Transcript What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker

Welcome to
Gulledge Elementary School
Lil’ Gator Camp
May 29, 2014
On the first day of school, students
hand us respect on a platter.
We determine what happens to that gift.
The best teachers continue to nurture
and build respect all year long.
Who is Who?
•
•
•
•
•
Deni Bleggi-Principal & Sara Meyer-AP
Kylie Robinson - Counselor
Kim Gassman - PTA President
Jamie McClendon - Curriculum Specialist
Brittany Humbert - Nurse
Gulledge 2014-15 Kindergarten Team
•
•
•
•
•
Emily Hollingsworth
Jayne Myhre
Regi Smith
Chris Taylor
Stacy Whitson
Gulledge Elementary School’s Vision
•
Plano ISD schools empower students to be able to adapt to new
learning and career opportunities throughout their lives, collaborate
with, and contribute to, the global community and to be disciplined and
creative in their thinking.
•
We will build a purposeful and collaborative community of leaders and
learners that are high performing.
•
We will ensure continued improvement in student learning for the
diverse student populations at Gulledge through the continued use of
research based and intentional instructional strategies.
•
We will create a 21st Century learning environment where curiosity,
discovery, inquiry, and creativity are incorporated into learning to
effectively engage and challenge every learner.
A Word From Our PTA President
• Welcome!
• Parent & Teacher Association:
– newsletter, community events, spirit wear, field trip, and
special activities
• 2014-2015 Wonderful Events Planned
• Volunteer Opportunities
– Prior to volunteering in any capacity, you must complete the
Volunteer Application located at www.pisd.edu; inactivated
annually on June 30th
– One lunch room volunteer each day.
– One or two cut and paste helpers each week.
EVERY teacher has an impact…
GREAT TEACHERS
make a difference.
We are so happy to work with
your family next year!
Save the Dates
• You may register in and set up Parent Portal
– 8/11 onward
• On-line Back to School Information Deadline 8/13
• KinderKonnect Play Dates– 8/16 & 8/23 from 8:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m. @Pavilion
• Meet the Teacher Event– Friday, 8/22 from 7:30 a.m.- 8:30 a.m.
• Kindergarten Parent Information Night
– Thursday evening, 8/21 from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Stay connected over the summer by visiting
www.gulledgepta.org
• First Day of Kindergarten– Monday, 8/25 (7:30 a.m.)
Students care about great
teachers because they know
great teachers care
about them.
• Make every decision based
on students!
• Make every decision based
on what is best for our
students.
The First Week of School
• Parents may walk their child directly to his/her
classroom on Monday and Tuesday.
• Parents may walk their child to the gym between
7:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.
• On Friday, parents may watch their child walk to the
gym or front doorway, if needed.
• On the second Monday, please say good by at the
door. We promise we will be in the hallways
watching.
Arrival & Dismissal
• School begins at 7:45 a.m.
• Students may enter the building at 7:00 a.m. (Gym
& Breakfast in Cafeteria)
• After the first week of school, Kindergarten students
will go to the gym until 7:30 a.m. Specials teachers
walk the students to the grade level where teachers
are there to greet the children.
• At the end of the day, children are escorted to
dismissal areas by staff members. 2 of the K
teachers are on front duty to supervise carpool and
walkers, and 2 lead students to PASAR and buses.
Dismissal
• PASAR-gym
• Buses & Daycare Vans-gym; walked to
and checked in
• Carpool
• Walkers
• *If you need to make a change in your child’s
dismissal routine please call the front office at
469-752-1300 by 1:30 p.m., let daycare know,
let teacher know
Lunch
Guidelines for eating lunch with your child:
• Lunchtime promotes independence, socialization, and fosters
efficacy.
• We request and encourage parents not to come to have lunch
with their child during the first few weeks of school. This will help
our students get to know their new friends and learn cafeteria
procedures. Save visits for special occasions.
• Several people on duty; volunteer opportunity; schedule in fall
• Practicing lunch codes, opening containers of milk, juice, yogurt,
carrying a full lunch tray, and table manners (staying in your seat,
inside voices, and raising hand for help).
• We have snack in our classrooms daily.
• Students should be able to feed themselves independently.
Toileting Expectations
• Your child needs to be toilet trained before
starting kindergarten, including bowel
movements and independent wiping.
• Students should be able to dress/undress
themselves.
• Every kindergartener needs to have a change
of clothes in their back pack.
Playground
•
•
•
•
•
•
Please review playground rules with your child:
Keep hands and feet to yourself
Use kind words and your manners
Climb the stairs, slide down the slide
Line up as soon as the whistle blows
Please make sure your child has:
– Labeled Jackets
– Tennis Shoes
– Seasonal change of clothes
Shoe Safety
• Athletic shoes are needed for
physical education and fitness
• Close-toed shoes are preferred for
safety
• Flip-flops, especially, pose a safety
risk and are unreliable.
Medication
• We are allowed to provide: Vaseline, Benadryl, ice,
saline solution, eye wash and Band-Aids and a smile!
• Please bring emergency medication to the clinic for
diagnosed health conditions that require this.
• All medication, including over-the counters, will be kept in
the clinic.
• Medication at school must be in the original container and
properly labeled and provided with written request.
• If at all possible, medication should be scheduled for
administration at home.
• A lot of the information is found on our www.pisd.edu
website.
Student Information
• Check that all phone numbers and address
information are up-to-date. Data is used by
nurse, teachers and office.
• Emergency Contacts-important to list all persons
who will be picking up your student and a
contact number for them. Please have as
complete as possible from beginning of the
year.
• After the 8/11/14, you may complete the
emergency forms and data requested in the
Parent Portal (set up account) , and any
changes may be done by you and will prompt an
email to the office staff.
Attendance & Absence Notes
• Student handbook - read these pages carefully
• Students need to be in homeroom, ready to learn
at 7:45 a.m.
• A note from doctor if part of the school day is
missed due to an appointment
• Note from parent if whole day missed due to
illness or other within 3 days
• Call Childsafe/absence line (24/7 and by 8:15
a.m.):
– 469-752-1300
– Press1 for English;
– Press 3, wait for instructions, and leave information as
directed
Communication
• Communication is key!
• Your teacher will explain various
ways and systems the kindergarten
team communicates in the fall:
– Folder system
– Email
– MyPISD
– Website
– E-news
Gulledge Elementary 3 R’s
Learning Community
Make today a GREAT day!
We will be…
Respectful
Responsible
Ready to Learn & be Safe
GatoR-Time
Specials’ Classes
Daily time children rotate through P.E., Music & Art
Schedule will come home in the fall
P.E. & FITNESS
ART
MUSIC
LIBRARY-CHECK OUT & BOOK HOME
COUNSELING
• Kindergarten Curriculum
Provide an Excellent Education for All
Students
We align student expectations with a viable
curriculum and research based instructional
strategies and assessment data.
Blue Book distributed at registration and
www.pisd.edu
Math
• Small Group Instruction
• Hands-On Active Learning
• Differentiated Instruction
Integrated Curriculum
• Social Studies, Science, Health
• Hands-On Active Instruction
• Differentiated Instruction
Language Arts
• Balanced Literacy (Writing, Reading, & Grammar)
• Differentiated Instruction
• Guided Reading/Teacher Table
• Active Hands-On Learning
Big Centers
• Multi-Sensory Experiential Approach to Learning
• Fosters Total Child
• Growth & Development of Social, Emotional, &
Cognitive Thinking Skills
Kindergarten Fun!
In Kindergarten, we have fun, make new friends,
and learn both academically and socially.
By the end of the year, we are well prepared and
confident to make the leap into first grade!