Welcome Parents of the Class of 2026!

1. Welcome Parents of the Class of 2026!

2. Scioto Darby: A Place Where... In partnership with home and community, children will grow personally, socially and educationally and will become life long learners.

3. Introductions of Staff • Principal: Kayla Pinnick • Counselor: Amy Beale • Kindergarten Teachers: Cara Jones, Lisa Price, Jill Kelly & Lynn Seguin • Nurse: Debbie Ashline • School Psychologist: Andy Tollafield • Speech Therapist: Katie Nicolli

4. Principal Facts • Bachelor Degree from Capital University & Masters Plus from OSU • 16 years in education • 10 years school administration • 5th year at Scioto Darby Elementary • 1 child, Logan (2nd grade),

5. Kindergarten Screening • Purpose: screens for vision difficulties, provides an overall initial look at school readiness, social and emotional readiness, and language development • Notification of screening results: Parents will receive a letter by mid-April • Morning/Afternoon Sessions: will be communicated in early June • August Assessments – Aug 6

6. Information about Scioto Darby • Rated as “Excellent with Distinction” • Consistently high test scores • High value added scores • Growing Diverse student population (gifted and talented, Various ethnicities, Special education students, Diverse economic situations)

7. #1 Characteristic about SDE • Very strong family and community involvement and school support

8. Information about our Staff • 48 staff members (including both certified and classified) • 19 homeroom teachers • 77.8% of certified staff with masters degree • Some with National Board or master teacher Certification

9. About Scioto Darby: • 482 students • 3 sections in grades K, 1, 4,5 • 4 sections in grades 2,3 • Class size varies from 21-29 students

10. Kindergarten Schedule (next year) • Morning kindergarten 8:50 – 11:20 am (students enter building at 8:35) • Afternoon kindergarten 12:45 – 3:15 pm (students meet outside at 12:35)

11. Curriculum • There is a strong academic focus in kindergarten, yet teachers hold on the idea of learning through play & having fun • The Ohio Common Content Standards are taught. These standards may be accessed at www.ode.state.oh.us

12. Balanced Literacy Framework • Read Aloud Times • Letter Identification • Word Study to increase phonological awareness • Guided Reading Groups • Interactive Writing • Independent Writing • Poetry and Rhymes

13. Curriculum continued… • A kindergarten day involves work with letters, learning to read words, writing sentences and reading books. • Math learning involves learning numbers, making patterns, counting and sorting objects, addition and subtraction concepts

14. Curriculum continued… • In Social Studies children work on chronology activities and learn about the United States and realize the significance of cultural heritages. • In Science the emphasis is on the significance of living and non-living things. They learn about habitats and their environment.

15. Other Curricular Opportunities • Regular visits to the media center • Projects with the technology & media specialist teachers • Counselor visits the classroom

16. HOMEWORK • There will be some homework but not a significant amount. • Reading books may come home and need to be returned the next day.

17. KLIP Students who qualify for additional academic assistance may be invited to attend KLIP – Kindergarten Literacy Intervention Program

18. Communication • Weekly kindergarten newsletters • eNews: information sent by email; sign up on-line at Hilliard’s District website (both district & school news) • Inphonet calls • Midtowner:monthly school newsletters • Website: district & school; • School calendars

19. August 6th Assessments • Students will be asked to come in for 1 hour and will rotate through stations to complete beginning of year assessments • Goal: Classes are developmentally (academic/social) balanced and teacher have a wealth of knowledge about students and are ready to teach on the first day

20. School Start Details • School begins Tuesday, August 20 • Mid-August welcome letter with classroom assignment & transportation information • Supply Sale this Spring for K supplies- Pick up flyer today- Due March 19 (1 week!) • Open house usually the evening before school starts

21. School Details continued • Teachers will meet all kindergarten students outside the first couple weeks of school; • It is best to have students ride the bus beginning day 1 • All students begin the first day of school

22. Arrival & Dismissal Procedures • Vehicle Lane for drop off & pick-up on the side of the building (enter off of High school drive near cemetery road); • If arriving, or leaving, at other than the typical times, parents must sign their child in/out at the office • Best to have ONE consistent way of going home!!! More than 1 confuses student and teacher!!

23. Parent – Teacher Organization • PTO meetings are held every month • Volunteer Opportunities: • Room parents • Helping in classrooms • Fundraising: Walk-a-thon & cookie dough, others • PTO evening events • Publishing Shop • Reading with students

24. Contact • Call Scioto Darby office 8:00 a.m. -4:30 p.m. At 614-921-6300 • Email: Kayla_Pinnick@hboe.org

25. FREE FUN FOR KINDERGARTENERS AT THE HILLIARD LIBRARY • Picture Books you can check out to read with your child • Beginning Reader books for your child to begin learning to read • Weekly Storytimes and Special Programming • Summer Reading Club – prizes that motivate kids to read every day and fun programs all summer long. Stop in anytime starting first week of June to sign up!

26. Daily reading is essential to success in school. Help your child get ready for Kindergarten by getting them their own library card and check out some great books! Daily reading is essential to success in school. Help your child get ready for Kindergarten by getting them their own library card and check out some great books! Daily reading is essential to success in school. Help your child get ready for Kindergarten by getting them their own library card and check out some great books!

27. Items to Take Home • Children’s book from Hilliard’s Education Association (HEA) • Preparing for kindergarten packet • Other items

28. View Kindergarten video