Transcript Kindergarten Orientation Meeting Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Welcome
This will be your child’s first
educational experience at
Seven Oaks Elementary!
We hope that today’s
orientation will ease your
mind and provide information
that will be helpful as your child enters
Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten.
Kindergarten Orientation Meeting
Today you will learn about:
Lunch Time
Back packs
School Counselor Support
Reading with your Child
Healthy Boys and Girls
Transportation
PTA and your support
Volunteer Opportunities
Question & Answer Time
Lunch Time!
Ms. Doreen Gardner, Supervisor
• Your child will eat with their classmates between
the times of 11:15am-12:00noon, a 30-minute
lunch period.
• Your child may bring a lunch, purchase a lunch,
and/or purchase milk/snacks.
– Cost for lunch: $2.90 entree
– Cost for milk: $ .60
• The cafeteria offers 2 hot meals and one
cold (sandwich or salad box).
• Each child has an account on which you may
deposit money throughout the school year.
Back Packs
• For the safety of your child…
Objectives:
Today we will learn:
• the role of Ms. Friedland, the School
Counselor.
• when children see Ms. Friedland, the
School Counselor.
• what Ms. Friedland, the School
Counselor, does to help children and
their parents.
Debra Friedland, Professional School Counselor
• My Role:
My Role is to support:
Academic
Personal/Social Development
Career/Decision Making
Ms. Friedland, School Counselor works with
students during classroom visits. She often
works with small groups of girls and boys or
with students, by themselves, to help with
respect, responsibility, safety, and/ or being
ready to learn.
Ms. Friedland, School Counselor, helps with
parenting skills and support s parents as
they help their children with academics,
social, emotional, and behavioral learning,
and good decision making.
• Kids!
School success starts with good health and well-being.
Learning to be confident helps
us to feel happy.
Kids need to be able to work and play alone and
together.
The joy of learning and being motivated
is essential to success as is curiosity!
Foster safe curiosity 
Follow instructions.
Good Character in school and at home is
important.
Everything you need to learn you learn in kindergarten
and…
we Welcome your child, your family, and you to Seven
Oaks
• Seven Oaks – Home of the Owls!
Reading With Your Child
Mrs. Carol Kukucka
Reading Specialist
How can parents
contribute to their
children’s reading
development?
Parents as Reading Partners
•
Research studies indicate that
strong beginning readers have
the following experiences and
skills:
1. A Wealth of Literary Experiences
2. A Print Rich Environment
3. Phonological Awareness Skills (i.e. an
awareness that words consist of sounds)
4. A Strong Alphabet Knowledge
Ways Parents Can
Assist in Reading
Development
1. READ, READ, READ to your child!!!!!
Handouts included in packet:
“The Importance of Reading Aloud to
Your Young Child”
“Helpful Hints for Reading Aloud”
Ways Parents Can
Assist in Reading
Development
2. Make writing a family activity.
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•
•
Write notes to your child.
Have your child write short notes in birthday
cards for family members.
Assist your child in making lists of children to
invite to a birthday party or a list of holiday
gifts.
Ways Parents Can
Assist in Reading
Development
3. Practice phonological awareness
activities with your child.
•
•
•
Handout included in packet: “Some
Phonological Awareness Activities for Parents”
Rhyming Activities
Sound Matching Activities
Sound Blending Activity
Ways Parents Can
Assist in Reading
Development
4. Practice the names of the alphabet letters and
the alphabet sounds at home with your child.
•
•
Handout included in packet: “Fun Ideas for Learning
Alphabet Letters”
The kindergarten students will learn the names and
formation of the alphabet letters in sequential order
from August through November.
After all letter names have been introduced, the
children will be taught the alphabet sounds The
alphabet sounds are not taught in sequential order.
Ways Parents Can
Assist in Reading
Development
5. Practice reading skills through activities
included on our Seven Oaks website:
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http://sevenoakses.bcps.org
Click on “For Students”
Click on “ABCya”
Select any of the listed alphabet letter or
alphabet sound activities.
Always
remember…
You are your child’s first and most
influential teacher. Therefore, you are a
vital component of the reading process.
Read enthusiastically to your child every
day. As you read, stop and share ideas.
But most importantly, remember to giggle
and smile a lot so that your child can
experience the joy of reading.
Medication Policy
Clothing
Staying Well in
School
Visits to the nurse
Immunizations
TRANSPORTATION
Your Concerns are our
Concerns!
• My child has never ridden a bus by
himself before!
– Pre-Kg. and Kg. students should sit as close
to the front of the bus as possible…..even if
they have older siblings with them!
– Bus pickup times will be approximate
– All students remain on the bus until the bell
rings at 8:45
Your Concerns are our Concerns!
• Kg. students are assigned to a bus buddy
at the end of the day!
– Fifth graders walk their buddies to the bus
and will sit near them in the front of the bus.
– Students must use their assigned bus stop!
• All pre-kg. and kg. students must wear a
prominently placed I.D. tag throughout the
entire school year.
Bus Tag Information
– Information includes:
•
•
•
•
•
•
School Name
Student Name
Home Address
Home & emergency phone numbers
Bus stop
Applicable day care information (provider name,
address, phone number)
• Picture I.D. or tag color-coded with the bus
name/color preferred.
Bus Stop Safety
• A parent does not have to be present at the bus
stop. When the regular or substitute bus driver
is sure that it is the students’ assigned bus stop,
then the student may be discharged.
• When the regular or substitute bus driver is not
sure whether the stop is the correct bus stop or
is concerned for the safety of the student for any
reason, the driver shall complete the route and
then return the student to school. The school
will contact the parent to pick the child up from
school.
Emergency Closings!
• If school closes early due to snow,
excessive heat, electrical problems, etc.
your child needs to know what to do!
– All teachers will have access to the
Emergency Closing Form that you will
complete. Please be sure your child knows
what to do as well.
– Use information from the TV, radio & internet
to determine late openings or early closings.
Do not call the school as we are busy using
the phones to contact those in need.
Loose Ends and Questions
• If the Bus Stop is across the street, please let us
know ASAP!
• If you drive your child to school, always park in
the lot and walk them to the front door. We will
help them find their rooms from there!
• If you pick them up, you must sign them out in
the office at 3:20pm and we will call them to the
office for dismissal. Please wait in the lobby for
your child.
• Your concerns are our concerns as well!
Welcome to Kindergarten!
Seven Oaks Elementary PTA
Richard Hegmann, President
(Nicole Kase, Secretary presenting today)
Who makes up the PTA?
•
Parents
•
Grandparents
•
Legal Guardians and other
family members
•
Teachers
Welcome!
The PTA of Seven Oaks would like to
welcome you. We are parents and in some
cases grandparents just like you. We want
to give the children of Seven Oaks the best
we have to give. We also want to help make
your child’s time here a wonderful and
successful experience. We need your help
and support to accomplish that goal. Please
join us to reach that goal.
What does the PTA do?
Our mission:
• -The PTA’s primary mission is to advocate for
the parents and students of Seven Oaks
Elementary.
• -We also work to support the teachers in every
way possible.
• -The PTA’s full mission statement is in your
parent guide. Please read about our PTA and
the committees that make up the PTA.
How do new parents get involved?
• -Attend a PTA meeting. September 30th
• -Read the PTA portion of the school newsletter.
• -Complete the volunteer interest form distributed by the PTA
to get involved on a committee of your interest.
How do I become a member of the PTA?
• In the coming days a PTA membership envelope will be
sent home. The membership dues are $8 per family
member. We encourage parents, grandparents and other
family members to join the PTA.
Activities to Enjoy!
Some of the activities the PTA sponsors are:
• -The PTA typically sponsors at least two
assemblies each school year.
• -The Scholastic Book Fair: Fall and Spring
• -Family Fun Nights: Fall Festival, BINGO Night,
Dances, etc.
• -Provide support and recognition to the teachers
at Seven Oaks.
• -The PTA provides items to support learning at
Seven Oaks.
• ……and much more!
What Can I Do?
• Special Subject helpers: Art, Music, Library
• Office Helper (Assist when needed in office)
• Hospitality -A separate sheet will come home for
each event that store-bought goods are needed.
• School Store: Operates in the morning.
• Fall Fundraiser: Hoot Hike on October 22nd
• Book Fair: Help students purchase books
October 7th – 11th and May 20th
What Can I Do?
• Family Involvement Night: Set Up, Running a station
and Tear Down of the event.
• Yearbook: Take pictures during school trips and events.
• Assembly Volunteer: Assist in watching over the children
during in-school assemblies.
• Reflections Contest: Chaperone/ assist students before
or after school with contest entries.
• Other: Please identify any special talents you are willing
to share.
Parent Volunteers
Volunteer Training
Today and
September 17th
6:30 PM
BCPS Application for Volunteer
Services
• All Volunteers:
– Complete entire application and return to
Mrs. DeUnger, Administrative Secretary.
– Must be completed and screened each
school year.
• Remember - important:
– Any information changes must be provided as
soon as possible to Mrs. DeUnger, in the
school office.
BCPS Application for Volunteer
Services (cont’d)
• BCPS Policy on Volunteer Training DVD
– All volunteers need to view the Volunteer
Training DVD every year
– Field Trips: Applications/Training must be
completed at the beginning of the school year.
In School Procedures
• Volunteer Binder in the main
office
– Sign in your time in and your time
out
– Help keep a running tally of your
hours
• BCPS recognizes SOES and
SOES-PTA for the number of
volunteer hours we dedicate
• Parent recognition for 1,000 hours
Name Tag
• All visitors and volunteers must wear a
name tag/visitor’s badge
- These tags will be printed through the
new Raptor identification system.
– You will need a new name tag every time you
visit the school during the regular school day.
– All visitors and volunteers MUST visit the
office upon entering the school building
through the front door.
Volunteer Handbook
Please take time to read…
• BCPS Policy
• Day-to-Day Expectations
• Responding to health issues and
emergencies
• Maintaining student and staff confidentially
• Maintaining a safe and orderly learning
environment
• Reporting suspected child abuse/neglect
• Maintaining professional relationships
Q&A
• Thank you for coming!
• We appreciate your support and
hope that this informational
session has been helpful.
Before You Leave…
• Complete your Volunteer Application
• Watch training video
• Exit – to your child’s classroom