Kindergarten Transition

USD 475Geary County Schools

Let’s Get StartedHow is Kindergarten different from Preschool?

Kindergarten classes are in session from 8:20 to 3:30 as compared to half day in many preschool sessions.

Attendance is required. If your child is absent from school, you must contact the school office.

Students eat lunch at school. Breakfast is also available.

Students get to participate in PE, Music, Art and checking out books in the Library.

Enrollment InformationAge Requirements

All student entering Kindergarten must be five (5) years old on or before August 31 of this year. You may enroll your student any time.

New Students to the DistrictStudents new to Geary County Schools USD 475 must provide the following:

1. Kansas Certificate of Immunization Card2. Required immunizations3. Physical Examination for children eight years

old and younger4. Proof of Identity ~ birth certificate or current

passport

Health InformationPhysical ExamsCan be completed 12 months prior to the date of school enrollmentCall now for an appointment ~ dates fill up quickly in summer and early August

ScreeningsVision and hearing are screened at school, but screening does not detect all problems

Medication Only medication prescribed by a Health Care Provider may be administered at school.

Health

Informatio

n

ImmunizationsThe following are immunizations required for entry into Kindergarten:

DTP ~ five doses requiredIPV/OPV ~ four doses requiredMMR ~ two doses requiredHepatitis B ~ three doses required through grade 9Varicella: ~ two doses required for Kindergarten

Suggested ImmunizationAnnual Influenza Vaccine

The school nurse will make sure the immunizations were given at the correct interval.

Kindergarten Curriculum

Reading

Our district uses the KinderCorner reading program. This program integrates Reading, Writing, Science and Social Studies through the use of thematic units.We focus on the following skills:

Phonemic awareness Rhyming

Letter recognition Clapping syllables

Letter formation Sound blending

Beginning and ending sounds Sight words

Sound segmenting Story comprehension

Mathematics

Curriculum is aligned with the Common Core State Standards

Students will engage in daily hands-on activities and games that teach and reinforce skills that may include:Counting by 1’s and 10’s Describing/comparing

measurements

Number formation/recognition (0 – 30)

Naming/describing 2D & 3D shapes

Counting objects accurately Comparing shapes by attributes

Adding/subtracting using concrete objects

Solving + and – word problems

Working with base 10 Sorting and classifying objects

Counting on from a given number Comparing quantities

Writing

Writing Curriculum

The students write and draw in journals to practice writing skills, often beginning with letter strings.Once students know enough letter sounds, they will begin to blend the sounds to create words.We begin with invented spelling and work toward conventional spelling.

Handwriting

The D’Nealian Handwriting Series is used across the district.Students will practice handwriting through the KinderCorner reading series.

Writing Curriculum

HandwritingAa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff

Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Your child will receive a Kindergarten progress report four times during the school year. Two of these will be during Parent/Teacher conferences. It is important to communicate on a regular basis with your child’s teacher about his/her progress. The students are graded on progress towards meeting grade level expectations.

Grading

Kindergarten ReadinessWe recognize that kindergarten students begin school at different levels and with different skills.

The skills listed below are provided to assist parents and caregivers in preparing their child for school. It is important to remember that children develop at different rates, and your child may be more successful with some tasks than with others. Take care of personal needsShow respect to friends and teachersListen while others are talking Recite name and ageRecognize name in printPrint first name

Recognize some letters and some

numeralsUnderstand one-to-one correspondenceRecognize and name basic shapes and colorsUnderstand positional words (top, bottom, over, under, etc.)Follow simple directionsHave experience coloring and cuttingTake turns while playing and sharing with others

How Can You Prepare your Child for School?

Physically

Play a variety of indoor and outdoor gamesDesign and construct activities (cutting, gluing, pasting)Draw and writeLearn to put on and take off coats, shoes and socksPractice opening lunch box, drink container and food packetsEstablish routines ~ meal times, story time, bedtime

EmotionallyBuild self-esteemGive some chores (feed a pet, make a bed)Make a few simple rules Read stories about school and Kindergarten

Socially Provide opportunities to play with other childrenHelp them understand the importance of looking after their own belongingsTeach them to share and take turns

IntellectuallyShare and enjoy booksSing songs and rhymesPlay word games (I spy, Simon Says)Do puzzlesTalk about: shapes, colors, positions, quantities, events, questions

Suggested Books for a Smooth Transition To

KindergartenThe Kissing Hand byAudrey PennFroggy Goes to School by Jonathan LondonLook Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! by Nancy CarlsonI’ll Always Come Back by Steve MetzgerWho Will Go to Kindergarten Today? By K. RuhmannWill I Have a Friend? by Miriam CohenThe Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha WingI Need a Lunchbox by Jeannette CainesMorris Goes to School by B. WisemanMiss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by J. SlateKindergarten Kids by Ellen SenisiWemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes

Kindergarten Connection Meetings

August 12, 13, 14, 2014

First day of Kindergarten

August 15, 2014

Questions?USD 475

Geary County Schools