Welcome to Montgomery Knolls Elementary School Dedicated to Service, Respect, Celebrations, & Life-long Learning! Kindergarten Back To School Night 2013-2014

Welcome We welcome you to the MKES Family and anticipate a great new year. Our staff at MKES is dedicated to lifelong learning and we hold high expectations for all stakeholders.

MKES School Wide Expectations Respect Yourself and Others Take care of and show pride in your school. Give your best effort every day.

Kindergarten Student Schedule Please help your child be at school on time each day.

Kindergarten Daily Schedule A 2013-2014 Mrs. Parker, Ms. Granata, Mrs. Erroa, Ms. Mayberry 8:30-9:00 Breakfast/Morning Routine 9:00-9:20 Morning Meeting Calendar, weather, morning message, etc… 9:20-10:35 Guided Reading Differentiated small group instruction/centers 10:35-10:50 Whole Group Reading Read-aloud, discussion, student interaction 10:50-12:00 Math 5-10 minute whole group instruction Differentiated small group instruction/ STEM centers 12:00-1:00 Lunch/Recess 1:00-1:45 Specials P.E., Art, Music, Media, Technology 1:50-2:20 Writing 2:20-2:45 Words Their Way Small group instruction, independent work 2:45-3:00 D.E.A.R Time 2:55-3:15 Dismissal (Red Bus-Weber/Parker, Purple & Brown-Brooks/Erroa, Green & Blue-Mayberry/Burton)

Kindergarten Daily Schedule B 2013-2014 Mrs. Weber, Mrs. Brooks, Miss Burton 8:30-9:00 Breakfast/Morning Routine 9:00-9:20 Morning Meeting Calendar, weather, morning message, etc… 9:20-10:30 Math 5-10 minute whole group instruction Differentiated small group instruction/ STEM centers 10:30-10:45 Whole Group Reading Read-aloud, discussion, student interaction 10:45-12:00 Guided Reading Differentiated small group instruction/centers 12:00-1:00 Lunch/Recess 1:00-1:45 Specials P.E., Art, Music, Media, Technology 1:50-2:20 Writing 2:20-2:45 Words Their Way Small group instruction, independent work 2:45-2:55 D.E.A.R Time 2:55-3:15 Dismissal (Red Bus-Weber/Parker, Purple & Brown-Brooks/Erroa, Green & Blue-Mayberry/Burton)

Dismissal Make sure students know how they get home! At 3:00 students are divided into rooms by their bus colors. Make sure students know how they get home! *Please inform us of any changes to your child’s dismissal plan by sending a note, email and/or phone call BEFORE 12:30. Do not just tell your child only.

Homework Policy Homework journals will be sent home each day. Please have your child complete the homework for that day. Do not go ahead to other days. Use 1 page per day. (Please use the front and back of each page.) Please include the date at the top of the page. Optional enrichment homework is offered each week. This can be completed at any time. It is an expectation that your child will do their homework EVERY night.

Homework Connection! Parents can also check out books from the MKES library. Stop by the library anytime to get an account started! Happy Reading!!

Behavior Baseball Students will earn a home run by demonstrating positive behavior. Students will receive strikes when inappropriate behavior is displayed after reminders have been given. Students with fewer than 3 strikes at the end of the week will be rewarded. Please sign your child’s Behavior Sheet each week.

Grading Scale P – Proficient I – In Progress N – Not yet Report cards will be sent home twice a year at the end of each semester. (January and June)

Student Data Folders Data Folders will be used to show your child’s progress. They are sent home to be reviewed with parents each quarter. Please review and send back the Data Folders as soon as possible so that we can add new data.

Lunch Procedures Make sure your child knows their PIN number. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! Talk to your child about appropriate lunch room behavior.

Please check your child’s backpack every night.

Guided Reading Books Guided reading books will be sent home shortly. These will come home every night. Please read it with your child and send it back to school EVERY DAY 

Steps to the Inquiry Process Inquiry Projects/Research Projects Starting in Quarter 3, the kindergarten students will work on an inquiry/research project. In Quarter 3, we will be researching animal features. In Quarter 4, the research will focus on museums. For these projects, the media specialist will collaborate with the kindergarten teachers to create a deep and meaningful research experience for the students. Steps to the Inquiry Process “I Wonder”/Ask Questions Find & Evaluate Information Create & Share Reflect

Helpful Tips! Homework: Prepare a basket with learning essentials and a quiet place for your child to work each day. Reading: Read to or with your child. Create sight word flash cards and play games, such as “My Pile, Your Pile.” Writing: Encourage your child to use pictures, letters, and/or words to express their ideas. Math: Model number writing and rote counting to 100 and beyond.

What can I do to help? Please help your child learn his/her: - full name - address - phone number and keep a card with this information in his/her backpack Please make sure we have all current phone numbers: - cell/work phone - email - work phones - emergency contact information

Parent/Teacher Communication Phone Number: 301-431-7667 Website: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/knollses/ Parent/Teacher Conferences: Please sign up with your child’s classroom teacher tonight. Red Folders: This folder will be sent home every Thursday. Please respond accordingly to the information sent home. Send necessary papers and the red folder back to school the next day. Newsletters: These will be sent home with information of upcoming events and our current curriculum.

Volunteers Volunteers are an integral part of MKES! Here are some ways you can help: Volunteer in the classroom to help students and teachers. Volunteer at school events. If you are unable to come into our school, you can volunteer at home by cutting art supplies, making paper copies, etc.

Important Dates September 27th: Half Day October 4th: Field Trip October 18th: No School November 1st: No School November 11th/12th: Half Days-Parent/Teacher Conferences November 27th: Half Day November 28th/29th: No School-Thanksgiving

Thanks! Thank you so much for all your support. Please remember that parents are the first teachers in your child’s life. We are looking forward to becoming partners with you in your child’s educational journey.

Please sign up for a Parent/Teacher Conference in your child’s room. We now invite you to explore your child’s classroom. This is an opportunity to ask general questions about school. Any specific concerns can be addressed by contacting your child’s teacher at a later time. Please sign up for a Parent/Teacher Conference in your child’s room.