1. Welcome Franklin Families
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School – Lake Washington School District

2. General Information
I attended Ben Franklin Elementary as a student, Rose Hill Junior, and graduated from Lake Washington High School
Ben Franklin Elementary
School starts at 8:55 – beware the parking lot – setting good habits
Currently about 450 students
Diverse academic programs – General Education & Learning Center Program
Music and PE twice a week and Library once a week for 30 minutes each session
Involved parent community and highly supportive PTA
Segway to Emily Brown for the PTA portion and what incoming families can look forward to – events, fundraising, join PTA, volunteering, etc.

3. Registration Information
Registration will open on February 1st from 1:00-7:00 p.m. here at Ben Franklin – Kindergarten in the LWSD will be free all day kindergarten
Registration continues through the beginning of the school year in September
Please bring the following items:
Proof of child’s birthdate such as a birth certificate or passport
Child’s immunizations
Emergency contact information
Proof of residency such as an energy bill with your current address, lease agreement, or mortgage statement
Turn it over to Ann Coon for further details and answers to questions

4. WAKIDS Assessment
WaKIDS uses an observational, whole-child assessment tool that helps teachers measure student knowledge, skills and behaviors that have been shown to predict future school success
There are six areas of development and learning that are assessed:
Social-Emotional
Physical
Language
Cognitive
Literacy
Mathematics
Will take place within the first 2-3 weeks in September 2017 in class

5. Family Connection
Provides the opportunity for families to meet individually with their child’s kindergarten teacher at the beginning of the school year
The one-on-one meetings are intended to welcome students and parents to school and provide a safe environment for families to speak freely with the teacher.
Our family connection days are September 4-7, Teachers will work with families in August to schedule their days/times.
The first day of school for all kindergarten students will be Monday, September 10, 2018.

6. Tips for Parents Work with scissors and practice cutting every day
Practice holding a pencil correctly (A great practice tool is to pick sunflower seeds out of a sunflower with a pair of tweezers or something similar)
Help your student to recognize the numbers from 1 to 20 (Count orally to 100, name numbers to 10, write numbers 1-20)
Work on letters – particularly letter recognition
Help your student to learn to write the letters of the alphabet from top to bottom NOT bottom to top
Help your student to write their first name with an upper case letter at the beginning and lowercase throughout the rest of it.

7. Tips for Parents
Knowing how you are getting home (bus, after school care, parent is picking up, etc.)
Practice going to school during the summer. Set bed time, wake up time, breakfast, morning routines, and then literally come to school to get into line before 8:55. Walk around the campus and get familiar with the layout
Work with your student on feeding themselves and actually eating their food

8. Tips for Parents Play board games as often as possible
Work on social skills:
Taking turns
Play the game properly
Don’t let them win
Help them problem solve
Keep hands, feet, and body to yourself
Work on putting on a coat and taking it off by themselves
Using the bathroom
Following directions
Practice sitting for minutes giving their attention to a story or to someone else

9. Resources for Parents Lake Washington School District Webpage
For parents page
Ben Franklin Webpage
OSPI Webpage – WAKIDS Information

10. Contact Information
Jimmy Cho – Ben Franklin Principal
Ryan Scott – Ben Franklin Associate Principal
Ann Coon – Ben Franklin Registrar
Emily Brown – Ben Franklin PTA President

11. Questions?