Welcome to Kindergarten!

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) 966-8321 Bus Assignment or Stop Transportation Office (610) 966-8410 Elementary Academic Progress Classroom Teacher or Support Teacher Building Principal Parent Volunteer Building Administrative Assistant School Parent Group Community Liaison (610) 966-8335 School Closings Channel 69 Local Radio Stations District Website (www.eastpennsd.org) District Info Line (610) 966-8480 Elementary Classroom Assignment Building Principal Special Medication Classroom Teacher Nurse Elementary Assignments During Illness School Administrative Assistant Classroom Teacher Family Vacations on School Days Principal Communicable Diseases School Nurse Special Education Services Student Services Office (610) 966-8314

Assignment Kindergarten classes are planned for the following three schools for September 2009: • Lower Macungie Elementary for 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 Reasoning Hearing Sounds Solving simple problems Discriminating between soundsPlanning Visual Abilities Sequence of Ideas Likenesses-differences In stories Memory In experiences Left-to-right and top-to-bottom In classroom activities Listening Skills Love of Literature Stories Story telling Directions Listening to stories Vocabulary and Word MeaningPoetry Experiences Class 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 graph Classify objects Use manipulatives Use calculators and computers

Mathematics Number Sense Money/Consumer Skills Recognize, read and write numbers Recognize penny Label sets of objects Recognize nickel Identify whole numbers Recognize dime Use coins to solve problems Mental Math/Estimation Geometry/Spatial Sense Estimate number of objects Recognize circle Estimate measurements Recognize triangle Estimate various time components Recognize rectangle Recognize square Recognize diamond Recognize 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 together Living together Care of room and materials Working together Learning about school The family community Learning about the playground School Government People & Places Long Ago & Today Community helpers Our country Heroes and leaders Transportation Housing Communication Geography 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 Things Transportation Animal babies Construction Animals & the environment Tools & Technology

Creativity and Play Creative Expression Children 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 Activities Play 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 Control Senses Gymnastics Dramatics 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, President Susan Kowalchuk, Vice President Charles H. Ballard Francee Fuller Elaine Gannon Christopher Jones Mark Prinzinger Terry Richwine Julian Stoltz Cecilia R. Birdsell, Secretary Lynn 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

Welcome to Kindergarten!