1. Welcome to Kindergarten Information Night! January 31, 2018

2. WSD Board of Trustees Penny Loomer Khanh Nguyen Mary Mangold President
Vice President
Mary Mangold
Clerk
Frances Nguyen
Member
Jamison Power
Member

3. WSD Administration Sheri Loewenstein & Dr. Gary Rutherford
Interim Superintendents
Myrlene Pierre
Assistant Superintendent
Educational Services
Dr. Tony Wold
Assistant Superintendent
Business Services
Arturo Jimenez
Assistant Superintendent
Human Resources

4. Westminster School District
Honor Roll District – Only 13 out of 1,000 districts in California received this title
Specialty Programs
Gold Ribbon Schools
Prestigious 2016 & 2017 Golden Bell Awards
21st Century Classroom Learning Spaces
1:1 Chromebook Initiative for all K through 8th grade students
i4 Blended Learning (inspire, innovate, implement, & impact)

5. California! Changes to the Academic Kindergarten Start Date
In 2010, the Kindergarten Readiness Act was passed in California to change the age when children can begin Academic Kindergarten. Under this law, children must turn five years old on or before September 1 to enroll in Academic Kindergarten. Children with a birthday between September 2 and December 2 will go into Transitional Kindergarten, which is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program.
Birthday on or before September 1
Attends
Academic Kindergarten
Attends
1st Grade
Birthday between September 2 –
December 2
Attends
Transitional
Kindergarten
during first year
Attends
Academic Kindergarten
during second year

7. WSD Offers Two All-Day Kindergarten Programs
Academic Kindergarten:
The traditional one-year Kindergarten program
Transitional Kindergarten:
A two-year Kindergarten program for students with birthdays between September 2nd and December 2nd
Transitional Kindergarten was formerly known as Preppie Kindergarten, or Preppie K in WSD

8. A Typical Day in Kindergarten
Both kindergarten programs in WSD are full-day,
with early release days on Wednesdays.
150 minutes of Language Arts/Reading
60 minutes of Math
30 minutes of English Language Development
Remaining instructional time spent learning about Social Studies, Science, Physical Education, Art, and Music

9. Expectations of Academic Kindergarten
Students will:
Recognize and write all letters of the alphabet
Blend sounds into words
Read more than 30 simple words and sight words
Spell words using sounds and letters
Comprehend stories, make predictions and answer questions about the story
Write opinion, informative, and narrative pieces
Retell stories with beginning, middle, and end
Name and write numbers to 20, count to 100
Add and subtract numbers using concrete objects
Solve math problems and explain problem-solving strategies

10. Transitional Kindergarten
Goal of Transitional Kindergarten
Provide the youngest kindergarteners with a readiness year that is developmentally appropriate and will better prepare them for success once they enter Academic Kindergarten.
Benefits
Social and emotional development
Academic Readiness for the rigors of kindergarten
Proficient readers at 3rd grade
Higher achievement in school
It gives young students the gift of time
This all-day program follows the current kindergarten schedule at each site

11. Transition Kindergarten Families and Staff…B
Transition Kindergarten Families and Staff…
Building the Bridge
In Transitional Kindergarten
Transitional Kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate.
California
Early Learning
Foundations
(Birth – 5)
California State
Kindergarten
Standards TK
Help Kids Succeed 11

12. The Importance of Social-Emotional Development in the Early Years
Early social-emotional skills, like self-management, problem- solving, communication with peers and adults, are related to later success in life:
- Educational Success - Improved test scores, grades, attendance, and completing a college degree
- Career Success - Increased likelihood of being employed
- Relationship Success - Positive family and work relationships
Social-emotional skills MUST be taught
Please refer to the Social Competence handout for more information

13. The ABCs of Kindergarten Information
Please refer to this guide for general information about kindergarten
This includes:
Frequently asked questions, what you need to register, kindergarten standards, and kindergarten readiness information
Special Education
If your child already qualifies for and is receiving special education services, kindergarten placement and school location is determined by your child’s IEP Team
School Of Attendance
Online Enrollment
Open Enrollment
Interdistrict Transfers
Additional information is available at the registration information table

14. Aeries Online Enrollment Guide
Enrollment guide is included in The ABCs of Kindergarten booklet and available online at MyWSD
Valid address, immunization dates, and an account required to complete enrollment

15. The ABCs of Kindergarten Requirements
Immunizations
California schools are required to check immunization records for all new students admissions at TK/Kindergarten through 12th grade.
Parents must show their child's Immunization Record as proof of immunization. These immunization requirements also apply to students entering Transitional Kindergarten.
Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten are subject to the same immunization requirements.

16. The ABCs of Kindergarten Requirements
Dental Check-Up
Kindergarten students must have dental check-up by May 31st of their
Kindergarten year
Dental check-ups done 12 months before starting Kindergarten will be accepted
Special form must be signed by a licensed dental professional
Physical Exam for 1st Grade
California law requires a child to have a physical exam, which must be completed by Dec. 1st of their 1st grade year
Exams completed up to 18 months prior to beginning of 1st grade will be accepted
Special form must be signed by a physician

17. School Meals
Westminster Nutrition Services provides a FREE Breakfast and Lunch to all students whose families qualify for free or reduced meals
We do not charge a reduced price meal to students
Families must fill out a Meal Application to determine if they qualify for free meals
School meals are healthy, nutritious, and meet all State & Federal Nutritional Guidelines
Meal prices are a low $1.50 for Breakfast and $2.50 for Lunch
Menus are posted online and sent home to students each month
Meal Applications will be on-line at on July 5, 2018
Meal Applications (hard copies) will be mailed home on July 1, 2018
Complete & return to Nutrition Services
We will determine eligibility for Free or Reduced Price lunches
Children on CALFRESH or CALWORKS are automatically eligible for Free school meals (siblings too!)
Find breakfast & lunch menus on our website at
Set up lunch accounts & pre-pay for meals using a credit card on-line
@ myschoolbucks.com
Questions? Call Nutrition Services at

18. Registration Reminders
Preschool and Kindergarten Registration begins on February 7th
Register all children who will be five on or before December 2nd
Children with birthdays between September 2nd and December 2nd will be
placed in Transitional Kindergarten
You will need the following to complete registration:
Complete the online pre-enrollment process
Original birth/baptismal certificate or passport
Proof of residency (such as a utility bill or car registration)
Immunization records
If you, or anyone you know, is interested in preschool, pick up a flyer at your school site or call the Early Education Program at (714)