Welcome to Kindergarten!
2026-2027
SOUTH END ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The Cedar Grove School District Website provides links to a variety of helpful tools (www.cgschools.org)
(info@cgschools.org)
Emergency Drills are practiced each month to include:
A Day in the Life of a Kindergartener
There is still time to help prepare your child
for September!
diagnostic assessment for determining early literacy and numeracy progress for emerging readers
upper/lower case writing and recognition; simple sight words (I, we, and, a); identify colors and color words; write name; copy a simple sentence; letter/sound recognition
Kindergarten Orientation
What is happening today?
Children need wide background knowledge about their world and the words to go with this knowledge.
Visit new places and give him/her words and descriptions for what he/ she is seeing. These experiences have a huge impact on learning. (if at the zoo, describe the animals in great detail).
Children’s literature is a rich resource for expanding language. Parents should read to kids every day and limit TV, computer time and video games.
Reading fosters vocabulary and comprehension.
Reading helps children to develop the attention skills necessary in a kindergarten classroom. “Listening and following directions” are key components for your child’s success at school.
Encouraging self-help skills is an important step to preparing your child for kindergarten.
Remember, there are at least 20 children in your student’s class. At home, it might be quicker for parents to do “it”, but independence is critical for helping your child adjust to school.
Some children are so dependent on their parents that they expect the teacher to do things for them.
Some skills a Kindergarten child is ready for, i.e. wiping nose, hanging up coat, etc.
Tying shoes is a developmental skill that often doesn’t come until the first grade. It is suggested to send your child with slip-on shoes or sneakers with velcro until your child can manage.
Your child will need your assistance refining essential social skills such as sharing, compromising, taking turns, and problem solving.
Children are naturally egocentric at this age, and we don’t expect them to share everything. But by the time they reach kindergarten, they should be able to express their feelings in words and begin to understand that two people can use the same thing at the same time.
During play dates or family functions, help your child to problem-solve and work things out amicably when conflict occurs.
Your child’s hands must be strong enough to master coloring, cutting, pasting, and holding a pencil – fine motor tasks that kids use every day in kindergarten.
By week one, we’re already writing a letter of the alphabet. If kids can’t hold the pencil correctly, they will fall behind.
Children are also expected to write their names on their papers and projects. We encourage teaching children to write their names with an upper case letter followed by lower case letters.
Kindergarten teachers believe that it is their responsibility to teach kids letter sounds and how to write, but they do hope incoming students can recognize most letters by sight.
They also hope children can count to 10 and identify numbers to 10, and know some shapes and colors.
Anything else your child knows is a BONUS!
The best person to contact first is your child’s teacher or specialist! E-mail, phone messages, etc. are great ways to communicate!
If your problem, concern, or question is not handled, feel free to contact
Mrs. DiMatteo.
Phone message (973-239-2116)
Email (dimatteo.lynn@cgschools.org)
All messages are typically returned within 24 hours; your patience is appreciated.
Appointments can be arranged through Mrs. Anderson or email me directly.
Dismissal Today!
Thank you for coming!
We look forward to working with you and your child!