Orrington Kindergarten Information
Welcome to Orrington Elementary School! This packet of commonly asked questions has been put
together in hopes of better informing you and alleviating some common concerns and questions new
families often have. If you’re feeling a little anxious about your child’s transition to “big kid school,” you
are not alone!
1. A full day is so long – I’m worried my child can’t handle that…. For children used to two and a
half hours of school, or no school at all, being in school for six hours is definitely a transition. All
of Orrington’s kindergarten teachers recognize that this is a big change for children and do allow for
down time throughout the day. Each teacher has a less structured, free choice period during the day
where children can choose an activity such as building a train, playing with big blocks, Legos,
painting at the easel, coloring, doing puzzles, etc. Teachers are very sensitive to five year olds’
need to move regularly and their still developing attention span – learning is hands on and concrete
at this level. Children do not sit at individual desks but at tables that allow for much group work
and interaction with their classmates.
With that said, your child will be tired upon returning home. Try and keep his/her schedule
light those first months with few after school commitments. You may even want to limit play dates.
2. What will my child’s typical day be like? Each classroom is slightly different, but all will have a
regular schedule that remains consistent throughout the year. Teachers will hand out more specific
schedules at the start of the school year. Their day will include (not in this particular order):
• Group Time with weather and calendar (a lot of math and writing takes place here)
• Literacy development -- Reading and Writing
• Math
• Lunch (20 minutes)
• Recess (20 minutes)
• Science
• Social Studies
• Gym (every day)
• Snack (AM & PM)
• “Specials” (a rotating schedule of library, art, drama and music) 4 days/week.
3. What can I do to help my child make the transition to kindergarten easier? For many, the
transition from preschool to kindergarten is an exciting but anxiety-producing event, often more so
for the parent than for the child. Recognizing this and helping to reassure your child go a long way
to helping your child make the transition smoothly.
• Talk and read to your child about what Kindergarten will be like – if they went to preschool
either part day or full day, they will be very familiar with many things they will do in
Kindergarten (circle time, snack time, choice time, recess, etc.). Some good books to check
out relating specifically to the Kindergarten transition include (but are not limited to):
Look out Kindergarten, Here I Come! By Nancy Carlson
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate and Ashley Wolff
The Night before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing and Julie Durrell
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Reassure your child that adults will be there to help when they need it. Acknowledging and
validating their feelings of being scared, nervous, or shy is completely appropriate.
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Create a routine for saying goodbye – a kiss in the palm of the hand they can have with them
during the day, a high five, a fist bump, etc. All can help with the difficult task of
separation. Placing a photo of you and your child in their backpack may help him/her know
you are still with them even when you’re apart. Some good books about separation include
(but are not limited to):
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Mommy in my Pocket by Carol Hunt Sendenak
I Love you All day Long by Francesca Rusackas
Don’t Go by Jane Breskin Zalben
Llama Llama misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
Familiarize your child with Orrington and other children they may see. Although the school
building will be inaccessible during the summer, the playground will be available and is a
great way to start getting your child comfortable here. Small groups of 2-3 children work
well to start. Although children often do not connect right away, recognizing other children
that first day does help.
Arm yourself with information – if you, the parent or caregiver, are feeling uncertain and
anxious about the transition, talk to another parent who may be able to help alleviate your
concerns. Children are extremely perceptive and can quickly pick up on your anxiety.
Don’t talk about it too much! At this age, time is a very amorphous thing. Three months
is a long time to wait or be anxious about something so unknown. Talking about
Kindergarten too much can serve to increase anxiety in some children, particularly when
they have no idea what it will be like.
4. What expectations do teachers have of my child the first day? Self-help skills are invaluable
skills for children of all ages to develop. Allow children time (and arm yourself with much
patience) while they work to learn to put on their own clothes, jackets, and shoes, wash their own
hands, clean up their own spills, toilet themselves completely, etc. If they haven’t learned the
“magic flip” it is an easy way for them to start getting their own coat on. (Lay jacket on the floor,
stand at the top of the coat where their head would be facing the coat, place both arms in the arm
holes and flip it over the head and on.)
If your child attended a daycare program or was at home with a caregiver, they will
experience a higher teacher-to-child ratio in Kindergarten. This could be a challenge for your little
one. Please prepare and remind your child that there will be fewer adults in their kindergarten
classroom. They will have to be patient and learn to raise their hand for their teacher’s attention.
Beyond good self-help skills, being able to listen and follow direction, sit still and pay
attention for 5-10 minutes, and some basic pre-literacy (recognition of some letters, recognizing and
maybe writing their name, matching some letters with the sounds they make) and pre-math skills
(basic counting, patterning, and categorizing) are all valuable but not mandatory.
One of the biggest things that teachers wish for are children who are eager learners – help
your child see that learning can be great fun! See #5 for great ideas.
5. My child is not writing yet, what should I do? It is true that in Kindergarten there is a strong
emphasis on literacy. However, for some children, fine motor development takes a little longer than
for others. Strong fine motor skills are the muscles in the hand and fingers that enable children to
grasp a pencil comfortably and firmly. Working to help children strengthen these muscles in the
hands is a good place to start. Here are some ideas:
• Playdough and clay offer resistance and help strengthen hands (use instruments like:
toothpicks to poke holes, scissors, popsicle sticks, rolling pins, cookie cutters, cupcake tins,
or even items from outdoors – get creative!)
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Set up a writing center in your house – stock it with envelopes, note cards, children’s
scissors, a hole punch, a stapler, tape dispenser, stickers, stamps, stamp pads, pencils, pens
etc. Using a hole punch, scissors and stapler are often fun for children particularly
uninterested in “writing”.
• Threading beads on string to make keychains, necklaces, or bracelets.
• Create authentic ways to practice writing – helping to make grocery lists, making signs for
their bikes outside, play restaurant and have them take orders, etc.
Rest assured that all children have unique paths of development – children (not adults) will decide
when they are ready for each developmental stage. Orrington has a fantastic literacy team – many
reading specialists are on staff full time to offer supports to all the Orrington children during the
years they are here.
6. What if my child cries when I leave? On the first day of school, the teachers stand at the head of
their lines with clearly written signs in hand. You are encouraged to walk your child directly to his
classroom line and greet his teacher. Many children set their backpack down in line and quickly
race to the playground. When the first bell rings, your child will quickly learn to return to their class
line. On the first day of school, this is where you will say goodbye. Teachers will lead their
classroom lines into the school. If your child is upset, his/her teacher will be there to help them
through the separation. Many years of experience teaching Kindergarten have taught the teachers
that predictability and consistency (rather than lingering or drawing out the separation) are the most
effective ways to help children through this transition.
Due to children working to establish trusting relationships with their teachers and learning
the routine of the day during this transitional time, teachers will ask that parents not visit classrooms
during the school day until after the first couple months of school are over. If you are interested in
sneaking a peek at your kindergartner during the day, volunteer to be a lunchroom helper – for more
information, see questions 15 and 16.
7. Will I be able to participate in the classroom? Around the end of October, after the children have
become comfortable with their new routine, the Kindergarten teachers will announce that they are
ready for parents to volunteer in the classroom. Some parents set up regular times every week to
volunteer. Extra hands are always solicited for various field trips and special events. In addition,
parents are needed as room representatives. These parents are essential in keeping lines of
communication open throughout the classroom and larger school community. Teachers and Room
Reps make all efforts to find ways of including all parents that are willing to volunteer and
participate in their child’s classroom.
8. How does drop off work at the beginning of the day? Morning playground supervision begins at
8:45. The bell rings for the kids to line up at 9:00. Kindergarten classes have specified areas where
their class will line up on the West (playground) side of the school. Your child’s teacher will meet
the class there and lead them into the building. If you are driving your child to school, you should
plan to drop them off on Monticello and the East side of the school along Orrington. The buses
drop off on the East side of the school along Orrington. Please see attached map.
In the event of inclement weather, children will go directly into the school at drop off and
do not line up outside. K-2 graders go to the gym where they will line up with their class, 3-5
grades in the auditorium.
9. How does the end of the day work? School officially ends at 3:35. Children’s teachers accompany
their students to the rear entrance where they are dismissed – teachers do not hand children directly
to a parent or caregiver so please be sure that someone is there! It can be helpful at the beginning of
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the year to choose a designated spot with your child where you will be waiting each day so they can
easily find you. Also, it is a good idea to have a backup adult who your child also knows in the
event that you are running late. Orrington has a great community of families who all help ensure
the safety of all the children – if you need help connecting with other families here at Orrington or
in your neighborhood, please contact members of the PTA or the Kindergarten Transition Team
(information at the end of this document.)
10. What if my child is going to ride the bus? You should receive a letter prior to the beginning of
the school year informing you of your child’s bus number and bus stop location if you signed up for
bus service at registration. If you do not receive a letter by the week before school, call the D65
transportation office at 847-859-8019. In the morning, bus riders are delivered to the east side of the
school where they can go to the playground to play (supervised by teachers) until the 9:05 bell.
After school, the kids line up by bus number and are escorted to their buses by the teachers. Make
sure your child knows his/her bus number! (Write it on their hand, backpack, whatever works for
them). You might want to consider utilizing a backpack tag system if bus ridership will be
inconsistent. Attach a “BUS” tag if she/he will be taking the bus. Attach a “PICK-UP” tag if you
will be picking your child up.
11. What if my child is sick or going to be late? For any type of absence, the parent or guardian is
required to call the Orrington Attendance Hotline at 847.859.8762. For an illness, leave a message
that provides the following information: student name, teacher name, parent/guardian’s name,
reason for absence, phone number where a parent/guardian can be reached that day. If your child is
going to be late, leave the same information except include whether or not he/she will be eating hot
or cold lunch. If your child becomes ill during the day, the school nurse will contact you to pick up
your child.
12. Where can I get my child’s school supplies? Most are available at Target, Office Depot, Staples,
Walgreen’s, Wal-Mart, etc. Your teacher will provide a current supplies list at the time of your inhome visit, which may include specific needs for your classroom. The entire class shares most
school supplies so you do not need to label each individual item with your child’s name. School
supplies are encouraged to be delivered at the time of your classroom Open House. The following
list contains the basic supplies required of every kindergarten student:
2015/2016 KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL SUPPLIES LIST:
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standard size backpack
gym shoes to be kept at school
3 large boxes of tissues
2 large rolls of paper towels
1 box of Ziploc bags - sandwich or large (zipper closure)
1 bottle of pump soap for washing hands or dish soap.
1 bottle of hand sanitizer
2 bottles of Clorox wipes
baby wipes (Ms. Wahle’s class)
1 complete change of clothes (shirts, shorts, pants, socks and underpants)
placed in a Ziploc bag w/your child’s name on it.
2 packages of low odor, fine point black dry erase markers
1 box of 24 Crayola crayons
3 boxes of Crayola washable markers
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2 4oz. bottle of Elmer’s white glue
1 package of colored pencils (sharpened)
2 packages of #2 pencils (sharpened)
13. What items do I need to label with my child’s name? As mentioned above, you will be asked to
provide an extra set of clothes. Your teacher will ask you to replace them based on season. You
should plan to clearly label with permanent marker all personal items: lunch bags, backpacks,
clothing items, including both gym shoes, both mittens, etc.
14. Where will my child eat lunch? Teachers will accompany the class to the lunchroom (at
Orrington, the gym is also used for lunch room purposes) with their lunches. The gym is divided
during this time so that the kindergartners eat separate from other grades and they arrive first. Each
class sits together. However, if your child has a peanut allergy, he/she will be able to sit at the
peanut free table. Any other type of food allergies or concerns regarding food allergies or epi-pens
should be discussed in advance with the school nurse, Ms. Robinson. Paid supervisors and parent
volunteers (see question #18) are present and help with opening containers, reminding kids to eat
and supervising on the playground after lunch. You can choose to purchase hot lunches and/or milk
or you can send a lunch from home. There is no refrigerator or microwaves for lunches. If desired,
invest in an insulated lunch bag and include a freezer pack and/or a thermos. Eating time is brief (20
minutes) so don’t pack too much food; start small (i.e. sandwich, GoGurt, grapes) and add more
food if your child requests. If you choose to buy lunch or milk, send a check (to District 65 Food
Service) or cash at the beginning of the year. Once school starts, you will have an opportunity to
start a food service account so you can send in money to cover a longer period of time.
15. Are kindergartners supervised during recess? Are they outside with other classes? Orrington
staff and kindergarten parent volunteers help to supervise recess on the playground. All
kindergarten and first grade classes have recess together. Helping out during lunch is a great way
not only to be involved in your child’s school but you will get a sneak peak of your child in action!
Corrie Kasprzycki is Orrington’s kindergarten lunch coordinator and will be looking to find several
volunteers to supervise lunch for the first two months of school (many parents sign up for one day
during the week). If you are interested in volunteering, Corrie can be contacted at
[email protected]
16. What do children do in the event of indoor recess? Orrington makes an effort to get children
outside as much as possible, even in the cold and the snow. Make sure your child brings cold
weather gear to school – snow pants, boots, hats, gloves, etc. If it’s raining or below 20 degrees
Fahrenheit, children will have indoor recess. As the gym is also used as the lunchroom,
administrators have had to get creative! During indoor recess, the kindergartners will have
supervised time inside where they can read, play board or card games, draw or color. Many parents
donate gently used games to supplement indoor recess supplies, and Orrington also has a “wish list”
of items needed on amazon.com. (If you are interested in making a donation via amazon, just select
“wish lists” on the home page and search for Orrington School. The list is under “indoor recess.”)
17. Are there other opportunities for my child to get involved at Orrington? There are a few
extracurricular activities at Orrington in which kindergartners can take part. An organization called
Right at School manages our before-school and after-school enrichment programs. Registration for
fall enrichments opens in the summer. You can visit the PTA website for more information:
www.orringtonpta.org. These programs require a fee but need-based scholarships are available.
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Most kindergarteners may not be ready (or have the energy) at the beginning of the year to have an
extended day, and the enrichments are offered throughout the year (fall, winter and spring sessions).
18. Are there opportunities for parents to get involved? Many opportunities will abound to get
involved in your child’s kindergarten classroom and in the larger school community. During the
first week of school, via the “Back-to-School Orator” (please thoroughly read this document!),
Friday Folders and PTA e-mail, opportunities will be available for various volunteer opportunities
within the larger school community such as Kindergarten Lunch, Room Parents, Book Nook,
Tutoring, and much more. Finding a place for yourself in one or more school volunteer activities is
a great way to get to know your new school community and to meet the kids (and the parents) you
and your child will be spending time with for the next several years!
All school events are listed on the Orrington calendar you will receive the first day of school. Here
are just a few activities that are offered throughout the year to all our families:
• Ice Cream Social
• Curriculum Night
• Celebrate Your Heritage
• Evening for the Arts Benefit
• Family Math Night
• International Arts Festival
• Winter Carnival
• All-School Talent Show
• Family Fun Run
19. What is the best way to communicate with my child’s teacher? Teachers are typically
accessible via e-mail or phone. Your child’s teacher will let you know her preferred method of
communication, and if she or he doesn’t, please ask.
20. How are things communicated within the school? At the end of each week your child will
receive a Friday Folder. This folder contains all the communications from the school, PTA,
community organizations, etc. that need to be shared within our community. The PTA also sends a
weekly email to update parents on school events. You can receive this weekly update by
registering your email on the Orrington PTA website. Go to www.orringtonpta.org and follow
the link to sign up for weekly PTA email updates.
21. Who do I contact if my child has special learning needs? Please contact your child’s teacher or
the school principal, Mr. Beaudoin.
Important Contact Information
• Orrington School Office: (847) 859-8780
• Orrington Safe Phone (to report absences or tardiness) (847) 859-8762
• Orrington Website: www.orrington.district65.net
• School Closings: (847) 859-8212 or www.district65.net
We hope this information makes your transition to kindergarten smoother. If you have further questions or
concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, or a member of the Kindergarten Transition
Team (a PTA group of parent volunteers). Chances are, someone else is wondering the same thing! And
you can always contact the PTA Co-Presidents, who work hard to be accessible and available to all
families, new and returning.
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Kindergarten Transition Team
Corrie Kasprzycki
[email protected]
Liz Finnamore
[email protected]
Phuong Lee
[email protected]
Keri & Chris Hotaling
[email protected]
Kiera Madden
[email protected]
Kindergarten Lunch Volunteer Coordinator
Corrie Kasprzycki
[email protected]
PTA Co-Presidents
Jacqueline Blom
Kristin O’Connor
[email protected]
[email protected]
We are so happy to welcome you to Orrington. Have a great year!
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PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Orrington Drop-off & Pick-up Procedures
General Procedures for Drop Off and Pick Ups
All students will meet on the playground prior to the start of the school day. Students can arrive
between 8:45 and 9:00 am.
Students riding the bus will be dropped off on Orrington Avenue (near the Orrington/ Clinton
corner) and be directed to the school playground via the Clinton Place entrance.
Parents who drive their kids to school are welcome to park legally and walk their kids to the
playground.
Students are dismissed from school at 3:35 pm.
Bus riding students will be dismissed through the school’s main entrance to load buses waiting on
Orrington Avenue (near the Orrington/Clinton corner).
Non-bus riding students will be dismissed to the playground.
Cars may use Orrington Avenue (north of the main entrance) as a drop-off or pick-up staging area.
Please remember that the area south of the main entrance (between the main entrance and Clinton
Place) must remain clear for bus parking. Please also remember that when a bus has the “Stop Arm”
extended, cars are not to pass the bus.
Cars may use the south side of Monticello Avenue (by the playground entrance) as a drop- off or
pick-up staging area - this area is NOT available for parking, so please ensure that it is used for
quick drop off and pick up only.
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To ease the flow of traffic, drivers must approach the school by driving EAST on Monticello Avenue
(from Ridge Avenue) and should not turn onto Monticello from Orrington Street. It is ILLEGAL to
drive west on Monticello Avenue between the hours of 8:30-9:30am and 3-4pm as this is a DO NOT
ENTER street during these peak school hours.
FOR SAFETY REASONS: Cars should NOT use Clinton Place to pick up or drop off students. This
street is not a through street and is an area used by many of our students when walking to and from
school; and cars should not park or otherwise block crosswalk.
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PTA-Sponsored All-School Events
Parent Coffee - After drop-off on the first day of school, the PTA provides coffee and snacks on the
playground for parents and families.
Ice Cream Social – Held in the evening during the first week of school, the ice cream social is a fun way to
meet and greet families at the start of a new school year.
Scholastic Book Fair – Each October the Scholastic Book Fair is held in the school library. This is the
main source of funding for our school library. Proceeds benefit our classrooms and our school library.
Harvest Festival - PTA volunteers and the garden committee provide tasty treats in the fall made with
produce from the Orrington Centennial Garden for students and their families.
Celebrate Your Heritage Dinner – This special event brings our wonderfully diverse community together
to share in what is truly a feast, enjoying foods from the various ethnicities represented at Orrington.
Family Math Night – Families gather at Orrington to play math games and enjoy time together at school.
Evening for the Arts – This enjoyable adult event is our largest fundraiser of the year and helps support
Curriculum Enrichment programs.
International Arts Festival - Families celebrate Orrington’s diverse population through a variety of arts
and craft projects from around the world, led by members of our community.
Family Bingo – An inclusive event that brings families together to spend a fun winter afternoon playing
Bingo.
Winter Carnival – The PTA holds its annual carnival with games, food, and entertainment. This
important community event is tons of fun and helps raise funds for our school.
Talent Show – This exciting and entertaining event held in the spring gives our students an opportunity to
demonstrate their skills and talent in a safe, welcoming environment.
Family Fun Run and Picnic – This family event brings our entire community together during the last few
weeks of school for an evening of exercise and a community barbecue.
PTA Curriculum Support Programs
Grade-Level Enrichment: The PTA funds enrichment programs for every grade in the school. Some
programs include the 2nd grade visiting author, 3rd grade “Critters” unit and trip to The Grove in Glenview,
4th grade Illinois Woodlands Project at the Chicago Botanic Garden, and 5th grade Art Project gift to the
school.
Book Nook: This is a discounted school book store that students visit once a month during the school day.
This is a chance for kids to select a book of their choosing, encouraging their enthusiasm for reading. New
books are $2 and used books are $0.50. You can also “trade-in” books for a $0.50 credit. We ask families
to send about $10-15 in the beginning of the year for their child’s account.
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Fluency Tutoring: Volunteers are trained in a specific tutoring technique that provides support to teachers
in their classroom reading fluency curriculum. Volunteers then work with one classroom teacher, one-onone with 2-4 students throughout the school year.
Community Garden: Orrington has a school garden that grows flowers and vegetables, has a green roof
shed and composting. It is maintained by parent volunteers and acts as a wonderful outdoor classroom with
garden curriculum programs run at each grade level.
Battle of the Books: This is a District 65 program where 4th and 5th graders read a collection of books and
then get tested on their knowledge of the books. Each school sends 3 representatives to the district-wide
competition.
Birthday Books: Every student is given the opportunity to contribute $10 and donate a book to the school
library in their name during the month of their birthday.
PTA CommUNITY Programs
COPE: Caring Outreach for Parents in Evanston is a community network of volunteers at each school that
provides assistance for families who have needs related to safety, sustenance or shelter. This could include
cooking meals for a family with a parent suffering from health issues, donating baby gear to expecting
parents, or helping pay rent for a family who lost a job. Requests are made via e-mail to parents who are
interested in donating goods, services or money.
ESCCA: Evanston School Children’s Clothing Association provides clothing for District 65 students in
need. It is an all-volunteer network that accepts clothing donations as well as help organizing the ESCCA
store.
Service Team: The service team helps coordinate the 5th grade service project which has traditionally been
a can drive to benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository. This involves getting the students to create
posters to put around the school, as well as collecting and sorting the donations.
Teacher Appreciation: During teacher appreciation week we organize decorations (typically every
classroom decorates their door) and meals to show our teachers how grateful we are for everything they do.
SchoolKidz School Supplies: Every year we give families the option of pre-ordering school supply kits
based on their incoming grade’s school supply list. School kits are then delivered to the school and
distributed.
Room Representatives: Every classroom needs several room representatives to help the teachers with
classroom events and help the PTA and school communicate with each class about important school news
and events.
ESL: Orrington is one of the Evanston schools that has an English as Second Language Program and the
ESL coordinators help build a sense of community and assist ESL families with any questions or help they
need.
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PTA Fundraising Activities
Evening for the Arts: This is our annual fundraising party and auction that raises money for our gradelevel curriculum support programs. The goal of this fun, adults evening out is to raise $20,000
Scholastic Book Fair: This 1-week fair coincides with the fall parent-teacher conferences and gives all
families the opportunity to buy books for themselves, or donate books from their teacher’s wishlist for the
classroom. All money raised benefits the school library.
Spiritwear: The PTA designs and sells Orrington clothing for students and grown-ups alike – including tshirts, pajamas, sweatshirts and magnets.
Buy-in Parties: Buy-in parties are events/activities sponsored by the PTA or our families and require
families to pay to participate. These can be adult-only events (ie: wine-tasting party, poker night) or
children’s events (school sleep-under, craft parties) and all money helps fund PTA programs
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