Welcome to Kindergarten!  It’s true!

Everything you need to know you really do learn here.

All I Need to Know I Really Learned in Kindergarten

by Robert Fulghum

Share everything. 

Play fair. 

Don't hit people. 

Put things back where you found them. 

Clean up your own mess. 

Don't take things that aren't yours. 

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. 

Wash your hands before you eat. 

Flush.   (Please)

You learn to read, you learn about numbers, you learn to write,

 and you learn that mistakes are part of learning

You learn about patience and acceptance because you work with classmates

who learn by sitting, standing, and even rolling around.

You learn to work and make choices in a setting that is

full of lots of noise and activity!

And at the same time… you make lifelong friends!

This will be my 15th year teaching kindergarten and I love it.  The transformation of each child during the course of the year is my favorite thing.  One year I had a grandmother tell me, “I sent you my baby and you sent me home a little lady.”    Wait until you experience the transformation yourself...you will be amazed! 

 It doesn’t happen overnight though and there may be some challenging times during the year. 

Your child may come home exhausted and ornery or excited and happy.

 Learning will be happening through all of it.

 Prior to moving to kindergarten, I taught second grade for one year and first grade for six years.  Kindergarten is completely different from every other grade in the school.  My goal is to communicate often with each family.   I feel this is the best way to help each child reach his/her potential.  Learning about your child from you makes the biggest difference.  We can communicate in any way that works best for you and your family (calls, texts, emails, conversations.)   Texting was by far the most popular method until last year.  2020 was the year of my first private Facebook page to communicate... we used that  for everything!

I am sure it is scary to send your child off to spend seven hours a day with someone else.   I want you to get to know me like I want to know your child.  Here is a little bit of information to help you get to know me:

  My husband Dave and I live in Gowanda, where he is the Mayor.  As an administrator for 20+ years, he is happier now than he has ever been as the Dean of Students for Gowanda Central School dealing with grades 7 – 12.   He and I have very similar beliefs about working with children.  Every decision that we make is with their best interests in mind.  We are very involved with our church and our community.

 Dave and I have four children between us.  My daughter Megan is married to Jerrod Peterson. They live in North Carolina.   My son Matthew lives in Frewsburg.  Dave has two children also.  Greg and his wife Olivia live in Florida.   Kaitlyn is attending Leeds Beckett University in England. 

We have two dogs.  A five year old collie named Savannah and an Australian Sheperd named Georgia.  The dogs have enjoyed the pandemic!  They have never had such undivided attention or so many walks!

Working together and communicating often will make this a great experience for all of us.  It is very helpful to learn about your child from you; you know them best!  Feel free to contact me whenever you have a question or concerns.  

It is important that LEARNING and FUN go hand in hand!

Feel free to text, call, or email anytime you need to:

*        Cell phone:  716-353-5811

*        School phone:  716-569-7000.  Ext: 5131

*        Email : jsmith2@frewsburgcsd.org

I am usually at school by 7:30 and I stay until at least 4:00. 

The classroom phone will not ring during the school day, but you can leave a message. 

I check my email first thing in the morning and at the end of the day for sure. 

During the day it is hit and miss, depending on how things go.

Let’s make this  a great year!

Respectfully yours!

                                                          Mrs. Smith