1. Kindergarten Round-Up 2017 Arlington Classics Academy
Saliano

2. Meet the Kindergarten Teachers
Brittany Saliano: Team Leader
Monica Cobbey: Mentor Teacher
Cristina Davis: Team Publisher
Ki Rodriguez: Event Coordinator
Shea Burns-Holland: Parent/Teacher Advocate
Danielle Souder: Reading/ELAR Lesson Coordinator
Lisa Partain: Math Lesson Coordinator
Karrie Brooks: Science and Phonics Lesson Coordinator
Sandi Stumpf: Social Studies Lesson Coordinator
Saliano

3. About ACA
Arlington Classics Academy is an open enrollment public charter school. Since opening in 1999, we have continued to grow each year. We have three campuses: Primary, Intermediate, and Middle School. In 2017 we will also have 9th grade at our Bowen Campus.
Saliano: ACA is celebrating 18 years of commitment to education. This is a tremendous milestone as a school of choice. We continue to strive to exceed not only the state’s expectations, but our parent’s expectations when it comes to educating your children.

4. Why ACA?
Ranked #4 best charter school in DFW by niche.com, and #7 in state of Texas.
5 star rating on GreatSchools.org.
2016 Accountability Rating: Met Standard (highest rating)
1:20 Teacher/student ratio in Kindergarten (state standard is 1:22)
Saliano

5. Charter Schools are Public Schools
ACA has all of the accountability of a traditional public school and continues to meet or exceed state expectations without the same access to public funds that traditional public schools have.
Saliano: Charter schools cannot access local property tax revenue and hence only receive state funding. Further, the state provides no facilities funding to charters. When all funding sources for facilities and operations are included, there is a gap, on average, of approximately $1,400 per student for charter schools.

6. ACA Primary Information
Nut-free campus
An after school program, Homework and Health, is available for an additional fee.
Uniforms from Mills Uniforms (or resale) are mandatory.
Rodriguez:
School hours will change for the school year.
Nut-free includes all tree nuts. No nut products of any kind are allowed. If it says “made in a facility that processes nuts”, this is okay. No nutella, peanut butter of any kind. Sunbutter is made with sunflower seeds and is an excellent substitute.

7. Food Services Students may bring or buy their lunch.
Food is provided by The Paper Plate.
Food is purchased using the online system EZSchoolPay.com. Food menus must be submitted in advance.
Breakfast is available every day for purchase.
Rodriguez

8. Parents are the Key! ACA was founded by parents.
Your participation and support are crucial.
Please sign up for a volunteer opportunity before leaving today!
Visit:
acapto.org
for more info.
Cobbey

9. Parent Access Information is available to you online anytime:
Parent Portal- check grades online.
Kindergarten webpage is updated weekly.
Online access to curriculum for parents.
Cobbey

10. Communication with Teachers
The best way to communicate with your teacher is via . This will get the quickest response. Other ways include:
Phone
In-person conference set up in advance
Remind.com smartphone app
Cobbey

11. Safety is our Priority
All parents and visitors will have their driver’s license scanned before entering.
Background checks are required for those wanting to volunteer or chaperone field trips.
Exterior doors remained locked at all times.
Davis

12. What is Expected of my Child?
Your child will learn an enriched curriculum at an accelerated pace.
Your child will learn more information than a traditional public school.
Weekly specials classes include Spanish, Music, Art, and Technology, with P.E. 2-3 times a week.
Your child will be expected to master the Kindergarten TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills).
Davis

13. An Enriched Curriculum
EnVision Math
Core Knowledge
STEMScopes Science
Texas Treasures Reading
Spelling
Daily Writing
Handwriting
iPads in every classroom
Davis

14. Reading Curriculum Texas Treasures Reading Program
Phonics Dance Phonics Program
Teaches letter sounds, digraphs, and combinations
Poetry and literature from Core Knowledge
Fry’s First 100 Sight Words
Parts of speech: noun, verb, adjective, pronoun
Reading homework on Raz-Kids.com
Souder

15. Language Arts Curriculum
D’Nealian style handwriting
Weekly Spelling Tests start 2nd 9 weeks
Writing (3W Stories):
Beginning of year: 1 picture and sentence that shows who, what, and where.
Middle of year: 2-part story with 2 pictures and sentences.
End of year: 3- part story with 3 pictures and sentences.
Souder:
Spelling words come from word families, phonics, sight words, and social studies/science topics.

16. More on Handwriting D’Nealian style handwriting
Practice at home is strongly advised
Handwriting will be graded every other week
HandwritingWorksheets.com to make your own
Souder:

17. Math Curriculum EnVision Math framework Hands-on activities
Math facts: will be tested on math facts starting the second semester. This includes doubles (5+5) and doubles plus one (5+6) facts.
Topics:
Composing and decomposing numbers
Numbers to 100
Adding and subtracting
Money
2D and 3D shapes
Measurement
Data and graphing
Personal finance literacy
Partain

18. Science Curriculum STEMScopes framework Topics: Properties of objects
Forms of energy
Magnets
Rocks, soil, water
Basic needs
Weather
Objects in the sky
Plant and animal characteristics
Plant life cycles
Changes from heat
Human body (CK)
Brooks

19. Social Studies Curriculum
Core Knowledge (CoreKnowledge.org)
Book: What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know by E.D. Hirsch
Our S.S. curriculum is enriched and in-depth.
Core Knowledge is what sets ACA apart from other public schools.
Stumpf

20. Social Studies Curriculum
Topics:
Christopher Columbus
Maps and Globes
Native Americans and Pilgrims
4-week study of Mt. Rushmore Presidents and American landmarks
7-week study of the 7 continents:
Landmarks
Animals
Climates
Landforms
Cultures and people
Countries
Oceans
Stumpf

21. Homework Your child will have nightly homework including:
Reading an assigned book 5 times a week.
Studying about 15 sight words per month.
Studying 10 spelling words per week.
Memorizing one poem per month.
Studying for the weekly science or social studies test.
Completing a project every nine weeks.
Partain: show samples of homework?

22. Informal Assessments
Your child will be assessed with number grades. A typical week includes the following grades:
Spelling test
Math test or class work grade
Social Studies or Science test
Social Studies or Science class work grade
Handwriting grade or story writing grade
Reading grade: phonics, read-alouds, or other reading skills
Brooks
Show samples of tests?

23. Formal Assessment: The MAP Test
Your child will take the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) test 3 times a year: Fall, Winter, and Spring.
The MAP test is a computer adaptive test that adjusts in difficulty according to your child’s abilities.
The MAP test can help teachers determine your child’s strengths and weaknesses.
Results are typically ready within 24 hours.
B-H

24. Behavior Expectations
Whole Brain Teaching:
Follow directions quickly.
Raise your hand for permission to speak.
Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat.
Make smart choices.
Keep your dear teacher happy!
Any behavior that interferes with the teacher’s ability to teach and other students’ ability to learn will result in an appropriate consequence.
B-H

25. Behavior Expectations Continued
Teachers pass out Griffin Bucks for good behavior. Griffin Bucks can be spent at the Griffin Buck Truck that comes each month.
Misbehavior will result in a “folder sign.” This will be written in your child’s green (daily) folder.
Persistent or extreme misbehavior will result in an office referral.
B-H

26. Welcome to Kindergarten Video
Saliano