La Jolla Elementary School: Empowering Young Minds

Kindergarten Orientation Kindergarten Orientation Stephanie Hasselbrink, Ed.D. Interim Principal Winter 2019

Welcome! Agenda: Information about our School and our Instructional Programs A Walk Through the Kindergarten Day Kindergarten Readiness Registration Information Meet our Friends & PTO Presidents Questions Tour

School Characteristics Mid-size school 575 students Almost all students are resident students Four classes per grade level Three Kindergarten classes, One TK/K Class GATE Seminar for the LJ Cluster Grades 3, 4, 5 Award Winning School of Excellence California Distinguished Schools 2008, 2012, 2018 California Gold Ribbon School 2016 National Blue Ribbon School 2016

Amazing Parent Community Support their children s education at home Volunteer to help in the classrooms Help with special events that enhance our educational program Join our two parent groups, PTO and Friends of La Jolla Elementary, Inc. and/or support their efforts

Wonderful Teachers All credentialed, with multiple credentials, certifications, degrees, and areas of expertise Teachers stay at LJES know our community well All 3rd-5th grade teachers have a credential to teach gifted students

Resources Foundation provides Additional classroom teachers to lower class size Support teachers to provide intervention in and out of the classroom District provides Counselor School psychologist Special education teachers Speech therapist Occupational therapist Full time Health Office coverage nurse, health technician Itinerant physical therapist, adaptive physical education teacher, music therapist, mental health professionals

Kindergarten Day Hours: M, T, Th, Fri. 8:15 - 2:40 and W: 8:15 - 12:15 Whole group reading/literacy Guided reading / small group reading work Writing Workshop Mathematics Instruction Science/Social Studies Instruction PE one hour each week Enrichment block 2 hours each week: Art, music, technology, dance, theater Morning Recess, Recess & Lunch, Afternoon Recess

Literacy Based on Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Seminars in Critical Literacy Fiction & Nonfiction Small Group Work Based on reading needs of the group Guided reading, book clubs in grades 3-5 Writing Workshop Genres: opinion, informational, narrative Writing process drafting, revising, editing, publishing Word Study: Spelling, grammar, vocabulary development Software Support: Razz Kids, Learning Upgrade, Core Clicks

Mathematics Based on Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Emphasis in all grades on number sense Focus on real world problems/context of math Concepts through exploration Multiple strategies to get the answer to a problem Students collaborate with peers in partnerships and small groups Differentiation for students at all levels Software support: ST Math and ST Math Fluency, Learning Upgrade

Science/Social Studies Social Studies project-based Next Generation Science and Engineering Standards Inquiry method of teaching science to explain phenomena, and engineering to solve problems Hands-on work through science kits (FOSS- Full Option Science Systems) Students keep science notebooks and read trade books to build background knowledge Three units in the year: earth science, physical science, life science Robotics/Simple machines unit at all grade levels Field trips for science and social studies units

Social & Emotional Development Character Strengths - Focus each month: gratitude, curiosity, kindness, perseverance, zest, hope Teach students growth mindset, grit, perseverance Weekly lessons with an emphasis on developing independent social skills and work habits

Enrichment Opportunities PE classes Friends foundation provides weekly art, choral music, technology, dance, and, or theater classes & Spanish classes twice weekly PTO provides cultural arts & cyber security assemblies 4th and 5th grade students have weekly band, strings, or chorus classes

Readiness is . . . an interest in learning, the maturity to learn in a group, and the ability to communicate effectively with peers and teachers.

Social/Emotional Skills Language Skills Speaks clearly and confidently Use words to express needs or feelings Follows oral directions and obeys rules Comprehends what is said Listens without interrupting Takes turns Gets along with others and can control anger Cooperates with adults and other children Is at ease in a new situation away from parents Initiates and follows through on a task Can focus on a lesson/task and can work in a group for 15 20 minutes Physical Skills Gross and fine motor control

Skills of Independence Prereading/Prewriting Skills Puts on and takes off shoes Interest and curiosity about books and print Understands that oral language can be written and read Enjoys being read to Can recognize and write first name Uses zippers, button, and snaps to put on and take off clothing Recognizes his/her own clothing Uses restroom without help Uses crayons and scissors Handles objects and returns them properly Pre-mathematics Skills Recognizes numerals and quantities to 10 Has one to one correspondence Can clean up

Legal Age Requirement Children must be five years old by September 1st to enroll in Kindergarten Transitional Kindergarten will be offered for students who will miss the cut off and will be five between September 2nd and December 2nd The District will not make exceptions for children who miss the cut off

Transitional Kindergarten Exposure to reading, writing, and math concepts and skills Focus is on readiness for Kindergarten Full day, follow schedule of regular Kindergarten classes, possible to do partial day Not sure of configuration until we see the number of students and their skill levels - Full class or TK/K combination class

Registration Begins April 1, 2019 from 9:30am to 2:00pm Please bring: Birth Certificate or Passport Two Proofs of Residence (and an additional one in August) Immunizations complete Completed registration packet

Kindergarten Interview Conducted in May & June Meeting with teacher/principal Components Letters, sounds, phonemic awareness Writing name Counting objects Parent Questionnaire

Activities to Get Acquainted Before School Begins Kindergarten Playdates Organized by current parents who have an incoming Kindergarten student Usually four in the summer two in July and two in August Kindergarten Orientation for Parents Kindergarten BBQ for Families

Please Welcome Our Friends President: Angie PTO President: Mira

Questions?

Thank you for attending! We are looking forward to serving your children and family!