Mrs. Packer's Welcome Letter Dear Parents, I wish to welcome you to Harmony Elementary! This is an exciting time for your child, even though they may be a little apprehensive about going to "big" school. The first day will mark one of the most important milestones in your child's life. With that brings a lot of mixed emotions for parents, such as joy that your child is ready for school, as well as sadness because he/she is no longer a “baby.” You may be experiencing these emotions and many more as your little one enters school, so before I go any further, let me assure you that it is my privilege to welcome you, your child and your family into my classroom – and my life! Be assured that I will do my best to make this school year an enjoyable time for your child, but also a time filled with real learning. Please do not think your child will be just "playing" all day! The skills we practice daily in kindergarten are the building blocks for your child's future success in school and in life! I am committed to making this year one of excitement, growth, and opportunity, both academically and socially! I will guide and encourage your child, celebrating each step of the way as he or she gains a love of learning, self-confidence, and the academic skills that form a foundation for continued success. I pledge to care for EACH child’s individual and social needs throughout the year and the show them that school is a safe and consistent place to learn and explore. I love teaching and look forward to caring for, supporting and encouraging your child daily as we embark on the wonderful adventure of learning. I would also like to take this opportunity to share with you a bit about my background, my interests, and my philosophy as a kindergarten teacher. I graduated from Spalding University with my Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and I am currently pursuing my Master’s Degree at Indiana University Southeast. I began my teaching career as a fifth grade teacher and the following year I made the jump to Kindergarten & First Grade at Camden Station Elementary. From the moment I stepped into kindergarten, I immediately fell in love with this age of children. When Harmony Elementary first opened, I was so exited to be one of the chosen teachers to open this wonderful new school. And because of that, I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am to be teaching Kindergarten again at Harmony for the fourth year in a row. I consider myself extremely lucky to have a career that I am so passionate about! It is a welcome challenge, and a joy to teach at this level. Kindergarten children have a way of lighting up a room with imagination and curiosity, making my days brighter. How blessed I am to spend my days doing something that I love, and something that I believe in! I have a heart for education, and truly enjoy the challenges, and the newness of each day. I am touched so often by a child’s honesty, boldness, humor, creativity, and tenderness! I can’t imagine a better way to spend my career. In fact, I am learning more each year that teaching is not a job – it’s a privilege! And although many of your children will think that I live at school, I sincerely try not to. I believe in a balanced life, taking quality time out for my family and myself. My husband, Steven, and I love to stay busy and active and we always seem to have fun projects going on at home. We have also been blessed with a beautiful daughter named, Aubrey. She is just over a year old now and is the light of my life. We also have two dogs, Chase and Cory, of which I’m sure you’ll hear many stories about throughout the year. I invite you to visit our classroom website and read all about the “details” of our classroom. It will tell you everything you've always wanted to know about our classroom policies and procedures. It also contains information on how to volunteer, advice on how to reinforce your child’s learning at home, fun and educational interactive games for your child, and so much more! You will want to bookmark our site and refer to it weekly throughout the school year. I also ask that you join our mailing list while you are there. By doing this, you will receive an email update letting you know that classroom newsletters have been added for your viewing. Here’s a few of my strongest beliefs regarding education and children: I believe that every child is talented and capable of learning, and has unique gifts and strengths that should be celebrated. I believe that children need encouragement, consistency, clear expectations and healthy boundaries. I believe that by providing a comfortable and safe environment, children will feel empowered to take the risks involved in learning new things. I believe that a very big component of being a kindergarten teacher is helping students build self-esteem, confidence, and healthy social relationships. I believe that reading makes readers! I believe that learning should be hands–on, interactive, imaginative, integrated, and FUN! I look forward to taking many adventures in learning with your child. I value your involvement and believe I can better teach your child when working in a partnership with you and your family. Parent/teacher communication is extremely important to each child's academic and social success in kindergarten. Therefore, consistent, positive communication with the families of my students is one of my top priorities. I see parents as partners, and my biggest allies, in education. You know your child better than anyone, and I value all that I can learn from you! I welcome your questions and applaud your involvement, knowing that by showing an interest in your child's school experience you will leave a very positive, lasting impression on your child. With that, please know that I have an open-door policy in my classroom, and invite you to be an important part of our kindergarten adventure! If you have any questions or at anytime need to discuss your child with me, please do not hesitate to call, email, or write me. On a final note, I want you to know that I am very excited and honored to have this special opportunity of being your child’s kindergarten teacher. I hope to make your child's learning experience a fun and exciting one, as well as instilling a love of learning that your child will carry with them throughout their life. Warmly, Mrs. Packer