Wapping Elementary School

Kindergarten Parent Orientation

Mrs. Laura Hickson School Principal Mrs. Shari Jackson Kindergarten Teacher Mrs. Susan Nadeau School Nurse Mrs. Jennifer Sanzo PTO

Greetings and Introductions

School Telephone Number: (860) 648-5010

Email: first initial and last name @swindsor.k12.ct.us

District Website: http://www.southwindsorschools.org

See the Wapping webpage under “Our Schools”

Contact Information

AM Kindergarten 8:45-11:30 PM Kindergarten 12:35-3:20

School Hours

Parent/guardian must send a written request to the teacher stating when the student is to be released and with whom.

Students will only be dismissed through the school office (or the gymnasium at 3:20) and the parent/guardian is to be instructed to come to the school office or the gymnasium to pick up the student.

Dismissal

TRIBES - A New Way of Learning and Being Together A TRIBES school is a learning community where teachers, administrators,

students, and parents all enjoy the mutual respect and caring essential for growth and learning. The Tribes process uses four agreements that are essential to building community and establishing a positive environment for learning.

The Agreements Are:

Attentive Listening

Appreciations / No Put Downs

Participation / Right to Pass

Mutual Respect

TRIBES:

The Bucket Filling concept: Each of us has an invisible bucket that is

constantly being filled or emptied, depending on what others say or do. When our bucket is full, we feel great. We fill buckets by saying or doing things to others to increase their positive emotions - when we do this we also fill our own buckets.

We dip from others’ buckets by doing or saying things that decrease their positive emotions – we also diminish our own. It’s an important choice – one that profoundly influences our relationships, productivity, health, and happiness.

Have You Filled A Bucket Today?By Carol McCloud

Every student entering kindergarten must have a physical examination completed within one year prior to entry. The State Health Assessment Form must be completed and submitted to your child’s school before the first day of attendance. All items with an asterisk (*) on the Health Assessment Record must be completely filled out by the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, or physician assistant performing the health assessments (PA 04-221).

Health Information

AUTHORIZATION OF MEDICATION No prescription or over-the-counter medication may

be administered without: 1. the written order of a licensed physician, licensed

dentist, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, or licensed physician assistant; and

2. the written authorization of a parent or guardian.

Parents or a designated responsible adult must supply and deliver to the school nurse the medication in the original container. Students may not transport medication.

Health Information

STUDENTS AT CONNECTICUT SCHOOLS 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR

KINDERGARTEN DTaP: At least 4 doses. The last dose must be given on or after

4th birthday Polio: At least 3 doses. The last dose must be given on or after

4th birthday MMR: 2 doses: one on or after the 1st birthday and 2nd given

at least 4 weeks after the first dose Hib: Children less than 5 yrs of age need 1 dose at 12 months

or older Children 5 and older do not need proof of Hib vaccination

Hep B: 3 doses Varicella: 2 dose first on or after the 1st birthday or

verification of disease

Health Information

In compliance with Connecticut State Law, acetaminophen (aspirin-free pain reliever) may be administered by and at the discretion of the school nurse. Your signature on the emergency form is required to authorize administration of acetaminophen.

Health Information

SNACK/HEALTHY HABITS: Healthful snacks in appropriate portions will be encouraged. Healthful party menus and nonfood alternatives for celebrations will be

encouraged. Physical activity will be encouraged in classroom routines. Students will be encouraged to wash their hands. PLEASE SEND SNACKS THAT YOUR CHILD IS ABLE TO OPEN INDEPENDENTLY.

BATHROOM: Please dress your child, for school, in clothing that is easy to manage when using the bathroom independently. Your child will be encouraged to put on his/her outdoor clothing independently.

BACKPACKS: Please send your child to school with a backpack or tote bag that will easily hold a standard-sized folder.

SUPPLIES: School supplies (crayons, pencils, markers, etc.) will be provided.

General Information

“Getting Your Child Ready For Kindergarten”

Connecticut State Department of Education

Before Your Child Enters School, He Or She Should Be Able To: Dress himself or herself independently.

To Help Your Child Be Ready for Kindergarten, You Can: Practice putting on clothes and using buttons, zippers and snaps.

Several longitudinal studies have found that early rhyming skills are highly correlated with later reading and spelling ability. Parents are encouraged to read and reread nursery rhymes to children. Please review the article found in your packet, “Why Kindergarteners Still Need Mother Goose Rhymes”.

Nursery Rhymes

“Getting Your Child Ready For Kindergarten”

Connecticut State Department of Education

Before Your Child Enters School, He Or She Should Be Able To: Make simple rhymes.

To Help Your Child Be Ready for Kindergarten, You Can: Say and sing nursery rhymes. Read books and poems with a rhyming pattern. Ask your child to repeat words that rhyme. Help children to create nonsense rhymes.

Developmental Stages of WritingAt the Beginning of Kindergarten:

Preliterate: Scribbling •scribbles but intends it as writing •scribbling resembles writing •holds and uses pencil like an adult

Developmental Stages of WritingIn the Middle of Kindergarten:

Beginning SoundsEmerge•children beginto see the differencesbetween a letter and a word,but they may not use spacing between words.•message makes senseand matches the picture,especially when they choosethe topic.

Developmental Stages of WritingAt the End of Kindergarten:

Transitional Spelling:•readable andapproaches conventionalspelling.•writing is interspersedwith words that are instandard form and havestandard letter patterns.

“Getting Your Child Ready For Kindergarten”

Connecticut State Department of Education

Before Your Child Enters School, He Or She Should Be Able To: Recognize some letters and use pencils makers and crayons to draw and write.

To Help Your Child Be Ready for Kindergarten, You Can: Point out letters that are in your child’s name. Put magnetic letters on the refrigerator for your child to use. Allow scribble writing. Provide other opportunities to write.

Handwriting Without Tears® aims to make legible and fluent handwriting an easy and automatic skill for all students.

Uses unique strategies to teach good letter formation, spacing and neatness (wet, dry, try).

Engaging techniques and activities that help improve a child’s early self-confidence, pencil grip, and body awareness skills.

Instructional methods that use fun, entertaining, and educationally sound principles.

Handwriting Without Tears

“Getting Your Child Ready For Kindergarten”

Connecticut State Department of Education

Before Your Child Enters School, He Or She Should Be Able To: Recognize and print his/her name.

To Help Your Child Be Ready for Kindergarten, You Can: Allow your child to print his/her name whenever possible. Encourage your child to write or trace his/her name using upper case letters only at the beginning.

Guided Reading Level ATypically at the Beginning of Kindergarten

Holds book and turns pages independently Points to words, consistent one to one

match Controls directionality Uses Cues (picture, sentences) most of the

time

“Yes! Yes! Yes!”

Controls directionality on one line of text. Demonstrates and understanding of the

terms begins, ends and letter.

I can see a green frog.

Guided Reading Level 2Typically in the Middle of Kindergarten

“Look at the rain,” said Dad.

“Get your umbrella.” Kim looked in the closet. “No umbrella,” she said.

Guided Reading Level 4Typically at the End of Kindergarten

Reads in longer phrases, at timesAt difficulty, uses multiple cues to problem solve unknown wordsIdentifies and connects at least four key events from the beginning, middle and end in sequence Uses important language from the text while retelling Gives an opinion about the story that reflects a deeper understanding Makes a thoughtful connection to the story

“Getting Your Child Ready For Kindergarten”

Connecticut State Department of Education

Before Your Child Enters School, He Or She Should Be Able To: Handle books appropriately.

To Help Your Child Be Ready for Kindergarten, You Can: Read books, often, with your child so he/she will begin to understand book handling and print concepts (Print is read from left to right, return sweep, tracking, etc.).

Counting and Cardinality• Know number names and the count sequence.• Count to tell the number of objects.• Compare numbers.Operations and Algebraic Thinking• Understand addition as putting together andadding to, and understand subtraction astaking apart and taking from.Number and Operations in Base Ten• Work with numbers 11–19 to gain foundationsfor place value.Measurement and Data• Describe and compare measurable attributes.• Classify objects and count the number ofobjects in categories.Geometry• Identify and describe shapes.• Analyze, compare, create, and composeshapes.

Common Core Standards OverviewMathematics

“Getting Your Child Ready For Kindergarten”

Connecticut State Department of Education

Before Your Child Enters School, He Or She Should Be Able To: Recognize some numbers.

To Help Your Child Be Ready for Kindergarten, You Can: Look for numbers in books or magazines. Go on a number hunt. Hide magnetic numbers for your child to find.

Art Mrs. Critton or Mr. AreyMusic Mrs. GastaGym Mrs. FoxLibrary Mrs. Mullen

*Children will attend specials, each day. One special will generally rotate.

Kindergarten Specials

Volunteers are an extremely important resource and are appreciated by classroom teachers and other school personnel.

The Parent Teacher Organization assists in volunteer orientation and recruitment.

Volunteers are used in many ways to supplement and enrich our school programs.

Volunteering

◦Bus Ride: May 24th at 10:35◦Meet and Greet : TBA

Upcoming Events

We are happy to help. Please ask.

Questions???

Thank you for coming!

Please take a few minutes to visit the kindergarten classroom. We look forward to working with your child and your family!

Thank You!