1. KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION
April 2018

2. School Readiness Knows basic personal facts
Recognizes first and last name
Identifies letters and letter sounds
Identifies basic shapes
Identifies the basic colors
Shows interest in books and learning to read
Colors and writes
Counts to 20
Understands positional words

3. Social Readiness Separates from parents easily
Responds appropriately to adult authority
Gets along well and shares with others
Takes turns when playing
Listens attentively

4. Is my child ready for kindergarten?
The majority of parents will answer “Yes” giving the following reasons:
My child will be five by the cut-off date.
My child is very bright.
My child is already reading.
My child has been in preschool for two years.
My child can count to 20, say her alphabet, and she knows colors and shapes.

5. However…
Experts have realized that the single most important indicator of school readiness is the maturational level, or the developmental age, of the child at the beginning of the school year.

6. Physical Readiness Uses crayons, scissors and glue correctly
Traces basic shapes
Uses bathroom independently
Dresses self – buttons, snaps, zips independently
Hops, runs, jumps and skips
Throws, catches and bounces a ball

7. Parental Readiness Can leave child at door without emotional breakdown
Can be away from child for up to eight hours a day
Can endure peace and quiet 8:20 – 3:40

8. A Typical Day in Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a fun, busy, learning-filled day!
Expect your kids to be happy, well educated, and a bit tired from all of their learning!

9. Opening Arrival/Announcements Put away personal belongings
Stories/Songs

10. Language Arts Phonological Awareness Skills and Activities
Alphabet Skills
Vocabulary building
Book and print awareness
Writing activities
Literacy Stations
Small Reading Groups

11. Lunch
30 minutes each day
Students can bring a cold sack lunch from home or purchase a school tray lunch.
Children get their own trays.
Cafeteria monitor and volunteers are in the cafeteria each day to help the students.
Prepaying is encouraged (
I.D. badges are used to purchase lunches. These will be provided.
Please do not come to eat lunch with your child for the first three weeks of school. It allows them to learn the routines.

12. Math Calendar Hands-on math activities Sorting & Classifying
Patterning
Shapes
Number Recognition
Numeracy
Counting
Fractions
Number Operations
Math Tubs

13. Specials Art Music Physical Education 50 minutes each day
(must wear tennis shoes)
50 minutes each day
Offered on a rotating schedule
Popular time of the day

14. Social Studies & Science
Projects and Labs
Experiments
Non-Fiction Literature

15. Recess One 30 minute recess per day
Outside on playground equipment designated for kindergarten and first graders
Fine and gross motor skills development

16. Centers/Workstations
Time to practice social skills, motor skills, creativity
Children choose center
Dramatic play, blocks, writing, puzzles, games, art, discovery
Small group instruction and enrichment

17. Library and Computer Library visits are scheduled
Children check out books once per week
Scheduled Computer Lab time
Programs that reinforce and enrich skills in the classroom
Computers and Ipads in each classroom

18. General Information

19. School Supplies
We encourage you to pre-order school supplies from PTA at registration.
Please do not label school supplies.

20. Backpacks Large enough for folders and a library book
Easy to open and close
No rolling backpacks, please.

21. Parent Volunteers We have a designated parent work area.
Parents from each homeroom take turns making materials for all classes of kindergarten students.
Parent Readers (beginning second nine weeks) - Friday mornings from 8:30-8:45
Join the PTA!

22. Rylander Elementary PTA Rylander Elementary has an active and involved PTA.
The PTA contributes to the school in many different ways.
Provides a volunteer base throughout the school (lunchroom, workrooms, classrooms, library, yearbook, and more)
Join the PTA and a volunteer at Rylander!
Fundraises throughout the year (to help pay for teacher supplies, school equipment, student programs & events, field trips, and more)
Join the PTA and contribute to Rylander!
Plans special events for students (International Day, Celebration Days, Field Day, and more)
Join the PTA and help create special events at Rylander!

23. Rylander Elementary PTA We want you to be a part of our PTA!
Join the Rylander Elementary PTA by:
Going to
ing the PTA at
Completing the online PTA sign-up & questionnaire at the beginning of the school year…or…
Asking your child’s teacher!
Welcome to Rylander and we hope that you will join the PTA!

24. The First Day of School

25. Dates to Remember Pre-Screening (for all KG students)- August 2nd
Meet the Teacher – TBA
Curriculum Night – August 23rd 5pm
First Day – Wednesday, August 15th
School hours – 8:00 a.m. – 3:40 p.m.

26. Things Parents Need to Know for the first day
Bring a backpack and a change of clothes
Healthy dry snack.
Lunch-Make sure your child has money or a lunch from home - can prepay for lunches on-line at
Transportation tag - Confirm method of transportation home.
Receive forms and complete as soon as possible.
Walk your child to class and cheerfully exit!

27. Sample First Day Activities
Learn routines and expectations
Get acquainted with friends and teachers
Building tour
No naps in kindergarten

28. Reminders Please pre-order school supplies from PTA!!
After first three days, student will walk to classroom independently.
Please do not come to eat lunch with your child for the first three weeks of school.
Please use the My Payments Plus system on line to prepay for lunches.

29. REGISTRAR/ADA
Donna Leal ph
fax

30. RHINO REGISTRATION AND ATTENDANCE
Please visit for up-to-date registration information including dates and times of registration, documents necessary to complete the enrollment process and immunization requirements.
MOVING?
Please contact the Registrar at Please allow 48 hours for processing.
REPORTING AN ABSENCE
Parents need to report their child absence daily on-line on RRE's homepage on the “ Rylander Elementary Absence Form" or by calling the attendance line at on the day of the absence only by 10 am.  A written note from the Parent/Guardian/Doctor must be submitted on the day the child returns from an absence.  It is recommended that you call daily to report your child absent to prevent a Compulsory Attendance Notification letter from being generated for your child by the Katy ISD police department.  All absences are considered UNEXCUSED until the proper notification and/or documents are turned in to the attendance office.  Please do not contact the teacher regarding your child's absence.  It is your responsibility to contact the attendance office.
TARDIES
The tardy bell rings promptly at 8:20.  Students must be in class, ready to learn at this time.  Any students not in their classroom at 8:20 will be marked tardy.  Students must obtain an admittance slip from the front office.  All tardies are unexcused unless written notice for an excused reason from a Parent or Doctor is submitted at the time of entry.
Students who accumulate 5 unexcused tardies are not eligible for perfect attendance. 
PRE-ARRANGED ABSENCES
If a student's parent notifies the school of an absence that will occur in the future, the principal shall notify the parents how the absence will be
classified and explain the ramifications of absences by completing the "Pre-arranged Absences—Decision and Acknowledgement" form. 
EARLY PICK UP
We do not check students out after 3:15. Early check outs count as partial day attendance up to 3:40. If you are not here by 3:15 or you have not completed a change of transportation by 2:00, your student will need to go home their normal way of transportation.

31. 281-237-8335 office 281-644-1601 fax taramaher@katyisd.org
A Note From the Nurse
Fever, diarrhea, or vomiting? Your child must be 24 hours free of the above symptoms without medication before returning to school.
If your child has a fever (100.0 or above), please call in your child’s absence at
We don’t keep clothes in the clinic, so if your child spills or has an accident we’ll be calling you to bring clothes to school. Please pack extra clothes in your child’s backpack to help.
All medications, including cough drops, need to be kept in the clinic for safety. All meds administered at school must be FDA Approved.
Rylander
nurse Clinic
Tara Maher, RN, BSN & Kendy Stone, Nurse Aide
Welcome to Rylander Elementary! We want to help your child stay well while at school this year, but we need your help! Please make sure your child gets enough sleep at night, eats a balanced breakfast, sees your doctor for regular check-ups, and has good quality time with friends and family. Please notify us of any health changes so we can best care for your child at school. Visit Rylander’s clinic web site for online forms and other helpful information!
Rylander Elementary Westheimer Pkwy Katy,TX 77494
Tara Maher, RN
office fax

32. Important People Principal – Gwen Coffey Assistant Principals – Ronnie Smith Cheryl Mallant Counselor – Melissa Leblanc Nurse –Tara Maher Main office Number:

33. We are looking forward to a great year!