This document provides information for parents about the kindergarten curriculum and schedule at a school. It summarizes the daily schedule, classes like reading and math workshops, assessments, and school procedures. Parents are given details about attendance, check-ins/outs, communication folders, lunches, birthdays, and the opportunity to volunteer. The goal is to prepare parents and students for what to expect in kindergarten.

1. Kindergarten ClassCurriculum NightWelcome, parents and students!

2. Welcome to Kindergarten!You will be introduced to kindergarten and the curriculum.

3. School ProceduresChanges in phone numbers, addresses, medical information should be given to the me.Medication must be brought to the clinic in original prescription container by an adult.

4. VisitorsAll visitors must obtain and wear a visitor’s badge!!!

5. Transportation ChangesA change in student transportation must be in writing! Phone calls will be accepted ONLY in the case of an emergency.

6. Dress for Success!ButtonsBeltsWear tennis shoesFollow the dress code!

7. Daily ScheduleSchool begins at 8:50am and ends at 3:20pmWe begin working as soon as the students are able to come in the building at 8:20am

8. SpecialsOur Specials classes on based on a four day rotation.

9. Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing SkillsGKIDS is a year long performance-based assessment.GKIDS assesses Literacy Skills, Math Skills, Science, Social Studies, Personal/Social Development, and Approaches to Learning.

10. Academic Knowledge & SkillsAKS are standards for academic excellence for all students. In the kindergarten classroom, instructions are tailored to be engaging and creative so students can learn the AKS.

11. Reading WorkshopStudents are taught using a balanced Literacy approachStudents participate in Modeled, Shared, Guided, and Independent readingBooks sent home daily

12. Word Study 2011-2012

13. Word Study2011-12 Word Study

14. Gwinnett County Public Schools Language Arts is transitioning from spelling instruction in isolation to spelling instruction as part of word study instruction. Word study is a conceptual way of thinking about how to read and spell words and knowing what those words mean. It is a richer and more rigorous way of thinking about words and how we use them.

15. Word study has three components: phonics, spelling, and vocabulary.Word StudyPlease see Parent Letter from Dr. McCartney.

16. Writing WorkshopDailyMini-lessons to model writingInteractive and Independent writing are practiced to ensure writing successAll students are authors

17. Social Studies, ScienceSocial StudiesA. Map and Globe SkillsB. Information and Processing SkillsC. Where We LiveD. Our NationE. Observing Labor DayF. Observing Columbus DayG. Observing Veteran’s DayH. Observing Thanksgiving DayI. Observing Martin Luther King Jr. DayJ. Observing President’s DayK. Observing Memorial DayL. Personal FinanceScience*Earth Science*Physical Science*Life Science

18. MathMath ManipulativesExemplarsTutorialsEnrichmentWe are beginning to implement Math Workshop, which has the same components as our Reading and Writing Workshops.

19. CommunicationWeekly newsletters in Friday folders and on websiteConferences will be in October and FebruaryProgress Reports each nine weeks

20. Classroom ExpectationsListen when the teacher or your friends are talkingRespect others and their stuffKeep hands, feet, and objects to yourself Listen and follow directions, the first time Raise your hand and wait to be called on before you talkClean up after yourself

22. Agenda book: please sign and return daily. This has the conduct for the day.Blue FoldersTeacher has choice of sending home nightly or weekly with daily work Please remove daily work.Place notes in the plastic pocket of the folder. Agenda

23. LunchIt is helpful to prepay meals weekly or monthly. Look on the August menu for information to prepay lunches weekly, monthly, or the full year. www.MealpayPlus.com12:24-12:33 Ask your teacher for the exact time your child will go to lunch You are welcome to join your child for lunch.No fast food allowed in café (state law)

24. MoneyAlways put money in an envelope in the front of the daily folder. Please label the envelope with your child’s name and the purpose for the money.Checks should have the child’s name, the teacher’s name, and the student’s ID number Student Breakfast- $1.25 Reduced Breakfast- $.30 Student Lunch $2.00 Reduced lunches-$.40 Milk-$.40 Water-$.40Ice cream-$1.00 Tuesday and Thursday only

25. Birthday CelebrationsFor birthdays, if you want to send in a special treat, it is suggest that you send in your child’s favorite snack. Just remember to send in enough for every child. Check with your child’s teacher as to how many students are in the room.The snack will be served at Lunch.Also, ask the teacher when summer birthdays will be celebrated.We can no longer send invitations home for parties.

26. Attendance Policies and ProceduresHarmony Elementary Student Handbook2011-2012

27. Late ArrivalStudents arriving after 8:50 AM must be brought into the front office for check-in by a parent/guardian. Otherwise, the student will be marked absent for the day.

28. Students arriving after 8:35 AM will not be served breakfast.12:15 PMCheckouts before 12:15 PM will count as a school absence for that day.

29. Check-ins after 12:15 PM will count as a school absence for that day.Early Check-outsThis is defined as when a parent, guardian, or other person having charge or control of a student authorizes a student to leave the facility before the end of the school day (3:20 PM).ONLY PREVIOUSLY authorized people will be able to check-out a student---a Photo ID is REQUIRED.

30. Early Check-outsWe request that early check-outs be kept to a minimum to avoid disruption of the instructional day.

31. No child may be checked out after 3:00 PM.

32. When checking your child out early, please do not park in front (use the side parking lot).

33. Once buses are on the curb, you are not able to pass the buses and will be detained from leaving.Star StudentSTAR STUDENT - Each week a student will be chosen to be the “Star Student” for his/her overall classroom performance.

34. SnackSnack -Please send a dry finger food type of “healthy” snack. Do not send candy.Only send water to drink. PLEASE WRITE YOUR CHILD’S NAME ON THE SNACK AND WATER.