KINDERGARTEN 101

at UP Elementary

INTRODUCTION

• School district/elementary boundaries
• Mascot: Panthers
• Grades: Pre-K through 4th grade
• Specialty: ESL
• Main school-to-parent communication: Panther News (via email, starts at the end of summer)
• They will use the email address you enter into Skyward during BSSU
• UP and UPPA directory on DirectorySpot app
• Only available to PTA members (purchase membership during BSSU)
• Kinder year group text signup/play dates

SCHOOL SIGNUP: ”BSSU”

• Back to School Signup (“BSSU”)
• Dates: July 24-31
• What does it include?
• Proof of residency
• Pay for all school supplies!
• This is where you communicate:
• Good contact information (both parents’ phone numbers) and emergency contact
• Any allergy info for your child
• Spirit Shop wear: Purchase at UPPTA.org this summer

• Skyward
• Funding lunch: https://payments.efundsforschools.com (then find HPISD/UP Elementary)
• Remember to fund lunch before school starts!
• Cafeteria menu
• Hpisd.nutrislice.com or “Nutrislice” app on your phone
• Lunch line options for kinder & first graders: hot or cold lunch
• Then, 2nd-4th: a la carte

PEOPLE TO KNOW

• Principal: Kim Bañuelos
• Nurse: Amy Huey
• Counselor: Amber Smith
• Office: Amy Corless & Vanessa Kang
• On-campus police: Officer Sanchez
• Teachers (from left to right)
• Mrs. Burnette
• Ms. Hoek
• Mrs. Groshans
• Mrs. Adams
• Specials
• Art: Ms. Torres
• Spanish: Ms. Lawton
• PE: Coaches Kenyon and Honeycutt
• Music: Mrs. Jordan

LOGISTICS

• Pickup
• Time: 3:10pm every day on the Amherst side
• Pickup procedures
• Walk-up
• Carpool (contact your teacher before 12:00 with carpool changes)
• Full disclaimer: expect chaos as kids pour out of school!

• Drop off
• Location: enter through Amherst side of building and walk to their classroom
• You can drive and park on a nearby residential street, walk, or bike
• Time: drop off between 7:45 and 7:55am
• Before 7:45, kids hang out in cafeteria
• First bell rings at 7:45, kids can go into their classrooms
• “Late” bell rings at 7:55
• After that, kids must enter through front office on Lovers Lane

LOGISTICS (continued)

• What does my child need in their backpack?
• Water bottle
• Lunch and *HEALTHY* snack (allergies communicated by teacher)
• Folder (provided by teacher the first day of school)
• Make sure backpack is big enough to fit a standard folder
• Purpose of folder: work done during the day, homework, and calendar with happy face or note (needing signature)
• At beginning of school year, send extra change of clothes
• What should my child wear?
• Closed-toe, play shoes (sneakers/tennis shoes)
• Play clothes

LOGISTICS (continued)

• Extended day available for a fee
• Go to HPISD.org and search “Academy for Lifelong Learning”
• You’ll see a link on the right for “Extended School Day Registration”
• Class Size (varies year to year based on enrollment and TEA Guidelines)
• Approximately 18-22 students per teacher
• If your child is going to be absent, email upattendance@hpisd.org so it can be excused (CC your child’s teacher)

IN THE CLASSROOM

• What does my child DO all day?
• Weekly: Library
• Librarian: Ms. Valuck
• Monthly: Garden
• Will my kindergartner have homework?
• Joining my child for lunch
• All visitors enter school office from 7:55 to 3:15 daily
• Eat at designated “visitor” table only with your child (no friends)
• No special treats for class for birthdays

NOTEWORTHY SCHOOL EVENTS

• Before school starts:
• UP pool party: June 11, 2:30-4:30pm
• Kinder Luau + Popsicles in the Park: August 10 @ 4:00-5:00pm, Curtis Park
• Meet the Teacher: August 11 @ 4:30-5:30pm
• First day of school: August 13

• Fall semester:
• Bike Rodeo: September 5
• ReadUP: September 15-26
• Pumpkin Day: October 31
• Grandfriends Day: November 6
• Carnival: November 14
• Spring semester:
• Parents Auction Party: Feb 27
• Field Day: May 15

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

• Volunteer opportunities
• Room parents will coordinate:
• Classroom parties
• Teacher gifts
• Parent reader
• Garden volunteers
• PTA
• Cafeteria shift (signups start mid-May, look for email)
• Garden
• Library
• Dad’s Club (carpool assistance)

• Money
• How and when do we give?
• Advice on giving
• Suggested/expected giving: $1500 per UP student
• During BSSU, focus giving at elementary school level, not district level
• Give all at BSSU or space throughout the year?

KINDERGARTEN SUMMER PREP

• What should I do to prepare my child for kindergarten this summer?
• Leave the academic teaching to the teachers!
• Instead, prepare your child to navigate the school day independently:
• Bathroom and body independence
• Wipe their own bottom!
• Get their own tissue and wipe their own nose
• Tie their own shoes
• Open/close containers/lunch boxes/snacks then take trash to trash can
• Verbally communicate their needs (asking for things, not just having the expectation that their needs are known)
• Verbalize their own last name

KEEP IN TOUCH!

With UP:

• @uppanthers
• @up_pta
• @updadsclub
• @up_panthers_read
• @upspiritshop
• @up_panthers_auction
• @uppreschoolassociation
• @upegems (Girls Bible Study)

With us!

​

• Sara Sherrieb
• 972.835.2340
• sarasherrieb@gmail.com
• Tory Cardone
• 214.729.0895
• tory.cardone@gmail.com

Slideshow available to view on UPPA.org/kinder2025