Transitional Kindergarten News

One, two... can't wait to meet you!
Three, four... just walk in the door.
Five, six... fun academics.
Seven, eight... our year will be great.
Nine, ten... welcome, friends!

Hello and welcome to our TK family! We are so excited for you to be a part of our program.

My name is Amy Simmons, and I have been teaching on and off for the past 30 years. I've taught 5th grade, 6th grade, kindergarten, and have spent the last nine years teaching PK/TK.

I enjoy gardening, reading, and watching the Packers win. My husband and I are empty nesters with three grown children and two grandchildren, all living in the Des Moines area.

I also have a wonderful classroom associate, Izzy Goughnour. She got married this past summer, so we'll probably all be calling her the wrong name for a while! She loves traveling, especially to Rocky Mountain National Park. She also enjoys reading, with Little Women as her favorite book, and she has two cats named Walter and Mabel.

My goal as a teacher is to foster a love of learning in your child. I want students to be excited to come to school, love learning, and grow academically, socially, and emotionally throughout the year. Our classroom is designed to learn through large- and small-group instruction, music, hands-on experiences, and, most importantly, PLAY!

As you prepare for the first day of school, please remember to bring:

  1. A backpack large enough to fit a lunch bag, home folder, and other school items (please, no wheels).

  2. An extra set of clothes, including socks and underwear, in a labeled zip-top bag for spills and accidents.

  3. A labeled water bottle (optional). We do have access to a water fountain in the hallway.

  4. A 5×7 or 8×10 black-and-white family photo that we will display in our classroom.

I am almost finished setting up our classroom and can't wait to meet you at our Meet the Teacher/Supply Drop-Off on August 20. If your child is feeling especially anxious about starting school or meeting a new teacher, please reach out. I'd be happy to arrange a visit sometime in early August to help make the transition a little easier. I will be available most days during August.

I would love to begin labeling lockers, mailboxes, folders, and other classroom materials before school starts. Please reply to this email with the name you would like your child to use in our classroom. This helps me make sure I have the correct spelling and preferred nickname. Thank you!

Please visit the St. Augustin School website for important information about the upcoming school year, including weekly newsletters, school supply lists, the lunch menu, and the school calendar.

We are looking forward to a wonderful year filled with learning, laughter, and new friendships. Thank you for sharing your child with us—we can't wait to welcome your family into our classroom community!