Welcome to Kindergarten

1. Welcome to Kindergarten 2014-2015

2. Changes to expect in Kindergarten • Arrival and Dismissal to school (7:45-3:00). • We will start teaching at 7:50 and begin packing up at 2:55. • Student may be dropped off outside at 7:25. • Kindergarten car riders enter school on their own after the first 3 days of school. • Staff will open the car door for your child and they will be greeted as they walk along the way to the building.

3. Good Morning car riders! At the top of the stairs, students will follow the sidewalk to the side door. There they will be greeted by staff who will help them either go to the café or their classroom.

4. Good Morning Bus Riders! Bus riders are greeted in the back by staff. They begin arriving at 7:20.

5. Staff are here to help. As students enter the building, staff is stationed around the school to help guide them into the café or their classroom.

6. Breakfast in café Staff is in the café to assist with breakfast. Kindergarten students eat breakfast prior to going to class. When they bell rings, they will walk to class. If your child is a car rider, please have them to school before 7:45 so they will have plenty of time to eat.

7. Instruction As students finish breakfast (or if they eat at home), they report to the classroom. The teachers spend this time before the instruction bell rings, working with students in various subjects. At 7:50, Instruction begins. Students need to be in the classroom, unpacked, and ready to work. Instruction takes many forms in Kindergarten. We sing, dance, and move. Kindergarten students listen to teachers directions and transition from one activity to another.

8. Whole group instruction

9. One on One Instruction

10. Independent work

11. SMALL Groups reading chapter books

12. Reading small groups

13. Technology

14. Independent work

15. Samples of end of year Kindergarten work Research project on animals

16. Research projects

17. Book created by student

18. Special Classes • Harlow will have 4 special classes in the morning next year. • Art • Physical Education • Library • Computer Lab

19. COMPUTER LAB Students learn content through playing educational games on the computer. We will send home information so students can access the on-line math program, DreamBox after the start of the school year. Students also play ABC Mouse, Star Fall, Cool Math for Kids, Poptropica, ABCYA, and other educational programs.

20. Physical Education Students have gym weekly. They will learn about healthy habits as well as enjoy physical activity.

21. MEDIA CENTER Kindergarten students have the opportunity to participate in library weekly. They sing, learn about stories, use technology, and check out books.

22. Enrichment Classes • In the afternoons, the kindergarten students participate in enrichment activities. • We offer the following: • Drama • Music • Spanish • Dance • Research • Technology • Social Studies lab (more activities than in S.S. class) • Science lab (additional activities than in Science class) • Guidance • Health

23. School-wide Positive Behaviors Intervention System Harlow Early Learning Center H-Helping Hands E- Encouraging Words L- Listening and Learning Minds C- Caring Hearts • Each teacher will teach the students these expectations and discuss with them how these expectations are applicable to all areas around the school.

24. Consequences/Monitoring System: A chart/level system will be used to remind students how they are doing behaviorally. Each teacher will have a chart with levels to denote levels of behavior. Teachers will either use sticks, chips, or clothespins on the chart. Students will begin each day at the top level. • First infraction: Warning • Second infraction: Time out • Third infraction: classroom consequence and parent contact is made through phone contact or note home. • Fourth infraction: teacher alternative placement (Student will have time out in another teacher’s room). At this level, the teacher will complete a referral form for communication and data collection purposes. Infraction form will be sent home for parent signature. • Fifth infraction: Office referral and phone call home. *Our first response to misbehaviors is to look for the skills the child needs to learn and to teach them these skills.

25. Rewards for Positive Behavior • Individual Rewards: • Praise • Treasure Chest/Reward • Honored Helper • Rock Star (Academic Rewards) - • TNT- Tiny Nobel Titans (Behavioral Rewards) - 2-3 students per month will receive this award. Cindy Brown will send note home to parent. • Classroom Rewards: • -Compliment Parties • -Extra Recess • - Behavioral Reward Party - students who have not pulled or moved their clip the entire month, a specified number of time, will receive this party. (Number infractions decreases over time)

26. The following people are here to help you make this year wonderful: Angie McDonald, our school nurse. Please take advantage of our school nurse. She is a wonderful resource for us. She will be glad to work with you to keep your child health and to help them maintain good attendance.

27. CindyBrown, Family Resource Center Cindy Brown is the Family Resource Center Coordinator. She helps provide educational opportunities for all our students.

28. Guidance Counselor, Ann Miller Ann Miller is the counselor at Harlow Early Learning Center. When you enroll, she will be the person who receives all the required forms and paperwork. She also spends a great deal of time working with all students in the guidance class. She is a wonderful resource for you and your family.

29. SUCCESS IN SCHOOL BEGINS WITH GOOD ATTENDANCE Be Cool ! Come to School!

30. Academics: • Fact: Students chronically absent in kindergarten & 1st grade are much less likely to read proficiently in 3rd grade. • Fact: Students chronically absent in kindergarten performed lower in 5th grade in both reading and math even if attendance had improved in 3rd grade. • Fact: For every missed day of school, it takes students two days to catch up with their school work. They must make up missed learning and catch up with new learning at the same time. (U.S. Dept. of Ed.)

31. Attendance counts in Kindergarten Satisfactory Attendance • Satisfactory attendance in KY is 95% or higher attendance rate which means missing 5% or less in one academic year. • For Mercer County that is less than 7- 8 total days absent. Exposure to Language: • School exposes children to language rich environments and additional language opportunities. Persistence & Engagement: • Good attendance builds habits which are essential for success in school and life. Good attendance indicates an engaged productive student.

32. Kentucky Statute • Habitual truancy is 6 unexcused absences or 6 unexcused tardies. • Court charges will be filed on the parents if they allow their children to become truants. • We don’t want this to happen to anyone. Please stay on top of attendance.

33. Requirements By Kentucky Law • When a student misses, written documentation must be provided to the school the following day. (A five day grace period is allowed to turn in notes) • When a student is checking in or out, the parent must come in the building and sign the check in or check out log AND also provide a written note. • Parents need to call the school’s attendance clerk on the day a student will be absent and follow up with written documentation. • 6 Parent Notes, 6 Check-In and Check-Out Notes, and 10 Doctor Notes are available for parents to use, but we do NOT encourage parents to use all of these. If you use all of these it will greatly put your child at an academic disadvantage.

34. Dismissal At 3:00, staff will escort students to the buses and to the car rider dismissal area.

35. Car rider Dismissal In order for anyone to pick-up your child, they will need a car rider number that you receive from the office. You will place this number in the front of your vehicle and we will deliver your child to you. We work our way through each row and then release the entire row at once. The entire process goes quickly. It takes us longer in the beginning of the school year so be patient as we are learning each child and looking for matching numbers.

36. Car rider pick up Students are given a card with the number that matches the one on your card in your vehicle. They wait patiently on the steps while we load each car. If the weather isn’t cooperative, children wait under porch roof.

37. Staff lines students up to be escorted to the car.

38. See you tomorrow!

39. Bus dismissal Staff will escort the students to their bus each day.

40. Bus and Car Changes • All changes must be in writing. • Include the date of the change, the full address, name of person receiving your child, and you must sign the note. • EX: Lauren Hayslett will be riding the bus to 118 Aspen Court today only (April 14, 2014). Adele Greenburg will be getting her off the bus. She is on the white card. Esther Hayslett

41. IMPORTANT REMINDERS • We will only release your child to people you have listed on the white card. • Please put all people you want to pick-up your child on this card. You must have their driver’s license number included. • We will check the driver’s license number when they come to school to pick up your child. • Please keep your telephone number up to date at school. We use this to share information and to reach you in emergencies. • One-call now. This is the automated phone system that we use to let families know about announcements and snow days.

42. If you have questions. . . • We don’t expect you to remember all this information. It will be in the student handbook your child will receive at the beginning of school. • If you ever need anything or have a question, call me. Esther Hayslett 733-7020 ext. 4020.

43. Enjoy Kindergarten !