Welcome to Welcome to Kindergarten CampKindergarten Camp

Survival Guide at a GlanceSurvival Guide at a Glance

August 15, 2014August 15, 2014

Official School Day7:50 a.m. Tardy Bell Rings.

It is important to be on time.

3:10 p.m. Dismissal.

*Car Riders need to have a tag with child’s name in front window of car. If you do not have a tag, you will need to go to the office to pick up your child.

**Any transportation changes need to be made before 2:00. Notes written from parent in daily folder or phone call to office.

*** Earliest to drop off is 7:15.

Attendance/Absence/Tardy*Additional information can be found in the student

handbook. Send a note to the teacher upon return from

absence. Please include your child’s complete name, date of absence and your name. This note will go into your child’s attendance folder in the office.

You can request make-up work if expected to be out 3 or more days.

If the absence is due to illness or injury that restricts PE, please send a doctor’s note. This will also restrict recess play.

Students who are tardy will need to get a tardy slip from the office before coming to class.

Please be aware that being late to class is an interruption of class.

Drop off & Pick Up Drop off & Pick Up ProceduresProcedures

Morning Morning Cafeteria only if they will eat breakfast.Cafeteria only if they will eat breakfast. Gym if they will not eat breakfast.Gym if they will not eat breakfast.

AfternoonAfternoon Will only change if we have a written note from Will only change if we have a written note from

the parent or if you call the office by 2:00 if the parent or if you call the office by 2:00 if transportation needs to change.transportation needs to change.

281-604-2600281-604-2600

Visitors

If you are visiting the school, please check in the front office with a valid ID.

Please keep your visitor’s tag visual to all personnel.

If you are visiting for lunch the same procedures will be followed. Parents are not to escort their child back to class.

Meals – Breakfast $1.25 and Lunches $2.25

If your child is going to buy a lunch, milk, or breakfast at school, it is recommended that you give money to the cafeteria for several meals. It is easier than sending money daily. It also reduces the risk of money being lost.

If you send money with your child, please send it in an envelope labeled with the purpose of the money (i.e. lunch, book order, etc.). Please also include your child’s name and teacher.

Dress and Birthdays

Please refer to the student handbook (online) regarding dress policy and birthday procedure for Heritage Elementary. Shirts must have a collar unless it is a spirit shirt, or a dress. Girls need to wear shorts, leggings, or tights under all skirts and dresses. Tennis shoes are to be worn to gym each day. All shoes must have a closed toe, heel and have a rubber sole.

Please notify your child’s teacher ahead of time if you would like to send store bought cupcakes or cookies for your child’s birthday. Please drop the cupcakes off in the office by 2:00. No drinks or party favors please.

Parent Communication Students folder will go home each day. Please

review it daily for information about your child's behavior and homework assignment.

Please look in the pockets for important information concerning school activities.

Please initial daily to let the teacher know that you reviewed the information sent home each night.

You can schedule phone or personal conference through your child’s teacher by note, email, or phone.

We have two days set aside each year for parents to discuss child’s progress and assessments.

Daily FoldersDaily Folders

Please check your child’s Please check your child’s folder daily for discipline folder daily for discipline issues, work and issues, work and important papers.important papers.

Make sure the folder is Make sure the folder is in class each day!in class each day!

Discipline PlanSOAR

S – Self ControlO – On taskA – Attentive to directionsR – Respectful, Responsible

and Ready to Work

Discipline PlanSOAR

Discipline procedures are as follows (K-2): Verbal Warning Clip moved and 5 minutes of loss privileges. Clip moved and 10 minutes of loss privileges. Clip moved and loss of all privileges with a call

home. Clip moved and an Office Referral

** Severe offences (hitting, fighting, stealing, or aggressive behavior) may require an office referral and will negate the progressive behavior system.

DRADRADevelopmental Reading AssessmentDevelopmental Reading Assessment

DRA is an assessment tool designed to DRA is an assessment tool designed to determine a child’s reading level.determine a child’s reading level.

We look for accuracy, comprehension, and We look for accuracy, comprehension, and fluency.fluency.

Most students begin on a “pre-A” or “A” Most students begin on a “pre-A” or “A” level in kindergarten.level in kindergarten.

Our Goal at Heritage is for them to be on a Our Goal at Heritage is for them to be on a “DRA 6” by the end of the year.“DRA 6” by the end of the year.

We will discuss this more at more We will discuss this more at more conferences.conferences.

Read 15 minutes every day with you child.Read 15 minutes every day with you child.

OSObservation Survey Instrument of Early Literacy

Achievement The tests give information that can be used to

identify a student’s strengths and instructional needs.

This includes the following: Letter Identification - Letter, sounds, and words

that start each letter. Writing Vocabulary – Shows how many words your

child can write and spell correctly in 10 minutes. Dictation Task – Shows if your child can write

letters to match the sounds they hear in words.

Sight Words

Dolch List from www.schoolbell.com A sight word list will go home after

Labor Day along with a set of flash cards for that list. Each list your child masters they will be given the next list to learn.

This is designed for your child to work at their own pace in memorizing these words.

Please enter the amount of time your child reads daily (one line per day). Heritage Elementary expects its Kindergarteners to read 50 books at home per 9 weeks, in addition, the 3rd and 4th 9 weeks they must take 3 AR test per 9 weeks and score 85% or higher. If your kindergartener meets Heritage’s expectations they will be eligible to participate in the End of Year AR Picnic. Reading can be from guided readers, poems, library books, or books from home. HAPPY READING!

Date Book or Poem Name Initials Minutes Read

TOTAL

READING FolderBegins week of September 9th

Homework Expectations

See Newsletter in daily folder for nightly homework assignments.

Reading and Sight Words are considered homework every night.

We do not assign weekend homework unless it is reading or a project.

Please make sure you initial behavior chart daily.

Language Arts

Skills taught include: Word Families Rhyming Words Nursery Rhymes Parts of Speech Sentence Structure: Capital letters & punctuation Handwriting The Writing process Types of literature Etc.

Math

We use manipulatives, literature, and other resources.

Skills stressed will be counting to 100, number recognition 0-20, counting objects to 20, Problem solving, addition and subtraction, time (hour and ½ hour), estimation, graphing, geometry, fractions, place value, and patterning.

Fast of Facts tests will start the second semester.

Science & Social Studies

Some units are: Insects plants Weather Space Life Cycles Day and Night Animals Famous Americans Pledge of Allegiance to American & Texas Flags Community Time lines Social Behaviors Geography (Home, Texas, American, North American Content,

Globe)

General itemsGeneral items

Tying shoesTying shoes Fostering Independence-keeping up Fostering Independence-keeping up

with their own items.with their own items. Respecting themselves and othersRespecting themselves and others Scholastic Book order—send check Scholastic Book order—send check

made out to Scholastic) or cashmade out to Scholastic) or cash Toys stay at home unless specified Toys stay at home unless specified

for Show and Tell.for Show and Tell.

Practicing their NamePracticing their Name

Each child will be getting their name Each child will be getting their name written the “school way.”written the “school way.”

Please practice this at home.Please practice this at home. To get more sheets go toTo get more sheets go to

www.handwritingforkids.com

LibraryLibrary

During September the books checked During September the books checked out will remain in the classroom.out will remain in the classroom.

Beginning in October they can go Beginning in October they can go home and returned on library days.home and returned on library days.

Volunteers

If you are interested in volunteering for class parties, activities, and/or field trips please go to the La Porte website and complete the volunteer application form ASAP. We are planning our first field trip in October. Please take care of this early so you can participate the upcoming activities. This information takes about a week to process, so do not wait until the last moment and miss your chance to participate with your child in school activities.

Teachers Need: Help in School (Parent Workroom for cutting, pasting, laminating,

etc.) Reading with students Helping in class Reading to class or presenting to class Class Projects Parties

Supplies & Wish List

Supplies: As the second semester begins your child will

most likely need more glue sticks and crayons. Your child will bring home a note stating which supplies they might need at that time.

Wish List: Throughout the year your child will do many

projects that use many supplies.

As teachers we would greatly appreciate any of the follow items: Glitter (all colors), Craft sticks, Cotton swabs, Cotton balls, Paint (all colors), Buttons, Pom-poms, Chenille sticks, Band-Aids

Thanks for being here!!Thanks for being here!!

Kindergarten Year is a magical One! Your child will Kindergarten Year is a magical One! Your child will bloom into a confident reader, writer, and bloom into a confident reader, writer, and mathematician! Of course, each child will progress mathematician! Of course, each child will progress at an individual rate, but success is measured not at an individual rate, but success is measured not by where they finish, but how far they’ve come! by where they finish, but how far they’ve come! Children will have many opportunities to work and Children will have many opportunities to work and play on hands-on activities, but will also be play on hands-on activities, but will also be involved in independent tasks as well. involved in independent tasks as well.

We are in a partnership to teach our children. We are in a partnership to teach our children. We will have parent conferences throughout the We will have parent conferences throughout the

year and discuss our academic curriculum and year and discuss our academic curriculum and expectations further.expectations further.