Welcome To Madison Elementary February 23 2016

Welcome To Madison Elementary February 23, 2016

Welcome to Madison Elementary • We are glad you are here… – To begin a partnership with our learning community – To create a successful school experience for your child

Who is on your TEAM? • Principal…Christi Whitter & James Polk • Teachers…Jessica Armentrout, Stephanie Brady, Natalie Nelson, and Beth Hanson • Secretaries… Jenny Daniels, Melissa Billings • School Counselor… Tina Mc. Leod • PARENTS…each and everyone of YOU • PTA…Kim Milford, our President …Plus many other dedicated staff members who will work with and nurture your child’s school experience.

Enrollment Packet • Tonight, must return Home Language Survey (yellow). • You may submit All Day K request form, but if you need additional time turn it in later. • All other forms complete at home and return to school at your convenience prior to April 25 th.

OPTIONS • All Day Kindergarten – 8: 25 – 3: 25 each day school is in session – Tuition-based fee of $2450 for year – Notified first week of May if placed in All Day Kindergarten – Advanced payment of $560 due by July 15 th – Forms to request All Day available tonight, must be turned in to office by March 11 th. • Half day Kindergarten – 8: 25 – 11: 25 or 12: 25 – 3: 25 – Same curriculum & outcomes • Johnson County Parks & Recreation – Extended Kindergarten program – $138. 00 two weeks (before and after school additional fee)

Child Care & P. A. T. • USD #231 Parents As Teachers is a free, voluntary early learning program for parents of children ages birth to three years. Contact Vicky Harmon at 856 -3035 for more information. • Searching for child care? Try the following web sites: www. daycareconnetion. org www. thefamilyconservancy. org

TIMELINE • Kindergarten Rodeo At Madison April 25 th • Enrollment packets may be turned in beginning February 23 rd through April 25 th • Fees need to be paid prior to first day of school (Instructional Materials Fee $70, food account) • Typically notification of your child’s class assignment (via mail) takes place during the last week of July. Meet The Teacher Night & Back To School Parent Information Night dates and times also shared in the letter. – First Day of School for Kindergartners is August 12 th.

Kindergarten Rodeo April 25 th • April 25 th each hour starting at 8: 30. • 45 minute session where your child can visit the classroom, listen to a story and do some fun activities. Parents may wait in the library, turn in enrollment paperwork, and ask any questions they may have. • Call the office at 856 -0400 to reserve a slot, or sign up tonight.

What Do I Need To Have My Child Enrolled? • Copy of your child’s state birth certificate (must be 5 on or by August 31 st) • Immunization records & physical • Proof of residency (contract, bill, etc. ) • Information for enrollment papers: * emergency contact numbers * parent information * doctor’s name, address & phone * child’s social security #

Madison Elementary Parent Teacher Association President Kim Milford

What does the PTA do for my child? Provides homework folders, a welcome gift and book for each student. Provides refreshments at school events such as musicals, meet the teacher night and the talent show. Provides items for homework parties, drug prevention awareness and teacher appreciation. Helps offset costs of field trips Provides fun, educational school assemblies and inflatables and treats for field day. Provides family events such as chili-bingo night and a carnival.

Other Student Benefits There are three decades worth of academic studies that show that kids do better in class, test scores are improved and attendance increases when parents are involved. Involved Parents = Successful Students

What does the PTA do for parents? Get Connected. There’s no better way to know what’s happening in our school. Tap into a Network. PTA provides opportunities to meet other parents and teachers, build rapport and discuss issues that are on your mind. Watch yourself Grow. By volunteering with PTA, you gain valuable experiences and personal confidence. It’s an opportunity to put your skills and hobbies to good use for a good cause. Be a Role Model. By becoming a PTA member, you’ll be demonstrating to your child the importance you place on education.

How is PTA funded? Collecting Box Tops, Campbell's, and Always Save labels. Yearly silent auction Yearly student sales fundraiser Dues, donations, ad sales, spirit wear

Immunization Requirements • Your child cannot start on the first day of school unless has all required immunizations!! ***Date to remember: August 13 th to have immunizations on file with school • Questions/concerns about immunizations? Please contact me so able to discuss ahead of time before deadlines approach

Physicals • Documentation of most recent physical or “well child check. ” Must be done on/after August 13 th, 2015. Performed by doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant. No chiropractors! • 90 day grace period from first day of school ***Date to remember: November 10 th to have physical on file with school • On first day of school, I must have physical or signed “Health Assessment Statement. ”

Student health information • Thorough details are very helpful! • This information is confidential and is not shared with any teachers/staff unless “need to know” for care of student • Some health conditions require action plans.

Parental Consent for Medications At School • Things I can offer without parent consent: mints, Vaseline, saline eye drops, regular lotion (ex: Jergens, Aquaphor, etc. ) • Things I can give with parent consent: Tylenol/Acetaminophen, Motrin/Ibuprofen, lotions/creams (Neosporin, hydrocortisone, Calamine), cough drops, Tums • Need doctor AND parent consent for any med not listed above. This includes OTC cough/cold/ allergy meds and ALL prescription meds

Health Action Plans • Must be signed by parent AND doctor for treatment of food allergies, asthma, seizures, diabetes • Emergency medication kept at school: inhaler, nebulizer, Benadryl, Epi Pen, seizure med, insulin/supplies • Please bring medication and completed action plan to school ASAP at start of school year!! • If student has one of these conditions but no action needed at school, please let me know as FYI

Food allergies Please contact me specifically if: • Your child has a severe or life threatening food allergy and needs precautions taken in the classroom to decrease exposure (example: peanut free room) • Your child needs modifications to schoolprovided meals (breakfast, lunch) or milk substitution (examples: milk allergy, gluten free diet)

District website resources www. usd 231. com Click on “Parent information” then “Health Services” • District medication policy • Student wellness policy (when to keep your child home if sick) • Downloadable forms that were discussed today

Contact Information Tina Kunz, BSN, RN • Phone (913) 856 -0450 • Fax (913) 856 -0490 • Email: kunzc@usd 231. com Madison Elementary main line: (913) 856 -0400

Is my child ready? • Only you can answer this question. Look at what most in-coming Kindergartners can do and talk with your child’s current teacher or daycare provider when making this decision. • The social skills and maturity of your child are indicators of their readiness for school.

What Can Most Beginning Kindergartners Do? o Rote count to 25 o o Recognize their letters and numbers o o Produce letter sounds o o Recognize and produce o rhyming words o Basic 2 D and 3 D shapes o o Use a computer mouse o o Write their first name o (first letter capital, rest lower case) o o Recognize their name in o print o Hold a pencil correctly o o Work comfortably with scissors, glue, markers, etc. o Count up to 20 objects Cooperate with others, resolve basic conflicts Wait their turn and share Play simple games Say their birthday and other personal information Dress independently Listen to a story Look at pictures and tell a story about that picture Retell stories they have heard Follow one and two step directions. Distinguish differences in size, shape, and quantity

Self- help • Encourage your child to be as independent as possible. • Let him/her choose own clothes, get dressed by self, and decide what is needed for the next day. • At school, your child should hang up coat and backpack, get drinks, and use bathroom independently (snap, button, zip. ) • Your child will need to express his/her needs and ask for help.

Social Skills • In Kindergarten, it will help your child to know how to greet a classmate, initiate a play activity, and compromise during play. • Children need to see examples of people working out problems. They need to take turns and share. All children need to respect the personal space of others.

The First Day • Discuss the routine of your new morning. Talk about what you will be doing as well as some things your child might do at school. • Decide what your good-bye routine will be. Talk about it and stick to it. This will help your child know what to expect. • Say, “I will miss you and know you will miss me, too, but I’m excited about all the fun things you’ll do in Kindergarten today. Remember, I will be outside when school is over, ready to take you home and we can talk about our days. ” (Then SMILE!) • After you are in your seat, I will give you a giant hug and a kiss before I say good-bye. See you after school. (SMILE!) * Say good-bye and leave. Don’t linger! If you need the teacher to intervene, ask. Many children cry for a few minutes, but are quickly caught up in the class activities.

Helpful Hints For The First Days • Please park in designated parking places (no parking in circle drive. ) • Teachers will walk children to the bus and to the front circle drive. Please wait for your child outside the front door. • You will receive lots of information - please check your child’s backpack daily. If you have a question, your may wish to leave a voice or e-mail message for your child’s teacher or call the front office – arrival and dismissal are hectic times to talk to the teacher. • Questions regarding bus transportation should be directed to First Student at 856 -5650.

Typical Day • Opening Activities & Transitioning 20 minutes (full day 30 minutes) • Language Arts (reading, writing, listening) 40 minutes (full day 90 minutes) • Mathematics 30 minutes (full day 60 minutes) • Specials (Music, PE, Library, Computer) 30 minutes (full day 60 minutes) • Learning Stations 30 minutes (full day 60 minutes) • Science & Social Studies 30 minutes (full day 60 minutes) * Full day has 30 minute lunch & 30 minute quiet time

What To Expect • Your child’s teacher will share information regarding the typical class schedule and curriculum during “Meet The Teacher” along with classroom newsletters. • Within the month of August your child will be assessed (DIBELS, MAP, etc. ). The information from these assessments will be shared at conferences and used to measure the progress your child is making throughout the year. • Children respond to beginning school in various ways – some are excited and eager while others may be hesitant and shy. There is no right or wrong response for children. Your encouragement and positive approach is important. Remember to talk with your child’s teacher, or principal (Christi Whitter) if you have concerns. • Listen to your child as they share about their day, however remember the perspective of a five year old is sometimes unique! • Ask specific questions about your child’s day to get the best answers.

The Parents Role o Find out what your child has learned and needs to learn. o Review the Kindergarten curriculum. o Expand learning outside the classroom. o Communicate and work with the teacher when your child is having difficulties. o Read school information and class newsletters. o Return papers promptly. o Work on projects and Kindergarten skills at home. o Understand solve school-related problems. o Foster friendships and build your child’s social skills. o Remember to empty your child’s backpack on a regular basis and talk about what is inside. o Get involved however you can with the school. o Motivate your child to do and be the best he/she can!

Helpful Hints For Parents • Attend Parent Teacher Conferences - remember to ask if there is something you can reinforce at home. • Support your child’s completion of homework by clarifying directions, providing adequate time, and encouraging your child to do his/her best. • No homework? Be sure to take time to review skills even if the teacher does not assign specific work. • Schedule a time to visit with the teacher as soon as you notice a problem. Remember, the teacher wants your child to succeed! • Label your child’s outer clothing. • Keep toys and other distracting items at home. • Call the teacher and ask questions you may have. The principal will typically ask if you’ve contacted the teacher when sharing concerns. • Work with your child’s teacher to resolve concerns. Do not hesitate to communicate with the teacher.

Activities To Help Prepare Your Child For Kindergarten • ü ü ü ü Large Motor Play catch Simon Says Ride bikes (with helmet!) Swing Rollerblade (with helmet and pads!) Walk backwards Stand on one foot Dance Obstacle Course Hike Bean Bags Animal Movements Monkey Bars Hop & skip Jump over objects

Activities To Help Prepare Your Child For Kindergarten • ü ü ü ü Small Motor Writing Using silverware Stringing beads Coloring Puzzles Hammer pegs/nails Finger puppets Turn pages Block building Cutting & Gluing Fingerpaint Play-dough Markers Board games Dressing

Activities To Help Prepare Your Child For Kindergarten • Literacy ü Develop a home library (books, magazines, dictionary, etc. ) ü Be a good reading model ü Continue to read to your child (even after they learn to read) ü Get a library card for your child ü Show we use reading (looking up addresses, cooking, signs, etc. ) ü Practice alphabet and sounds letters make ü Leave notes for your children ü Write or draw (thank you notes, grocery list, etc. ) ü Dictate stories ü Play word games (rhyming, what starts with __, synonym & antonym, etc. ) ü Do lots of rhyming (Dr. Seuss is great!) ü When reading, do picture walks and “cloze” activities ü “Think Aloud” as you read to your child ü Ask questions about what is being read ü Practice writing letters with correct ”form”

Activities To Help Prepare Your Child For Kindergarten • ü ü ü ü Mathematics Sort objects (size, color, shape, etc. ) Patterns (find them and create them) Counting objects Matching numerals with number of objects Act out math problems, have children create verbal problems Measuring (have your child help with cooking) Practice writing numerals, use correct “form” Go on a shape “hunt” Play with a calculator Start saving money (sort, count, etc. ) Look for numbers every day (around the house, when shopping, etc. ) Get a clock for your child (digital and analog) and start discussing times within daily routine Estimate (i. e. “How many fries do you think you have on your plate? ”, then count) Different kinds of counting (by ones, fives, tens, etc. )

Language Arts Beginning of the year: o Recognize letters o Produce letter sounds o Recognize and produce rhyming words o Recognize & write their first name (first letter capital, rest lower case) o Book skills (left to right, one -to-one correspondence) o Building interest in books o Retelling stories from pictures o Reading “patterned” language books End of the year: o Knows all letter sounds & tries to sound words out o Writes complete thoughts o Spell simple words phonetically and writes letters for most consonant and short-vowel sounds o Knows 40 or more sight words o Can segment sounds in words o Write all upper and lowercase letters from memory (out of order) o Identify characters, settings and major events in a story o Uses capitalization, spaces and punctuation when writing sentences.

Math Beginning of the year: o Rote count to 25 o Recognize and write numbers 0 -10 o Identify basic 2 D and 3 D shapes o Count up to 20 objects o Identifies greater than, less than and equal to o Counts forward from a given number o Sort objects into categories End of the year: o Rote count to 100 o Recognize and write numbers 0 -20 o Compare 2 D & 3 D shapes o Adds to 10 using manipulatives o Subtracts from 10 using manipulatives o Solves addition and subtraction word problems o Understands place value for numbers 11 -19 o Draw and create 2 D and 3 D shapes o Describes and compares measurable attributes of objects (bigger, heavier, shorter, etc. )

KEYS TO SUCCESS • • • Encourage reading anyway you can! Make math a part of everyday life! Treat your child as though he/she is an author! Teach your child to listen! Tell the teacher information necessary for school development! Make sure your child is ready for school each day (wellrested, healthy breakfast, and on time)! Spend time in your child’s school! Encourage responsibility and independence! Ask your child about school every day! Support your child’s teacher and the school rules. – Make an appointment – Think about what you will say – Voice your concerns in a friendly way – Listen to the teacher’s side – Remember everyone is working for your child

Share your excitement… • Visit the classroom – Wait until your child adjusts to school life, then make an appointment with the teacher for a visit. • Show your interest – Talk with and listen to your child share about their day at school. • Become active in your child’s school life… – – Join PTA Attend Open House and school programs Get to know your child’s teachers Contact the teacher or principal with your compliments and concerns

Meet The Teachers And Visit Classroom • Dismiss one row at a time to pick your child up in the cafeteria / gym. • Feel free to visit classrooms and say hello to our Kindergarten teachers. • Turn in Home Language Survey (blue form) • Sign up for time April 25 th

All in all. . . • • • Communicate Stay involved Support your child’s development You are the person who knows your child best. You and the Kindergarten teacher can work TOGETHER to make school a positive learning experience for your child.