Frequently Asked Questions
I'm a new parent with a child starting in
the fall. Where can I go to get questions answered and to find out
more about the school?
How do I know what's coming up at school?
Who do I contact about putting information
in the Pink Panther?
Is there an extended day or after-care program?
Are there enrichment classes?
What happens if my child is sick?
What about minimum days?
What does homework look like at Kaiser?
How do I reach my classroom teacher with concerns?
Does the school have a PTA?
How do I get involved in the Kaiser PTA?
How do I communicate with the Kaiser PTA?
What part does fundraising play at Kaiser?
Who do I contact if I want to help with
fundraising?
How can I volunteer at the school or in my
child's classroom?
I'm a new parent with a child starting
in the fall. Where can I go to get questions answered and to find
out more about the school?
Each August, a couple of weeks before the start of classes, the school
hosts a kindergarten tea for incoming families. Look for an invitation
in the mail.
How do I know what's coming up at
school?
The most important place to look is in your child's lunch box or backpack
each day. Your child's teacher will send home notices. And every Wednesday,
the PTA produces the Pink Panther, which is sent home with each
child in the family. In addition, the bulletin board in the office
has items that are of interest to parents. And this web site has a
calendar
with upcoming events.
Who do I contact about putting information
in the Pink Panther?
You can reach the Pink Panther staff via email at renaeb@california.com.
Is there an extended day or after-care program?
Yes, a private company called Adventure Time provides before-
and after-school care starting at 7 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m. The
fee is about $5 per hour. Call 1-800-339-6832 for more information.
Are there enrichment classes?
Yes, the PTA sponsors a fee-based enrichment program. Offerings
vary from year-to-year,but some examples include cartooning, ceramics,
science, chess, cooking, drama, art and sewing. Look for information
to be distributed in the early fall. Also, Spanish instruction is
offered to first-through fifth-graders. For more information, go
here.
What happens if my child is sick?
We ask that you keep your child home when symptoms of illness begin.
If your child becomes sick at school, s/he will be removed from the
classroom and you will be called to pick up your child.
What about minimum days?
Every Wednesday is a minimum day, with all classes being released
by 1:15 p.m.
What does homework look like at Kaiser?
Homework is going to vary from teacher to teacher. Talk to your child's
teacher to find out more.
How do I reach my classroom teacher with
concerns?
Feel free to either leave a message in his/her mailbox in the main
office or call and leave a message on the main line. Your child's
teacher will reach you as soon as possible, probably during lunch
hour or after school if possible. Some teachers have e-mail addresses.
Ask you child's teacher how she/he prefers to be contacted. In addition,
parent-teacher conferences are held twice a year.
Does the school have a PTA?
Yes, it's called the Kaiser PTA. See the parent
involvement page for more information.
How do I get involved in the Kaiser PTA?
The easiest way to start is to attend a PTA meeting, held the third
Thursday of each month in the multipurpose room. Another great way
to get involved is to volunteer for an event or a committee. The following
are the standing committees of the Kaiser PTA:
Arts Enrichment
Back-to-School Picnic
Computers
E-Scrip
Spring Auction
Graduation Party
Health and Safety
Library
Multiculturalism/Diversity and Human Relations
Cultural Enrichment and Assemblies
Music Program
Parent Education Program
PTA Bulletin Board
PTA Membership & Roster
Room Coordinators
School Pictures
Spring Fair
Teacher/Staff Appreciation
Walkathon
Pink Panther
Yearbook
How do I communicate with the Kaiser PTA?
The best way to communicate is to contact a member of the Executive
Board. Their contact information is here.
What part does fundraising play at Kaiser?
Fundraising events at Kaiser are essential if we are to continue
offering our children the best possible education. The money we raise
is put to many uses, including buying instructional materials, equipment,
books, and teacher workshops, paying for student projects, field trips
and assemblies, and paying for the salaries for staff such as librarians,
motor development and computer coordinators, classroom assistants
and others. Visit the fundraising
page to learn about the school's major fundraisers.
Who do I contact if I want to help
with fundraising?
Contact a member of the PTA board.
How can I volunteer at the school or in
my child's classroom?
There are many ways to get involved in your child's education, from
being a room coordinator to volunteering in classes to helping fundraise.
Ask your child's teacher at the start of the year about volunteer
opportunities in your child's classroom. And visit the parental
involvement section for more general information about parental
involvement at Kaiser.