Kindergarten, Here We Come! - Psdschools

School Registration1. Use the School Locator on the PSD locator, to determine which school serves yourneighborhood.2. What to bring: Gather immunization records(or a signed exemption statement of religiousor personal objection), and emergency contactinformation. In addition, a birth certificate isrequired for kindergartners and you must bringproof of address, such as a lease, or water bill.)3. Call the school; they will walk you throughthe registration process, and give informationabout any applicable registration/KindergartenInformation Nights.KindergartenChildren must be 5 years old on orbefore September 15.*Attend the Kindergarten* InformationNight at the school(s)of your choice to learn about theirprogram and meet their teachers.Kindergarten registration begins the* secondThursday in February.Check the PSD website, www.psdschools.org, for the schedule andregistration information.School ChoiceSchool Choice Applications are basedon space availability for enrollment inkindergarten – 12th grade. Round-triptransportation is the responsibility ofthe parents for School Choice students.Families who donot have computeraccess can visit anyPSD school or thedistrict office, 2407LaPorte Avenue, FortCollins, to apply.If you have apreschool-agedchild, please call490-3204 forapplicationinformation!Rules to RememberSchool of Choice applications are notconsidered on a first-come, first-servedbasis.If your child is entering kindergarten,you must register your child with yourneighborhood school in February inaddition to completing a School ChoiceApplication.Once a student is accepted into school ofchoice, they are eligible to attend throughall grades offered at that school.Choosing a school is similar to choosing anew car or a home. Please see Parent Pagesfor helpful worksheets on choosing andvisiting schools.School Choice ApplicationVisit the School Registration page of the PSD website, www.psdschools.org/academics/educational-choices, and review the following: School Choice Timeline (Elementary and Secondary) School Choice PolicyAccess the online application via the district website at www.psdschools.org/academics/educational-choices under the School Registration link. 2017 Poudre School District6

Registered for Kindergarten Now What?Thank you for registering your child.Congratulations on completing this importantstep in your child’s educational process!After you have registered:1. Save a copy of the registration formsyou submitted. Keeping them withthis notebook is a great way to stayorganized.2. Keep this notebook handythroughout the year for:for learning at home* tipsorganizing timeline and important* informationScholarships areavailable for qualifyingchildren to attendkindergarten all day.For more information,please contact yourschool or visitwww.psdschools.org/kindergarten.73. If you’ve filled out a School ChoiceApplication,watch for your child’s school* assignmentnoticecall the school for a timeline of* notification4. Get ready to start school! The staff atyour child’s school will contact you withmore information about open housesand other opportunities to welcomeyou to the school community.Now that you know whatschool your child willbe attending, use thishandbook to help youorganize all the informationabout your school in oneplace. Please see the ParentPages for a worksheetcalled “Key People atSchool” to help you keepa list of important phonenumbers handy. 2017 Poudre School District

PARENT PAGESSection Two: KindergartenReadiness – Parent PagesHow to use the Parent & Child PagesThe following pages are designed to help you make sure yourchild is ready for kindergarten.PARENT PAGESCHILD PAGESChoosing a School (pages 9-10)PSD has MANY choices for your child’seducation. Doing some research aheadof time will help you make betterchoices for your child. Fill out this formto help you decide the best place foryour child’s education.Look What I Can Do!School Visit Worksheet(pages 11-14)Taking time to visit the school your childwill attend will help ease the anxiety ofthis new environment. Take this formalong with you as you visit the schoolyou’d like your child to attend. Don’t beafraid to ask the tough questions.Preparing for a SuccessfulTransition to Kindergarten(pages 19-20)Read through these pages with yourchild. Once they’ve met the schoolreadiness goal, have them color in a leaf.All About Me (pages 21-24)Take time to fill this book out with yourchild. Have your child take it to theirkindergarten teacher on the first day ofschool.Ernie Coloring Pages(pages 25-30)Fun pages for your child to color.Coloring is the first step to betterhandwriting and fine motor control.(page 15)A big part of successful transition isstarting early with new routines anddiscussion about school. Use thispage to help guide your planning anddiscussion.Learning at Home (pages 16-17)Use these pages to focus this yearon engaging with your child to buildschool readiness skills.Key People at School (page 18)This page is designed to help gatherall the phone numbers and contactinformation for your child’s school inone place. With a little research aheadof time, the important contacts will beat your finger tips. 2017 Poudre School District8

PARENT PAGESChoosing the Right KindergartenHow do you pick the best school foryour child?This worksheet provides you withquestions to consider as you choose aschool for your child.Remember, you are looking for aschool that will make the educationalexperience for your child and you asrewarding as possible.Write Down Five Things That AreMost Important to YouThink of what is most important to youand your child’s education. As you gothrough the selection process, you maywant to add to and revise your list.1.2.Choosing a school is much likebuying a new house or car.If you were looking to buy a car, vacuumcleaner, or refrigerator, you could talk tofriends and family and find informationon the Internet, in consumer magazines,or in other published resources.Similarly, when choosing a school, youmay also have to make phone calls andcollect written material from differentschools to get the information youneed. Start your search by thinkingabout your child. After all, you knowyour son or daughter better thananyone else does.Your Child’s NeedsYou are your child’s first teacher. Youknow them best! Take time to thinkabout how they learn.What type of environment does yourchild do best in? Think about structureand schedule.Does your child need more challengingwork or a more creative environment?3.Does your child generally need extrahelp or more time to complete a task?4.Does your child need an EnglishLanguage Acquisition (ELA) Program?5.9 2017 Poudre School District

PARENT PAGESChoosing the Right Kindergarten continuedHow Does Your Child Learn Best?Does your child learn best by seeinghow things work?By reading about how somethingworks?By listening?CurriculumDo you want a school that has aspecial focus or theme for teaching thecurriculum?Does your child have special learningneeds? What are some supports theschool should have to accommodatethose needs?By participating in discussions?Location of SchoolDo you want your child to go to a schoolwithin walking distance of your home?How far are you willing to have yourchild bused? Does your child havespecial busing needs? Refer to “Howwill my child get to Kindergarten” inthe Frequently Asked Questions in thishandbook.What particular approaches to teachingand learning are you hoping the schoolwill have in place? (e.g., group projects,individual performance, frequenttesting)?How far are you willing to drive yourchild to school?Does your child want to be in a schoolwith his or her friends?This worksheet was adapted from the United StatesDepartment of Education’s Choosing a School for YourChild booklet. www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oiiDo you want your child to go to a schoolnear your after-school care?Near where you work?Near a close relative? 2017 Poudre School District10

PARENT PAGESWhat Should You Look ForWhen Visiting A School?School:Address:Principal:Phone number:Website:Consider the whole school. It isimportant to look beyond thekindergarten classroom when choosingthe most appropriate elementary schoolfor your child. Here are some guidingquestions to help you look at the schoolas a whole.Number of classes per grade (How many1st grade classrooms?):School appearance and atmosphere?Total # of children in the school:Class size and teacher/student ratio:Are there any aides, volunteers, studentteachers?The principal and/or assistant principal?Hours of the school day:The office staff?What is the school’s mission statement?Does the school have any specialties orcurriculum enrichment?The teachers?What are your observations aboutthe following:Facilities (this may include theplayground, gym, cafeteria/auditorium,library):11 2017 Poudre School District

PARENT PAGESWhat Should You Look For When VisitingA School? continuedWhat after-school programming isoffered? (Don’t forget to ask aboutcost, hours, transportation.)What is the school’s disciplinepolicy or strategies?What is the school’s level ofdiversity?Others questions I need to follow upon:Is there an English LanguageAcquisition (ELA) Program?What are the school’s opportunitiesfor parental involvement? 2017 Poudre School District12

PARENT PAGESWhat Should You Look For When VisitingA School? continuedSome schools offer times to visitkindergarten classrooms. Pleasecontact the school to find out if andwhen visiting time is offered there.When visiting classrooms that are insession, please be mindful that the firstrole of the teacher is to attend to thestudents enrolled in the classroom.Hold questions for breaks in the schoolday, or compose a list to ask during anopen house event or at KindergartenOrientation/Information Night.During your visit, keep in mind thatthe kindergarteners you are seeinghave developed a great deal sinceSeptember. Your child will not beexpected to start kindergarten in the fallperforming at the same level of whatyou may be observing. Take a deepbreath and enjoy your experience.With your child in mind, think aboutthe following areas as you observe theclassroom:Note how much time children aregiven to process and follow through oninstructions.The language used by the children:How long are their sentences?What types of words do they useand understand?The language used by the teacher:Are directions stated clearly in away that most of the children areable to understand?13 2017 Poudre School District

PARENT PAGESWhat Should You Look For When VisitingA School? continuedBehavior of the children:How are children interacting witheach other?How long might my child beexpected to sit still in a group?How much independence isexpected? (i.e., When going to thebathroom? In caring for materials?)What does the teacher do to assurethat all children are engaged andable to access and participate in thelesson?What are the roles/expectations forparents, teachers, support staff?Classroom Environment:What type of work is beingcompleted by the children? 2017 Poudre School District14

PARENT PAGESPreparing for a SuccessfulTransition to KindergartenSome suggested activities forhelping your child say “goodbye” to their Preschool or EarlyChild Care Center include:In August, start a “countdown” calendar to the first dayof kindergarten.Make a paper chain representing the* daysuntil school begins. Taking off a*link each day can make the passageof time real to your child.Use a regular calendar and mark offeach day.Consider any logistical changesthe transition will create.Will your child need to leave earlier orlater in the morning? Will there be abus? Will you drive or walk to school?How will kindergarten change yourfamily’s existing schedules?Practice new routines.*Have a set wakeup and bedtimetime each day. Know what timeyour child needs to wake up forkindergarten (start waking upat that time over the summer).According the American PediatricAssociation, children five and sixyears of age need 10-11 hours ofsleep each night (i.e. if you need tostart the day at 6:30 a.m., the latestbedtime for your child should be8:30 p.m.).Discuss the new school schedule* andexpectations for (eating,playing, learning, etc ).– go to the library to check outchildren’s books that talk aboutkindergarten (The Night beforeKindergarten, Ms. BindergartenGets Ready for Kindergarten andother back to school topics yourlibrarian is able to suggest)Once your child begins school,get involved in the school andclassroom:Ask about family involvement* opportunitiesthe school offers.volunteer opportunities* inAsktheaboutschool and classroom (if youplan to volunteer at your child’sschool, you MUST register on thePSD website first)workshops or family nights.* AttendJoin the parent association such as* Parent/TeacherOrganization (PTO),School Accountability Committee(SAC), and/or Student Success Team(SST)Lengthen the day without naps* (thereis no nap time in kindergartenand your child needs to be preparedfor this if they are attending full-daykindergarten).Drive, walk, or ride that new route to* school.15 2017 Poudre School District

PARENT PAGESLearning at HomeFamilies are so busy - it’s hardto find extra time, but littlechanges add up.Children Begin Learning at HomeYou count! You and your family arethe first people in a child’s life to:appreciate who they are and what* theydoencourage curiosity* tocommunicatefamily values* establish a strongfor* learning that lasts foundationa lifetimeYoung children are more likely tothrive in school when Activity: Once Upon a Timea story about yourself.* Tellabout your grandparents.* TellWhen your child hears you talk they* learnnew words.stories help them love stories!* Your* Ask him/her to tell you a story.PLAYLet your child have plenty of playtime.Playing encourages the use ofimagination, practicing language andhaving fun.know lots of words* theyare able to express their ideas and* needsWhen you play with your child, it’s agreat time for the whole family to sharewords and ideas.Spending time talking and playingwith your child helps GO PLACES* makes them feel good about* themselveshelps them begin school eager and* readyto learnWhen you go places, there are lots ofnew things to talk about.Play to Help Your Child LearnThese activities have no-cost, nocalories and require no batteries!Turn off the radio and have a* conversationwith your child.Describe what you see out the* window.songs.* SingAsk questions about what your* childcan see.* Be sure to listen.increase their vocabularyJust 20 minutes a day makes a bigdifference.TALKTalk often to your child!Listen carefully to what he/she says. Tellstories and jokes. 2017 Poudre School DistrictRemember what is routine for you isprobably new to your child.Activity: Driving in the Car16

PARENT PAGESLearning at Home continuedActivity: Let’s Pretendpretend with your child.* Playout events that interest them.* Actto have a birthday party,* goPretendto a restaurant, fly in a plane, goswimming or sledding.* Remember, it is just pretend.DRAW OR “WRITE”Drawing and scribbling are thebeginning stages of writing. This helpsdevelop fine motor skills and theirimagination.Have your child “write” their own* shoppinglist, even if it is justscribbles. Use anything you have,plain or recycled paper and crayonsor washable markers.* Make pictures and pretend to write.Activity: I SpyYou can play this anywhere, whileshopping, driving or reading thenewspaper.Pick a letter from your child’s name* andsee if you can find it.a color and see if they can find* anPickobjectin that same color.Pick a number and have your child* findthat many items.READThe more books your child reads, themore successful they’ll be in school. Setthe example for lifelong reading.Books don’t have to be new to be* great.Ask relatives and friends to give* booksas presents.up books at a yard sale.* Pickto the library.* Goabout the pictures in the books.* TalkShow children how to use books by* showingthem how to turn pagesgently and handle them with care.Make a commitment to read to yourchild every day! Anytime of the dayworks. It WILL be the most important 20minutes in your day.Activity: My Favorite PartAfter reading a book, talk with yourchild about each of your favorite partsof the story. Ask them about theirfavorite part.To learn more about childdevelopment and for resources,please 7 2017 Poudre School District

PARENT PAGESKey People at SchoolAs your child moves to elementary school, there will be several new people to get toknow. Provided below are spaces for you to record names and phone numbers.PositionNamePhone NumberE-mail AddressPrincipalOffice ManagerNurseCounselorKindergartenTeachersOther important people you might need to know Special EducationAdmin.Special EducationTeacher (s)Speech/LanguageOccupationalTherapistTitle 1 TeachersArt TeacherMusic TeacherPE TeacherLibrarianPreschool TeacherParents at child’sschool 2017 Poudre School District18

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a list of the Kindergarten Open Houses and Informational Nights hosted by each school. You can find your home school on the psdschools.org home page under the tab schools/programs. Kindergarten registration for your child is February 8, 2018. You must register for Kindergarten a