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Agenda

5:30–6:00 p.m.

Information Session

Families of students entering grades 1–5 begin tours once the school-wide information is complete.

6:00–6:30 p.m.

Kindergarten Classroom Tours, Q&A, and Bamford Tours

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Meet Gary Bamford

Gary’s Notable Traits and Values

Kindness

Collaboration

Made people feel valued

Believed every child matters

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Pack Facts

Broke ground in March 2020
Opened in August 2021
Early Childhood (EC) through 5th grade
Neighborhood school
Feeder school to Preston Middle School and Fossil Ridge High School
300 K–5 students plus 2 Early Childhood classes

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Pack Facts (continued)

Inclusive model: Center-Based Autism and Multicategorical Integrated Services

Facility designed to foster collaboration

Positive climate and culture

Strong school community, PTO, and volunteers

School hours: 7:45 a.m.–2:23 p.m. (breakfast drop-off begins at 7:20 a.m.)

Breakfast and lunch are free for all students who want school-provided meals

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Core Values: The Bamford Experience for Students

Safe, Inclusive Community

A welcoming environment where every student is seen, known, heard, loved, and valued as a whole child, supported by trusted adults and a strong sense of belonging.

Learning for All

Challenging and active learning opportunities that meet students where they are, foster adequate individual growth, and provide the skills for future success.

Supportive Structure

High behavioral and academic expectations paired with consistent supports, including social-emotional-behavioral support, calm learning spaces, and scaffolds to access learning.

Joy and Connection

A culture centered on excitement for learning, meaningful relationships, collaboration, risk-taking, and positive interactions throughout the school.

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Core Values: The Bamford Experience for Families

Welcoming and Safe Environment

A space where families feel immediately welcomed, safe, and comfortable the moment they walk through our doors.

Authentic Partnership

Active engagement in which families are viewed as essential partners in their child’s education, with transparent, open, two-way communication.

Inclusion and Belonging

A community where every family feels heard, valued, and represented, knowing their child’s needs are being met in a diverse and inclusive environment.

Informed and Involved

Clear, consistent updates on student progress and expectations, combined with meaningful opportunities to take part in school celebrations and activities.

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At Bamford, We HOWL!

Help Others

Own Your Actions

Work Hard

Lead with Integrity

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PBIS at Bamford

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

Bamford HOWL agreements
HOWL Hearts
Pack Pennies
HOWL Assemblies (parents of award recipients are invited)
School-wide spirit days and prizes

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Social-Emotional Learning

Sources of Strength SEL curriculum
Homeroom teachers and the school counselor teach the SEL curriculum
All staff reinforce SEL and use restorative practices
The counselor provides targeted small-group and individual support

Keri Grant

School Counselor

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Specials at Bamford

Students attend specials daily for 45 minutes.

P.E.

Music

Art

STEM

Media Center

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Curriculum at Bamford

Math

i-Ready

Literacy

EL Education and UFLI (top five in PSD for early literacy growth)

Science and Social Studies

Mystery Science
A wide range of resources based on grade-level standards

Social-Emotional Learning

Sources of Strength SEL curriculum
PBIS and assemblies

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Continuum of Services at Bamford

Our Staff

All certified teachers are highly qualified and licensed; many hold additional endorsements and/or a master’s degree
Paraprofessionals support instruction
Certified literacy interventionists, a Gifted & Talented teacher, an English Language Development teacher, a counselor, and a mental health specialist

For Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Multicategorical Integrated Services teachers and paraprofessionals
Center-Based Autism teachers and paraprofessionals
Special service providers: school psychologist, physical therapist (PT), occupational therapist (OT), speech-language pathologist (SLP), and vision and hearing specialists

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School Special Events

Back-to-the-Pack Night
First-Day Welcome with FRHS Band, Cheer, and Dance
Welcome Assembly
Character Assemblies
Back-to-School Information Nights
5th-Grade Eco Experience
Field Trips

Halloween Parade
Fall, Winter, and Valentine’s Day Parties
Tour de Turkey
Field Day
Music Performances
District Art Show Participation
Talent Show

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PTO Special Events

Back-to-the-Pack Night
Family Picnic
Movie Night
Fundraiser
Fun Run and Color Run

Glow Party/Dance Party
Bike-to-School Day
Donuts with Grown-Ups
Book Fair
Staff Appreciation

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Volunteer Opportunities

PTO: attend meetings, volunteer at events, or serve as a coordinator
School Accountability Committee
Room parent (organizes class parties)
Class party volunteer
Classroom volunteer

Academic support
Clerical support

Recess/lunchroom supervision volunteer
Field trip chaperone

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After-School Enrichment

Enrichment Clubs from Outside Providers

Art
Spanish
Coding & Robotics
Bricks & Builders
Chess

Acting
Yoga
Blooming Girls
Cheer & Dance

Staff-Sponsored Clubs

Running Club
Newspaper Club

After-School Childcare

AlphaBEST

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What to Expect: Safety

All doors lock automatically during designated hours; the front door is open briefly at arrival and dismissal

Automatic “all lock” when needed

Single-point entry at the front with a camera and doorbell

Video surveillance

All volunteers are registered and background-checked

All visitors check in through the Raptor system

Picking up a child during school hours? We confirm the adult is on the approved release list and check their ID

Regular safety drills

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Registration for 2027–2028: Students New to PSD

Registration opens November 30 (or earlier, if PSD is able to open registration and School of Choice following the Board of Education decision).

Complete online registration at olr.psdschools.org

Please have the following ready:

Up-to-date immunization record
Proof of your child’s birth date
Emergency contact information

Scan with your phone’s camera

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Registration for 2027–2028: Kindergarten

Please register at your neighborhood school by Wednesday, December 2.

Early registration is encouraged. It helps schools understand how many neighborhood students plan to attend and allows us to make thoughtful, informed School of Choice decisions.

Please keep your neighborhood school informed of your plans. If you are considering another school or are currently on a waitlist, simply let your neighborhood school know. This helps schools plan accurately for enrollment, staffing, and School of Choice.

We understand that families consider many factors when choosing a school, and we want you to make the decision that is best for your family.

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School of Choice for 2027–2028

If you would like your child to attend a school other than your neighborhood school, you must also complete a School of Choice (SOC) application.

School of Choice Deadline: Wednesday, December 16, at 4:00 p.m.

Seat offers are anticipated to begin the week of January 3 and will be sent weekly by phone or email as space becomes available.

Helpful Tips

Be prepared to make a decision. Research schools before you receive an offer so you can accept a seat quickly.
Consider following your new school on Instagram, Facebook, etc. to stay informed and connected.
If you accept a School of Choice seat, your child’s registration automatically moves to that school.

School Choice Application

Questions? Ask our registrar:

Katie Menard

kmenard@psdschools.org

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Questions?

Before tours begin for families of students entering grades 1–5

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Kindergarten

Information

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Welcome,

Class of 2040!

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Meet the Teachers

Mrs. Karimi

Mrs. Kedrovsky

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Academic Kindergarten Readiness

Children must be 5 years old on or before October 1, 2027

Things to Work On Before School Starts

Reading and writing their name

Identifying the letters in their name

Singing the alphabet

Understanding the difference between numbers and letters

Counting to 10

Reading with your child every day

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Whole-Child Kindergarten Readiness

Things to Work On Before School Starts

Take turns and share with others

Listen quietly to a story

Clean up after self

Practice using pencil, scissors, glue, & crayons

Complete bathroom tasks independently

Dress & undress independently (coats for outside, pants in restroom)

Pack and unpack backpack items

Open lunchbox, snack, & water bottle

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What Does the Day Look Like?

7:45 a.m. – 2:23 p.m.

Morning Meeting & Calendar

Phonics

Snack & Recess

Literacy Centers & Small Groups

Math

Reading

Writing

Lunch & Recess

Quiet Time

Specials

Theme (Science, Social Studies, Play to Learn, SEL)

Dismissal

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What to Expect: Curriculum

Standards-based instruction

Daily differentiation to meet students’ needs

Curricula Used

Math: i-Ready Math
Literacy: EL Education & UFLI
Phonemic Awareness: Heggerty
Science/Social Studies: Mystery Science and supplemental materials
Social-Emotional Learning: Sources of Strength

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What to Expect: Communication

Easy Access to Staff

Quick response from staff

Building Handbook

Detailed building handbook

Kindergarten

Weekly classroom newsletters and email updates

Bamford

Weekly Bamford update
Website, Facebook, and Instagram: follow us!

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Important Kindergarten Dates

May

Kindergarten Open House

You must be registered and enrolled at Bamford to receive this invitation.

Early August

Kindergarten Assessment Day

A sign-up link will be sent to registered families in July.
Students come in small groups for beginning-of-year assessments and time to play and get to know one another.
We use this information to create class lists.

First Week of School

Staggered Start

Students are divided into smaller groups for the first few days of school. This helps children adjust to the school day and learn our routines.

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Thank You for Coming!

Next, we invite you to visit the classrooms, ask questions, and/or tour the school.

koppenheimer@psdschools.org

akedrovsky@psdschools.org