Hillcrest Kindergarten

incoming 2024-2025 School Year

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Hillcrest Elementary

Principal- Nassrine Saad

Secretary- Nagham Chehab

Community Organizer- Samar Younes

Literacy Coach- Kristin Ramold

Reading Interventionist- Veronica Greenlaw

Special Ed Resource- Amy Bertolissio

Speech Pathologist- Tiffany Hesano

School Psychologist-Michelle Jawad (KDG-2nd Gr.)

School Psychologist-Lisa Formousa-Little (2nd-4th Gr.)

EL Resource- Fadwa Selameh

EL Resource- Diebh Mozham

Title 1 Resource- Batoul Hossein

Kindergarten Teacher- Sharifi Bazzi

Kindergarten Teacher- Maya Salame

Kindergarten Teacher- Fatima Hazime

Young 5’s Kindergarten Teacher- Theresa Petty

Food Manager- Abeer Baqli

Server- Bezhan Nabi

PTO President-Raven Cacani

Getting Ready for Kindergarten Registration

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Welcome to Kindergarten at Hillcrest Elementary! We are so excited to meet you and your child. Please review this powerpoint presentation that contains all information you will need to begin the Kindergarten experience.

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How do I get the paperwork needed for registration?

• Pick up at Board Office
• District Website

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When does the paperwork have to be turned in for registration?

• As soon as possible

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Who do I call if I need assistance in the registration process?

• Board Office 313-278-0906
• Hillcrest 313-278-0425

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Information from Our Nurses

• State of MI requires all Kindergarteners to have immunizations up-to-date. A copy of these immunizations needs to be provided for enrollment. The immunizations required are described here: Immunizations Required

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• Each child entering Kindergarten needs to have a physical exam. This is the form the physician should complete: Health Appraisal Form.

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Instructional Minutes

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420 minutes (7hr day) - 331 instructional minutes=89 mins. for specials/lunch/transitions throughout the day

*** It is very important to have students to school on time and allow them to stay for the entire school day, so they do not miss out on content. This also allows them to get used to routines and procedures much faster***

Specials Provided for all Kindergarten Students:

• Art
• Music
• Gym
• STEM Enrichment
• Library Time

Positive Behavior Intervention Support(PBIS)/Class Dojo

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Please work with your child on the following:

• Orally say their first and last name
• Recognize their first and last name
• Use the bathroom independently
• Write their first name/hold a pencil
• Know if they are a packer or buyer for lunch
• Be able to dress themselves and tie shoes (otherwise wear velcro)
• Coloring, cutting and gluing
• Count, recognize, and write numbers to 10
• Recognize ALL letters of the alphabet by sight out of order (uppercase and lowercase)
• Listen and Follow one-to-two step directions

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Fostering Independence at Home

Skills to practice this summer:

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• Zipping coats and backpacks
• Tying shoes
• Blowing noses
• Opening snacks and food packages
• Practice belts, suspenders, and buttoning pants (by law we are not allowed to assist in snapping pants)
• Bathroom skills
• Using words to express their needs

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Homework

Reading bags will come home everyday. Please read with your child each night.

• Practice sight word cards
• Comprehension notebooks

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Homework Packets

• Students will have a homework packet every Monday and due every Friday.
• i-Ready math and i-Ready reading daily at home

Kindergarten Responsibilities

• Home Folder
• Folder must be checked and emptied by parent and returned to school daily
• Any notes or money sent in will need to be in a sealed and labeled envelope with your child’s name and teacher
• Book pouches/packs
• Leveled books will be read and brought back to school daily with comprehension notebook
• Books will be treated with care
• Students will be charged for lost or damaged books
• Backpack
• Checked, emptied and returned daily
• Report Cards/ Conferences
• Four quarterly report cards
• Fall conference for everyone/ Spring conference as needed
• District Assessments
• BAS tasks/ reading level
• i-Ready
• WIDA

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Preparation During the Summer

• Read to your children, write and count every day

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• Engage in language-talk through everyday activities

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• Get to bed early so children get 10 hours of sleep

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• Eat breakfast at home/come to school for breakfast

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• Limit screen time

What Is Young 5s?

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• The Young 5s program is a early childhood program for children that is offered for children whose birthdays fall between June through December 1st and need the time and opportunity to continue building their skills and abilities.
• Young 5 expectations are similar to kindergarten, with a focus on:
• Social Emotional
• Learning through play
• Collaboration: sharing, problem solving, stamina
• Literacy, numeracy, science social studies
• Early Reading groups and strategies
• Fine and Gross Motor skills

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About Young 5s

Is my child losing a year?

• No, your child is gaining a year and will be more equipped to handle the demand of school years to come. Young 5 students end up being the leaders in our buildings and many are soaring academically. Research shows that students who attend kindergarten readiness programs like Young 5’s are more likely to do well in school and attend college.

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My child went to preschool, isn’t this the same thing?

• Preschool has a completely different curriculum from Young 5s. Young 5’s classrooms are introduced to the Kindergarten Curriculum using a hands on approach which introduces key concepts and academic vocabulary.

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What is the schedule for Young 5/ Special Area Classes?

• Y5/Kindergarten schedules are the same runs M-F (all day). Students participate in all kindergarten activities, such as music, art, PE and enrichment throughout the year.

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Why Young 5s?

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• Smaller Classroom Size
• More one-on-one time
• 16 students
• Support with social emotional needs of students
• Focus on learning through play
• More hands on activities
• Small group hands on activities
• Small group instruction
• The Gift of Time
• Learning through play and maturing

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Please check us out on social media:

Join us on Social Media:

Facebook--Hillcrest Elementary School--https://www.facebook.com/hanginwiththehillcresthuskies

Instagram-- Hanginwiththehuskies

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Website Hillcrest Elementary School | Home (csdmi.org)