Getting Ready for
Kindergarten
Cedar Wood Elementary
2015-2016 Academic Year
Your Hosts
• Dr. David Jones
– Principal
• Ms. Denise Butler
– Full Day Kindergarten Teacher
• Ms. Karie Eickhoff
– Half Day Kindergarten Teacher
• Joining the PTA connects your family with other
families who share similar goals and interests.
• PTA provides essential volunteer and financial
support to the school.
• Everyone is welcome at the monthly meetings.
Please come.
First meeting is September 10th, at 7 p.m.
in the library
Enduring Influences
•
•
•
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Parents
Educators
Family, Friends, Community
Media
Our community YMCA provides a safe and
supportive before and after school
environment for your children and others right
here on our campus.
Child Care is available starting at 6:30 a.m.
and ending at 6:30 p.m.
A Day in Kindergarten
Arrival at School
• How do children get
to Cedar Wood?
o Walk
o Parents drive
o Bus for some
neighborhoods
Arrival – Departure Times
School begins at 9:10. The tardy bell
rings at 9:15 a.m.
For safety and supervision reasons
children should not arrive before 9:00
a.m.
A.M. students are dismissed at 11:55.
Full-day students are dismissed at 3:25.
Early Dismissal
• There are days throughout the year when the
student day is reduced to allow for parent/
teacher conferences or professional
development. Classes meet for a reduced time.
• Make special arrangements for transportation
on these days. You don’t want your child left
waiting in the office when all the other children
have gone home.
Getting to and from school
• Start your transportation routine on the first day.
Routine, routine, routine.
• At “Meet Your Teacher” the afternoon before the
first day of school you will be given a name badge
for your child. Please have your child wear this
badge every day for the first two weeks of school.
If you drive
your child to school
• Wait until 9:00 a.m.
• Park, hold your child’s hand and walk together
to the upper play area.
• Say goodbye at the gate. Do not enter the
playground. Your student will join his/her class
in line up and will be supervised by staff.
• When the bell rings, the teacher will walk her
students into the classroom.
• In the afternoon we reverse this procedure.
If your child will be riding the bus
• Practice going to the bus stop near your home
prior to the first day. Locate landmarks so that
your child will recognize where to get off on the
way home.
• Bus drivers are not permitted to let a kindergarten
student off the bus after school unless there is an
adult there to meet him/her. (If your kindergartner
has an older sibling on the same bus you can
make arrangements with the driver.)
Changes in Regular Dismissal
• If you need to change your child's plans, send a
note to the teacher. Changes could include:
– Being picked up instead of riding the bus
– Going home with another child
– Riding a different bus than usual
– Being picked up by another adult on your
approved list
– Leaving school early for a medical
appointment
• If there is no note from the parent or guardian
indicating a change in plans, your child will be
sent home as usual. So, send a note!
Beginning of the Day
• Breakfast program is
available, starting at 8:45
• Non-breakfast students
line up in the kinder area
starting at 9:00
• Students are walked into
the classroom at 9:05
• They leave their coat &
backpack in their locker
Welcome Time
Calendar
• Students identify the
day, month and year.
They count the days
of the school year.
• They chart the
weather together.
• They practice
patterning, counting,
and adding on.
Songs, Stories & Chants
Mathematics
Standards focus on:
• Number sense
• Counting objects
• Patterns
• Forming groups
• Shapes
• Measurement &
graphs
• Problem solving
Reading
Standards focus on:
• Learning how stories
work
• Sounds of letters and
words
• Being a part of a
classroom discussion
• Reading
• Guided reading
• Shared reading
• Partner reading
• Independent
reading
• Center activities
Building on a child’s sense that
“I am a writer”
Standards focus on
• Describing format
• Narrative format
• Elements of writing
• Revising
• Writing in different
modes:
-
Personal stories
Labels
Lists
Science journals
Building on a child’s sense that
“I am a scientist”
Standards focus on:
• Learning about living
and non-living things
• 3 units per year
o
o
o
Balls & Ramps
Wood & Paper
Animals 2x2
• Asking questions
• Making observations
• Using tools to solve
problems
Building on a child’s sense that
“I have successful social skills”
Standards focus on
• Understanding of
self
• Working in a
group
• Classroom &
school community
• Problem solving
Social and interpersonal skills we target:
• Following routines
• Sharing and helping
others
• Recognizing feelings
in self and others
• Interacting with other
children and adults
• Becoming a selfmanager
Counselor and Guidance
Recess & Outdoor Play
• Making choices
during less
structured time
• Promoting physical
activity
• Learning to play
safely with others—
taking turns,
sharing, problemsolving
Specialist Programs
Music
Computer Lab
Library
Physical Education (PE)
Your School
Health Room
Main Office
Cafeteria
If your child is ill:
• You know your child
best. If he/she is too
sick to attend school
please keep your
child home.
• Call the office
attendance line (425385-7705) to leave a
message if your child
will not be at school.
Food at School
• Snacks from home
(teacher will inform you)
• Lunch for Full-Day
Kindergarten
• Free & Reduced Lunch
applications are available
• Students need to know
their ID number to go
through the cafeteria line
• Allergies? Let us know.
Home/School Communication
• If you have a question, contact your
child’s teacher. Teachers are available
from 8:25 - 9:10 in the morning and also
after school until 3:55.
• You may email a teacher—teachers
check their messages at least once a day
• [email protected]
Between now and the Start of School…
• Review the “Getting Ready for
Kindergarten Checklist” to identify
what you and your child can work on
together
• Develop and practice your “school
morning routine”
• Help your child learn his/her personal
information
• Get supplies ready and labeled (see
the list on the school web site)
Practice Self-Help Skills
• Independently use the
bathroom
• Wash hands
• Zip & button coats
• Blow your own nose
• Keep track of
possessions
Supporting learning at home…
(writing / drawing / story telling)
Talk with your child about his/her stories.
Ask, “What’s the story you are going to tell
today?”
• What happened?
• Who was there?
• Where did it happen?
• How did you feel?
• Did you say anything?
Supporting Learning at Home…
(reading together)
As you read together, ask:
–From the cover, “What do you think this book
will be about?” “Who will be in the story?”
–Do a ‘Picture Walk’ before reading
–Start reading. Ask for predictions before
turning page
–Point to characters, point to words
–Ask, “What did you like best about this
book?” “What did it make you remember?”
Supporting Learning at Home…
(thinking mathematically)
Connect items with numbers.
Play ‘Find All the Threes’ or count specific
items as you drive
Talk about more than, less than, by how much
Skip count (2, 4, 6, 8 . . .)
Play, “What is 1 less than . . .?”
Ask, “How many straws do you think we will
need?” or “Will you get a paper napkin for
each one of us, please?”
Important Things to Remember
• There are 177 days
of school. Every day
is packed with critical
learning, which can
not be made up.
• Every child starts
school at a different
skill level
Additional Support
If you have concerns about your child’s
development or readiness for kindergarten,
please contact:
• The Cedar Wood office, 425-385-7700
• Special Services, 425-385-5250
• Early Childhood Curriculum Specialist,
Lynn Lahey 425-385-4089
Spread the word about
Kindergarten
• Registration is
happening now.
• Tell your neighbors
and friends.
What’s Next?
• Classroom assignment calls will take place on
Thursday, August 27th in the afternoon
• Come to Popsicles on the Playground on August
28th at 1:00
• Come to Meet Your Teacher on Sept 1st at 4:00.
Bring classroom supplies, find the classroom,
enjoy popsicles in the courtyard.
(dates are tentative—we will confirm in August)
What’s Next?
• Half Day kindergarten students begin school on
the same day as 1st – 5th graders.
• Full-Day students take part in WAKids. The first
three school days are for Family Connection
conferences. (Students do not attend school.)
Questions?
http://www.everett.k12.wa.us/cedarwood/