Kindergarten

Welcome to Kindergarten!

Kindergarten is a BIG year at MACS! It is a year filled with new friendships, growing independence, and so many exciting moments of learning.

Our students learn through stories, hands-on activities, small groups, learning centers, movement, creativity, and play. We want our Kindergarten students to build a strong academic foundation while developing confidence and a love of learning.

Homework Policy

• Read with your child for 10-15 minutes each evening.
• Practice letters, sounds, sight words, counting, or number recognition as assigned.
• Homework will be sent home in the student's binder.
• Please return completed work by the Friday of each week.
• Families may guide and encourage, but children should complete as much of the work as possible independently.

Behavior and Classroom Management: 10-Frame Plan

Our classroom expectations are:

1. Use kind words.
2. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
3. Listen when someone is speaking.
4. Follow directions the first time.
5. Raise your hand and wait for your turn.
6. Walk safely in the classroom and hallways.
7. Take care of classroom materials.
8. Try your best, even when learning feels difficult.
9. Clean up your learning space.
10. Help everyone feel safe and included.

Positive behavior will be supported through encouragement, modeling, class celebrations, and opportunities to practice. When a problem occurs, students may receive a reminder, redirection, calming break, reflection activity, or logical consequence. Families will be contacted when concerns are repeated or significant.

Grading Information

Kindergarten progress is based on mastery of grade-level skills. Grades are assigned to assignments: E,S,N,U. Conduct grades are listed as E,S,N,U.

Sample Daily Schedule

Times and activities may change for special events, House assemblies, and school-wide programs.

What Kindergarten Students Will Learn

Students will develop academic, social, and independence skills throughout the year.

• Reading: Recognizing letters and sounds, blending sounds, learning high-frequency words, retelling stories, and identifying characters, settings, and important events
• Writing: Writing their name, forming letters, drawing and labeling pictures, writing simple sentences, and using spaces and punctuation
• Mathematics: Counting, recognizing and writing numbers, comparing quantities, adding and subtracting within 10, identifying shapes, sorting, measuring, and recognizing patterns
• Science: Observing the natural world, asking questions, exploring weather, plants, animals, materials, and seasonal changes
• Social studies: Learning about families, communities, classroom citizenship, rules, traditions, maps, and important community helpers
• Social-emotional learning: Sharing, taking turns, expressing feelings appropriately, solving problems, following routines, and becoming more independent

Daily Supplies

Please send your child with:

• A backpack large enough to hold a binder
• A refillable water bottle
• A lunch or School Café lunch account
• A complete change of clothes in a labeled bag
• A healthy snack (Dean’s Class: Nut free)

Label personal belongings with the child's first and last name (Jackets). Toys should remain at home unless the teacher requests them for a special activity.

Communication Expectations

• Check your child's folder and backpack every school day.
• Read classroom messages, newsletters, and school announcements on ParentSquare.
• Allow one school day for a response.
• Contact teachers directly for urgent attendance, dismissal, transportation, or pick-up changes.
• Notify the teacher about changes that may affect your child's school day.
• Conferences will be scheduled at the start of the school year after FAST testing is complete. Follow-up conferences will be held as needed to discuss individualized student plans.

Helpful Resources for Families

• Family or parent portal (ParentSquare)
• School calendar
• Breakfast and lunch menus
• Attendance reporting
• Kindergarten learning resources (i-Ready Login, Programming for Kids | Kodable, ABCya! • Learning Games and Apps for Kids)

Helpful activities at home include reading together, practicing names and letter sounds, counting everyday objects, sorting household items, drawing, cutting with child-safe scissors, and encouraging children to dress and organize their belongings independently.

Check out our Kindergarten Supply List