learners.
Drop Off
- When arriving before 8:25 (Morning Wrap Care): At and around 7:30, you will drop off at the North Doors and leave your child with the K4 aide posted at those doors. If you come after 7:30 you will enter through the main office. A K4 aide will be in charge of walking students to their classroom.
- When arriving between 8:25 and 8:35 (Regular Start Time): Your child’s classroom teacher or aide will meet all children at the West Doors until 8:35. She will supervise his or her walk down the to the classroom where a teacher will be waiting to assist as they begin putting items away.
- Any arrivals after 8:35 will need to enter through the main office doors
- Once items are put away, your child may choose a play activity.
Pick Up
- If you are picking up your child at 11:30am, please meet at the flagpole by the school office. We will be coming from the playground. If weather does not permit outdoor play, we will exit from the main office doors.
- If you are picking up your child at 2:25pm, please meet your child at the North Doors. Melissa Wendorf, (our Afternoon Wrap-Around Care teacher), will bring the children there and wait until all are picked up.
- If your child is attending Extended Care, your child will be escorted over to the Extended Care area in Lofy Hall at 2:25pm.
Please provide a home folder, as this will accompany your child home daily. Please check your child's folder every night for school notes and papers. The folder needs to come back every day with your child. Include any notes you may have for school in this folder, including changes in who is picking up your child from school.
Snacks
Please send a snack with your child every day. Healthy snacks are encouraged, but please make sure it is something your child will eat. Water bottles and juice boxes are fine to send as well. We are a PEANUT AND TREE NUT FREE classroom.
Extra Clothes
Please make sure your child has a complete set of extra clothes (shirt, pants, underwear, socks) to be kept at school, as accidents and messes sometimes happen. Please send all the clothes in a clear shoebox size bin with lid, labeled with your child's name. Any soiled clothes will be sent home and need to be replaced.
Recess
We try to get outside for 20-25 minutes every day, so please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. Please label everything (hats, mittens, jackets, snow pants, boots, etc.) with your child's name or initials, then place them all together in one large bag. (This bag will be handed out closer to Fall).
Wrap-Around Care
If your child is staying the whole day for Wrap-Around Care, please send a lunch, as hot lunch will not be available for purchase to 3K students. Milk is available for purchase. Your child will have a time to rest after lunch, feel free to send a small "lovey" (small blanket, stuffed animal, etc.) to help your child feel comfortable. Loveys will remain in the backpack until after lunch and can be sent back and forth every day.
Birthdays
Students are welcome to bring a treat to share with the class on their birthday. Treats will be enjoyed during snack time. If your child has a summer birthday, they are welcome to celebrate their birthday on another day, such as their half-birthday. Please keep in mind: We are a PEANUT AND TREE NUT FREE classroom.
Classroom Management
- Re-direction and problem solving: Most of our minor outbursts or hurt feelings can be solved through re-directing students to a safer choice or acceptable activity and/or talking about a problem and figuring out a solution together. We are all learning how to be in school and how to get along with others. That is a big part of the 3k curriculum!
- “Calm Down Chair": If a child is acting in a way where they need to be removed from a situation or from other students, they will be asked to have a seat on a chair away from the action. This is an opportunity and a space for them to think about a better choice they can make, before talking to an adult and rejoining their friends in appropriate play. Once the child has calmed down and feels ready to make a better choice, they may rejoin the group. A parent will be notified of the situation in person, by email, or through a small note in the child’s folder if we needed to use a “Calm Down Chair.”
From time to time we need additional helping hands in our classroom. In order to assist in the classroom, all volunteers need to have gone through the Safeguarding training through the Archdiocese at least once. If you have never been certified, please visit the CMG Connect website at https://milwaukee.cmgconnect.org/ to register and start the process.
A full list of class offerings on other dates/locations, can be found: https://www.archmil.org/Offices/Safe-Environment.htm
Daily Schedule
(This is a basic outline of how typical days in 3K are structured.
Times and activities may vary.)
AM Wrap-Around Care
7:30-8:30am: Morning Wrap-Around Students Arrival
-Students will put away their items and find their name to put in our jar
-Students will choose an activity to do while waiting for all children to arrive
Regular 3K Class
8:30-8:45am: Arrival/Choice Time
-Students will put away their items and find their name to put in our jar
-Students will choose an activity to do while waiting for all children to arrive
8:45-9:15am: Morning Meeting
-Calendar and Weather
- Introduce weekly theme and letter of the week
-Activities may include: Show and Tell, Story time, Song/Fingerplay/Felt board activity
9:15-9:30am: Large Group Activity or Art Project Time #1
-Learning activities change depending on weekly themes
9:30-9:50am: Bathroom Break/Snack
-Students clean hands, get snacks, and sit at their table spot
-Prayer
-Students eat snack and socialize
-After snack, students move to the carpet to look at books.
9:50-10:15am: Large Group Activity or Art Project #2
-Learning activities change depending on weekly themes
10:15-10:40am: Free Choice Centers
-During this part of the daily routine, teachers are attentive and offer support to children as they play and explore their environment in various learning centers at their own pace. Teachers tailor their responses to children's ideas, engage in give-and-take communication with the children, support children's play with other children, and assist children in problem solving. Activities vary depending on what we are learning.
10:40-11:05am: Good-bye Meeting, Bathroom Break/Prep for Recess
-Students may be pulled to help pack-up or put on jackets as we wrap up our day by reading a story, singing songs and talking together about our theme.
11:05-11:30am: Recess
11:30am: Dismissal
PM Wrap-Around Care
11:30-11:45am: Prep for Lunch
-Students clean hands, get lunches, and sit at their table spot
-Prayer
11:45-12:15pm: Lunch (in classroom)
-Students eat lunch and socialize
12:15-12:30pm: Bathroom Break
-Students are encouraged to use the bathroom and get a drink from the water fountain.
12:30-1:30pm: Rest Time
-Students are expected to stay quiet and stay on their rest mats.
-Students are allowed to choose books to look at quietly.
-If students fall asleep, they are allowed to sleep until they wake up on their own (or until 2:10pm).
1:30-2:10pm: Activities vary based on children’s interests
2:10-2:25pm: Clean-up/Dismissal