Our school is developmentally-oriented with emphasis on the individual child.  Our classrooms are center-based with new activities planned regularly.  Rooms are designed so that children have numerous choices within an environment of maximum learning.  Our teachers act primarily as facilitators, encouraging and supporting children in a wide range of activities.  We encourage a strong partnership between the home and school.

Each child has talent and potential.

Each child learns through play; play is children’s work.

Each child should be given endless opportunities to:

• to be curious

• to explore

• to be free

• to discover

• to be aware of the world around

• to develop new appreciations in arts, music, science, drama, language and numbers.

• to discover one’s sense of self worth

Our classroom is a community and we have all agreed to the following standards:

• “I Can Brain”: I can do anything when I try hard.

• Listening Bodies: I will listen and follow directions.

• Raised Hands: I will raise my hand to share ideas.

• Helping Hands: I will use my hands for helping others.

• Quiet Mouths: I will use a soft voice.

• Caring Hearts: I will use kind words and kind actions.

If your child is going to be absent, please let us know as soon as possible. To report and absence, we ask that you do one of the following:

• Send a message on Class Dojo

• Email us directly

• Call the school office

We start every day at 8:30 am with attendance and morning work. To minimize interruptions, our door will be locked after 8:30 am, and you will need to wait with your child until our next transition. We understand that life happens, and if you know you'll be arriving late, you can send us a message on Class Dojo or call the office, and they will relay the message to us. It’s best to arrive between 8:00 am and 8:15 am to give your child time to check in, complete their morning routine, and be ready to start at 8:30 am.

Kindergarten ends at 2:30 pm. At that time, we will open the door and dismiss the core children into the atrium. If you need to pick up your child early, please let us know ahead of time.  If your child stays for After School Academy (ASA), at 2:30 pm they will transition to the ASA teachers.

The folder that they chose as their home folder, will go back and forth to school every day. This folder will contain your child’s daily work and any additional communication that is being sent home.  Please make sure to check and empty this folder each day.

• Class Dojo: Check daily for any updates, upcoming dates and also to check your child’s day.

  • Main source of communication. 

  • Allows for timely two-way communication.

• Email: kindergarten@turtlerockpreschool.com

Kindergarten Shoutouts:

• Celebrate kindness, effort, and great choices

• Build confidence and create a positive classroom culture

• Help students feel proud of their actions

Fix-It Tickets:

• Used only after several reminders

• Quiet, one-on-one conversation to reflect

• Student helps create a plan to “fix it” next time

• Ticket goes home for parent signature so we can work together

Math:

• Little Minds at Work KinderMath by Tara West

• Little Minds at Work FirstieMath by Tara West

Language Arts:

• Phonics: Fundations by Wilson Language Basics

• Guided Reading: Fountas & Pinnell Literacy

Science:

• Little Science Thinkers by Karen Jones

Social Studies:

• Little Social Studies Thinkers by Karen Jones

Handwriting:

• Handwriting Without Tears

Optional Homework:

• Digital homework will be provided at the beginning of each month through a link on Class Dojo.  The link will provide a variety of activities that will reinforce classroom learning.  These activities are optional but highly encouraged.

Required Homework:

• 15 minutes of reading daily (the student reading or being read to).

• A weekly Class Dojo post to practice public speaking. (Instructions to follow)

Sight Word Pouch:

• A sight word pouch will come home with the first set of sight words on a ring. The pouch and word ring will stay home. Students get tested on Fridays, once the current word list is mastered, a new list will be sent home.  Please cut your new words, punch them, and add them to the ring.

• Two formal progress reports that will be discussed at conferences.

• Two formal written assessments.

• Conferences (No School for Students)

  • Friday, October 17, 2025

  • Friday, March 13, 2026

Room 6 will be open for care, but there is no formal kindergarten instruction.  We do not take attendance or do our normal kindergarten schedule. 

• Tuesday,, November 11, 2025

• Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Every Wednesday and Thursday, we welcome parents to assist with our literacy rotations. A calendar is available under the “Classroom Volunteers” tab, and we kindly request that you only sign up once per round of sign-ups.

We love celebrating your child’s birthday!  We will make the day special for them with a crown.  We ask that you do not send in any “treats” for the class.  If you would like to share your child’s favorite book, we will read it to the class that day.

• In Kindergarten, we will have a Pizza and Movie day, however, the children do not wear pajamas.  There will be opportunities throughout the school year for dress up days, including pajama days.

• We will have two spirit shirt days a month.  There is an All School Spirit shirt day and then Kindergarten will have a spirit shirt day on pizza day.   Have your child wear any Turtle Rock Shirt to show their spirit.  Turtle Rock shirts can be purchased from the front office. (Prices vary)

• Flip Flip Hooray and Webby Dance are Kindergarten only classes.  They will take the place of recess.