Welcome to Kindergarten!

Mrs. McKenzie’s Magnificent McIntoshesMurdock Elementary School

All About Mrs. McKenzie:

• Born in Jamaica. • The eldest of three. 1 brother and 1 sister.• Bachelor’s Degree from Florida State• Master’s Degree from Florida Atlantic• Husband ~Merritt• Daughter~Nylah~ 3 years old• Greater Swiss Mountain Dog ~ Romey• Hobbies – Reading, Movies, Traveling• This is my 14th year of teaching!!! • I LOVE KINDERGARTEN!!!!

All About Mrs. Michalek:

• Born in Marietta, Georgia. • The eldest of three. 2 younger

brothers.• Attended Kennesaw State. Graduated

from Sprayberry High School.• Husband ~ Greg• Three children- Kayla, Mandy, Reid• Grandson - Lane• Golden Retriever – Cooper & Brichon

Frise - Bentley• Hobbies – Gardening, Photography,

Animals (pandas)• This is my 13th year in Cobb County

Schools!!! • I LOVE KINDERGARTEN!!!!

Collaborative Conversations: Sharing ideas by understanding,

listening, and sharing.

McIntosh Schedule(Tentative)

• 7:25 – 7:55 Arrival/Morning Work• 7:55 – 8:00 Announcements• 8:00 – 8:15 Morning News • 8:15- 9:00 Math Mini-Lesson/Math Centers• 9:00 – 9:15 Writing Mini-Lesson• 9:15 – 10:20 Writer’s Workshop/Handwriting

Practice/Writing Conferences/Learning Centers/Author’s Chair/Guided Reading

• 10:20-10:50 Reader’s Workshop• 10:53 – 11:23 Lunch• 11:35 – 11:55 Recess• 12:00 – 12:30 Science/Social Studies• 12:30 – 1:15 Specials: Mon: P.E., Tues: Art,

Wed: • P.E., Thurs: Music, Fri:

Fitness• 1:20 – 1:40 Shared Literacy/Number Talks• 1:40 – 2:00 Rest• 1:55 – 2:15 Snack/Pack• 2:20 Prepare for dismissal• 2:25 Dismissal

McIntosh Class Rules• Follow directions.• Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself. Hands are for helping.• Use quiet voices inside.• We take turns.• Walk inside. Run outside. Respect yourself, others, and property.

McIntosh Behavior• Apple Tree – Calendar in Kinder Keeper lets

you know the kind of day your McIntosh had. (Sunshine – superb day/Blank – great day/OR letter code that indicates behavior – a # beside a letter indicates the frequency of the behavior. Example – 2A would mean there were 2 occasions when your child wasn’t following directions.)

• McIntoshes always get a warning first. • Apples can always get moved back up (1st part

of year).• Classroom Economy/Fun Fair Trade Fridays –

Students start each week with 5 minutes and earn an additional 5 minutes of Fun Friday each day they stay in the tree or sunshine.

• Thinking chair• We love to earn monkeys!

•

The New Common Core!

• Rationale is to make all students college/career ready by grade 12.

• Emphasis on student-centered learning where the teacher is serving as the facilitator.

• Deeper understanding will create a firm foundation for students (It may seem slow at times, however repetition yields mastery. In the past, students have had gaps in their learning due to a weak foundation.)

• Stresses importance on listening/speaking by having meaningful conversations.

***Video***

Curriculum & Assessment

• Check Cobb County Website:www.cobbk12.org/commoncore/ and our handbook for an explanation. • Report Cards – every nine weeks.• GKIDS – continuous assessments.

We will review assessments at our first conference (10/22 – 10/26).

Attendance Policy:• Be here before 7:55 a.m. • If your McIntosh is absent, please send

in a written excuse.Emergency Info:

• Inform office of changes.• Let us know of allergies/medical

conditions.• Medications given to school nurse.

McIntosh Birthdays• During lunch time at 10:53. • Mini cupcakes, brownies, cookies or ice cream

sandwiches, donuts, etc. are easy to serve and eat. • No invitations distributed at school.• Birthday Bear

Visitations:• Front office – sign in/out and get visitor sticker.• Lunch visitors – same procedure. Sit at visitors table.

Please wait 2 weeks before coming for lunch.• Send a note for ice cream (Fridays), bottled water, or

someone else having lunch with your child.• Lunch is $2.15.• Pay online - Mealpay Plus is on Murdock’s homepage.

Transportation• First week of school – Please fill out ABCs of

Dismissal form and give it to Mrs. Michalek before you leave. We will send a new form each week for the month of August. Fill out the orange dismissal form to indicate your child’s regular dismissal schedule, starting in September.

• Please make sure that your child knows how he/she is going home each day.

• Changes - please put them in writing ~ signed/dated in your daily folder. A form can be printed from Murdock’s webpage. We cannot accept dismissal changes via email.

• Bus Passes – Necessary to ride another bus.

School Bus Information• Friday, 8/10 – Ride your bus route. K-2

students only. Parents must accompany students. No siblings please. Board at your designated bus stop. Ride to school and return home. Cobb County homepage has more info.

• Through September, students (K-2 only) will be allowed to bring water containers with twist-on lids only to drink during their PM bus ride.

Support MESF• MESF is constantly supporting Murdock’s

students and teachers.• Funds Computer Lab and Science Lab

Teachers• Funds educational software such as Brainpop

and IXL.• Find out more at:

http://murdockelementaryschoolfoundation.blogspot.com/

• Become a friend of the foundation and join MESF!

McIntosh Stuff• Kinder Keepers – send daily• Snacks – Send one healthy snack daily. Place

snack in outer pocket of backpacks. No drinks please – water fountain.

• P.E./Fitness days/Music – wear tennis shoes.• Backpacks – check daily/no rollers/keep clean.• Money – send in sealed envelope. Write name,

amount, and purpose on the envelope.• T-Shirts - $9.00 - wear on Spirit/Field Trip days• Wednesday shirts (optional) – “Kindergarten

Rocks” - $7.00• Label coats

How can you help your little one get ready for

kindergarten?• Read to your child every day! You might also

let your child look at the pictures in a book and make up a story about it.

• Read a story to your child and stop in the middle. Let your child tell you how the story will end, then finish the story.

• Read a story and let them draw a picture of their favorite part or their favorite character.

• Ask your child to retell the story to you. Work on sequencing ~ what happened first, next and last.

Finishing Touches• Blog – http://murdock10.typepad.com/mckenzie/• Sign up for FeedBlitz (left side of blog page) and you’ll

receive emails letting you know when our blog has new information.

• Homeroom parent – coordinate parent volunteers/donations, coordinate special events, collecting/distributing class funds

• Volunteers are always welcome. Room parents will coordinate.

• Name Changes • Questions• McIntosh Wishes• See Mrs. Michalek before you leave regarding dismissal!

The dismissal form is your ticket out the door. • Put completed paperwork in the tray before you leave.• Thanks for coming!