2. Bascomb has a very strong PTA that sponsors many family events and that provides direct support to its teachers. We use a “membership package” approach to fundraising. Parents may join the PTA and donate a set fee that will include Bobcat- themed goodies. This fee replaces traditional fundraising efforts such as candy and wrapping paper sales. The PTA will hold several Family Fun Nights throughout the year. A very popular PTA service is the school store. The store is open during lunch (check which days) and students may shop there for fun school supplies and Bascomb spirit items.

3. Morning arrival- Car riders- Students arrive by car or bus between 7:00 and 7:30. “Car riders” are dropped off at the front of the school. Staff are on hand to meet students in the car rider line and to see our Bobcats into the school building.

4. Bus Riders- Students are encouraged to ride the bus to school. Staff greet the buses daily and will be on hand to escort students to class the first few days of school.

5. After the first few days of school, kindergarteners arriving before 7:30 will sit with their classes in the hallway in front of their classroom. Students who are eating breakfast may go at this time to the cafeteria and eat. Students in the hallway may bring a book to read that they can keep in their book bag. Bascomb staff supervises morning bus duty. At 7:30 the classroom teacher will escort the students into the classroom.

6. Typically from 7:30 to 8:00, students do the following before the start of the academic day: Hang up backpacks Make lunch choices Complete “morning work” Watch and listen to the WBOB news Say the Pledge of Allegiance

7. Calendar Math- Taught in all kindergarten classes. Students practice days, months, counting, and other basic kindergarten math skills.

8. Math Series- Kindergarten will use the “On Core” Mathematics for the 2014-2015 school year Math Centers - Math centers are an important and fun way for kindergarteners to learn and apply math concepts and skills.

9. Kindergarten teachers use the Scott Foresman reading series to drive Language Arts and Reading instruction. Some of the Language Arts skills taught in kindergarten are: Letters and sounds Handwriting Blending C-V-C words “Tricks” Sight words Story elements Invented spelling

10. Reading is taught throughout the day in kindergarten and is tied into other subject areas. Formal reading instruction occurs in “guided reading groups.” In these groups teachers meet for reading instruction with a small group of children with similar reading skills.

11. Handwriting will be a focus in kindergarten this year. Writing instruction is more than just handwriting! In kindergarten, teachers will model writing and conference with individuals or small groups as they write in their journals. Narrative writing is our focus, but we also teach persuasive and informational writing.

12. Science/SS/Health- Our Science and Social Studies lessons incorporate thematic units with the MacMillan/McGraw Hill Science series and the Houghton Mifflin Social Studies Series. We use picture books and non-fiction to supplement our lessons, and we like to plan lots of creative activities and experiments.

13. Lunch For lunch, students may bring lunch from home or choose from a daily menu of a hot meal or salad bar. Vegetarian options are available, too. Milk and juice are available to children bringing a lunch box from home. There is a small charge for these drinks. Kindergarteners purchasing lunch will go through the “lunch line.” At that time they will select a drink, a meal, use a tray and purchase their meal.

14. Students entering a CCSD school are assigned a student number. This number is usually referred to as their “lunch number” because kindergarteners will need to learn it for use at lunch time. Students buying lunch may prepay for meals or bring money as needed.

15. Specials Coach Koschewa, Jenn Melvin, Coach Mosteller, Molly Mayes, Coach Vaulk

16. PE

17. Music

18. ART

19. Dismissal (bus duty) *All students will have a tag on their book bag indicating their way home. Bus- Kids are brought down to the buses by teachers and paraprofessionals. Car Rider- Kids are held in a teacher’s room until the car rider bell sounds. They will be escorted to the car rider area outside and will “look and load” as appropriate. If we have a rainy day dismissal, we will house the students in the cafeteria until their car arrives. Car riders are dismissed after the buses have left. ASP- Children attending ASP are grouped by their grade level for activities. They start with a snack provided by ASP and enjoy a variety of activities throughout the week. Daycare- Daycares in the Towne Lake area will send their bus to pick up the students and bring them back to the daycare.

21. In kindergarten we have in-house and off-site field trips. During an in-house field trip, a program will come to us. For an off-site field trip, we would leave Bascomb. Permission slips are required for either type of field trip. If chaperones are needed, the classroom teachers will let you know. Most field trips do have a cost to cover the program and, if off-site, the travel expenses. Field trip to the Art Barn

22. Several times a year, teachers will assess all students on letter and number identification. Students who are struggling with these foundation skills may be invited to participate in the EIP and ExP programs. EIP meets during the school day. ExP classes are held after school.

23. All students at Bascomb may elect to participate in after school classes such as chess, soccer, and art. There are some classes that have a grade level requirement. These classes are taught by private individuals or companies so there is a charge to participate. Information about available classes will be sent home to you via flyers throughout the school year.

24. Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills Used throughout the state Selected standards are assessed every nine weeks and all will be assessed by the end of the year Report Card * The information garnered from the GKIDS assessment will become the report card.

25. Meet and Greet Curriculum Night Fall Conferences Weekly Newsletters Teacher Web Sites Emails Blue Folders Weekly PTA Buzz

26. ○ Parent Reader ○ Center Helper ○ Ice Cream Sales ○ Field Trip ○ Chaperones ○ Mentoring ○ Attendance Make sure to check with your child’s teacher to check their individual needs.

27. July 31st- Meet and Greet 12:30-1:30 August 8 th -First Day of School August 27 th - Curriculum Night 6:00-7:00

28. Identifying upper and lowercase letters Identifying numbers 0 to 20 Correct pencil grip Cutting Letter sounds Read to your child every day Tying shoes!