I am very pleased to welcome you and your child to Kindergarten! My name is Mrs. Holbach and I am looking forward to having your child in my Kindergarten class this year. I have been teaching at St. Edward since 1999, having taught 3rd grade, 5th and 6th grade Science, and, of course, my favorite – Kindergarten! I am a graduate of St. Edward Class of 1983. My husband Rich and I were married at St. Edward in 1992, and we have 3 children – Megan (16), Jonathan (12), and Kaitlynn (6). Megan graduated from St. Edward in 2009, and Jonathan and Kaitlynn are current St. Edward students. I went to the University of Illinois at Chicago where I received a Bachelor of Social Work degree in 1992, then went on to Dominican University where I received my Masters in Teaching in 2004. As it is easy to see, St. Edward is very close to my heart and has long been an integral part of my life — I love our school and our community. Mrs. MaryAnn Farinella will be our full time classroom aide. She has been at St. Edward since 2003, and she and I have been fortunate enough to work together in Kindergarten in years past. She and her husband Carl have 2 daughters that are both graduates of St. Edward as well, Mariette (2001) and Antonia (2009).
The Kindergarten program at St. Edward emphasizes the “whole” child — social, emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual. Your child will be learning and growing in all of these areas throughout the year. Please relax and enjoy these experiences with your child. I am looking forward to working with you and your child to help them achieve their full potential.
The start of school is an exciting time for everyone. It is a time of change and new beginnings — new surroundings, new friends, new skills and new challenges. By working together, we can make it a happy and rewarding experience for everyone. Kindergarten is an essential developmental step in your child’s educational experience. Students in our class will be learning social skills, routines, and what it means to be a disciplined learner. Children come to kindergarten with many different skill levels, abilities, and life experiences. Some children are excited and ready for any new adventure at school, while others are apprehensive about leaving home and coming to a new environment. This will be a year of exciting development for your child. Children in kindergarten are unique in that they have very concrete learning styles. This year we will focus on academic skills appropriate for their developmental readiness. It is also a time that involves integrating social, physical, and cognitive skills into learning activities throughout the school day. Most of all, we will have fun learning about the world around us and each other. The children will work on getting along with one another using positive words and peaceful interactions. I encourage you to talk about school and the exciting times your child will be having as the new school year approaches. Kindergarten has probably changed a lot since your own experiences. Be assured that I will do my best to make this school year an enjoyable time for both you and your child, but also one filled with genuine learning. Please do not think your child will just be “playing” all day. The skills we practice daily in kindergarten are the building blocks for your child’s future success in school as well as in life.
I believe that good communication between parents and teachers is one key to a child’s educational success. It is very important that we work as a team to foster growth and intellect in your child. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns that you may have. You may call me at school, send a note in your child’s daily folder, or e-mail me at sandyholbach@yahoo.com It is also very important that I am aware of any food allergies, late or sleepless nights, special circumstances or changes at home, as well as any happy or exciting events for your child. Five year olds love to share all kinds of information!!
Below you will find a copy of our Kindergarten Handbook as well as a list of the St. Edward Kindergarten goals, and our Daily Schedule, that will outline many questions you might have about our Kindergarten program.
