Welcome To

Kindergarten!

Longfellow Elementary

Kindergarten Handbook

Standards Based Grading

  • Scottsbluff Public Schools will again be using a standards based grading system for the 2012-2013 school year. Each student will be assessed by standard using the following scale of 4-1:
  • 4 – Student consistently exceeds expectations.
  • 3 – Student effectively demonstrates the skill/behavior.
  • 2 – Student is developing the skill/behavior but is not yet proficient.
  • 1 – Student does not demonstrate the skill/behavior.

Kid Friendly Language

  • 4 - I get it and can do more, let me show you.
  • 3 - I get it and can do it on my own.
  • 2 - I kind of get it, but I need to ask for some help.
  • 1 - I don’t get it and need HELP.

Kindergarten Program Objectives

1. Stimulate each child’s feelings of confidence and self-worth by offering many experiences within the child’s range of interests and competencies which will result in a love for learning.

2. Provide a child-centered program which includes concrete, multi-sensory experiences that have meaning for the child and extends awareness and understanding of the child’s world.

3. Provide an environment organized around learning centers which require problem solving, decision making, questioning, evaluation and discovery.

4. Include curriculum experiences that stimulate and encourage creativity.

5. Include a variety of activities to promote the development of language and oral expression and provide a variety of written language experiences.

6. Utilize play activities which help children to use their bodies with ease, to cooperate with others, to be imaginative and try out various social roles.

7. Provide times for the child to work independently as well as in large and small groups.

PREPARING YOUR CHILDFORSCHOOL

Help your child get off to a good start each day. Your child should:

  • Get plenty of sleep.
  • Have healthy diet, including a good healthy breakfast.
  • Wear comfortable, clean clothing that the child can manage alone.
  • Come prepared for the weather by choosing appropriate outdoor clothing to provide for predicted weather changes.

TEACH YOUR CHILD SAFETY AND RESPONSIBILTY

  • If your student does not eat breakfast they should not arrive before 7:50. This is when adults will be on the playground to supervise. Breakfast studentsshould not arrive before 7:30.
  • Make sure your student tells his/her teacher they are leaving the line after school.
  • Teach your child how to cross the street safely and use the cross walks.
  • Help your child learn his/her first and last name, phone number and address.
  • Follow up frequently and reinforce your directions.
  • Communicate clearly any changes in daily routine.

PROMOTE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

  • Read to your child often and make it a warm and sharing experience.
  • Talk with your child. Listen to your child. Encourage your child to tell about school activities. Share the excitement!
  • Be sure your child has scissors, crayons, paste and other tools for homework at home. For assistance getting any of these items please see me.
  • Help with your student’s homework.

TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL LIFE

-Show your interest by asking questions about favorite school activities and listening to what your child has to say about school happenings.

-Take time to talk about the papers your child brings home.

-Attend scheduled programs and join the school’s PTO.

-Remember - - Your own reactions and attitudes will go a long way toward determining how your child feels about school.

-If you have a positive attitude and look forward to school, your child is more likely to do the same!

THE KINDERGARTEN CURRICULUM

Skills in four developmental areas are taught in Kindergarten classroom.

- Personal-Social Development(being a responsible citizen and ethical person)

- Motor Development

- Language Development

- Cognitive Development

Language Arts

Math

Science

Social Studies

Longfellow School Rules

Be Safe.

Be Respectful.

Be Responsible.

Reading

In reading you might notice your child:

-Pretend to read while looking at a book.

- Re-tell favorite stories copying the book language.

- Memorize favorite books.

- Point to words while reciting memorized books.

- Follow correct direction in reading (top to bottom, left to right) and turning pages from front to back.

- Remembers and reads words.

-Recognizes names and familiar words in new stories or different contexts.

-Uses pictures to predict text.

-Sounds out unknown words.

We will work to build confidence, self esteem and a love for reading!

Writing

The following pages will help you to understand the developmental stages of writing.

Parents

Parents play an important role in the instructional process.

Please notify us if someone different is going to be picking up your student or if your student is not riding the bus.

Please be on time to pick up your student.

Illness

If your child is ill, please keep your child home from school. Be alert to such symptoms as upset stomach, runny nose, fever, red or pink eyes and sore throat. Check with your doctor for diagnosis, treatment and proper time for returning to school.

If your child shows symptoms of illness or becomes ill at school, he/she will be taken to the clinic and you will be contacted.

PLEASE KEEP EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS UP TO DATE WITH THE SCHOOL OFFICE.

Specials

To be sure your student is able to participate in gym class please sure they are wearing shoes they can run in on gym days. The kindergarten students will go to the library every two days. After Christmas we will be checking books out. The books will remain in the classroom.

TOYS

Children should leave their toys at home. If your child brings a toy to school, it will be taken away. Parents can pick the toy up at a later time.