Akron Public Schools Early Learning Program

akronschools.com

A Parent’s Transition Guide

INtroduction

Going to kindergarten is a huge milestone for students and families. The transition can be emotional and bring about many questions. Students and parents must adjust as new independence is explored.

The transition to school is an important time in your child’s life and education. We seek to create a smooth transition and positive experience for students, families and educators. Early, frequent communication is essential to ensuring a smooth transition.

Transition first begins in preschool. You, the child’s first teacher, along with preschool and transition staff, will work together to accomplish these goals. Working on our transition plans together helps your child navigate the move to kindergarten with more ease and success.

This guide is designed to help you to understand the process of kindergarten transition, provide resources and develop an individual transition plan.

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Transition planning begins in preschool.Our preschool staff will send your child home with materials, teaching you and your family all about the transition from preschool to kindergarten. Once materials are signed and returned to preschool, you will be contacted by a transition teacher, who will then work with your child.

Working with your child in the preschool setting will help him or her become familiar and comfortable with the transition teacher, and allow this teacher to understand your child’s strengths and opportunities for growth. The transition teacher will share the information with your child's future kindergarten teacher, who will then implement strategies in their learning to meet your child's needs.

Preparing your Preschooler

for Kindergarten

Before school is out — Plan and schedule Plan a visit to your child’s elementary school before summer break so they know what to expect before school starts.

Schedule an appointment with the school to register in late winter or spring. Early registration will help reduce anxiety for your family.

During the year — Explore your school Play on the school playground and explore the outside area with your child.

Show him or her pictures of the school, their future classroom and teachers.

Praise him or her for being old enough to go to kindergarten.

In the summer — Prepare from homePreparing your child at home for the transition from preschool to kindergarten is important. There are activities you and your child can do together to get ready for kindergarten including:

Writing the alphabet and his or her name

Counting numbers together

Reading and listening to stories without interruptions

Using art tools such as scissors, glue and paint

Cleaning up after playtime

Establishing routines, including homework and meal times

Shopping together for school supplies

More tips and skills are included on the back of this guide.

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REGISTRATION CHECKLIST Please bring the following items with you to registration:

Child’s birth certificate

Child’s social security card

Child’s immunization records (Contact the Summit County Public Health Department for more information)

Parent/guardian identification

Proof of residency documents* (2)

Proof of custody (if parents are divorced/separated or if there is a custody issue of any kind)

IEP and ETR (if applicable)* Proof of residency documents include any “official” mail coming to the parent /guardian’s address that includes their name, address and a current date. “Junk” mail will not be accepted. Acceptable proof of residency may include, but is not limited to: bank statements, charge account statements, court documents, lease agreements, local/state/federal documents, pay stubs, personal bills, police reports, postal change of address, sales agreements, utility bills and voter registration cards.

FIND YOUR SCHOOLWe offer free, all-day kindergarten at elementary schools located throughout the city. A student’s designated school is based on the neighborhood where he or she lives.

You may find your child’s school by calling the enrollment department at 330.761.2816 or visiting akronschools.com/schools/find_my_school.

If you wish to enroll in an APS school outside of your designated neighborhood school, you must open enroll your child during our November open enrollment period. Open enrollment does not guarantee entry into a specific school.

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR SCHOOLParents are encouraged to explore and learn more about their neighborhood schools. Parent information nights take place in

March and April, and the elementary schools offer tours of their buildings and kindergarten classrooms. These opportunities allow parents to meet administrators and teachers, and ask questions.

REGISTERWe encourage families to register as early as possible for kindergarten. Enrollment starts as early as November before the next school year.

There are three ways to register. At your neighborhood school Make an appointment to register your child at your designated neighborhood school at any time during the school day. You may also attend one of our open house registration events at the school (usually in April). Check the district calendar at akronschools.com for these dates.

Online You may now register your child online. Visit akronschools.com and click on the Enrolling Students tab to create an account.

APS Administrative Offices You may register in person at our central registration office located at 10 N. Main St., Akron, OH 44308

Five steps to beginning your child’s kindergarten journey at APS There are many details to take care of when enrolling in kindergarten. We have created this step-by-step guide to help make the process easier.

SCHEDULE YOUR KINDERGARTEN READINESS ASSESSMENTA kindergarten readiness assessment allows our teachers to discover more about your child’s learning in a classroom.

It measures skills such as your child’s ability to identify shapes, colors and letters (uppercase and lowercase) and to count. Assessments take place one week before the first day of school.

During registration, we will provide you information on the kindergarten readiness assessment. You can also schedule your child for the test during this time.

SHOP FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND UNIFORMSYour school will provide you with a list of supplies your child needs for the year once you are registered. APS also has dress

code requirements for all students. Dress code requirements are available at akronschools.com/programs/dress_code.

Take your child shopping with you! This will allow you to bond before the school year starts and get them excited for starting kindergarten.

KINDERGARTEN PREPARATION TIMELINE

JANUARY-MARCH• Find your child’s designated

school• Attend a kindergarten parent

information night • Take a tour of your child’s

designated schoolAPRIL• Make sure your child’s

immunizations are current• Attend a kindergarten open house • Register your child for kindergarten• Schedule your child for a

kindergarten readiness assessment

MAY-AUGUST• Enjoy your summer• Play on the school playground• Shop for supplies and uniforms• Practice reading, writing, counting

and other skills to be ready for school

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How big is APS?APS is the fifth largest district in the state of Ohio. Approximately 21,000 students are enrolled in our district. There are 46 schools in the APS district.

What grade levels does APS offer?APS offers education programs starting at preschool through grade 12.

How do I find my child’s school in our neighborhood?Our school district is divided into clusters. To find your cluster and the schools in your cluster, call 330.761.2816 or visit akronschools.com/schools/find_my_school.

How much does it cost to enroll my child at APS?APS is free for all students who live in the district or open enroll in the district.

Can I enroll my child at an APS school outside of our designated neighborhood school?Families wishing to enroll their child in an APS school outside of their designated neighborhood school can do so during open enrollment in November. Students interested in being considered for admission in our specialty schools or programs can also enroll during this time. Open enrollment does not guarantee entry into APS. For more information, visit akronschools.com/departments/enrollment_and_registration.

Is there a dress code?We do have certain dress code requirements for students in grades K – 12. For students in grades K – 8, we require solid-color polo shirts; navy blue or khaki bottoms and black, blue, brown or white plain or athletic shoes. Solid color cardigans, pullover sweaters, vests or hooded apparel are permitted. For more information, visit akronschools.com/programs/dress_code or ask at your school office.

Does APS offer special education?At APS, it is our belief that all children should have the opportunity to learn. We offer high-quality, free and appropriate public education and related services to students with disabilities. To learn more, call 330.761.3154 or visit akronschools.com/departments/special_education.

Does APS offer support if my child needs help?At APS, we understand that students may experience challenges – and we are here to support them in their educational journey. We offer a wide range of programs and resources to support our students and families. Contact your school office if you have questions.

After-school care (beginning at kindergarten) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.3297

Child custody . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.2734

Child nutrition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.1335

Counseling services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.3032

Early Learning Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.873.3396

Elementary curriculum and instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.3075

Enrollment and registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.2810

Homeschooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.2810

Immunizations – Summit County Public Health Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.375.2772

Open enrollment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.2816

Project Rise – Helps students and families experiencing homelessness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.2969

Pupil Adjustment Program (PAP) – Provides therapeutic intervention services for students, families and district personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.2830

Safety hotline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800.418.6423, ext. 359

Student behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.2734

Student support and security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.2735

School lunch and breakfast program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.1335

Special education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.3154

Special education – transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.3154

Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.1390

Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.3297

World languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330.761.3114

Resources for Parents

For more information on APS, refer to the contact information below for more on APS resources and programs for kindergarteners and families.

Welcome to

Akron Public Schools

Connecting Community to the Classroom

We are excited to welcome you and your child to APS.

As your child begins kindergarten, you may have some questions about the district or your school. Here are some fun facts and frequently asked questions about the school.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Akron Public SchoolsEarly Learning Program (ELP) • Preschool to Kindergarten Transition

1199 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron, OH 44307 • 330.873.3396elp.akronschools.com

Children who are ready to learn IN

kindergarten have these skills: n Identify and name at least 10 different COLORS n Identify and name common SHAPES n Recognize uppercase and lowercase LETTERS n RETELL stories or events in order (first, then, and then) n Use and follow LOCATION words (above, below, next) n Talk about QUANTITIES (many, some, full, less/more than) n Talk about QUALITIES (hard/soft, rough, loud, dry, sweet) n GROUP objects together based on colors, shapes or sizes n Produce RHYMING WORDS for common pictures (hat and bat) n Recognize when words begin with the SAME SOUND n Hold BOOKS the proper way n COUNT to 20 by ones (one... two... three... four) n READ numbers 0-10 (whenever they are seen) n COUNT up to 10 objects in a pile (counting toys or candy) n COMPARE qualities of objects (more than, less than) n THINK ABOUT and SOLVE problems (how can we...?)

Source: www.summitcountyfirstthingsfirst.com www.seisummit.org www.pncgrowupgreat.com

SUcCEsSFOR

The Akron Board of Education does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, creed or ancestry, age, gender, marital status, or disability in employment or in its educational program and activities.

Copyright 2019 Akron Public Schools