Welcome to Kindergarten!East Penn School District

Welcome!

This is the beginning of a great adventure. Your child is registered for kindergarten and is growing up!

We are pleased to welcome your child to the East Penn kindergarten program. We look forward to working with you.

The time has come to leave home for part of the day to do new things, make new friends, learn more about the world outside the family and become part of a larger group.

Welcome!

The school and home must form a sincere and warm partnership. It is important that the school understands the opportunities and needs of the home and that the home understands the objectives and program of work in the school.

The school program is designed to provide the best opportunities for each child. Your cooperation throughout the many school years ahead will help your child, your school, and your community.

Registration

Registration of a child for assignment to an East Penn kindergarten is not complete until the following items have been verified:

Proof of the child’s birth date (State Birth Certificate). To be registered, the child must be 5 on or before September 12.

Verification of immunization for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, German measles (rubella), measles, mumps, chicken pox (varicella) and Hepatitis B.

Two proofs of residency (see registration forms).

Proof of identification – Valid Parent Photo ID.

Completed registration packet.

Problem…Concern…Question

When you have a question:

Different people are responsible for the workings of the school district. If you have a question or problem, it can be best answered or solved by speaking to the person or persons responsible for that area.

Classroom Situation:

The best person to talk to about your child’s academic progress, classroom behavior or daily concerns is the child’s teacher. You can contact the teacher easily by sending a note, emailing or calling the building to schedule a personal or phone conference.

Problem…Concern…Question

Building Assignment Asst. Superintendent (610) 966-8321Bus Assignment or Stop Transportation Office (610) 966-8410Elementary Academic Progress Classroom Teacher or Support Teacher

Building PrincipalParent Volunteer Building Administrative Assistant

School Parent GroupCommunity Liaison (610) 966-8335

School Closings Channel 69Local Radio StationsDistrict Website (www.eastpennsd.org)District Info Line (610) 966-8480

Elementary Classroom Assignment Building PrincipalSpecial Medication Classroom Teacher

NurseElementary Assignments During Illness School Administrative Assistant

Classroom TeacherFamily Vacations on School Days PrincipalCommunicable Diseases School NurseSpecial Education Services Student Services Office (610) 966-8314

Assignment

Kindergarten classes are planned for the following three schools for September 2009:

Lower Macungie Elementaryfor students assigned to:

Alburtis, Macungie, Shoemaker, Wescosville

Jefferson Elementary

Lincoln Elementary

Assignment

Your child will attend one session, either morning or afternoon. Several factors, including transportation schedules and enrollment equalization, are taken into consideration in making assignments. For special reasons (parent’s work schedules, home emergencies, etc.) you may request assignment to a particular session and we will make every effort to accommodate you.

Assignment letters and transportation information will be mailed home in August.

Getting Ready for Kindergarten

Label all clothing or anything else your child takes to school.

Work with your child to learn the following:

To say first and last name, address and phone number How to get to and from school safely To recognize own possessions To tie own shoe strings To button, snap and zip To put on and remove outer clothing and hang it up

Set aside a daily time to read to your child.

Involve your child in family outing and learning experiences.

Encourage appropriate speech in sentences, without baby talk.

Make opportunities available for play with other children of the same age.

Assign simple duties at home and expect them to be carried out.

Getting Ready for Kindergarten

Be consistent and reasonable in the behavior you require.

Share experiences and places of interest; explain what is seen.

Listen as experiences are being shared with you.

Offer experiences that teach your child to share and take turns.

Give encouragement freely. Be enthusiastic about schoolwork, but do not expect perfection.

Never make comparisons with other children in the family or neighborhood, because every child is different.

Help your child to accept corrections when needed without becoming upset.

Help your child develop self-confidence. Praise your child’s strengths and discuss ways to solve problems.

If your child tells you a disturbing story, talk it over with the teacher immediately rather than simply attributing it to a vivid imagination.

Kindergarten Philosophy

Kindergarten makes a unique contribution to the education of children in East Penn because it is the first year of a child’s formal public school educational experience. Basic procedures that will be used in succeeding levels of school are introduced as part of the kindergarten program. Equal emphases are placed on the academic, social, emotional and physical growth of the child.

We recognize that children come to kindergarten with a wide variety of abilities in these four areas. Therefore, large-group, small-group and individual activities are planned by teachers for specific purposes throughout the kindergarten year.

The curriculum is designed to provide educational experiences appropriate for the developmental level of kindergarten children and to prepare each child for first grade. An emphasis is placed on promoting inquisitiveness, capitalizing on the natural curiosity of children and fostering a love of learning.

The Kindergarten Program

The kindergarten program provides opportunities for your child to learn to relate to others and build respect for the teacher and his/her classmates.

Experiences are provided which increase knowledge and improve skills, develop good habits and attitudes, and build understandings of responsibility to self and the group.

A good classroom atmosphere helps a child develop a sense of security and belonging. Natural curiosity is directed

into a zest for learning.

Language Arts

The kindergarten Language Arts curriculum is centered around reading and writing activities that help children progress on their journey toward literacy. Developmentally appropriate learning opportunities enable children to explore oral and written language through active learning that incorporates yearly reading and writing experiences. Reading to children, with children and by children are all integral parts of the kindergarten day. The relationship between sounds, letters and words is explored as the children learn about reading and writing and content areas are integrated into the kindergarten program through the inclusion of a wide selection of children’s literature.

Some children learn to write their name before coming to school. If your child is interested in learning to write his or her name, it is suggested that you present your child with the model that will be used in the kindergarten classroom. Please teach your child that a name begins with a capital letter and is followed by lower case letters for the rest of the name. The Zaner-Bloser manuscript model used in the EPSD is provided for your reference.

Language Arts

ZANER-BLOSER style Manuscript Alphabet

A a B b C c D d E e F f G g H h

I i J j K k L l M m N n O o P p Q q

R r S s T t U u V v W w X x Y y Z z

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Language Arts

Through kindergarten experiences your child develops:

Auditory Abilities ReasoningHearing Sounds Solving simple problems

Discriminating between sounds Planning

Visual Abilities Sequence of IdeasLikenesses-differences In storiesMemory In experiencesLeft-to-right and top-to-bottom In classroom activities

Listening Skills Love of LiteratureStories Story tellingDirections Listening to stories

Vocabulary and Word Meaning Poetry

ExperiencesClass interest and activities

Mathematics

In kindergarten there are many opportunities for children to use numbers and hands-on math materials.

Children participate in activities that provide experiences in the following areas:

Problem Solving and Reasoning

Look for patterns

Use a graphClassify objectsUse manipulativesUse calculators and computers

Mathematics

Number Sense Money/Consumer SkillsRecognize, read and write numbers Recognize pennyLabel sets of objects Recognize nickelIdentify whole numbers Recognize dime

Use coins to solve problems

Mental Math/Estimation Geometry/Spatial SenseEstimate number of objects Recognize circleEstimate measurements Recognize triangleEstimate various time components Recognize rectangle

Recognize squareRecognize diamondRecognize 3-D objects

Social Studies

One aspect of the kindergarten program is that of social living. It is designed to help your child acquire knowledge, habits and skills that result in understanding how people live and work together.

Responsibility – Member of a Responsibility – Member of a Family Kindergarten Class

A family group Working togetherLiving together Care of room and materialsWorking together Learning about school

The family community Learning about the playgroundSchoolGovernment

People & Places Long Ago & TodayCommunity helpers Our countryHeroes and leaders TransportationHousing CommunicationGeography Holidays

Science

The kindergarten child is curious and eager to watch, touch and question. The science program provides daily exposure to scientific concepts. Some of the areas that may be explored are listed below:

Natural Phenomena

Weather

Seasons

Mechanical Processes Living ThingsTransportation Animal babies

Construction Animals & the environment

Tools & Technology

Creativity and Play

Creative ExpressionChildren learn to work creatively with paints, chalks, blocks, crayons and clay. Through

music, they gain pleasure and skill in group singing. Rhythmic activities help develop muscular coordination and poise.

Play ActivitiesPlay activities contribute to your child’s whole development – physical, mental,

emotional and social. Through play (directed and supervised), physical ability and control are gained. The physical education program includes the following activities.

Choosing Body ControlSenses GymnasticsDramatics Imitation

If there is need, special physical activities can be provided.

Weekly Time Allotment

Kindergarten programs must be flexible. Each teacher sets up a schedule that best suits the needs of the class and the school. The weekly time allotment of approximately 800 minutes per week is a basis on which teachers build daily programs that include:

Opening, closing activities

Language Arts

Mathematics

Social Studies

Science

Health, Safety

Music, Art

Library

Physical Education

Before School Starts

The School’s Responsibility

Make sure that each kindergarten classroom has a warm, understanding and serious teacher who will help your child make a good start.

Prepare materials and equipment.

Set-up the transportation schedule. Not all children will be transported. The same rules for transporting other elementary children apply to kindergarten.

Prepare for the Parent-Teacher Conferences in fall and spring.

The First Day of School

The Parent’s Responsibility

If your child will be transported by bus, wait at the bus stop until the bus arrives. Make certain the bus tag, which will contain valuable information for the bus driver and teacher, is worn for the first few days of school. Help your child learn the number of his/her bus.

If you accompany your child to school, follow specific drop-off procedures for your school. Give a cheerful, but firm, farewell. The teacher will call you in case you are needed.

The School’s Responsibility

Because we understand the needs of children, we will have interesting activities planned that will give your child the benefit of our years of experience.

Attendance

The kindergarten child should abide by the same rules and attendance regulations as other children in the elementary school. Each child should be present unless absence can be classified as excused.

Excused Absences:Illness, death of close relative, quarantine, impassable roads, inclement weather, exceptionally urgent reasons.

Unexcused Absences:Parental neglect such as visiting, away from home, or overslept.

Notify the teacher when your child is going to be absent for three or more days.

Coming to school every day, on time, is very important. It will help develop good habits and aid progress in schoolwork. Appointments with physicians and dentists should be made for after school hours.

EPSD Board of School Directors

Alan C. Earnshaw, PresidentSusan Kowalchuk, Vice President

Charles H. BallardFrancee FullerElaine Gannon

Christopher JonesMark PrinzingerTerry Richwine

Julian Stoltz

Cecilia R. Birdsell, SecretaryLynn Glancy, Treasurer

Solicitor Marc S. Fisher, Worth, Magee & Fisher

Dr. Thomas L. Seidenberger, Superintendent of Schools

The East Penn School District is an equal opportunity education institution and will not discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion ancestry, disability, union membership, or other legally protected classification. Announcement of this policy is in accordance with state and federal laws, including Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. For information regarding 1) civil rights, 2) grievance procedures, 3) services, activities and facilities that are accessible to and useable by disabled persons, or 4) employee or participant complaints harassment or discrimination, contact Personnel Office, Compliance Officer, 800 Pine St., Emmaus, PA 18049 (610) 966-8330.

EPSD 8/2009

Administrative Offices

800 Pine Street

Emmaus, PA 18049

(610) 966-8300

24-hour Information Line (610) 966-8480