Getting Ready for Kindergarten

Welcome to Kindergarten!

Welcome to Orientation at South Row School

• Welcome!
• Academics
• Health Services
• Transportation
• From the office
• Logistics
• Transition events

Welcome!

Introduction of Team

Outgoing principal - Molly McMahon

Mrs. Terri Gilbert, Principal

Mr. Jayson Ramalho, Assistant Principal

Mrs.O’Neill, Secretary

Mrs. Sepe, Clerk

Mrs. Vandevoordt, Nurse

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Academic Calendar & Schedules

• School Hours – 8:50am – 3:18pm
• 180 Days of School – ATTENDANCE IMPORTANCE
• Parent Involvement: PTO’s, School Council, etc.
• CORI Law

Curriculum-Literacy

• Fountas & Pinnell Classroom
• Reading & Writing in response to reading
• Fundations

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• Literacy Block – Phonics, guided reading, writing workshop time

Curriculum-Math

• Math Expressions (K-4)

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• Skills: Number sense, counting skills, Patterns, Graphing Skills, Geometry, addition, introduction to subtraction

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A Kindergarten Day

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• Morning Meeting
• Reading / Writing Block
• Recess / Lunch
• Math Block
• Specialist – Art, Music, Library, Physical Education, Computer
• Snack
• S.S. / Science Activity / Afternoon centers

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• Second Step / SEL
• IGT
• Play Centers

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Specialists

• Each day your child will participate in a 50 minute specialist period. These include art, music, physical education, library and computer
• Sneakers are required for participation in physical education class.
• Library books are circulated weekly.

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Assessments

• Your child will be assessed throughout the school year in all areas of the curriculum.

• Assessments include individual testing as well as student observation.

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• Your child’s progress will be discussed during parent/teacher conferences.

Report Cards

• Kindergarten report cards are distributed twice a year in January and June.

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• The Chelmsford Public Schools report cards are available online on your X2 Family Portal Account

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School-Home Communication

• HOME LINK – Weekly communication

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• School / District Website

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• Twitter – @CPSSouthRow
• Facebook -@SouthRowElementary

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• Teachers – newsletters

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Transportation�Notify teachers with changes

Buses:

• Bus stop on bus pass

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• Bus drop off and loading

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Car / Walk:

• Drop off – back door car line / walkers in the front door

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• Pick up – back door by playground

Transportation Con’t

• You cannot use other buses for playdates

• Notify the teacher / office of changes in writing

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• Family ID Card & Number

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• Early Release Days

Extended Day Care

• More information to come…
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• 7:00am – 8:50am / 3:20 – 6pm

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• Students are located here at South Row

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• Registration through Community Education at the Westlands School

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The Lunchroom

• Lunch from home
• School lunch – free for all / bagged lunch this year
• Pin pad # / Account for buying lunch
• Please go over the menu with your child if they are going to buy
• Practice opening containers, etc.

Office Procedures

• Please always use the main door by the office (do not ask staff to let you in other doors).
• You will be ”buzzed in” but will be asked your name and why you are here.
• Please do not pass the door to anyone behind you. Safety before courtesy.
• Please take a visitor badge and wear prominently when in the building.
• Sign out of the building before leaving and return badge.

Health Services�Shannon Vandevoordt, RN, MSN

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• Immunizations
• Physical Exam
• Eye exam / Ear exam
• Health Concerns
• Allergies/Asthma/Medications
• If your child is sick? Injured?
• Breakfast/snacks / lunch / water
• Clothes in the backpack just in case.

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Mrs. Debbie O’Neill�Secretary

• Office hours 8:00am-4:00pm daily

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• Contact info (978) 251-5177 Ext O

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• Email: oneilld@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Mrs. Kim Sepe

Office Clerk

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• Office hours – 8:30am-2:00pm daily

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• Absentee Line (978) 251-5177 Ext. 6

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• Email: sepek@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Communication is the KEY

Please keep us informed on any attendance related matters by emailing the classroom teacher, Mrs. Sepe and Mrs. O’Neill. You may also call the office via telephone.

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Important: please include child’s first/last name and teacher on all correspondence

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Please call the absentee line by 9:00am if your child is going to be absent/tardy

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Any changes in your contact info throughout the year, please notify office in writing.

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Early Release Days – please email or call office if dismissal is different

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What will fall 2021 look like?

Visitor policy - TBD

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Blue bin - outside main office door for any items arriving late to school. Please label with student name/teacher and they will be delivered to classroom

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Students entering as TARDY or being dismissed early will be walked in or out the door by office staff.

CORI checks�Criminal Offender Record Info

• REQUIRED prior to volunteering in classroom or school events
• Please fill out in early fall….so you are covered when opportunities arise
• Simple form & license verification
• Valid for 3 years / District-wide
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K Screening

• Measures: speech, language, cognition, perception, and fine and gross motor coordination.
• What they did: Block building, drawing, visual memory, eye hand coordination, short term memory, following directions, verbal expression, balance, gross motor activities
• Just a screening / no scores are given out

Preparing for Kindergarten

• Get excited!
• Read daily
• Write or color often
• Find math in daily activities
• Go over safety rules
• Establish a routine - Practice healthy habits – nutrition, physical activity & sleep
• Know your child

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What Happens Next?

• Class placements will be mailed in summer

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• Playdates on the playground - August

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• Open House – September

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• Transportation information will be collected over the summer

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South Row PTO

• Facebook – join now

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• southrowpto@gmail.com

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• A message from our President, Jo Shaw

Before you leave…

• Input for placement… will be emailed
• Keep your information current to receive emails
• Questions?
• Mrs. Terri Gilbert, Incoming Principal
• gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
• Active email account on July 1st.
• Mr. Jayson Ramalho, Assistant Principal
• ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Thank you for coming tonight!�Welcome to South Row!