Smallwood Drive School
Kindergarten Orientation
Welcome to Smallwood…
Starting Kindergarten is an exciting
milestone – for your child and for
Tonight We Will...
• provide information that is intended to help you and your child with this wonderful transition
• introduce faculty and staff who will be involved in your child’s education
• take a tour of our school and visit a Kindergarten classroom
A True Partnership in Your
Child’s Educational Journey
• create a home environment that encourages learning
• communicate high, yet reasonable,
expectations for their child’s achievement and future careers
• become involved in their child’s education
Studies show that the most accurate predictor of a student’s achievement in school is the extent to which that student’s family is able to:
Our Kindergarten Teachers
Jill Zobel Jamie Cinelli Molly Evarts Kathy Ransbury Lisa Pupo Stephanie Slocum Lindsay KloseOur Amazing Office Staff
Rose Howard Kim Cirillo
Donna Rogalski Kathie Prospero
Other Helpful Resources
School Psychologist
Emily Boughton
School Social Worker
Our Assistant Principal
Kindergarten Curriculum
• Follows the Amherst Central School
District’s Kindergarten Curriculum
which is aligned to the New York State
Next Generation Learning Standards
Balanced Literacy
Utilizing the ACSD English Language Arts
Curriculum Guide with a focus on:
• Reading
• Writing
• Listening
• Speaking
Assessments
• Early Literacy Profile
• Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark
Assessments
• AIMSweb Benchmark Assessments
• Anecdotal Records
Academic Intervention
Services
• Extra support is available to meet the wide developmental range of abilities within our entering Kindergarten class
• This support is based on student needs
• Fluid groupings allow teachers to transition students in and out of groups as needed
Reading
• Small group
• Whole group
• Decoding/Fluency
• Comprehension
At Home…
• Rhyming games
• Dr. Seuss books & nursery rhymes • Games with beginning sounds
• Music, clapping
• Practice letter identification • Practice letter sounds
Instill the Love of Books!
Read, Read, and Read!!!!
• Sit with your child on your lap and enjoy a story
• Follow the words with your finger • Ask simple questions about the
story
• Model your own enjoyment of reading
Writing
• Handwriting Without Tears
• Content Writing • Writer’s Workshop • Lucy Calkins’ Units of
Study
– Narrative
– Informational – Persuasive
At Home…
• Tell stories to your children with sequence (beginning, middle, end) • Use materials around the house.
(scissors, Playdough, rulers, tape, sand, paint, sidewalk chalk, etc. to strengthen hand/finger muscles) • Provide writing opportunities and
materials
Listening/Speaking
Children are given a variety of opportunities to develop and practice listening and speaking skills.
• Curricular
projects/presentations • Calendar and Daily News • Participation in class
Mathematics
Utilizing Eureka Math, our math program
consists of:
• Fluency
• Problem Solving • Number Sense
At Home…
• Use comparative language (thick/thin, before/after, wide/narrow…)
• Sort objects (animal crackers, laundry…)
• Set the table, count cups, napkins… • Practice number recognition
Technology
• One-on-one devices
for all students
• Computer Lab in
A Typical Day in
Kindergarten
• Morning Routine/Morning Meeting • Word Study • Guided Reading • Shared Reading • Writing • Math • Centers • Lunch • Recess - indoor/outdoor
• Specials - Art, Music, P.E., Library/Computer Lab • Dismissal
School Lunch Information
• Students eat in the cafeteria • Students bring or buy lunch • Lunch account available online
• School monitors and aides assist students • Practice independence and social skills
• Free and Reduced applications in Opening Day Packet • Allergies are accommodated
Dismissal
• At the end of a busy and productive day, each child is escorted to the bus by his/her teacher
• Busing is provided for all students regardless of proximity to school • Busing information will be emailed to
you shortly before the start of school. After that, you will be able to create an Aspen account and check on any busing related information
• Of course, you have the option of transporting your child
Social/Emotional Development
• P.A.W.S. and Monthly Character Traits
• Second Step Curriculum focusing on emotion management, social skills and problem solving
• The school day is 6.25 hours long
• Help your child be ready to become more independent
• Some ideas…play dates, staying with relatives for the day, summer programs
Independence
“I can do it!”
• Simple chores around the house • Dressing and undressing
• Cleaning up after themselves • Washing hands, brushing teeth • Simple problem solving
Help Your Child be Ready
to Join a Large Group!
• Encourage them to sit at the dinner table until others are done
• Teach them how to take turns, not only with toys but while talking/listening
• Provide opportunities to follow two or three step directions
What is Kindergarten
Screening?
• It is a tool used to assist us so that we can better know our incoming Kindergarten children (strengths and needs)
• It is not used to determine who can or cannot come to Kindergarten
• Any child who turns 5 by December 1st is welcome
• Children will come differing in their rate of growth, energy, size and abilities
Kindergarten Registration and
Screening May 19, 2020
- This day is for families new to our district or for students not in the Amherst Pre-K Program
- You will receive an appointment time in the mail within the next two weeks
- Along with your child, please bring two proofs of residency, the Parent Observation Form and Medical Information with you to your appointment
Kindergarten Registration for Those
who Attend our UPK Program
- Children currently participating in the Amherst Central School District’s Pre-K Program will not have to come in for screening or registration
- These students have already been screened and registered when coming into the Pre-K Program - Data and information from your child’s current
Our School Nurse
Kathy Celmer
What does a school nurse do?
• Tracks immunizations and physicals • Administers and monitors medications • Plans for accommodation of special needs • Hearing, Vision and Scoliosis Screenings • Assesses and responds to illness/injuries
Smallwood PTA
Leslie Pisarziewicz
President
Shannon Ragonnet
PTA Board Member and
Amherst Central School
District Webpage
www.amherstschools.org
Under the Smallwood Elementary tab you will find….
PTA Information and Membership Aspen Family Portal School Events Calendar PAWS Press Newsletter Featured School Activities School Handbook
School Lunch Information •
Thank you for coming and please remember that we are here to assist you with any
questions you may have along the way!
We are looking forward to welcoming your child to our Smallwood family in September!
