Welcome to Kindergarten Advocacy

1. Welcome to KindergartenAdvocacy Amber Bratt Westgate Community School You will go to the next class in 20 minutes.

2. About Me Differentiation is the heart of my classroom!I commit to you and your child these things… • I will do my best to understand and meet every child in the place where they are socially, emotionally, physically, and academically each and every day. • I know students are constantly changing, learning, and growing so the groupings in my classes are never stagnant and are always changing as well! • I understand students have strengths and weaknesses (as do I) so I will always be working toward building up and/or challenging them based on their uniqueness. • I will be fair and equitable in providing for each child what they need. That means they get what they need, NOT that they get the same thing as everyone else. • I will never limit or pre-determine what a child is capable of…I will always let them show me what they can do!

4. Equal is not always fair.

5. What is Advocacy? • Social & Emotional Development • Academic Check Ins • Career Exploration • Games & Workshops • Community Circles • Welcomes, Warm-ups & Closing

6. Advocacy Themes August: Starting Strong/Self-Awareness September: Self-regulation October: Bullying Prevention November: Optimism & Gratitude December: Mindfulness January: Self-Compassion February: Healthy Relationships March: Growth Mindset& Grit April: We Love the Environment May: Wellness

7. Kids’ Schedule 7:50        Students enter the building 8:00        School begins – Morning Welcome & Sharing 8:15        Language Arts 9:45        Snack & Recess Break 10:15        Math 11:15        Recess 11:45        Lunch 12:15        Quiet Time 12:45       Specials 1:30        Advocacy 2:00        Choice Time & Snack 2:30        Social Studies or Science 3:15        Cleanup & Closing Circle 3:25        Outside to carline

8. Westgate’s New Curriculum Website https://wcscurriculum.wixsite.com/wcscurriculum

9. Science and Social Studies! In kindergarten we alternate between learning social studies and science due to the small number of standards to be covered in both disciplines. I see this as an opportunity to do depth of study in these areas!

10. In social studies we will investigate… • Civics: rules, citizenship & justice • Health: mental health & kindness • History: Then & Now • Geography: Maps • Culture: Holidays Around the World • Economics: wants & needs

11. In science we will research… • Plant & Animal Needs • Earth Science • Physics: Forces & Motion

12. Questions about drop off? • Be brief. • Park at north lot • Walk to south k-2 doors doors open at 7:50 or bad weather 7:45 • If you are late, walk your child through the front doors and check your child in at the front desk. • Each day your child will • come in, • place their things in their cubby • Put their chair down • and begin our morning routine

13. Questions about pickup? Half-day at the tree Full-day at the fence You and your child need to say goodbye to the teacher before leaving.

14. Waterbottles • non-spilling • label child’s name • lost and found

15. Snack Half-days need a morning snack Full-days need • a morning snack • lunch • afternoon snack • Send in a large portion self-stable emergency snack that isn’t the most delicious snack for backup. Kid’s name on it

16. Lunch & Emergency Lunch • Hot lunch orders due 5:00 p.m. Monday for the following week • Better to have too much food than too little • microwave 30 seconds max • No pizza lunchables • Background check required to attend lunch • Give 24 hours notice to teacher • Emergency Lunch: costs money & mandatory

17. Toys • one toy small to fit in backpack • playtime and recess only • If it is out more than once during another time, it stays with teacher for the rest of the day • We are not responsible for lost or broken toys • No pretend weapons or Beyblades

18. Class Placements • GOLD & PALS data determine placements for advocacy it’s social/emotional data & for academic subjects it is based on the corresponding academic data • At your child’s math & literacy class tonight, we will present the standards that we will begin with and an outline of our expected year in literacy, math, science and social studies • During conferences in September, we will review the assessments with you. • Placements can change anytime during the year based on the needs of the kids.

19. Field Trips • Field trips and guest teachers are tied into our units. • Your yearly fees will cover these costs and we will need volunteers for sure! • When needed, requests for volunteers will come out in the monthly newsletters and on our webpage updates.

20. Birthdays • Advocacy celebrates birthdays in the classroom • You can send goodie bags or treats • If you choose to send food products • store bought • prepackaged • ingredients label • If your child has a food allergy send non perishable treat for school • Full day last 15 minutes of school/Half day 15 minutes leading up to the second recess • Do not send invitations to outside parties • Feelings get hurt, including your kids’ feelings • We cannot forward communications from one family to another

21. Toilets & Spare Clothes • Bathroom Procedures • silent hand gesture • One boy and girl can go to their respective bathrooms at a time • Let us know ASAP if there are unique toileting issues we should know about: • Some examples are a tendency to hold it too long and have an accident or a fear of flushing. • Change of clothes: Please send your child with a change of clothes sealed in a plastic bag in their backpacks in case there are accidents. • Change summer clothes to winter clothes when the weather changes

22. Infinite Campus • Comments and numeric grades are housed in it • Social emotional & academic records live in IC • Sign up online • Get the app • Need help? Contact Rochelle Goforth

23. Timely Work on Assignments • Kindergarteners will be taught throughout the year to be timely in finishing assignments • Avoiding work will lead to doing it during quiet time • Avoided during quiet time means doing it at playtime (not recess) • Avoiding it at playtime means it will come home to be homework

24. Depth & Complexity • Interwoven into our curriculum • Helps us dive deeper into subjects • Broadens thinking • Engages kids

25. Every Child Gets a Gifted Education • looks different depending per activity • give choice to show understanding • ask for a deeper explanation • asked to apply process to different situation • Pace to cover content faster than originally planned • Compact when pre-assess allows students to skip mastered content and get what they haven’t • replace what they already knew with something else usually a choice or accelerated content • pull in higher grade level standards • At any time during a class period or unit, we may use one or multiples of these to provide adequate education to all of our students

26. Need to talk about your child? • email • at conferences • other scheduled times Not drop off or pick up… student safety is my focus at these times.

27. Stay Informed! • Use our Westgate Web Pages to stay updated! • Volunteer SAC, Events Committee • Questions?