Welcome to Kindergarten

1. Welcome to Kindergarten

2. Keeping In Touch With The School • Phone: 384-4371 • Fax: 384-7217 • E-Mail: swtelem@ohusc.k12.in.us • Web Page: http://www.ohusc.k12.in.us

3. Requirements For Entering Kindergarten • Age: In order for a child to enter the kindergarten in the state of Indiana, he/she needs to be five years of age on or before August 1st. • Medical: Original Birth Certificate

4. Important Dates • August • What: E.P.S.F. Screening Place: Swayzee Elementary Notification of Time: By Mail and Newspaper Parents Should Consider Car Pooling!

5. The Week of June 7th What: Early Admission Screening Information: Inquire at any of the three Oak Hill Elementary Schools.

6. Orientation and/or Enrollment Day! • You will find it helpful to have the name and phone numbers of the following: • Family Doctor, • Family Members to contact in case of Emergency (If we are not able to reach you), • As well as your work number and extension. * If you use more than one doctor, it is good to have that name and number available too.

7. If you know you are going to car pool please let us know the names of the drivers and when possible, the schedule.

8. If your child will be riding the bus, ask at the office and they will tell you the number.

9. Please be sure to include your P.O. Box number in your address.

10. Communication with the School ~A monthly calendar for Sweetser Elementary will be sent home in addition to the kindergarten snack calendar.~ Visitation is welcomed, However not during the first SIX WEEKS. Always check in at office before going to the Classroom!!!!

11. Key Times to REMEMBER! • The School Day: 8:10 - 3:10 • Delayed Schedule: 10:10 - 3:10

12. Remember: All delays will be a 2 hour delay. At the end of the 2 hour delay, school will either be cancelled or we will go to school on the delayed schedule. Be sure to have a plan, that your child knows what to do in the event of a delay or cancellation!

13. -Weather Announcements-(For Delays and Cancellations) • WBAT - 1400 AM (Marion) • WCJC - 99.3 FM (Marion) • WMRI - 106.9 FM (Marion) • WWKI - 100.5 FM (Kokomo) • Channel 21 – WPTA (Ft. Wayne) • Channel 8 – Wish (Indianapolis)

14. The School’s Answering Machine Will Also Give This Information And A Portable Sign Is Placed At The Front Entrance Of The School!

15. 1. Also in the Upper Right Hand Corner, please indicate if your child will be riding a bus, or if you will be in a car pool (If so, and you know with whom please share that information.)

16. 2. If you live in Sweetser, Please include your post office box number.

17. 3. Emergency Contact - Be sure that the emergency contact is aware that you have given us their name and number and that they have transportation to school if needed.

18. Reporting Absences: • Call the school (If before 7:30 or after 3:30, leave a message on answering machine) • Or , send a note with your child when they return to school – Please indicate the day (S) absent and the reason. • Pre-Arranged Absences- Contact school and ask for “Pre-Arranged Absence Form” Prior to absence (Written Request Required)

19. The first role of the Kindergarten year is to help the child make the transition from the home or other day care to a formal school setting. 2. The child should gradually become more independent and build a feeling of self-confidence. The Importance of the Kindergarten Year

20. 3.The child will begin a formal academic experience and learn that letters and numbers are symbols that we use to communicate with one another. 4.The child will learn that we teach others how we want to be treated through our own actions.

21. 5. The child will be introduced to the idea that we attend school and learn in order to make ourselves productive citizens and to make our country a better place to live.

22. Knows his/her own name (First & Last). Can print his/her first name. Has been away from the parents or the main care taker for a period of three hours or more. 4.Can tie shoes. Can take care of bodily needs in the restroom and (if male) had prior experience with urinals. It Helps If Your Child….

23. Extra pair of gym shoes to leave here at the school. Names on clothing! 8. Has a book bag that is a reasonable size and they can operate. Clothing that they can work: Zip, Snap, Button, Etc. Parents who check their back packs daily and realize that education takes the teacher, parent and child working together

24. School Supplies I will buy the box and its’ contents. They will all be the same and here when needed. At some point if items are in need of being replaced, I will send a note.

25. From the Nurse: • Head LiceFacts- Head lice are most common in children three to 12 years of age, and all socioeconomic groups are affected. • A child with active head lice has likely had the infestation for a month or more by the time it is discovered. • Lice cannot hop or fly; they crawl. The eggs (nits) they lay will not fall out of the hair • The human head louse does not live on animals.

26. Lice can only survive up to 48 hours off of a head. • Transmission in most cases occurs by directcontact with the head of another infested individual. A child with undetected lice sitting in the classroom poses little risk to others. • Indirect spread through contact with personal belongings of an infested individual (combs, brushes, hats) is much less likely, but cannot be excluded.

27. It is probably impossible to totally prevent head lice infestations as young children frequently come into close head-to-head contact with each other. • Children should be taught not to share personal items such as combs, brushes and hats. Adults should be aware of the signs and symptoms of head lice infestation, and affected children should be treated promptly to minimize spread to others.

28. IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT • DtaP/DTP/DT………………….5 doses • Polio……………………………..4 doses • MMR……………………………..2 doses • Hepatitis B…………………….3 doses • Varicella (Chicken pox)….1 dose • Grant County Health Department • 401 South Adams Street (located in Grant County Complex) • Marion, IN 46953 • (765) 668-8871 (ask for the Nursing Division) • Free immunizations - Mondays 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and • 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

29. You must bring current shot records. • Miami County Health Department • Courthouse • Peru, IN 46970 • (765) 472-3901 • Free immunizations Tuesday/Thursday by appt. only. • A copy of your child’s official birth certificate (not the hospital copy) is required. You can obtain this from the health department.

30. Dear Parent/GuardianIndiana law (Code 20-8.1-7-10.1) addresses the required vaccinations a child must receive to attend school, which are as follows. 5 doses of DtaP/DTP/DT 4 doses of polio 2 doses MMR 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccineA child must have 1 dose of Varicella vaccine (Chicken Pox) on or after the first birth day or a record of disease. Parental history of chicken pox disease is acceptable as proof of immunity (no vaccine needed). A written statement from the parent/guardian is needed, which must be signed and dated indicating the date of disease. For example, if a parent cannot recall the exact dates, something as simple as stating the child had chicken pox in the spring of 2000 is acceptable. A doctor’s statement documenting chicken pox disease is not needed.If you have further questions please contact me at your child’s elementary.Brenda Finicle, R.N.School NursePlease return this form to provide the accepted parental history of Chicken pox disease.If there is no history of disease then proof that the Varicella vaccine was given is required.Yes, my child_____________________ has had Chicken pox. The date of the illness was____________________(month and year).Parent/ guardian Signature______________________________________Date__________________________________________________________