Principal/Parent/ Teacher/Student Contracts:

1. Principal/Parent/Teacher/Student Contracts: • All parents must have a signed contract on file in the office.  • Parents/guardians may choose to sign the form and turn them right back to the teacher TONIGHT! YAY! • [Some students will also receive a letter about MOWR for folks at home. ]

2. With The Kindergarten Team… Mrs. Jeanne Cano Ms. Stephanie Casper Ms. Courtney Hilbrands …a new adventure begins!

3. Metro SideMorning Drop off • To reduce the traffic at the front of the school in the morning, the Metro side of the building is now open for morning drop off. • K-2 and 6th grade students having breakfast may enter the MPR door and walk through to the playground. • BONUS:This side of the building is far less crowded in the morning.  • NOTE: If you are late, please enter through the front of the building by way of the office to sign your child into school.

4. 3 B’s of Good Behavior Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.

5. Behavior & K “Token system” • Students have one green, yellow, red token on their desks. • Daily goal is to keep all tokens. • We don’t expect perfection, but look for efforts to maintain & to comply to reasonable requests. • Behavior is marked each day on Homework Report. • SPARC room… (See handbook for more information.)

6. Morning Class Responsibilities • Empty backpack independently • Water bottle & snack in proper place • Get out lunchbox or turn in lunch money • Put library book in basket/bin • Take out daily blue KTA folder for teacher review (with completed homework) • Put away backpacks in cubbies.

7. Arizona College and Career Readiness Standards • Increased academic rigor • All standards are online • Goal setting & tracking progress • Promotes independence, responsibility, cooperation, collaboration, & communication skills • Preparation for Standardized Testing

8. Spalding • Daily Oral Phonogram Practice (OPR) • Students will receive phonogram practice cards to use for homework at home (keep in your “kit.”) • Daily Written Phonogram Practice (WPR) • Grammar and Language Use • Text Structure and Literary Appreciation • Quizzes on Friday on phonograms and dictation words (beginning around Nov.) • Spelling notebooks used in class • ** CKLA is used for Listening & Speaking skills **

9. Reading Notes High Frequency ,“Sight” Words, plus frequently used words Flash cards will be provided & daily Spalding notebooks are important! Identify in print, read & use in personal writing Phonemic Awareness -playing with and recognizing patterns in language. Phonics - understanding how oral language is represented in written form. Decoding-applying phonetic knowledge to decipher text -- sound, sound, blend. Comprehensionunderstanding, and interpreting read text. Scholastic Book Clubs: Flyers may come home with homework. Option to order online  with a credit card. This is not a fundraiser, only an easy way to get cheap books. Couldn’t be easier & is an optional choice. Library books may be kept for a full week but are due on or before the assigned library day. If your child does not return his/her book, another book may not be checked out until is makes its way back to the library.

10. Helpful Hints for Reading at Home • Listen to your child read the text 3 times. • Help with tricky words: many can be sounded out. • Book Baggie books need to be returned in the baggie given. • Celebrate growth (e.g. HFW acquisition, fluency, & comprehension) • Review front cover, title page, the jobs of author & illustrator. • Have your child retell the story in his/her own words. • Let your child see you reading for enjoyment & a purpose.

11. Writing Notes • Please do not spell words for your child. • For free writing tasks, accept phonetic approximations. • Praise efforts. • Kindergarten writing looks different from grown- up writing & that’s okay. • End of year goals for students: • Writing in complete sentences • Writing with supporting detail TOOLS: • letter chart • spacers • Word Wall • brain power!!!

12. Math Curriculum i-Ready • Standards-based instruction that is flexible and promotes student growth • Data driven • Student strengths and knowledge gaps are pinpointed and lessons are differentiated • Personalized learning in the classroom and online • Individualized online lessons can be used at school and home • Future homework

13. Math Notes • Emphasis on vocabulary, • language, & meaningful • mathematics conversations • Connections across grades, • units, lessons • Predicting outcomes and • analyzing data • Analyzing and solving math problems in more than one way (Cognitive Guided Instruction) • Number sense – deep understanding of our number system and how it works • Procedural skills & building fluency.

14. Sanford Harmony -Social/emotional curriculum • Implementation in all Kyrene schools • Across all grade levels • Consists of practical strategies, stories, activities, and lessons for improving relationships, teaching empathy, increasing student confidence.

15. Instructional Resources… • Adherance to state standards for all subjects using current Kyrene resources • Writing is a focus to support Spalding reading program & across content areas. • Handwriting is aligned with Spalding. • AVID Note taking & Thinking Maps • Sanford – Harmony is our new social / emotional curriculum. • Recitations are required by quarter for ALL grade levels.

16. Technology • Smartboard interactive presentation tool • 5 laptops in classroom + stand alone • Computer lab time each week + Your child will login using a username & password, access approved websites, practice skills, word process, create a slide show presentation, & more. Cool, Cool, Cool!

17. HOMEWORK • Readto, or with, your child for 10-15 minutes, every night. • Check the weekly newsletter, e-mails, and homework folder for additional assignments and practice opportunities. • Homework Kit is a kindergarten resource for you to keep & use at home. Please save all games & other learning tools from school together in the folder. • Homework comes home M-Th& is due the next day. • Please, contact us if you have any questions. • (Confusion is a curable condition.) • 

18. Homework is Identified in KTA folder: Teachers are looking for: • Parent signature daily on Homework Report.  • Work completed to best of ability – including a quality effort AND all colored. • Student writes name on ALL work to receive credit. • “Kit” work completion. (Let’s check it out!) Content areas/subjects are designated by days of the week… Parents are asked to check completed work for accuracy Parent signature is required dailyfor acknowledgement of homework & student behavior

19. “Word of the Week” samples… • HFW: • Type on computer: they they they they theythey

20. “Number of the Week” samples…

21. Homework Tips • Set aside homework or skill practice time daily. • Work in a quiet place without distractions (if possible). • TURN OFF THE TELEVISION! • Keep homework & library book in your backpack or in another safe place. • Parents should assist but not do the work. (Parents sign the daily “Homework Report.”) • Always closely supervise handwriting practice. • Divide work time into several sessions if frustration ensues.

22. On School Nights Kids Should… • Do their daily reading and homework. • Eat a healthy dinner. • Tell grown-ups about 2 or more things he/she learned or did. • Go to bed in time to get at least 9 to 10 hours of sleep.

23. PLEASE,WRITE YOUR CHILD’S NAME ON ALL THINGS THAT COME TO SCHOOL!(Snacks, lunchboxes, water bottles, backpacks, homework, jackets, etc…)

24. Absences… • Call the absence line. • Keep sick kids at home. • Schedule vacations & doctor appointments around school hours as much as possible. • Missed Kindergarten Spalding practice & review needs to be “made up” when returning to school. • Parents may need to assist with support of missed work needing to be completed by the student.

25. Back Pack TipsThese things should be in your back pack: • Blue daily KTA homework folder with completed homework, &/or library book • Lunch box or lunch money • Snack (tightly closed & with name on it) • Water bottle (with name on it) • Notes going to & from school • Jacket or sweater, if needed

26. These things should not be in your backpack: • Old papers • Toys • School supplies • Non-school folders • Personal money • Electronic games (e.g. Gameboys, etc.) Please empty back packs daily!

27. Healthy Snacks • Snacks are optional & should be separate as well as marked with student’s name.(Some children may not even need a snack.) • Remember that our breaks are short & snacks should not be a meal • Please choose nutritious items. (NO cookies, chips, candies, doughnuts, etc.) • Choose snacks that your child can eat without much adult assistance. • Label the snack with your child’s name. • We will collect snacks first thing in the morning& keep in the snack bin for our break/snack/recess time. • NO NUTS in class or at AM recess!! We have students with severe food allergies!!

28. Healthy Snacks(Snack break is optional.) Cheese sticks Fruits or vegetables (cut up) Pretzels Wholegrain crackers Dry cereal Granola bars Etc. • Please NO tree nuts, candy, chips, donuts, cake, etc. • P.S. We do not have refrigeration. Snacks are kept in the classroom.

29. Lunch Reality • Kids choose their entrees when buying lunch. • Children sit, eat, & clean up their own messes. • It can be loud. There are approximately 100 children eating in there & not all speak quietly. • The assistants do their best to organize lunches, assist children, in an orderly fashion. ** If you have any questions about pricing, please see the school website

30. Lunch… • Bring lunch from • home. • Milk may be • purchased for $0.60. • Buy student lunch from • cafeteria for $2.90. • Send in lunch money • in the morning OR… • Pay online at mylunchmoney.com. • Practice opening • containers at home. • Allow children to help • with lunchbox prep. • Talk about doing a good • job at lunch. • Limit treats to one.

31. Classroom Wish List • Elmer’s disappearing purple glue sticks (always needed! ) • BOXTOPS for EDUCATION stamps • Ticonderoga brand pencils • Crayola crayons (16 or 24 count) • Small gift cards to Wal-Mart, Lakeshore, Target, or office supply stores ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Check the newsletters or class website for the updated lists or needs throughout the year.

32. Kindergarten Motto I am here to do something important – Learn. I am safe. I am kind. I am a helper. I’m a GREAT Kid & let’s have a GREAT DAY!!

33. Special Areas Schedule * Children need to wear athletic shoes in order to participate safely in P.E.

34. Personal Skills to Practice • Independent bathroom use • Blowing nose effectively • Opening/closing snack & lunch containers • Tying or fastening shoes • Zipping, buttoning, • snapping, buckling • Putting on jackets, • sweatshirts, coats, • & sweaters • Covering mouths when sneezing or coughing

35. Drinks and Bathrooms • Before school • Work time • Playground time • There is a bathroom in each Kindergarten classroom (Student water bottles remain accessible to students.)

36. TALK! TALK! TALK! Talk with child about: • school • friends • stories • songs & poems • class work • homework • numbers • patterns • family • interests • goals • With Oral language development, parents are the best teachers of language skills. • Be patient, help & encourage your little one to express complete thoughts & ideas by speaking & responding in full sentences.

37. We LOVE Volunteers! • Kindergarten in class volunteers will start in October. • The PALS program (Parents Aiding Learning in School) is happening NOW! Feel free to sign up TONIGHT! • P.T.O. Events – feel free to contact the PTO & sign up for a committee or event. • Per the Handbook, each family is expected to complete a minimum of 5 volunteer hours.

38. Volunteers other than Parents & Legal Guardians… • Require a current Kyrene School District fingerprint cardfor classroom help & field trips. • Forms are available at the front office • Forms are then taken to the district office • Appointment needed to acquire fingerprinting • Approved K.S.D. fingerprint card will be sent to you! 

39. Follow KTA On Social Media: • PTO on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/KTAPTO • Subscribe to PTO’s text messaging service. Text “@KTAPTO to 81010  Pull out your phones & follow us!

40. More Information • COLLECT BOXTOPS for EDUCATION stamps • Kyrene School District: www.kyrene.org • KTA Main Office 541-5400 • Our Kindergarten class webpages: • www.kyrene.org/staff/jcano • www.kyrene.org/staff/scasper • www.kyrene.org/staff/chilbrands • Phone (room 7) 541-5507 (Mrs. Cano voice mail) • Phone (room 8) 541-5508 (Ms. Casper voice mail) • Phone (room 9) 541-5509 (Ms. Hilbrands voice mail) • E-mail (Mrs. Cano) - jcano@kyrene.org • E-mail (Ms. Casper) -scasper@kyrene.org • E-mail (Ms. Hilbrands) - chilbrands@kyrene.org