An Introduction to First Grade at Hampstead Central School Kathy Hoepf, HCS Guidance Jennifer Scarpati, Assistant Principal March 16, 2011

Welcome to HCS!

 Over 550 children enrolled in preschool through grade 4.  Approximately 105 children entering R/1  Anticipating 6 classrooms in R/1.  We are anticipating one looping classroom.  20 consecutive Blue Ribbon awards  18 Gold Circle Awards  NH Elementary School of Excellence 2007 HCS Facts

Meet our staff  Veteran teaching staff  Mrs. Huntington anticipated to start a grade 1 loop  Mrs. Remillard looping to grade 2  Finalized teacher assignments to be announced this spring.

Unified Arts Teachers

Our Unified Arts Program  All students have 6 unified arts periods per week.  Experiential & exploratory  Integration  Library Grade 1 Art 1 Music 1 P.E. 2 Guidance 1 Computer 1

A Day in the life 8:40 Settle in, note collection 8:55 Morning work, morning meeting 9:05 Language Arts 11:20 Lunch, then Recess 12:10Math 1:15 Science/Social Studies 2:00 Recess & Snack 2:30 Unified Arts 3:10 Clean up, closing circle 3:20Dismissal Sample schedule, based on this year’s time slots

Arrival & Dismissal…. Riding the Bus  The bus provides an opportunity for socialization & independence.  Bus drivers get to know children, establish their rules, and teach safety procedures in conjunction with the school.  Drivers will assign seats based on age.  Younger children are given preference for bus stops.  Communication when there is a concern  Beginning of the year procedures - tags

Bus Arrival

The Car Loop  If riding the bus is not an option for your child on any given day, you may drop them off or pick them up in our car loop.  Time period  Turn off your car while waiting  Follow the map for circulating through  Be patient

Car Drop Off

Communicating your routine  Any change in routine needs to be communicated through the main office.  Pink slips  Weekly note  Call before 1:30  Help us safely get your child to their correct destination!

Attendance  Good attendance is critical to school success.  When children are absent they miss instruction  Establish a morning routine so that children can arrive on time to start their day  Schedule appointments and vacations outside of the school day whenever possible  If your child is going to be absent, please call the absent mailbox or send a note in advance.  New attendance policy addressing frequent absences and tardies.

Classroom Activities  Our first grade and readiness programs are hands-on and experiential.  Students are challenged at their level.  Activities are differentiated so that all children can be included successfully.  Classroom activities include morning circle, hands-on center activities, literacy and math work, science explorations, and arts integration.

A first grader reading with one of our grammies. Students actively engaged in a learning center.

Students learn to spell words through interactive movement activities. A student starts his day writing in his journal.

Students are exposed to high quality literature through a read aloud. Readiness students experience a story through finger puppets.

Parental Involvement  Communication – , voic , notes, web pages  Newsletters – school & classroom  Role with homework  Volunteer opportunities Teachers assess needs Teachers assess needs Training Training Visiting Visiting  Alert Now

Supports for your child  Teachers meet weekly to monitor student progress  Interventions are recommended for any student who may need them  Three Tier Model for reading  DIBELS assessments  Title One Math  Resource Room  OT, Speech, Guidance, Behavioral consult  Share your concerns with your child’s teacher

Lunch  Lunch choices  Ordering process  Lunch room procedures  Nut free table  Lunch buddies  Nutrikids – online account  Snack

Recess  Purpose  Lunch & afternoon  Indoor vs. Outdoor  Proper dress Coat Coat Snowpants Snowpants Boots, change of shoes Boots, change of shoes Hat Hat Mittens Mittens

Special Activities  Field Trips  Thanksgiving Feast  Conservation Trail  Planetarium  The Mall  Holidays & Birthdays

Lost & Found  We collect many wonderful items in lost & found  Please label everything!  If your child is missing something, please check or have your child check lost & found.

Readiness for the First Grade Experience  All children vary in their level of readiness for first grade.  A variety of factors contribute to a child’s success in first grade.  First grade classrooms are differentiated to help all students be successful.

Developmental Traits  Demonstrates independence  Demonstrates emotional maturity to consistently maintain focus  Demonstrates emotional and physical stamina for a full day of school  Has the verbal ability and maturity to talk comfortably in a grade one classroom setting.

Developmental Traits, cont.  Demonstrates social pragmatic skills  Demonstrates gross and fine motor skills  Can sustain attention to teacher directed activity  Demonstrates the ability to consistently make transitions from one setting to the next with ease  Shows a consistent interest in learning

Screening Process & Time Line  March: Parent Orientation meeting  April: Entrance screening – from Private Kindergarten Child and parent(s)Child and parent(s) Teacher/counselor meetingTeacher/counselor meeting Screening tools for selected students from our KindergartenScreening tools for selected students from our Kindergarten  May: Placement recommendation Parent meetingsParent meetings  June: Classroom placement Move up day – last day of schoolMove up day – last day of school  August: Open House

Placement Options  Exploring various placement options for families that provide flexible choices.  There will be an ongoing dialogue between the school and the families of students with whom there is a concern about their readiness for first grade.

What to work on over the summer…  Read to your child  Provide opportunities for socialization  Practice separating from your child  Practice self-help skills Shoe tying Shoe tying Zippers Zippers Eating snack neatly Eating snack neatly Bathroom etiquette Bathroom etiquette

Questions?