Your guide to a successful kindergarten school year:) Welcome to Glacier Ridge Class of 2029

Choose Kind “Significant learning begins with significant relationships”

We Love Kindergarten

Introductions / Pete Kurty – Principal / Sarah Wilcox – Administrative Intern / Laurie Coon – Guidance Counselor / Maureen Knostman – Kindergarten / Lauren Scott- Kindergarten / Katrina Erdos– PTO Co-President (15-16) / Pete Kurty – Principal / Sarah Wilcox – Administrative Intern / Laurie Coon – Guidance Counselor / Maureen Knostman – Kindergarten / Lauren Scott- Kindergarten / Katrina Erdos– PTO Co-President (15-16)

Schedule / 6:30 – 6:50pm Welcome, info & questions / 6:50– 7:05 – Session 1 / 7:05 – 7:20 – Session 2 / 7:20 – 7:35 – Session 3 / 6:30 – 6:50pm Welcome, info & questions / 6:50– 7:05 – Session 1 / 7:05 – 7:20 – Session 2 / 7:20 – 7:35 – Session 3

Parent Teacher Organization / Technology (Smartboards, ipads, laptops), Field Day, Meltdown Festival, Tiger Trot, Author Visit, Artists in schools, The Brain Show, Chess Club, Grade Level Field Trips, Fall Festival, Physical Education Equipment, School Beautification, Skate Night, Teacher Resources, School Supply Sale, School Directory, Family Breakfasts, Spirit Week, Movie Nights, Time With Teacher Raffle, 5 th grade Activity & Celebration, and much, much more! / GRE PTO Facebook Page / PTO Website / Technology (Smartboards, ipads, laptops), Field Day, Meltdown Festival, Tiger Trot, Author Visit, Artists in schools, The Brain Show, Chess Club, Grade Level Field Trips, Fall Festival, Physical Education Equipment, School Beautification, Skate Night, Teacher Resources, School Supply Sale, School Directory, Family Breakfasts, Spirit Week, Movie Nights, Time With Teacher Raffle, 5 th grade Activity & Celebration, and much, much more! / GRE PTO Facebook Page / PTO Website

Class Placement Student Placement Profile Sheet & AM or PM Preference: Complete and submit tonight Describe your child as a learner Provide information about the best learning environment for your child. Next Steps: AM/PM assignment & phase in day notification letter by mail in June School letter & info by in early August Classroom placement on Parent Dashboard in August Meet the teacher August 26 th Curriculum Nights – first few weeks of school

Phase-in Days Phase-in days: Wednesday, August 26 th Thursday, August 27 th 1/3 of all students each day Friday, August 28 th ALL students attend school on Monday, August 31 st On each of the three days of the phase-in, one-third of the students attend class. During the phase-in time, students are oriented to the world of kindergarten and teachers take some time to accurately assess individual skill levels in a small-group setting. Your child will only be attending kindergarten one of the first three days of school. You will receive a letter in June with your assigned day..

Glacier Ridge Basics -Folder Contents / School Hours / AM Kdg9:10-11:45 a.m. (arrive at 9:00) / PM Kdg 1:00-3:40 p.m. (arrive at 12:50) / GRE Frequently Asked Questions / DCS Calendar / Health and Clinic Information & Immunization / Daycare Services & Latchkey / Kindergarten Resources Packet / School Hours / AM Kdg9:10-11:45 a.m. (arrive at 9:00) / PM Kdg 1:00-3:40 p.m. (arrive at 12:50) / GRE Frequently Asked Questions / DCS Calendar / Health and Clinic Information & Immunization / Daycare Services & Latchkey / Kindergarten Resources Packet

Parent Communication  Glacier Ridge Website   Glacier Ridge Elementary PTO Facebook page  GRE Kindergarten Facebook:  Search: Off to Kindergarten  GRE Twitter  Sign up for s through the Parent Dashboard 

Questions? Ask our team: Teachers Parents Counselor

Counselor Tips Getting Ready for Kindergarten *Educators and other experts say that in order to be successful in school, young children need to develop skills in executive functions. *Executive functions lay the groundwork for school success. *Compared with children who show weaker executive functioning, children who start school with strong skills make greater gains in cognitive or academic areas like math or reading. Getting Ready for Kindergarten *Educators and other experts say that in order to be successful in school, young children need to develop skills in executive functions. *Executive functions lay the groundwork for school success. *Compared with children who show weaker executive functioning, children who start school with strong skills make greater gains in cognitive or academic areas like math or reading.

Teachers rate these specific qualities as more important than academic skills. Experts say that children who lag behind in these executive functioning skills are less ready to learn traditional academic skills than their classmates. *Using words to communicate needs and wants. *Being able to follow directions. *Being sensitive to other children’s feelings. *Being able to take turns and to *Not being disruptive in class. share. *Being curious and willing to take risks. *Being able to sit still and pay attention. *Being able to focus and finish tasks. *Developing independence and self-direction. *Using words to communicate needs and wants. *Being able to follow directions. *Being sensitive to other children’s feelings. *Being able to take turns and to *Not being disruptive in class. share. *Being curious and willing to take risks. *Being able to sit still and pay attention. *Being able to focus and finish tasks. *Developing independence and self-direction. What exactly are executive functions?

Lets find out a little more about Executive Functions!

What can I do at home to help instill these Executive Functions? *Encourage independence *Let your child put on his coat, learn to zip, button, tie own shoes *Problem Solve, struggle, work through issues (allow extra time in your schedule) *Develop a routine *Coming in from outside, going to bed, eating lunch/dinner, give multi- step directions *Delay gratification *Teach them how to wait until you get off the phone, make them earn a toy *Give them a chore *Develops responsibility, confidence, perseverence, what can you let go and hand over? *Encourage independence *Let your child put on his coat, learn to zip, button, tie own shoes *Problem Solve, struggle, work through issues (allow extra time in your schedule) *Develop a routine *Coming in from outside, going to bed, eating lunch/dinner, give multi- step directions *Delay gratification *Teach them how to wait until you get off the phone, make them earn a toy *Give them a chore *Develops responsibility, confidence, perseverence, what can you let go and hand over?

What else can I do at home….. Ask questions instead of praise! *Ask your child to explain their process and what they created. *Ask your child how they felt about how/what they did and why they think that.

Resources for Parents *Nurture Shock by Po Bronson *How Children Succeed by Paul Tough *Executive Function in the Classroom by Christopher Kaufman *Nurture Shock by Po Bronson *How Children Succeed by Paul Tough *Executive Function in the Classroom by Christopher Kaufman

We are here to support students with personal-social needs, educational needs, and goals for the future! GRE Guidance Services -Laurie Coon