Kindergarten Parent Handbook - Fulton County Schools

Kindergarten
Parent Handbook
Crabapple Crossing Elementary
Welcome to Crabapple Crossing Elementary School. Blue
and white are our school colors and the “Colt” is our mascot.
School can be an exciting, but uncertain, time for
Kindergarten children and parents. This booklet contains
helpful information designed to ease children into
Kindergarten and start them on their way to a meaningful
school year.
The staff at Crabapple Crossing encourages your honest
communication. Please share with us your questions,
concerns, and suggestions throughout the school year.
Teachers and administrators do want to hear from you and
consider your role as parent to be vital in the educational
process.
The Crabapple Crossing Administrative Team
George B. Freiberger, Ed.S, Principal
Kimberly Bowsher, Assistant Principal
Veronica Krapf, Curriculum Specialist
Bonnie Wisdom, Counselor
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Kindergarten Philosophy
The Kindergarten program at Crabapple Crossing is childcentered
and developmentally appropriate to meet the
individual needs of its students.
Children learn by doing and experiencing. Through active
participation with materials and their environment, they
understand concepts that once were taught only in higher
grades. The school cannot speed up the growth process but
must provide a place where the child’s developmental level
is accepted and an appropriate curriculum is planned.
Pressure to conform to group standards or to begin abstract
academic work before the child is ready may cause
frustration for the child and a feeling of failure. It is
important, therefore, that the parent, teacher and community
work together to help each child reach his/her full potential.
The Kindergarten program is the beginning of the
Continuous Achievement Program of elementary education.
Continuous achievement allows each child to experience
success and challenge in learning at his/her own
performance level. It helps the child develop skills
necessary for a happy and successful entry into first grade.
The Fulton County curriculum focus is on active participation
by students in their own learning. For Language Arts this
means that children will be involved in experiences to
connect the spoken with the written word such as: writing in
journals, speaking and creating language experience charts.
For the Mathematics curriculum, active participation is
achieved by using manipulative materials to model
mathematical concepts. Educational research has shown
that this hands-on, experiential approach to learning creates
active, eager learners!
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So You’re Going To Kindergarten …
Expectations: Academic
wait a short time without interrupting
sit for short periods of time
use a pair of scissors & demonstrate basic cutting skills
write first name (first letter – capital and
remaining letters – lower case)
recognize eight basic colors, plus pink, gray, white
give name/label to pictures of everyday objects
listen to a story and retell major points
look at pictures and tell a story
listen to directions without interrupting
identify and copy basic shapes:
recognize numerals 0-10
count to 20, write to 10 (reversals o.k.), show
sets of 0-10 with blocks
name body parts
speak in understandable sentences
hold a pencil with proper grip (pencil grips are available
at school supply stores)
run, hop, jump, and be willing to try new games
say your first and last name
give personal information (birthday, address, telephone)
recognize all upper and lower case letters and
write many using proper form
name consonant sounds (don’t add extra sounds at end)
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Expectations: Social
take care of toilet needs and personal hygiene independently
tie shoes independently
demonstrate cooperative skills and have experience
with group behavior; share and take turns
adjust to change in routine and to new situations
without becoming fearful
zip and button clothing, dress self
put things in their place
walk in line
ask for help when needed
shows respect for others
Responsibilities:
clean up after self
pack and unpack belongings
take care of materials
keep up with belongings
exhibit positive character traits: caring, honesty,
respect, good citizen
You need to know:
have parents check backpacks every day for any
important information
During the summer you should:
work on self help skills such as tying shoes, putting on coats,
zipping, buttoning, hanging up backpack, toilet skills
practice counting orally, sorting objects, counting sets to 10+
play “I Spy” games with letters, numbers, words, colors
ask mom or dad to read to you
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Things teachers wish parents would do...
1. Help develop responsibility in your child by letting
them pack and prepare their materials for the next
day.
2. Be involved in their children’s education. Parents’
involvement helps students learn and improve schools.
3. Provide resources at home for reading and learning.
Parents should have books and magazines for their
children, and read to or with their children each day.
4. Set a good example. Parents should show their
children that they believe learning is both enjoyable and
useful. Parents may consider limiting time in front of the
TV with electronic games and limiting the number of after
school activities for the whole family.
5. Encourage children to do their best in school.
Parents must indicate that they believe education is
important and that they want their children to do the best
they possibly can at school.
6. Support school rules and goals. Parents should take
care not to undermine school rules, discipline, or goals.
7. Use pressure positively. Parents should encourage
children to do their best, but they should not apply too
much pressure by setting unattainable goals that may be
developmentally inappropriate. Allow time for
imaginative play.
8. Call teachers early if there is a problem (not wait for
teachers to call them), so there is still time to improve the
situation.
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9. Allow your child to make some choices in
appropriate matters and be willing to abide by his/her
decision.
10. Have student arrive on time to the classroom. Late
arrivals disturb instruction and unsettle the students.
11. Support the teacher and speak positively of the
school in front of your child.
12. Help develop responsibility in your child by letting
them pack and prepare their materials for the next
day.
13. Set aside “Special Time” each day for your child.
14. Hold, love, laugh with, and enjoy your child!
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Things Parents Need to Know…
Arrival/Dismissal
School hours are 7:40 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. for all students.
Car riders and walkers need to arrive at school no earlier than
7:10 a.m. Car riders should be dropped off in front of the
building. There will be no adult supervision before 7:10 a.m.
Please plan for traffic back-ups on rainy days. Your child
will be marked tardy if he or she arrives in the classroom
after 7:40 a.m.
If a student is to be picked up early, please go to the office for
check-out and NOT directly to the classroom. Parents of car
riders should line up by 2:20 p.m. in the front loading area
only. Parents are to follow the appropriate traffic pattern and
should remain in the car when at the curb pick-up area. For
safety reasons we ask that no cars pull around other cars that
are loading or unloading children. No cars may load or
unload in the bus area. Car riders must be picked up at
dismissal time unless prior arrangements have been agreed
upon.
In general, bus transportation is provided to all students who
live one and one-half miles or more from the school. Riding
the school bus is a privilege and is encouraged from the first
day of school.
Changes in Transportation
If there is a change in the
manner in which a child is to
leave school, the teacher
must receive a written note (not email) from
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the parent stating the change; otherwise, the child will be
sent home in the usual manner. Please do not call the
school with changes unless it is an emergency. Please note
that children may not ride any bus but their assigned bus
except in emergencies and permission from the
Principal/Assistant Principal or the Transportation
Department is required in advance.
Absences/Tardies
Every Kindergarten day is important and good attendance is
a goal at Crabapple Crossing. Therefore, please plan
vacations, trips, doctor and dentist appointments when they
will not interfere with school. Please send notes for these
absences in advance. Whenever your child is absent from
school due to illness or unexpected circumstances, it is
essential that the school receive a signed, dated note or
email within 3 school days stating the exact reason for his or
her absence. Please send the note with your child when he
or she returns. When your child arrives late to school, he or
she should be signed in at the office by the parent and
should take a tardy pass to his or her teacher.
Emergency Information
Please keep the school informed of all changes regarding
phone numbers, addresses, emergency information,
medication the child may be taking, etc. Please contact the
school office or your child’s teacher with this update
information. Be sure to keep clinic information current,
especially in case your child is sick and needs to be checked
out by someone else if you’re not available.
Please have an emergency plan for your child in case school
is released early due to bad weather. Discuss the plan with
your child so that he or she is prepared. Please do not call
the school on these days unless it is an emergency. We
need to keep the phone lines open. Stay tuned to radio
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station WSB AM 750 or FM 98.5 for information regarding
weather and school closures.
Lunch Money/Snacks
Lunches may be purchased daily or as far in advance as you
would like to purchase. When purchasing a lunch ticket,
place money or check (payable to CCE Cafeteria) in a
sealed envelope and indicate on the envelope your child’s
full name, grade, teacher, amount, and description of
purchase. Money may be added to your child’s lunch card at
any time.
Juice, water, and extra snack items are available for
purchase on a regular basis. Students may bring money
daily to buy extra food items. Snack time is provided daily.
Daily snacks are provided by parents in a manner
determined by each classroom teacher.
School Supplies
All basic school supplies are
provided by Fulton County. Send
a backpack (without wheels) to school
each day so that your child may carry
papers and projects home. Please
check daily for important
correspondence. Please read
everything that is sent home and go
through your child’s backpack everyday.
If you wish to donate any supplies at the
beginning of the school year, please refer
to pg.12 for a suggested list.
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Clothes
Please label all coats, sweaters, lunch boxes and book bags
with your child’s name. Include an extra set of clothes (with
underwear and socks) in child’s backpack. Label book bags
and lunch boxes so that names are visible without opening.
Sometimes we get very active with games and songs, so
send your child in manageable clothes and shoes that are
suitable for play. Tennis shoes should be worn on PE days.
Your child’s teacher will provide a classroom schedule of PE,
Art, Music, Library, and sharing days so that your child will
be prepared.
Parent Visits
There will be many opportunities for you to participate in
your child’s school year. Volunteers are greatly appreciated
at Crabapple Crossing. Parents can volunteer as guest
speakers, room mother/fathers, or classroom helpers. If you
are interested, please contact the teacher or the PTA.
Please schedule all visits with the classroom teacher and
remember that all visitors/volunteers are required to sign in
at the office and wear a sticker or badge. We ask that
volunteers make other arrangements for younger siblings
when coming to volunteer in the building. For the safety of
the students and our staff, anyone who has not signed in will
be questioned. In order to minimize interruptions in the
classroom and distractions throughout the building, please
remember to turn off cell phones and pagers before entering
the building.
Parents are welcome to have lunch with their child after the
Labor Day holiday. After signing in at the office, please wait
in the hallway at the cafeteria entrance for your child’s class.
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Birthdays
Birthdays are celebrated one day of each month with a
picture and a small token from the administration. Summer
birthdays are celebrated in August and in May. Birthday
snacks and treats are not allowed in the classroom or
lunchroom due to student food allergies. If your child is
having a party, please send the invitations via U.S. Mail to
avoid hurt feelings.
Newsletters
Crabapple Crossing has moved to a paperless environment.
Our Principal’s Newsletter, and PTA’ s Newsletter (“The
Corral”) are sent electronically to the parents that have
registered their email address with Constant Contact
(www.constantcontact.com).
This information can also be found on our website:
www.fultonschools.org/school/crabapplecrossing. If you wish
to receive the paper version of these publications, please let
the teacher know. We will send you the paper version of the
“Principal’s Newsletter” on the second Friday of the month,
and “The Corral” on the last Friday of the month.
Kindergarten classrooms also send home a newsletter and
behavior report every other Friday. Curriculum newsletters
will be sent home at the beginning of each semester for
students in all grades, kindergarten through fifth grade.
Progress Reports/Report Cards
Fulton County provides a Report of Student Progress for all
students in K-5 every nine weeks. These are formal
evaluations of your child’s academic and social progress
during the preceding nine-week period. Grades of S, N, and
U are used in Kindergarten and First Grade. Grades of A, B,
C, and F are used in Grade 2 – Grade 5. A Progress Skills
Checklist indicating progress on specific grade level
objectives goes home at the end of the first six weeks of
each semester and again at the end of the year.
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Emergency Drills
Drills are conducted for fire and tornado at periodic intervals
during the school year. These are simulated procedures to
be used in the event of an actual emergency. In the event
an evacuation is required due to a real emergency, students
and teachers will walk to Northwestern Middle School as our
first evacuation site and to Crabapple First Baptist Church
should we need an alternate evacuation site. Intruder Alert
and Building Evacuation drills are also conducted as part of
our school safety plan.
Kindergarten Suggested Classroom Supply List
50 Glue sticks- Elmer’s or Office Depot
2 Boxes of Crayola markers(8 pack), 1 primary + 1 other
3 Boxes of large size Crayola crayons – 16 count
1 Pair of Fiskar blunt tip scissors
1 Package of Expo dry erase board markers
1 Ream of white copy paper
1 Box of 64 count Crayola crayons
1 Package of large Pink Pearl erasers - girls
2 Boxes of colored pencils (12 in a pack)
1 Crayola watercolor set - boys
1 Box of sharpies – assorted colors and sizes
2 Vis a Vis markers - girls
1 Bottle of Elmer’s glue - boys
1 Box ziplock sandwich size - girls
1 Box ziplock gallon size
1 Box ziplock snack size - boys
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Send a backpack (without wheels) to school each day so
that your child may carry projects and papers home.
Any donations of the above items would be tremendously
appreciated! Please help prepare your child for kindergarten
by having any donated items OPEN HOUSE. Do not put
your child’s name on any of the above items. Thank you for
your help!
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