Memorial Elementary School Kindergarten Orientation Presented by Giovanni

Memorial Elementary School Kindergarten Orientation Presented by: Giovanni Giancaspro, Principal June 6, 2013

Interim-Superintendent of Schools Mr. John Petrelli High Mountain Middle School Principal Mrs. Melissa Tait Memorial Elementary School Principal: Mr. Giancaspro Supervisor of Special Services Mrs. Sharon Cubicciotti Memorial Elementary School Secretary: Mrs. Pezzuti

North Haledon School District’s PTO President Mrs. Michele Manning

Kindergarten Screening Letter/Results

Screening Categories • Speech & Language – Expressive – Receptive – Voice • Kindergarten Screening Skills – Letters – Parts of the Body – Gross & Fine Motor Skills – Person Identification Skills – Following Directions

1. Kindergarten Handbook 2. Kindergarten Readiness 3. Early Communication Development 4. North Haledon Special Service Parental Packets Memorial Elementary School Summer 2013

Kindergarten Philosophy Kindergarten is the start of an exciting learning journey. The kindergarten classroom offers a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for all children.

• • • Children are active learners. They learn best when allowed to: play create investigate explore predict learn from one another and their environment.

Kindergarten teachers promote discovery and self-awareness in all areas of development to meet the needs of each student. • • Social Emotional Physical Creative and Cognitive

The Kindergarten curriculum provides children with a variety of opportunities to try out new ideas and be challenged by new experiences that engage emerging readers, writers, scientists, mathematicians, and artists. We want our students to be confident, love learning, and be successful in a classroom community.

We begin your child’s journey together with one vision. Student Success!

Partnership: Home & School The Important Parent

Parents are the first teachers in a child’s education. The partnership between families and school is critical to a child’s success. We share in your excitement as we embark on this learning journey together.

What to do and expect from now until fall…

Preparing for Learning • Read to your child for 10 – 20 minutes • • • daily. Ask questions about the story. Help your child use the illustrations to predict story events. Practice counting objects to 30. Use mathematical language – more than, less than, fewer, greater, above, below. Use positional words – over, under, above, below, behind, in back of, beside, next to.

Read and discuss books that talk about starting school – The Kissing Hand By: Audrey Penn – Tom Goes to Kindergarten By: Margaret Wild – Look Out Kindergarten By: Nancy Carlson – I’ll Always Come Back By: Steve Metzger

Develop your child’s background knowledge • Experiences in the real world give background knowledge that enhances reading, writing, and speaking. • Use rich language to develop your child’s vocabulary. Explain words that may be new to your child.

Develop School Readiness • Practice good hygiene habits • Help build strong listening skills – teach your child to follow multi-step directions. • Develop self-help skills: ü Putting on and zipping up jackets ü Packing and unpacking backpacks and folders ü Participating in preparing and packing snack and lunch

Kindergarten, Here I Come! • • • Letters and Words Language Skills Motor Skills Reading Books Numbers, Shapes and Patterns Growing Up

Literacy is so important! We strongly encourage you to work on the following skills with your child over the next few months…

Letters and Words • Recognizes and names at least 15 of the capital letters • Recognizes his/her own first name in print • Writes his/her own first name • Recognizes words/signs seen often (ie. Mc. Donalds, Walmart, STOP, EXIT, etc. )

Family Literacy Activities – Can detect rhyming words (ie. I want you to tell me if two words rhyme. Words that rhyme sound like each other at the end. Listen carefully to the words: hat, cat. Do these words rhyme? ) • Sorts groups of objects (size, shape, color, etc. ) • Tells things that go together (ie. Spoon and fork are for eating, fish and boat are in the water, cow and pig are farm animals) • Recognizes & names at least 8 colors • Uses words to express feelings (I’m happy. I’m sad. )

Language Skills • Speaks in complete sentences • Follows directions with at least 2 steps • Asks “what if” and “how” questions about how things work • Says and/or sings familiar songs and nursery rhymes • Answers simple questions (who, what, where, when) in complete sentences • Tells his/her first and last name and how old he/she is

Motor Skills • • Puts puzzles together Can draw a circle and square Draws pictures to express ideas Runs, jumps, hops, throws/kicks/ bounces a ball • Cuts with scissors

Reading Books • Shows interest in reading and being read to • Holds the books appropriately and understands that you read a book from front to back and left to right • Retells a simple story such as Three Little Pigs or other familiar books • After listening to a story, tells what might happen next

What You Can Do… “Reading aloud to your little ones helps their minds to grow strong. Reading to children on a regular basis helps them to develop the skills necessary to learn to read on their own … paving the way for success in school and throughout life!” Reach Out and Read, St. Alphonsus Medical Group

Numbers, Shapes and Patterns • Counts from 1 -20 • Recognizes numbers from 1 -10 • Counts at least 5 objects

Growing Up • Takes care of his/her own needs – Toileting, washing hands, dressing • Adjusts to new situations without family members being there • Plays cooperatively with peers – Takes turns, resolves problems • Respects the feelings, rights and belongings of others

The time you and your child spend together doing these activities will help your child say with confidence… “Kindergarten, Here I Come!”

Implementation of the Common Core Standards

Kindergarten Math Standards Counting & Cardinality Operations & Algebraic Thinking Number & Operations in Base Ten Measurement & Data Geometry

Kindergarten Language Arts Literacy Standards Reading Literature Reading Informational Text Reading Using Foundational Skills Writing Speaking & Listening Language

Kindergarten Curriculum Mathematics: Envision Math Series Language Arts: Balance Literacy Program

What does a full day kindergarten program look like?

Sample Full Day Schedule Morning Routines: Unpacking Morning Meeting: Greeting, Share, Activity, Morning Message Literacy Instruction (Reading: Phonics, Word Study, Reader’s Workshop, Mini-Lesson, Read- Aloud, Shared Reading, Guided Reading, Independent Reading, Whole-Small-Whole Learning, Conferencing) Making Text to Text, Self, and World Connections Literacy Instruction (Vocabulary, Writer’s Workshop, Mini-Lesson, Modeled Writing, Guided Writing, Independent Writing, Conferencing) Snack Lunch/Recess: Kindergarten Classes Only Learning Centers: (Literacy, Math, Social Studies, Science, Fine Motor, Social Skills) Mathematics: Envision Math (Interactive Math Mats, Smart. Board Technology, Center Activities, Differentiated Skills) Specials (Art, Music, Library, Computer Lab, PE, Whole Class Enrichment) Themed Activities: (Science, Social Studies, Holiday, Character Education) Choice Centers Free Play: Developmental Play Pack Up/Dismissal

School Supplies • • • Large, sturdy backpack (no long straps) List mailed in August Sturdy shoes everyday! (Playground) Sneakers for gym (no flip-flops) Clothing for art class Easy to open containers for snack/lunch

Snacks and Lunch • Two healthy snacks • Bring or buy lunch • Mascio’s Food Service/ Café Prepay

Volunteering • In the classroom: q Centers q Mystery Readers q Classroom Projects q Room Parents • Join the PTO!!

Drop-Off/Pick-Up Procedures • • • Drop-Off: 8: 15 am - Upon arrival, students in Kindergarten will proceed through the front doors of Memorial School and proceed directly to their classrooms were they will sit outside of their classrooms where a Kindergarten teacher will be on duty. Pick-Up: 2: 59 pm - Car pick-up via car line, 2: 49 pm - Bus students will be brought to black top dismissal area, and 2: 59 pm - walkers line up in front of the school with car pickup students to be delivered to parent/guardian. Little Steps To Learning: 2: 49 pm Students will be dismissed to Little Steps Personnel inside Memorial School and brought to aftercare location.

Safety on the Bus • All Kindergarteners are met upon arrival at school • Kindergarteners sit in first two or three rows • Students will receive bus safety rules • Bus Aide on buses in the afternoon • Parents can help by: ü Discussing and reinforcing rules

Kindergarten Safety Town • 5 sessions: q 9: 30 – 12: 30 • • August 13 th – August 17 th Sign up now!!! Learn about school safety Children will see the school and a Kindergarten classroom • Wonderful way for students to meet their Kindergarten peers and start friendships. • Confidence builder

During the Spring/Summer • Sign up for Safety Town • Turn all registration paper work into the office. • Complete health paper work return to Mrs. Linde our school nurse. (Children need to have a physical completed by a doctor, prior to the first day of school. )

Late summer families will receive… • • Class Placement Letter (Mailed In August) Details About The Beginning of School Bus Information PTO Information School Directory Pick-up/Drop-off Procedures Student/Parent Handbook

Important Dates • Safety Town: Monday, August 12 th-16 th, 2013, 9: 30 a. m. • First day of school: Tuesday, September 4, 2013 (Students) • Back-To-School Night: Wednesday, September 24, 2013 7: 00 – 8: 30 p. m. • Parent-Teacher Conferences: November 18 th-22 nd, 2013, (Single Session Days) • School hours: 8: 35 a. m. – 2: 59 p. m.

Thank you for coming to our Kindergarten Orientation. We look forward to having you at Memorial Elementary School.