All About Kindergarten 2017 -18 Parent Informational Meeting

All About Kindergarten 2017 -18 Parent Informational Meeting January 26, 2017

Agenda v Introductions v Presentation v Questions v Tour

Introductions S Principal: Mrs. Margaret St. Claire S Kindergarten Team: Eileen Chirhart, Nell Ireland, Mandy Noble, Katie O’Brien, Erin Peckler, Jody Powell, Lynn Perschke, Sally Verden S Office Administrative Assistant: Alice Wegener S District Administrators: Superintendent: Dr. Jean Sophie, Director of Student Services, Technology & Assessment: Dr. Kevin Rubenstein, Assistant Principal: Ms. Tracy Roehrick, Curriculum Coordinator/Teacher Leader: Mrs. Kellie Bae

Just the Facts v Lake Bluff Elementary - Grades K-5 and Early Childhood Ages 3 & 4 v Current enrollment - 570 v Half Day and Full Day Kindergarten classes v Currently - 4 Full day & 1 Half day (a. m. ) v Average Kindergarten Class Size - 19 v Half Day Kindergarten Size - 14

Who Works with My Child? S Kindergarten Team - Classroom teachers and teacher assistants (in some cases) S Specialists - Library/Media, Reading, Math, Social Work, Special Education, ELL, Speech and Language, and Technology S Specials teachers - Wellness, Music, Art, Drama, Technology & Spanish

What Happens in Full Day Kindergarten? S 6. 5 hours S Comprehensive Curriculum including: Literacy, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and Social Emotional Learning. S Specials including: Wellness (5 x per week), Music (2 x per week), Spanish (2 x per week), Art (1 x per week), Library (1 x per week), Technology (1 x per week) S Lunch/recess at school S Practice and Enrichment

What Happens in Half Day Kindergarten? v 3. 5 hours v Core curriculum including: Literacy, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and Social Emotional Learning. v Specials including: Wellness (2 x per week), Music (2 x per week), Spanish (2 x per week) & Library (1 x per week), Technology (1 x per week) v Some practice and enrichment v Lunch at home

Differentiated Instruction S Children do not learn the same things at the same time in the same way. S Specialists support teachers in differentiated learning activities to meet the needs of individual students.

Child-Centered Classrooms v Children’s original artwork and classwork are displayed throughout the classroom, establishing student ownership in their learning environment. v Supplies are easily accessible and shared. v Furniture/materials are age-appropriate. v Space for designated activities are varied throughout the classroom. v SMARTboards are located in each classroom, as well as individual access to i. Pads. v Designated “nut-free” classrooms.

Literacy v Books are read throughout the day and are cross- curricular in nature. v Classrooms are filled with a variety of literature: books, posters, songs, poetry, signs, labels. v Children learn the alphabet, letter sounds and academic vocabulary in everyday activities. v Writing is integrated throughout daily activities, as well as being explicitly taught.

Math v Math instruction is provided daily. v Math activities include: Number Corner, math lessons and math workplaces. v Children have “hands on” math opportunities each day. v Language activities are integrated as student discuss strategies for learning math concepts.

Lunch/Recess v Full day students eat lunch in the cafeteria. v Students may bring their lunch or order hot lunch through Kiddos Catering. v Students sit with their classroom for lunch. v Peanut Free tables are provided. v Students have recess on the Kindergarten playground after lunch each day.

Busy! v Children learn through play and a variety of enriching hands-on experiences and research based learning/teaching strategies. v Children play with blocks, puzzles, paint, manipulatives, dress up and kitchen items and other “free choice” activities. v Children learn positive interaction skills and how to get along with peers. v Children have time to explore, imagine, and create. v They all learn by doing and discovering!

Kindergarten Playground v Children play outside everyday, weather permitting. We play outside in the winter if wind chills are above 5, so dress warmly! v At LBES, Kindergarten and First Grade students use the North Playground, at separate recess times. v The North Playground is securely fenced and gated. v Developmentally appropriate equipment is available to the students. v There is direct access to the playground from most classrooms.

Kindergarten Transportation v Children can either take the bus or be dropped off at LBES. v Kindergarten students sit at the front of the bus. v Half Day K students ride the morning bus with all students. There is a bus that leaves at 11: 40 a. m. to bring them home. v Full Day K students have 5 th grade buddies who walk them to the bus or pick up area. v Students may also attend ARC, the after school care program at the park district. ARC brings the students to and from LBES.

Getting Ready… S Personal Care- Uses toilet appropriately and knows basic hygiene. Recognizes possessions, puts toys away when asked, ties shoes, eats independently. S Social Skills - Works with others, listens to adults, follows rules, understands 2 step directions. S Intellectual Skills- Shows interest in books, knows some songs or rhymes, recognizes letters, can tell about an experience, expresses ideas with drawing, knows first and last name.

Key to Success at LBES v Rest- Children need lots of sleep! v Nutrition- Breakfast is very important v Healthy Bodies-Fresh air and exercise v Creative and free play v Emphasize successes

Keys to Success at LBES v Please have your child to school on time. v Please send a note for schedule changes. v Please keep a sick child at home until fever free for 24 hours. Communicate any health concerns or issues with our school nurse, Mrs. Balling. Medical, vision and dental exams need to be complete. v Please encourage good hygiene.

How Can I Prepare My Child? v Read with your child everyday. v Expose your child to the world: library, zoo, museums, parks. v Discuss good choices. v Talk about Kindergarten.

Encourage PAWS Behavior v P= Practice Kindness v A= Act Responsibly v W= Welcome Challenges v S= Show respect It’s an easy recipe to follow!

What’s Next? S Register S February 7 th, 2017 S Park District 8: 00 a. m. – 12: 00 p. m. S LBES 4: 00 p. m. – 7: 00 p. m. S Proof of residency (birth certificate & 3 proofs of residency) District office after 2/7/17 S S Week of March 20 th: Letter regarding April screening dates will be mailed. S Screening Dates–April 21 st & 28 th S Submit Medical and Dental forms at screening

Kindergarten Fees v Fees will be established by Board of Education and will be $2650 for the 2017 -18 school year. v Parents will be asked to select a preference of full or half day kindergarten, by May 1 st. v Class placements are based on needs and strengths identified in the kindergarten screening v Payment options: v Pay all fees by May 1 st v Pay $100 deposit and begin a short term payment plan with payments due May 1 st and June 1 st. v Pay a $200 deposit and begin long-term payment plan with payments due June 1 st, July 1 st, August 1 st, and August 15 th

School Supplies v Be sure to watch/listen for an alert via School Messenger. v Once alert is given, school supplies may be purchased in kits through the district website or on your own. v Please do not label the school supplies.

Summer School S Eileen Chirhart will share information regarding Summer School

Questions?

Thanks for coming! We look forward to a great 2017 -18 school year with you and your child! Please visit our website: www. lb 65. org