Welcome Drum Point Families

1. Welcome Drum Point Families Kindergarten and First Grade Orientation

2. Housekeeping Information • Please make sure to have received from your child’s teacher: • Parent/Student Handbook • Back to School Night Information • Bus Safety Packet is found online

3. Housekeeping InformationContinued… • Please make sure if you did not complete the Emergency Verification Form tonight to return it as soon as possible. • The tag with your child’s name on it you received – please have your child wear that on the first day of school! Please fill in their bus number. • Please return the paperwork you received as soon as possible, many of the papers are time sensitive. Thank you!

4. Kindergarten Staff • Mrs. McGlynn • Mrs. Farrell • Mrs. Wascho • Mrs. Krebs • Mrs. Koehler

5. First Grade Staff • Mrs. Keough • Miss Goubeaud • Mrs. Popp • Mrs. McGrath (Mrs. Rossi) • Mrs. Krebs • Mrs. Koehler • Mrs. Grace

6. Other Friendly Faces • Principal – Ms. McConnell • Assistant Principal – Mrs. Gibbs • School Nurse – Mrs. Knittel • Secretaries – Mrs. Bench & Mrs. Cole • Social Worker – Mrs. Walsh • Custodial Staff – Ms. Kocses Head Custodian

7. Daily Specials • Art – Ms. Wollek • Music – Ms. Sanford • Physical Education – Ms. Lukosius and Mr. MacCarrick • Media Center – Mrs. Cappetta

8. Important Reminders • Students must report to the Main Office if you arrive late to school • Call in absent students – send a note upon return • Bring all medications to the nurse’s office • Send in a note for a change in dismissal • Report to the main office upon arrival. Bring a license for picture i.d. • Please notify the Main Office if there is a change in address, phone number, or emergency contact information • Refer to the Parent/Student Handbook for other important procedures • Please don’t send your children to school with toys!

9. Academics • Kindergarten and First grade will focus on Language Arts Literacy and Mathematics • Students will have daily instruction in Science and/or Social Studies as well

10. Language Arts - A Path to Balanced Literacy • Whole Group, Small Group, and Independent Literacy work • Variety of genres – Literature, Informational Text, Poetry… • Leveled Readers – Students are taught at the appropriate instructional level. • Six Traits Writing – Opportunities for modeled, shared, and independent writing activities. • Focus Wall –Target Skills & Strategies clearly posted each week. • Common Core Standards integrated into daily instruction. • Technology- Interactive Whiteboard Lessons • Think Central provides access to student editions.

11. Mathematics Instruction • Combines elements of standards-based instruction with the best traditional approaches. • Through objects, drawings, conceptual language, and real-world examples, it helps students make sense of mathematics while offering new ways to teach and learn mathematics through exploration, modeling and discussion.   • Math Expressions supports the CCSS by covering select concepts for deeper mastery.

12. What can I do at home? • Read, Read, Read • Reading is the foundation skill for all learning. Teach your child to love books and you will build a lifelong reader. • Read to your child, with your child, allow them to read quietly and read to you. • Allow your child to make predictions about the story. • After you finish a story, ask your child how the story relates to a personal experience he/she may have had. • Ask your child how he/she might have changed the story. • Using daily opportunities and situations (such as recipes, restaurant menus, grocery store, driving in the car) to integrate reading.

13. What can I do at home? • Provide opportunities for your child to write and practice different context for writing. • Practice math skills within context of real world situations • Create fun math games for your child to help you solve problems • Practice basic facts to develop a clearer understanding of number sense • Help your child develop critical thinking skills by embracing the “why” questions. Asking what happens next or making predictions also encourages this skill.

14. Transportation • Students are encouraged to use the buses! • Send in a note for any changes in dismissal. We need this is writing! • Review bus rules with your child. • Should you need to drop your child off, please do not arrive before 8:10. • At 8:10 students can be dropped off at the front of the school. • Your child will be considered late after 8:25. Please see that your child arrives on time to begin the school day! • If you are picking up your child, please arrive by 2:45 for dismissal. We will start to load the buses by 2:50.

15. Breakfast • Research shows that having breakfast can impact the academic achievement of students. • Breakfast will be available daily for purchase and will be delivered to the classrooms. • Breakfast will be organized like snack time. On most days students will continue to work while enjoying breakfast items. • Students who receive free lunch will be offered a breakfast for free Please consider pre-paying for the meals by using the pre-pay system!

16. Lunch • Lunch is at 10:45 a.m. Please consider pre-paying for the meals by using the pre-pay system https://www.parentonline.net/Public/Login.aspx

17. BEST Program • Before care and after care offered at Drum Point School through the BEST program • Before school care starts at 6:30 AM • After school care ends at 6:00 PM • Children have an opportunity to participate in physical activities, arts and crafts, special events and projects, etc. • Staff helps the children with their homework for 45 minutes to an hour during after care everyday • Please contact the BEST office, which is located at the BCPLC (732-262-2590)

18. Drum Point PTA • The PTA is part of the national Parent/Teacher Association that strives to enhance children’s educational experiences. • The primary objectives of the PTA is to provide our schools with funds, programs, resources and services that will enrich and maximize the education of every child. • The PTA provides our children with the homework agendas, music and dance events, family fun activities, grade and curriculum based assemblies and other hands-on interactive experiences and presentations. Last year the PTA graciously purchased new white boards for every classroom. All of this directly benefits the students of Drum Point. • Please get involved in our school by joining the PTA!

19. Safety Drills • One Fire Drill and One School Security Drill a Month • Notification of these drills will not come home prior to the drill.

20. Home/School Connection • Website ~ www.brickschools.org • Friday folders • Phone calls/conferences • Newsletters • Intervention and Referral Service • School Social Worker • Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

21. Kelso’s Choice Conflict Management For Children

22. “Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.”- Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Point Elementary School’s Character Education Program • Integrate six pillars of character into curriculum and school day • Highlight monthly traits • Students will be rewarded for demonstrating positive changes and good character by being invited to have lunch with the principal.

23. A few words from our Assistant Principal – Mrs. Gibbs

24. A few words from our School Social Worker… Mrs. Walsh

25. A few words from our Intervention Specialist… Mrs. Krebs

26. A few words from our School Nurse… Mrs. Knittel

27. A few parting words… • Thank You, I Know We Will Have a Great Year! • I look forward to a fantastic year at Drum Point! Please feel free to contact me with any further questions! Together Everyone Achieves More