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BACK TO SCHOOL!

CLASS PLACEMENT IN AUGUST ON INFINITE CAMPUS

SCHOOL BEGINS, TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2025

FULL DAY SCHEDULE

SAVE THE DATE: OPEN HOUSE 2025 -

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH 6-7:30PM

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All Doors are secured & locked.

Doors are opened at arrival and dismissal with assigned staff

Visitors may enter through the main doors

Numerous camera throughout the building and outside grounds

Monthly fire drills & emergency drills throughout the year

Any change in your child’s dismissal routine is required SDM

No outside food is permitted for birthdays or holiday celebrations

SRO available everyday

School Safety Protocols

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Our School Motto:

Our Hawks SOAR!

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Language Arts

Mathematics

Science

Social Studies

Purposeful Play

SEL

Music

Art

Physical Education

Library/Media/Tech

PROGRAM

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SPECIALS

6-Day rotational cycle (A-F)
Two (40-minute) periods of Music and Physical Education
One (40-minute) period of Art and media/tech period

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TRANSPORTATION

Bus Transportation is provided for nearly all Mill Hill students due to proximity and lack of sidewalks
Early Dismissal Time (Conferences/Teacher Professional Development/Inclement Weather) is 1:40PM
2 hour Delayed Opening (due to inclement weather or other emergencies) school will begin at 10:55 AM
Pick-Up Students will be dismissed from the Gymnasium area
Utilize stop, kiss, drop loop for drop off & pick-up

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SCHOOL HOURS

School Starts promptly at 8:55am with arrival is from 8:45-8:55am
Dismissal begins at 3:25pm
2 Hour Delayed Opening is at 10:55am
Early Dismissal is at 1:40pm

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Literacy Instruction in the Kindergarten Classroom

Fairfield Public Schools

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Curriculum and Resources

Newly Approved Kindergarten ELA Curriculum and Resources!

Curriculum is found on the District Website. Click on Academics, Subjects, and then�English/Language Arts
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Reading is our primary resource (9 modules)

Our new Board approved Kindergarten curriculum is being implemented this fall! It has been about 10 years since the Board approved ELA curricula. So, our district has been engaging in the curricula review process for English Language Arts to prepare for this fall’s implementation.
Part of this review process included the need to identify and purchase State approved resources that are aligned with the Science of Reading which is a vast body of research that explains what matters and what works in the teaching of literacy. We purchased Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Reading and aligned these resources to our Board approved curriculum.
Some of the materials that will be available in classrooms and online are pictured in this slide. There are a lot of books that classrooms will receive that span a wide range of genres such as fiction, informational text, and poetry to name a few. Kindergarten classrooms will also receive a collection of big books for sharing the reading together. Start Right Readers pictured in the top row in the middle will support students in small group reading as they are learning to read specific phonics patterns.
Teachers have been preparing for this implementation since January as they have been learning about the new curriculum components and all of the new materials they will be able to use to engage your children in literacy.
Literacy instruction does not just occur during the literacy block, however, Students read and write in other parts of the day, as well, during Play-Based Learning, Science, Social Studies, and Math, too!
We will help parents and students learn about how they can access some of these materials at home! Be on the lookout for information about our virtual summer sessions on our district website in the next few weeks!

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Standards-Based Literacy Instruction

Read Alouds

Comprehension skills and strategies
Oral language
Vocabulary
Background knowledge

Content and skills taught through social studies, science, and high interest topics such as:

Our Kindergarten Classroom and School
Our Community
Our Country
Animal Habitats
Our Environment�

Writing Workshop for process writing, including grammar, capitalization and punctuation

Opinion pieces
Letters
Lists
How-To Books
Narratives
Research Reports
Poetry�

The goal is to build a lifelong love of reading and writing through all of these components and opportunities that are planned with your child’s individual needs in mind.
Your child will be read to A LOT in kindergarten in order for the teacher to model and practice comprehension skills and strategies.
Read alouds also provide opportunities for students to develop their oral language as they learn how to participate in productive conversations through discussion routines. Your child will also learn new vocabulary words and will build their background knowledge of social studies, science, and other high interest topics. Some of the topics are listed here.
We are also excited to provide your child with opportunities to write during Writing Workshop where students are taken through the writing process as they draft their pieces after being inspired by authors in the books they read. They will learn how to revise and edit their pieces as they grow as writers, and then they will share their writing with others. Grammar, capitalization, and punctuation are taught through the writing process as students learn to communicate their ideas. Your child will engage in writing that includes all three writing types in the standards: narrative, informational, and opinion writing. You can see some examples listed here on the slide.

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Structured Literacy approach for foundational skills - explicit and systematic instruction aligned with research-based scope and sequence

Phonological Awareness/Phonemic Awareness
Visual, Auditory, and Blending Routines
Phonics Focus Skills and Continuous Blending Practice
Handwriting
Spelling/Dictation
Irregular Words
Decodable Text/Fluency Practice�

Opportunities for differentiation and extensions in different settings:

Whole group
Small group
Partner work
Independent reading and writing
Play-based learning

The foundational skills will be taught using a Structured Literacy approach in an explicit and systematic way that is aligned with the Science of Reading and includes a research-based scope and sequence. This slide shows all of the components that are included in the structured literacy lessons. These lessons are done in both whole group and small group and will be tailored to best meet the needs of your child.
Literacy instruction takes place throughout the day in different settings. Sometimes students will learn as a whole group, other times they will work in a small group with the teacher, many times they will work with a partner or in triads, and at other times, they will read and write independently. This gradual release model helps to provide students with opportunities to practice and apply what they have learned.
Many of the literacy skills and strategies they learn will also help to engage students during the play-based guided learning time. Students read, write, create, collaborate, problem-solve, and think critically. And, they have fun doing so!

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Getting Your Child Ready for Kindergarten Literacy!

Read with your child!

Nursery rhymes, songs, poems, books with rhyme and alliteration, fiction, informational texts, or any books your child is interested in!
Visit the public library and the children’s librarian, Tamara Lyhne.
Discover favorite authors and series such as Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems (this one tends to be a favorite)!
Have conversations about the lessons and themes in the books around such topics such as fairness, friendship, and courage, for example.
Notice and read the environmental print that is all around you (e.g., McDonald’s, chocolate, Home Depot).
Talk about the characters, the problem in the story, and how the problem is solved.
Discover new learning in informational texts.

Write with your child!

Draw pictures.
Write about experiences.
Sketch or write about a favorite part of a book.
Use different materials such as markers, pens,

variety of paper choices, chalk, and paint!

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Numeracy Instruction in the Kindergarten Classroom

Fairfield Public Schools

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Kindergarten Numeracy

Students develop an understanding of our number system.

Counting:

Know number names and count the sequence
Count to tell the number of objects
Compare numbers

Geometry:

Identify and describe shapes
Analyze, compare, create and compose shapes
Describe and compare measurable attributes
Classify objects and count the number of objects in each category

Early number & place value:

Understand addition as putting together and adding to
Understand subtraction as taking apart and taking from
Write number sentences
Understand place value of numbers, tens and ones

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Getting Your Child Ready for Kindergarten Numeracy!

Practice rote counting with your child!

Recite the names of numbers in order.
Use songs, rhymes, read counting books and use fingers to introduce counting skills.
Clap and count at the same time.

Practice counting in the environment!

Practice counting skill by counting objects in everyday context. For example, count each toy with your child when cleaning up and putting them away. Count how many people are sitting at the table.

Read numbers and identify numerals in the environment!

Use refrigerator magnets, counting books, signs or lists in the environment.
Play games.

Sort and classify objects!

Sort objects by color, size and shape.
Ask what is common about a grouped set of objects.

Count and compare objects!

Ask which is more and which is less and how do you know.
Ask if they are the same and how do you know.

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Kindergarten Science

Students develop a deeper understanding of the natural world through curiosity.

Identify patterns in the weather and use those patterns to help predict the weather.
Determine the effect of a push or pull on the relative speed and direction of of objects.
Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals need to survive.

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Getting Your Child Ready for Kindergarten Science!

Be Curious!

Identify natural phenomenon in the environment and wonder with your child.

Point out what happens when a stick floating in the water in a stream comes to a rock.
Point out the different types of leaves of different plants or the direction flowers are facing in a flower bed

Notice patterns with your child.

Point out what happens when the waves wash over the sand at the beach
Notice with your child the types of birds that look for food on the ground vs. the bird feeder

Encourage your child to ask questions and investigate things they are curious about.

Point out how the water comes of the garden hose nozzle and wonder why it changes with different settings and investigate how it changes.
Notice when your child is curious about how a toy truck moves or ball rolls and encourage them to ask questions, wonder and try different things.

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CONVERSATIONS

Build your child’s vocabulary by talking with your child daily about:

Everyday experiences
Special activities or trips
Visits with family and friends
Pictures your child draws

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Purposeful Play

Purposeful play, which involves engaging in play with a specific goal or purpose, is a valuable tool for fostering the development of executive functions in children. These skills, such as attention, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, are crucial for success in various aspects of life.

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FINE MOTOR

Provide opportunities for your child to use:

Paper and magazines for drawing and cutting
Child-size scissors
Markers and crayons
Playdough

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GROSS MOTOR

Provide opportunities for your child to:

Run, jump, walk
Swing, climb, balance, play ball…

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SOCIAL SKILLS

Provide opportunities for your child to interact with children his/her own age

This encourages:

Taking turns
Manners
Waiting patiently
Problem-solving

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INDEPENDENCE

Encourage your child to:

Follow spoken directions and rules
Use the bathroom without help
Put on and take off shoes and coats
Zip, button and tie
Say full name, address and phone number
Be responsible for personal belongings
Clean up materials

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Managing Screen Time

The average household has more than 10 “screens” – TVs, computers, iPads and smartphones – in the home. These devices have many educational benefits. By managing your children’s use of and time spent (screen time) with technology, you can make sure they see the greatest benefits. Try these suggestions.

PAUSE (AND USE WISELY)
STOP (AND BE SELECTIVE)
PLAY (TOGETHER)

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“Advice from the Kindergarten experts...”

Help your child grow independently by practicing zipping and putting on a coat and opening juice boxes and snacks.”

“Help your child be ready for the day - ex: discuss lunch choices, know where their snack is in the backpack, etc. And to be independent in putting on jackets, opening snacks, etc.”

“Practicing letter identification and writing their first name before kindergarten helps your child feel more confident and ready to dive into the exciting world of reading and writing in kindergarten.”

“Encourage your child to take turns, listen when others speak, express emotions in healthy ways, and ask for help when needed.”

“

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