INTRODUCTION TO KINDERGARTENBrookview Elementary

July 19, 2011

Terry Hurlburt, Principal

Katie Ferguson, Asst. Principal

AGENDA*BEGINNING OF THE KINDERGARTEN YEAR*ACADEMICS & ASSESSMENTS*PBIS*BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH THE HANDBOOK

-SCHOOL/DISTRICT POLICIES *PTO

PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS AS THEY ARISE. OUR TIME TOGETHER IS MEANT TO BE INFORMATIVE, YET INFORMAL.

KINDERGARTEN TEAM Mrs. Sara Schrodt room 317 Mrs. Barb Mullenbach room 311 Mrs. Jennifer Johnson room 313 Mrs. Linda Warman room 307 Mrs. Cassie Baker room 319

BEGINNING OF THE YEAR School begins on August 17

You will receive a welcome letter from your classroom teacher near August 10 Teacher assignments are also posted on PowerSchool Teacher assigned necklace in that letter to be worn by

the students the first week of schoolTransportation ArrangementsOpen House - Parents & Children

August 15, 5:00-7:00Back to School Night - Parents only (TBD)

TRANSITION DAYS

First two days of school 9:45-1:45 Arrive on time - not too early Leave your children cheerfully Parent Pick-up - Plan to arrive around

1:40 Bus students can expect your child to be

picked up between 8:45-9:30 and dropped off between 1:45-2:30

MORNING DROP OFF When dropping off your child, we

encourage you to do one of two things: If you choose to walk your child into the

bldg., park in the parking lot on the north side of the bldg., walk your child into the bldg. and leave shortly after.

Drop your child at the curb so your child can enter the bldg. independently.

*This is not a time to conference with the classroom teacher. You can, however, contact the teacher to set up a time for communication.

*Late arrival - walk your child into the office for check in and a tardy pass.

*Bus Students will enter through assigned doors.

PICK-UP

Parent Pick-Up Moving lane Park and come into the building

Childcare Bus Pick-Up Bus Lane

TIPS FOR THE START OF THE YEAR

Emotional time for everyone A positive attitude goes a long way Try and get them excited about school This summer:

Make references to school Clothes shopping School supply shopping Practice the night and morning routine a week or

so before school starts

TIPS FOR PARENTS CONT.

Saying goodbye A loving but firm good-bye is the best way

to go.Tell your child when you will see him/her

again. The longer you stay, the harder it is for

your child to accept when you leave. If you feel the urge to cry, try to think of

how hard that will make it for the child.

TIPS FOR PARENTS CONT.

Things to try to ease the anxietyRead books about the first day of school

The Kissing Hand, by Audrey PennPut a picture or special item in his/her

backpack

School CounselorsMrs. Katy MavisMrs. Erin Peek

STARTING SCHOOL!

School day 8:35-3:40 8:50 - official start time Start each day with a healthy breakfast

Breakfast is served in the lunchroom beginning at 8:20 for interested families.

Be sure your child is well rested Dress for the weather - layers!

During the winter we will go outside for recess unless the windchill is below zero.

Label clothing and lunch boxes

ACADEMICS Balanced Literacy

Shared Reading Guided Reading Independent Reading Writing

Everyday Math Exploratory Science Social Studies

At Brookview and in Waukee we believe all students should receive “core instruction” with small group or individualized differentiation based on student need.

First few weeks of the school year used to build community in the classroom and develop school/class procedures.

RELATED ARTS & 6 DAY CYCLE

Physical Education 2 x 30 min.

Library 1 x 40 min. Art 1 x 45 min. Music 2 x 30 min. Guidance1 x 30 min. Computers (as

scheduled, typically 1 x 30 min.)

All Waukee Elementary Schools operate on a 6 day cycle. Students will receive each of the following related arts classes within the 6 day rotation.

ASSESSMENTS All Kindergarten students are formally assessed

in the Fall, Winter, and Spring Dibels & Benchmark Assessments

ELP in Kindergarten-3rd Grade Push in to all classes during the year to have access

to all students Collaborates with the classroom teachers

Progress Reports (3 times a year – November, March, May) Placed on PowerSchool Conferences accompany the November & March Progress

Reports

PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports) is a set of strategies and systems adapted by Waukee Schools to reduce school disruption and educate all our students on appropriate behavior. PBIS has clearly defined outcomes. It is not only research based but also uses the data we collect for problem solving.

Our expectations for PBIS are to be respectful, responsible, safe, and caring. We will clearly define and teach these expectations to our students in all settings and reward them for their positive behavior. We will also outline consequences for inappropriate behaviors. Behaviors that do not follow these expectations will be documented, and students will be re-taught the appropriate behaviors.

PBIS OVERVIEW

WHY TEACH EXPECTATIONS?

Cannot assume students know how to apply rules in each setting…need to teach behaviors in context

Teaching allows students to practice appropriate behavior and build fluency

Allows students to see non-examples of expectations

Decreases student response “I didn’t know…”

Respectful: Treat others and property how you want to be treated.

Responsible: Be prepared with your things and your mind for the school day.

Safe: Make good choices so no one gets hurt. Think before you act.

Caring: Doing helpful things for others.

FOUR TO THE CORE

To ensure we are providing positive feedback to our students, we are implementing a “punch card” reward system. The students can earn punches for demonstrating respectful, responsible, safe, or caring behaviors. Students can earn punches in any setting, from any school employee. Students earning tickets/punch cards will be rewarded in the class and/or at school assemblies.

When providing acknowledgment for appropriate behavior, it is important to give 5 positive comments to 1 negative.

If a negative behavior is chronic, takes the teacher away from instruction, or an issue of safety, an office referral may be made.

PBIS REINFORCEMENTS/ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

DISTRICT POLICIES & PROCEDURES Allergy Policy (Board Policy 504.12)

Classes with students having life-threatening allergies will be notified with a list of food to avoid.

No homemade snacks or birthday treats – All treats must have ingredient labels intact.

Request, not require, families to avoid peanut products in cold lunches (assigned lunchroom seating & procedures).

DISTRICT POLICIES & PROCEDURES (CONT.)

Party Invitations – We ask that you NOT distribute invitations at school. Please use the school directory. Teachers may initiate a voluntary student directory for their room until the school directory is created.

Visiting School – Please feel free to visit school, volunteer in the building, or eat lunch with your child. We ask that you wait until after the first two weeks of school so that the students have time to learn the procedures. Please call the school prior to 9:00 if you plan to eat

lunch with your child. Communication – Teacher & building newsletters

on alternating weeks

DISTRICT POLICIES & PROCEDURES (CONT.) School Lunch Accounts (Lunch vs. Cash Accounts)

Lunch account money may only be used for lunches. Cash account money is used for breakfast and “extras” at

lunch. Inclement Weather – School cancellations will be

posted on local TV & radio stations, as well as the district webpage. In the event that we have a school cancellation, we will

resume the normal 6 day cycle when we return. In the event of a late start or an early dismissal, lunch will

operate as normal. Please refer to the district calendar for the

Wednesday-early dismissal schedule. These early dismissals are used for teacher professional

development.

ATTENDANCE Attendance and being at school on time is

important. There is a correlation between student

attendance and student achievement. Getting your child to school on time sends a

strong message that you value education. Call the office if your child will not be in

school. According to Iowa Code & District Policy

parents will be notified of excessive absences and tardiness.

PTO & GETTING INVOLVED Brookview's PTO meets monthly in the Media Center,

and all meetings are open to any BV parents or teachers. The PTO is dedicated to ensure these meetings last no more than one hour and run efficiently. Meetings always include a presentation on a topic of interest to BV parents.

The PTO also has several big events throughout the school year, and you can volunteer as much or as little as you like.

If you are interested in being a part of the PTO

leadership, you can contact the VP, Wendy Liskey (home #: 440.1915). To keep up with announcements and events, join the Brookview PTO Facebook page!

HOW DO I VOLUNTEER FOR CLASSROOM PARTIES?

 A letter will go home in September about parent volunteers/coordinators for classroom parties. Supply donations for the parties will be requested through online sign ups.

DO PARENTS HAVE TO PAY DUES TO JOIN THE PTO? Brookview's PTO does not charge dues. All

money is raised through fundraising events throughout the year (Brookview Gear, Brookview nights at local restaurants, Catalog sales, Spring spelling challenge, etc). All fundraising efforts are optional, however, all the money raised covers the PTO expenses first (which are minimal), and the remaining amount goes back to the school.

In the past 5 years, the PTO has given Brookview $50,000 which was used to purchase essential technology when the district's technology spending was slashed.