All About Ms. Cryan Leary
When we opened the doors of Queen Anne Elementary in tall of 2010, I knew we were starting something special. Two years later, I feel so lucky to be a part of the positive, creative and innovative learning community we have become. This year I am looking forward to launching project-based learning in our classrooms.
I love to teach and I love our youngest learners, so I am thrilled to be a part of the kindergarten teaching team at QAE! In this role, I work to develop caring and nurturing relationships with our littlest learners. My goal is to provide a safe and exciting learning environment that will allow my students to become strong and eager readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, thinkers, problem solvers and life-long learners. My students have regular opportunities to use technology to support their learning. I have a passion for infusing a global perspective throughout the curriculum, and hope to help the students at Queen Anne become global citizens that will help make our world a better place. Before teaching at QAE, I had most recently held administrative positions in Seattle Public Schools, at the elementary, middle and K-8 levels. Before coming to Seattle ten years ago, I taught for seven years in the Edmonds School District. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Washington State University, K-8 Teaching Credentials from University of Washington, and a Master of Education Administration from Western Washington University. When I am not at school, I enjoy reading, running, traveling, playing soccer and spending time in the mountains with my husband, John, and my seven-year-old son, Jack (a second grade student at QAE). What we do at school all day...Volunteering at Queen Anne ElementaryI hope that all of you find a way to help out at our school this year! It is a lot of fun for the kids and for the adult volunteers! If you are able to make the commitment to volunteer regularly in the classroom, fabulous! love having the help! At Curriculum Night (Thurs, Sept. 27th) I will show you how to sign up for classroom volunteer time slots on our volunteer spot website. When you sign up for a spot, I will work with you to determine what classroom work you are most comfortable doing. Ways to help in the classroom include working directly with the students, helping prepare for upcoming projects (cutting or copying paper), scanning student work for e-folios, emptying/stuffing go-home folders, etc.
To work in the classroom on a regular basis, you must take a volunteer training session. (See school website for schedule into) In the training you will learn about classroom expectations, adult boundaries, addressing discipline, and how to use equipment and find supplies. You will also need to fill out background check paperwork, now required by the Seattle Public Schools for all volunteers who have any contact with children. Carla Kirch, our Administrative Assistant in the main office, can help you fill out this paperwork. In addition to regularly scheduled classroom volunteers, there will be lots of opportunities for volunteers to help out. You can sign up for a single time slot, volunteer for one of the classroom parent jobs (see list below), chaperone a field trip, attend a literacy celebration or school assembly, teach us about a special talent or skill you want to share, etc. If you can't get to our campus, you can visit the work we are doing on our classroom website and your student's e-folios and make comments from your home. Parent Classroom Jobs~ Connor Desai (mom to Asa & Zane in our class) has agreed to be my Room Coordinator. Thanks Connor! She will work closely with me to coordinate and communicate with our classroom volunteers. She will also be our liason for the PTSA Activities Committee. The parent jobs currently up for grabs are: o technology coordinator ~ download pictures, scan & post student work to student e-folios, blog with kids o party planner ~ coordinate our two class parties, on Halloween and Valentines' Day o snack coordinator – help schedule family snack contributions and send out reminders o class photographer ~ take and collect class photos throughout the year to be used for the yearbook and website photo albums o auction liason ~ coordinate a class art project for the auction in March o music teacher ~ to work with our class (and possibly other Ks) If you have any interest in taking any of these on, please let me know! Thank you in advance for all of the support you will provide your kindergartener this year. It is invaluable! |
Beginning of the Year InfoClassroom SuppliesInstead of having students bring school supplies, our school collects a $50 supply fee from each child. Supply fees are used to buy all of the classroom supplies, art and project materials needed in bulk and with our education discounts. Using community supplies teaches students to share with others and treat materials with respect so that they last longer. Checks will be collected the first week of school and can be made out to Queen Anne Elementary. If you are financially unable, just let me know.
Pick up/ Drop off
On the first day of school, you are welcome to walk your child into our classroom and greet other kindergarteners and family members. When the 9:30 bell rings, I will ask the students to wave goodbye to their family members and come sit with me on the teaching carpet. Please do your best to say goodbye and leave. It is usually much harder for the parents than the students!! Before leaving the building, please take time to look at the "how do we go home" chart hanging on our door. Make sure your information is correct if you gave it to me at Open House. If there is no information listed for your student, please fill in how they will get home, and if they are picked up the names and positions of the people other than parents that have permission to pick up (ie. nanny, grandparent, family friend. )
After the first day, you are welcome to drop your students off at the playground 15 minutes before the first bell rings. When the bell rings, your students will line up on our class spots (it will be marked in chalk) and I will come get them to start the day. At the end of the day, I will walk the students out as well. You are welcome to meet your student in the hall, out on the playground or in the designated pick up spot. Before taking your student, please make sure you make eye contact with me so we know they are safe. I will have an adult walk students riding a bus out to the bus lines as well. If your child is ever to go home in a different way than indicated on the "how we go home" chart, it is really important that you write an email to let me know. Often, kindergarteners will get mixed up! SnackFamilies will be asked to send snack 3 to 4 times throughout the year. A schedule will be sent home early in the year and the snack coordinator will send families reminders when their turn is coming up again. Please send healthy snacks like pretzels, cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain crackers, etc. Please avoid any snacks that have nuts and hydrogenated oils. Students will be scheduled to share (show and tell with a theme) on the same day that they bring our snack.
Classroom Websites &
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Ms. Cryan Leary's K Learners 12-13
