WELCOME TO SAN RAFAELKINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION

2014-2015

Greetings and Introductions

Principal - Rudy RamirezPTA President – Noeleen Acosta

Parent Extraordinaire – Emily MenckenClerk Typist - Josefina Gomez

Curtis Bennett - Head CustodianMirian Espinal – Health Clerk

Marcus Hinkley – LEARNS Coordinator

Dual Immersion Kindergarten Teachers- Maestra Luz Ceja

- Maestra Elva De Jarnett- Maestra Karla Cordova

Meet each other!Please introduce yourself to 5 new

people sitting around you.

Maestra Luz CejaRoom #9

My name is Luz Ceja and this will be my sixth year teaching in the

Dual-Immersion program at San Rafael. I hold a Master of Artsdegree in Education with an option in Early Childhood Education

and aMultiple Subject Teaching Credential: BCLAD (Spanish). Myphilosophy of education is based on the belief that each child is

unique,therefore; teachers should create an environment where each

child ismotivated to learn through valuable and memorable experiences.

I am looking forward to a fun, enriching and successful 2014-2015

school year. Welcome to our San Rafael family!

Welcome to Kindergarten! My name is Elva De Jarnett and this will be my fourth year teaching in the Dual-Immersion program at San Rafael Elementary. I am originally from Paraguay and I studied at CSU Dominguez Hills and CSU Long Beach, where I earned my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (BCLAD). I am very thrilled to share my passion and appreciation for bilingualism and biculturalism with your children, as well as my love for music, and I promise to offer a caring learning environment that will reach and inspire every single one of them.

Maestra Elva De JarnettRoom #12

Welcome to Kindergarten and to our wonderful San Rafael family! My name is Karla Cordova and this will be my fourth year teaching at San Rafael. I studied at California State University, Fullerton and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Adolescent development and earned a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential: BCLAD (Spanish). I am passionate about teaching and I promote a lifelong love of learning in children. I offer students an enriched learning and caring environment in which they can thrive and be highly motivated to reach their potential. Together we’ll have a wonderful and successful 2014-2015 school year!

Maestra Karla CordovaRoom #11

The Kindergarten Program

Focuses on language developmentIncorporates active learningProvides opportunities for investigation, exploration, and discoveryPromotes creative expressionFosters positive interaction with others and appreciation for diversityAge and individually appropriate curriculum and instructionSafe and supportive classroom environmentDifferentiated instruction Assessments

Sample Kindergarten ScheduleNetworking– Journal Writing– Learning Games– Classroom Library

Morning/Afternoon Meeting– Attendance/Greeting– Weather/Calendar– Daily Message Board– Literature-based

experiences– Plan for the day

Read Aloud

Recess

Flexible Groups– Language Arts– Mathematics– Science/Social – Studies

Centers– Literacy Stations

Special Subjects– Music– PE– Art– Library

Class Meeting/Evaluation of the Day

Dismissal

Special Kinder Traditions

Birthday celebrationsCero el Héroe Panda EstrellaSuper Saco / Show and tell bagBono el Mono / Bona la MonaSpecial Cultural Celebrations

Literacy activitiesVisits to the public library100th day celebrationSanta Monica Beach AquariumKidspace Children’s Museum (My Masterpieces)

Food In the ClassroomSNACKS

Monday through Friday SMALL NUTRITIONAL snack from home

Students should be able to open their own container/packaging 86 students with 5 adults

Snack: IN ITS OWN LABELED CONTAINER EVERYTHING must be labeled with your child’s

first and last name and their room number (use a Black Sharpie).

• We are a peanut free school.

• Regardless the length of the school day, there is always first recess and lunch recess.

Play First, Eat Second

At San Rafael, our students play before they eatStudents are walked to the playground at 11:00 amStudents are able to play until 11:15-11:20’shStudents then line up to get ready to have lunchIf students bring their own lunch, they will be directed to the Pergola areaIf students are having a school lunch, they will line up to enter the cafeteriaProcedures take a bit longer at the beginning of the year

FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT

Payment Procedures Parents may pay by cash or check by going to

the cafeteria. Money can be deposited in student accounts for future purchases. Please

make sure you update your child’s balance monthly. Teachers will not collect lunch money.

.Application for Free or Reduced Priced

meals: We encourage all interested people to complete an application for free or reduced lunch Any completed applications must be returned to the front office or the cafeteria manager

School-Wide Policies & Procedures

Uniform PolicySolid navy, light blue, forest green or white shirts

with collars (long or short sleeves)Official school t-shirts (Panda Wear)Solid color sweaters, jackets, sweatshirts - preferably

in the four school colors.Navy or khaki pants, shorts, skirts, skorts and

dresses.No denim/jeansNo open toe shoes or shoes without a back are

allowed.Free dress days are announced by the Principal or

Student Council.

Medication

The school cannot dispense medication to students unless it has been prescribed by a physician AND with written approval of the parent/guardian.

Medication must be in an appropriate prescription container which includes the physician’s directions for dispensing.

All medication is administered and kept in the Front Office.

Please do not send any medication with your child, as they may want to share it.

Parents may give the medication to the bus driver for safe delivery.

Please notify the classroom teacher and Front Office if your child has any medical conditions or allergies or if they require medication during school hours.

Teachers do not administer medication to students.

Bell Schedule

7:30am Morning Supervision begins7:45am Line-up (1st Bell)7:50am SCHOOL BEGINS (2nd Bell) 9:00am Kindergarten Recess (15 Minutes)11:00am Kindergarten Lunch (45 Minutes)12:35pm DISMISSAL (Monday) 2:15pm DISMISSAL (Tuesday -Friday) 2:15pm LEARNS, Parks & Rec (until 6:00 pm)

Minimum Days

Check the calendar on our school website for specific days– Back to School Night (Sept 18th at 6:00 pm)– Fridays before Winter Break and Spring

Break– Open House (TBA)– Last Day of School

Typically, students are released at 12:30 pm but it varies

Birthday Celebrations

Each classroom has its own way of celebrating birthdays.Teachers usually pick a day at the end of each month to celebrate the birthdays of that month.Celebrations are held the last 20 minutes of the school day.Parents may wish to bring in healthy snacks. – There is a district policy that outlines acceptable foods and drinks,

which we follow.– Do not bring unhealthy snacks or treats like potato chips, Cheetos,

Flaming Red Hot Cheetos, Doritos, Flaming Doritos, etc., sodas, candy, frosting covered cookies and cupcakes

– Please consider items such as mini-muffins, grapes, apple slices, dried fruit, string cheese, and other healthy choices

To avoid hurt feelings, distribution of invitations to birthday parties is not allowed during school hours.

Lost and Found

Please clearly label EVERYTHING with your student’s first and last name and room number (with a black Sharpie).The lost and found is located in the cafeteria.The PTA will regularly lay out the contents of the Lost & Found at meetings.Due to limited space, the Lost & Found is cleaned every month or two.All unclaimed items are donated to local charities, including a program supporting PUSD students.If your student has lost an item, please be sure to check the Lost & Found prior to the end of the month.It is the parents’ responsibility to check the Lost & Found

Miscellaneous Information

“OOPS” Policy– From time to time, students may have an

“accident” while at school– Please send a FULL change of clothes in a

gallon-sized ziploc bag. Make sure to label it with your student’s full name.

Parties – Halloween, Thanksgiving, Winter, Valentine’s

Day, 100th Day, Spring and End of the Year Parties are celebrated by all kindergarten students together.

Wish List

You can help our Kindergarten program by donating some of the school supplies used during the school year for special projects

Take advantage of the Back-to-School sales and stock up!

We always need reams of paper.

Look at the “Wish List” on the school website for your child’s grade level needs/wants.

Stay on the look-out for the Scholastic Book Fair wish list.

Homework

Children typically bring home a homework folder on Monday and return it on FridayPlease review the folder carefully as it often comes with notes from your teacherStudents are expected to work for a certain number of minutes every day. – If your student exceeds this time on a regular basis, please talk to

your student’s teacher.

Kindergarten – 15 minutes daily on homework plus 15 minutes of reading time– Until your student is reading on his/her own, it is

expected that you spend this time reading to your student.

– Read books in the language(s) in which you are fluent.

– Homework is a PUSD Policy

Communication

Phone Call– School Messenger on

Sunday evening • Principal, Student

Council, PTA, etc.– PUSD Monday

Message (Superintendent)

Online– San Rafael Website– E-blast

• (PLEASE SIGN UP)– Facebook

Wednesday folder– Principal’s Weekly

Newsletter– Flyers

With Teachers– Via e-mail– In person– Conferences

Room Parents– Shutterfly websites– E-mails

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR TEACHER

Classrooms will not be interrupted during classroom instruction time. Classroom instruction is a very valuable time of the day that must be protected allowing for enhanced student achievement.

E-Mail– E-Mail is only checked before and after

school– Please do not e-mail important information

during school hours as it will not be read

Notes delivered by your student

Driving and Parking

Safety is #1!!!!

Follow all traffic and pedestrian laws.– Don’t make u-turns in driveways or intersections– Follow all posted speed limit and parking signs and

go slowly– Don’t double park

Be mindful of our neighbors– Do not block their driveways, play in their front yards

or move their garbage cans – Trash pickup day is typically Thursdays

Parking

Safety is #1!!!!There is no school parking lotDo not park in the School Bus Zone (front of school)Do not park in our neighbors’ driveways or block their drivewaysObserve all posted parking signs – you will get a ticketGive yourself enough time because you may need to walk a block or two to campus (sometimes) Do not jay walk – use the crosswalksPlease don’t litter; help us keep our neighborhood lovely

Morning Drop-Off“Valet” drop-off is available on Nithsdale (front of school) and on San Rafael (east entrance)

Please pull forward and allow for staff to assist you

NO PARKING in valet lane ! ! !– When one car parks in the valet lane, the entire

system stops

Student supervision begins at 7:30 am on the Upper Playground and in the Cafeteria

If you will be walking your student to the Upper Playground, please be aware of restricted bus lanes and traffic signs when you park your car

Students line up on their classroom number in the morning

There is “No Playing” in the am– With over 450 students, playing in the am would be unsafe

What if I’m late to school?

Classroom instruction begins at 7:50 amStudents are marked “late” to school if they arrive after the bell ringsParents must escort students to the Front Office if they are late Students will not be admitted into the classroom without a tardy slip from the officePlease give yourself plenty of time in the morning

Pick-Up From SchoolSafety is #1!!!!If you are picking up your student after school, teachers walk their students to the Outdoor Classroom (fenced area behind Room #12)If you are carpooling or picking up other students, you need to have written permission from those students’ parents or guardians Parents should either call the front office an hour before school ends or have their students bring a note with them to school (NO EXCEPTIONS)In the event of a major emergency, please meet at the Back Gate on Lower Playground– Students will only be released to an authorized adult on the

Emergency Card with photo identification – Parents will not be allowed on campus during emergency events

Red Flag Days

Red Flag Days are announced by the City of Pasadena– Please sig up with the city to receive e-mail

notifications

Red Flag Days are declared when the temperature is high and the humidity level is low

Red Flag Days allow for Emergency Personnel to access narrow streetsALL three curbs on the San Rafael side of the street (Nithsdale, San Rafael, and Hermosa) are RED FLAG postings

Please be informed and give yourself plenty of time

Driving Map

SRSR

Parking Map

SRSRSRSR

Drop off LineBus Zone

Side

Gate

Campus Map

School Traditions

Spirit DaysBirthday CelebrationsMonthly recognition assembliesHealthy Pandas– Play First/Eat

Second– Field Day

Student Council

Events– Posting Party

(classroom rosters posted)

– Back To School BBQ– Back To School night– Halloween/Costume

Parade– Sweetheart Lunch

(Valentine’s Day)

– Open House– Career Day

School Traditions Continued

Holiday Performances / CelebrationsTalent ShowDistrict Music ProgramMy MasterpiecesRoom 13Outdoor classroom

Picture DaysSummer School/PEFFuture Projects– Science Lab– Technology

Resource Center

Parent Information

To volunteer in the classroom, you must first fill out an application (found in the Front Office) and get a TB test.If you are volunteering consistently and attending field trips, you must go to the Ed Center (PUSD office) to get a background screening. (Principal must approve your request first)When you step foot on campus to volunteer, immediately go to the Front Office to sign in & record your hours.– Please do not go directly to any classroom

San Rafael will ask you to sign-in and wear a “Visitor’s Tag” during your visit. Please ONLY use adult restrooms.Younger children are not allowed during volunteering as they can distract classroom instruction and learning.

Volunteers are not allowed in the classroom for the first six weeks of school.

Parent GroupsParent Teacher Association (PTA)– Monthly meetings

(alternating at 2:30 pm and 6:00 pm)

– Fall Festival & Pumpkin Patch

– Scholastic Book Fair– Read-a-Thon

School Site Council (SSC)Annual Fund (AF)Room #13 Art StudioWellness Committee/Healthy Pandas– Field Day

African American Parent Council (AAPC)Dual Immersion Advisory Council (DIAC)– School tours– Cultural committee– Marketing & outreach– Academic– Middle School

English Learner Advisory Council (ELAC)Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)Tech Committee

School Fundraisers

PTA– Pumpkin Patch– Read-a-thon– Scholastic Book Fair– Amazon.com URL– Box Tops for

Education– Restaurant nights– Movie nights– Inkjet Cartridge, Laser

Cartridge, Batteries and Mobile Phone Recycling Program

Annual Fund-Direct Appeals-Bamboo Club (monthly pledge)-Panda Padre Fiesta-Grants

Kindergarten “Rules”

Please Note:This is an important aspect of our Dual-

Immersion program.You can either ask another parent to

translate or step away to where you can speak freely without students overhearing you.

Kindergarten teachers will not “break” language in front of students.

They will only speak to you in Spanish.

Upcoming Events

Aug 15 “Posting Party” at 4:00 pm (Classroom Rosters Posted)

Aug 18 Classes Resume (7:45 am)Aug 18 “Boo-Hoo” Parent Breakfast at 8:00 am on

the Lower PlaygroundAug 22 Back to School Picnic at 6:00pmSept 1 Labor Day Holiday – No SchoolSept 4 PTA Meeting at 6:00 pm

Punch with the Principal at 5:30 pmSept 15 Scholastic Book Fair beginsSept 18 Back to School Night – Minimum DaySept 23 School Site Council meeting at 2:30 pm