This document provides information for parents about the kindergarten program at Pointers Run Elementary School. It includes sections on supplies needed, health forms, nametags, snacks, lunch, field trips, celebrations, volunteering, communication, book orders, and an overview of the curriculum including language arts, math, and specials classes. The overall message is to welcome parents and provide details to help children transition to kindergarten.

1. 2012-2013
Pointers Run
Kindergarten
Handbook

2. Contents
1. Welcome 7. Volunteering
2. Supplies 8. Parent
3. Health Information Communication
4. Nametags 9. Book Orders
5. Snack and Lunch 10. Language Arts
6. Field Trips and 11. Math
Celebrations 12. Specials

3. Welcome!
Welcome to Pointers Run
Elementary School!
A new beginning is always
exciting and full of surprises! We
hope to help you and your child
make a smooth transition to
Kindergarten.

4. Supplies
You can bring the supplies to the Open House or
send them in your child’s backpack. Paint smocks
are needed right away (in ziplock baggie, name on
smock and baggie, old adult button shirt is great!).
Visit the PRES website for the complete list.
Your child will bring home a clear plastic portfolio on
the first day of school. Please return the folder to
us each day. We use this folder daily to send you
important notices and completed school work.

5. Health Information and
Emergency Cards
Health info- Please let us know if your
child has any allergies. The school
requires an emergency contact form
per child. Please fill out and return as
soon as possible.
Be sure to put the parent contact
numbers on the emergency card first.

6. Nametags
 Kindergarten kids will need to wear their bus
nametags for the first three weeks. Please
write their transportation information on the
small paper in their tag with a marker
(walker, car rider, aftercare, bus number).
 Check paper for buses and send a note in
folder for any changes (kids are only allowed
to switch buses if day care issue).

7. Snack and Lunch
o Kids have 30 minutes to eat (11:15-11:45). Kids will not eat much
in the beginning-don’t panic.
o Parent volunteers are needed to help out at lunch.
oTry to send a bag lunch first few weeks. If students are buying
lunch, please send $2.50 in a ziplock baggie marked with their
name inside their folder.
oKids need a separate, healthy snack to eat mid-morning. Please
do not send in any peanut products.

8. Field Trips and Celebrations
Field trips
We go on 2 or 3 trips a year. The first is
usually to fire station in October. Parents can
sign up to be chaperones when the permission
slips are sent home.
Celebrations
Halloween parade/party, winter holiday
party, Valentine’s party, Ice Cream
Social at end of year.

9. Volunteering
We love our volunteers!
Classroom volunteers will start in October. Each
class will need two room parents. Please see
PTA packet to volunteer.
Lunchtime volunteers are needed right away.
Recess is from 10:45-11:15. Lunch is 11:15 to
11:45.
There are schoolwide opportunities to
volunteer: in the media center, for the art
teachers, and for the office.

10. Parent Communication
Conferences-2 (in November and
February)
Report cards- 4 every 9 weeks, interim
reports in between.
Contact your teacher by phone:410-313-
7142, by email (check out the PRES
website), or with a big note in the daily
folder.

11. Book Orders
Book orders will be sent home
every 4-6 weeks. If you plan on
ordering books, we would love to
have you order the first time. (We
get extra books for the
classroom.) All the orders are
collected online. More information
will come home soon.

12. Curriculum
Language Arts
Writing: kids will write daily using phonetic spelling that
will slowly progress to complete spelling
Reading: balanced literacy approach, use phonemic
awareness, phonics, sight words, reading workshop,
computer, reading to others for fluency. Fast Start
pages for working at home, send home books, big
books, reading groups.

13. Curriculum
Math
 Math- Calendar group time for large group
lessons, math tubs for individual
practice/exploration of concepts. We use
very few worksheets and prefer to have
hands on lessons. We are using the new
national curriculum, the Common Core
Standards. You can find ways support your
child at home by visiting the Howard County
Public Schools website.

14. Specials
 The students will all attend specials as part
of their school day.
 We will go to art one day, media one day,
music one day, and PE two days a week
(kids will need to wear sneakers).
 We will also be learning more about using
computers in our technology class once a
week.
 Specials schedules will go home the first
week of school.

15. The End
We are looking forward to getting
to know you and your child in
kindergarten this year!