Handbook for Parents

1. Handbook for Parents This handbook highlights basic information and suggestions that can help you and your child as you begin the kindergarten year.

2. Kindergartners are children who… Laugh out loud Walk in mud Put chocolate fingers everywhere Like to be tickled Scribble in class Whisper in loud voices Run and laugh when they fall Cover themselves in Band-Aids Slurp their soup Ask a million questions Give us sticky, pasty creations Hug us in a hurry and rush outside without their coats. Author Unknown

3. Dear Parents and Guardians, Welcome to Owens Elementary School. We look forward to many years with you as partners in the education of your child. Kindergarten is a first and very important step. We want it to be a positive and enjoyable experience, one in which your child will grow personally, socially, and academically. Please take some time to read the information and suggestions in this handbook. You can help your child be successful as a kindergarten student by engaging him or her in some early reading, math, and science experiences. Have fun! Sincerely, Linda Payne, Principal

4. Program Overview Program Description The kindergarten program reflects the belief that children are active learners and build meaning and understanding through full participation in their learning environments. This child-centered program combines high expectations for each child with respect for individual development. The curriculum is based on the 292 student expectations of the Kindergarten Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.

5. Philosophy The kindergarten program at Owens Elementary School has been developed within the Texas Education Agency guidelines. The program is designed to promote children’s knowledge and skills in all developmental areas and to establish a foundation for life-long learning.

6. Goals • Each child is afforded opportunities to develop: • Self-confidence and self-worth through secure relationships • Independence through successful learning experiences • Responsibility for one’s own behavior • Positive attitudes toward learning • A sense of responsibility for completing assigned tasks • Good habits in the care of self and materials • The ability to share and cooperate with others • Appreciation for family, neighborhood, and country • Oral and written language skills and strategies • An understanding of mathematical concepts • The ability to observe, explore, discover, predict, and solve problems through concrete learning experiences • Awareness of health and safety habits • Physically though use of large and small muscles • Aesthetic expression and appreciation through art and music • Full potential in all areas of learning

7. In Kindergarten your child will learn to: • Work and play in large and small groups, sharing and taking turns • Follow simple directions • Think problems through to find the best solution • Be responsible about small tasks, such as putting materials away • Listen to stories and poems, and to one another • Accept and respect adult leadership and school rules • Develop an increasing awareness and knowledge of letters, sounds, words, numbers, ideas, and other concepts that will help in developing reading and mathematics skills • Enjoy a variety of outdoor experiences through field trips and science activities • Develop large muscle skills through such activities as running, hopping, galloping, skipping, climbing, dancing, and ball handling • Develop small muscle skills through such activities as coloring, cutting, and writing • Participate in music, art, and literature activities

8. Kindergarten Readiness

9. Learner Behaviors: • Social, emotional, and physical maturity is just as… or more important than intellectual ability • Cooperation - follow directions, share attention, take turns

10. Learner Behaviors: • Responsibility - follow through on small tasks at home or preschool without constant supervision • Perseverance - stick to a task for 10 minutes without constant encouragement or redirection

11. Learner Behaviors: • Get along with others - opportunities to play with other children of similar age. Learned how to settle small problems without adult help. • Promptness - does child understand there are times when people stick to a strict time schedule and respond to specific signals? (i.e. 8:00 p.m. bedtime)

12. Learner Behaviors: • Behavior in a group - appropriate eating habits, using toys and material properly, and keep hands to self • Personal information - know first and last name, street address, city and phone number

13. Learning Skills: • Phonemic awareness - (auditory discrimination) - recognizing differences in sounds. • Visual discrimination - seeing differences. • Auditory and visual memory – retelling a story

14. Learning Skills: • Motor skills - small and large muscle control - cutting, turning pages, puzzles, buttoning clothes and running, skipping, jumping, throwing

15. Learning Skills: • Language skills - listening to a story, understanding directions, conversing with both adults and children, vocabulary of close to 2000 words.

16. Parents Can Help Children: • Recognize letters, count, name colors, and write name with capital first and lower case next. However, the skills of listening, getting along with others and cleaning up after themselves are paramount! • Give them chances to make choices, build self-confidence and feel comfortable and excited about coming to school.

17. Texas State Kindergarten Standards

18. Kindergarten Standards What are Kindergarten Standards? Kindergarten Standards are for: • English Language Arts (ELA) • Math • Science • History/Social Science

19. English Language Arts Reading: Decoding/Phonics • Phonemic Awareness • Letter recognition • Concepts about Print • Sounds of letters - Blending

20. English Language Arts Reading: Comprehension • Listening to Stories • Predicting • Asking Questions • Summarizing

21. English Language Arts Writing • Handwriting • Sounds of words- Segmenting • Phonetic Spelling • Draw and write ideas

22. English Language Arts Listening and Speaking • Follow directions • Use complete sentences • Sharing

23. Math • Number Sense • Sorting and Classifying • Measurement • Graphing • Reasoning

24. Science • Physical Science (properties) • Life Sciences (plants and animals) • Earth Sciences (land, air, water)

25. History/Social Science • Learning to Work Together • School, Neighborhood • Now and Long Ago

26. Assessment A wide variety of assessment strategies are used to accurately measure a student’s progress in all disciplines. Strategies include: observations anecdotal records interviews discussions projects role-playing simulations checklists drawings performance tasks rubrics TPRI

27. “A Day In The Life Of A Kindergarten Student”

28. When Your Child Starts School The first day of school is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that helps shape your child’s future attitude toward school and his or her growth and development. As a parent, your understanding at this important time can play an important role in starting your child off with the self-confidence needed throughout life. This self-confidence is built upon good feelings about parents, other adults at school, other children, and himself or herself as a worthwhile human being.

29. So, you ask, what can I do? • Prepare your child for the new school experience by explaining what to expect and answering all questions honestly. • Convey a positive attitude about school. • Create a normal routine atmosphere at home the first few days of school. • Get to know your child’s teacher. • Remember that learning to like school and like to learn are closely related. • Attend scheduled grade level meetings to be informed about your child’s educational program. • Plan your day so you can spend time with your child. • Help your child cope with occasional frustrations and disappointments at school. • Avoid comparing this child’s school experiences with how brothers and sisters or neighbors did when they began school.

30. Safety to and from School Whether your child walks or rides in a car or bus, be sure that your child is clearly aware of the safety rules associated with that form of transportation. If your child walks to school, it is suggested that you walk with your child until you are absolutely sure that he/she knows the way. Please teach your child to cross streets safely and to refuse rides from strangers. It is also important for your child to learn the family’s telephone number and address!

31. Morning Drop-off Please do not drop your child off in the morning until 7:30. Children are not allowed to cross the street without a parent due to unsafe conditions caused by traffic. Drop-off for the morning: Circle in front of the school. (Please do not park in the circle.)

32. Parking… Parking is limited around campus. The back parking lot is our employee parking and it is also where buses pick up students. We ask that parents do not use that area for dropping off or picking up students.

33. Picking Up Kindergarten Students • Car pick-up is in the front circle. • Daycare pick-up is in the back parking lot. • It is essential that you notify the teacher if there is a change in the way your child goes home from school. Send a note explaining any such transportation changes. • In the event of a last minute change, call the school immediately. Anyone that picks up your child must be listed on the enrollment form. • In the case of an emergency, call the office and tell us who will be picking up your child. Any person not on the enrollment card must provide a valid driver’s license and a copy will be made before we release your child to them.

34. Breakfast and Lunch • Every student receives a free breakfast. • Lunch – Students can purchase a school lunch or bring lunch from home. Student lunches cost $1.50 and adult lunches cost $2.50. • Parents can pay in advance for student lunches.

35. Clothing Clothing should comply with the TISD standard of dress. It is on-line and also will be sent home in the first day packet. General Guidelines: Shorts/skirts – no shorter than 3” above knees No tank tops (3 finger rule) Wear closed toed shoes (No flip flops or sandals)

36. Absences/Tardies Kindergarten is a crucial time for laying a foundation for future success in school. We ask you to have your child at school every day. The instructional day begins with breakfast where students learn to interact appropriately. Absences…Send a note to your child’s teacher any time they are absent explaining why they were absent. This documentation must be kept on-file in the office for state audit. Tardies…Your child is beginning a new journey in his/her life. Being on-time is part of that journey that carries on to being punctual as an adult. The tardy bell rings at 8:00.

37. Truancy TISD will file charges with the courts for students that have excessive absences. A warning letter is mailed from the administrative office prior to filing charges.

38. Illness/Hospitalization/Immunizations When a child is hospitalized or ill for an extended period of time, contact the teacher. A doctor’s note is required when a child is absent for more than three school days. Immunizations are required for enrollment. A chart identifying immunizations is included in your packet.

39. Label all Clothing Please label all articles of clothing with your child’s first and last name. Numerous articles of clothing end up in the school lost and found each year. White sweaters, jackets, caps, etc. look amazingly alike!

40. Reporting to Parents Kindergarten report cards do not have numerical grades. Teachers will schedule conferences with you in the fall and the spring to discuss your child’s progress or at other times as needed. You are welcome to call the office and schedule a conference with your child’s teacher during their conference period.

41. Registration Requirements • Must be 5 years old before September 1st • Complete packet – include the names of anyone that has permission to visit or pick your child up from school (don’t forget to put your name and your spouse’s name) • You will need: birth certificate, social security card, immunization record, residency verification (utility bill) and your driver’s license

42. Parents can help children… • Recognize letters, count, name colors, and write name with capital first and lower case next. However, the skills of listening, getting along with others and cleaning up after themselves is paramount! • Give them chances to make choices, build self-confidence and feel comfortable and excited about coming to school.