T.H. Rogers School

1. T.H. Rogers School New Vanguard Elementary Orientation Kindergarten August 15, 2015

2. Welcome to T.H. Rogers! Building on Our Culture This Year’s Theme: “Growing Beyond!” INSERT ICON Growing Beyond...with new students and families! Growing Beyond...our previous success! Growing Beyond...all limitations!

3. Welcome to T.H. Rogers! Building on Our Culture This Year’s Theme: “Growing Beyond!” Culture of Communication Teacher websites  Grade Speed  weekly communication folders Culture of Thinking Cross-curricular learning  Writing emphasized in all contents  visible thinking Culture of Respect Character education program  bullying awareness  Peer Mediation Program

4. Welcome to T.H. Rogers! Administration, Mid-Management, Office Staff • Dave Muzyka, Principal • Christian Winn, Assistant Principal/Elementary • Donald Lam, Assistant Principal/Secondary • Jessica Willie, Dean of Instruction • Kristen Tray Chen, Vanguard Coordinator • Ashley Pringle, Elementary Counselor Mari Valdez, School Secretary Ileana Cortez, Ms. Winn’s Assistant Bertha Roodi, Attendance Clerk Yaneth Montes, Front Office Clerk Libby Calkins, Front Office Receptionist Maria Hernandez, Finance Clerk Sheila Foster, Student Information Janice Jackson, VG Office Clerk Linda Turpin, VG Office Clerk

5. Welcome to T.H. Rogers! Vanguard Faculty Kindergarten Team Marcy Reed (Team Leader, Science/Social Studies) Shannon Rambert (English, Language Arts & Reading) Katherine Lindow (Math) Core Enrichment Team Jennifer Thelander (Art) Desmond Combs (PE) Daniel Fernandez (Computer) Norman Thomas (Music) Staci Situ (Chinese) Stephanie Hatley (Library) Paula Godlich (ASL) & Cheryl Harris

6. Welcome to T.H. Rogers! School Policies and Procedures

7. Arrival to the Campus Arrival: 7:00 a.m. to 7:35 a.m. All students report to the Cafeteria upon arrival.

8. Arrival and Dismissal Parents may eat breakfast with students on the first day of school. Beginning August 25th, parents must drop student off in the L-shape carpool lane or park nearby and walk them to the front entrance. Parents are asked to refrain from walking students to the classroom after the first day of school.

9. Arrival and Dismissal Carpool Drop-Off/Pick-Up for Students Use the L-shape loading zone located in front of the school Turn in traveling south on Bering Drive Parents are asked to refrain from “conferencing” with teacher while they are on duty as they are trying to supervise all their students

10. Arrival and Dismissal INSERT DROP-OFF/PICK-UP MAP

11. AttendancePolicy and Procedures Students are encouraged to attend school daily! Students must attend at least 80 days of school the first semester and 86 days the second semester according to the Texas education Code 25.092.

12. AttendancePolicy and Procedures • Call the school by 8:00 a.m. on the day of an absence. Phone: 713-917-3595 • Within 3 days of an absence, a written excuse must be submitted to Ms. Roodi in the main office. Excuses may be submitted via e-mail to broodi@houstonisd.org

13. AttendancePolicy and ProceduresTardy Students Promptness to school is an expectation. If a student is not in class by 7:45 a.m., he or she will be considered tardy. Students will receive a lunch detention after the 3rd tardy. The official daily attendance time is 9:30.

14. AttendancePolicy and ProceduresExcused Absences • Illness of student • Death in the family • Quarantine • Weather or road conditions making travel dangerous • Participation in school activities, approved by the Principal • Religious holidays (24 hours prior to day) • Emergencies or unusual circumstances, approved by the Principal

15. Leaving Campus During the School Day • Parents must report to the main office to check out their child. • An appropriate form of identification must be presented. • A note from the parent(s) of a student must be sent to Ms. Jackson stating the time and reason for the early departure along with a phone number. • The latest a student may be released early is 2:15 p.m.

16. Dress Code • Students should be neat and clean in appearance. • Clothing must not be too tight, too loose, or torn. • A belt must be worn with loose-fit shorts or pants. • Skirts and dresses are to be no shorter than two inches, front and back, from the top of the knee in a standing position. • See the Parent-Student Handbook for the full dress code policy.

17. Communication System • Communication Folders “Ram News” is available on our website and will be sent home every Thursday . • Parent-Staff Communications Contact the teacher via e-mail or phone. Check the calendar of events each week . WE NEED YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS! • Parent-Teacher Conferences Contact your child’s teacher with the preferred day and time for the conference.

18. First Day of SchoolMonday, August 24, 2015 • Please complete and return ALL forms included in the First Day Packet. • Follow all procedures for arrival. Please say “goodbye” to your child and wish them well on their first day. • Traffic will be heavy. Be patient! • Join other THR parents for coffee sponsored by PTO in the orchestra room.

19. A Few Important Dates... • Open House September 8th, 6:30PM • Parents Are Partners September 15th, 7:45AM • Early Dismissal September 22nd, 12:45PM • PTO Kindergarten Coffee September 26th, 9AM • Fall Conferences week of October 11th, times TBA • You will receive a school calendar • in the 2015-2016 Parent-Student Handbook!

20. The Kindergarten Learning Journey HISD’s Kindergarten Vanguard Program serves students who have been identified as potentially gifted or talented in intellectual ability, creativity, or leadership. Our Kindergarten programs consists of reading, language arts, math, science, social studies, health, PE, music, art, foreign language, ASL, and technology.

21. The Kindergarten Learning Journey • English/Lang Arts/Reading–Ms. Rambert • Language Arts will consist of whole group and small group instruction. Components include a read aloud, shared reading, independent reading, guided reading, writing, independent practice & workstations. Istation will be used for the BOY, MOY, and EOY assessments. Students will be getting a username and password to login from home. • Take-home readers will be sent home on a weekly basis to practice different reading skills as well as Reading homework. • Please read 20 minutes nightly with your child.

22. The Kindergarten Learning Journey • Math–Ms. Lindow • Math instruction will include whole group & small group instruction. A variety of manipulatives are used in instruction as methods for students to discover or invent a method of understanding. • Moby Max will be used as a Math resource throughout the school year. Login information will be sent home for you to use at home. • Go Math and STARR Math will be used as resources as well as others.

23. The Kindergarten Learning Journey • Science & Social Studies–Ms. Reed • For Social Studies students will be Scholastic News and Time for Kids as well as district resources. • Social Studies will be taught using the HISD curriculum guide. • We will have a scientist of the week for all classes. Students are responsible for putting together an experiment and bringing it to class to present. • Science Fusion is another resource that will be used to teach Science objectives.

24. Kinder Report Card • The Report Card will be given 4 times throughout the year on the following dates: October 30th, January 8th, March 24th, & May 25th. • The grading system on the report card is as follows 1 Discovery Steps, 2 Exploring Showing Progress, and 3 Connecting Ready to apply. • Teachers will be giving these marks on daily assignments, quizzes, and or tests. is considered a 3 on the report card. Excellent work!!! is considered a 2 on the report card. May need more practice. is considered a 1 on the report card. Improvement is needed.

25. Rest & Snack • Please send a towel with your child the first day of school. Each teacher will have a time in their classroom for students to rest in the afternoon. • Please send a non-perishable, healthy snack in your child’s backpack daily. No water bottles please. We will allow your child to visit the water fountain throughout the day. • Also, please keep a change of clothes including undergarments in a Ziploc bag in your child’s backpack.

26. Kindergarten Community Norms • This year Kindergarten will be using the planner on a daily basis. All homework assignments will be written in the planner for that day. Please send the homework back to school the following day in the homework folder or homework spiral. • Each teacher will be updating their website with the weekly homework.

27. Communications • Along with the other school supplies for Kindergarten please purchase 1 character folder with pockets no brads (ex. Disney, cartoon, animal,) • We will be using the character folder to communicate weekly progress in the areas of following directions, using time wisely, being prepared for class, etc. This folder will be sent home Fridays. • Any daily communications will be communicated in the planner. Any notes from the teacher will be written in the child’s planner on the specific day. Please write any transportation changes in the planner.

28. Homework • Monday- Reading/Writing • Tuesday-Reading/Writing • Wednesday-Math • Thursday-Science/Social Studies/Math • *Please remember I-Station, Moby Max, the HUB, and thinkcentral websites may be used at home for additional resources.

29. Birthdays • Students will be given the opportunity to celebrate his/her birthday during the school year by parents sending store bought cookies (no cupcakes please) for the class. The teacher will pass out to the students during their snack time. Please no treat bags. • If you are planning on sending cookies please notify your child’s teacher for planning purposes.

30. Parents-to-Parents • Tips for Success... • In the beginning of the year, it may feel like things are very scattered: communication, deadlines, activities , etc. • If you don't know an answer to something, i.e., project due date, you can always ask a teacher or Room Parent. • Arrange your carpool plans before school starts. • Communicate pick-up plans with your child. • Explain what to do if you get lost or need help. • Write your phone number(s) in the child’s backpack. • Remind your child that every teacher has a unique style. • Consider everything that’s told through the mind of a 5 or 6 year old. • For families with multiple children: • *Have designated areas for your children to work at home. • *Develop a family calendar with color codes or icons. • *Remember that each child learns differently and is a unique individual.

31. WELCOME to the T.H. Rogers Family!