1. Welcome to Lower Elementary Orientation 2014-2015 School Year

2. Classroom Team Lead Directress – Ms. Rosemary Jones Email: rjones@desertgardenmontessori.orgrjones@desertgardenmontessori.org Lead Directress – Ms. Denise Henry Email: dhenry@desertgardenmontessori.orgdhenry@desertgardenmontessori.org Lead Directress – Ms. Karen Snyder Email: ksnyder@desertgardenmontessori.orgksnyder@desertgardenmontessori.org Lead Directress – Ms. Jill Carson Email: jcarson@desertgardenmontessori.orgjcarson@desertgardenmontessori.org Late Day Staff – Mr. Eric Caballes Email: ecaballes@desertgardenmontessori.orgecaballes@desertgardenmontessori.org Homeroom Parent– Ms. Stephanie Robinson Email: ds-nick@hotmail.comds-nick@hotmail.com

3. Arrival and Attendance Any child with a morning job or children who would like to immediately go to work may enter the classroom as early as 7:30 am. Those who wish to play may stay out on the playground until line up time at 8:00am. If you need to speak to a teacher about anything concerning your child and it cannot wait until you make an appointment, by all means, speak to the teacher. Please keep in mind your child’s teacher uses this time for preparing for your child’s day Please make sure your child comes to school on time.

4. What to Bring/Leave Home Please see the website for the link to the supply list or see the Welcome Letter for a link to the list on Amazon.com. Please leave the following at home: Backpacks Jewelry Electronics Toys

5. ◦8:00 - 11:00 1 st Great Work Time begins ◦11:00 - 11:30 Presentations or Teacher Read Aloud ◦11:30 - 11:50 Recess ◦12:00 -12:30 Lunch ◦12:30 - 1:30 Music / P.E. / Gardening ◦1:30 - 2:00 Cultural and Writing Lessons ◦2:00 – 2:40 Afternoon Work Period ◦2:45 – 3:15 Silent Reading / Afternoon duties ◦3:15 Curb and Dismissal for Late Day Daily Routine/Schedule

6. Dress for Success Please have your child wear tennis shoes everyday. Our lost and found gathers enough jackets to keep an entire nation warm! Please ensure your child returns home with the jacket he/she wore in the morning.

7. Art Masterpiece – lessons during Morning work cycle with lead teachers. Spanish Immersion – during Morning Work Cycle with native-speaking team led by Ms. Johana. Choir – Friday afternoons – to be announced Small Group “Specials” in the afternoon 12:30 – 1:30 ◦Gardening and Project-Based Outdoor Learning with Ms. Krista ◦P. E. with Ms. Ronda (twice weekly) ◦Suzuki violin with Ms. Katie (twice weekly) Specials in Our Environment

8. Please make sure your child comes to school on time. Please attempt to make your child’s medical and dental appointments in the afternoon. Unless it is your scheduled observation time, please refrain from calling or visiting the classroom during our Great Work Period – between 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. Please schedule teacher appointments with the front desk. Take your child to the library to support the research projects he/she may be working on. Read with and to your child. Support your child with math fact memorization by making math “real” at home. (measurement/money/time) Please ensure your child has chores and responsibilities at home. Parent Partnerships

9. Parent Partnerships (cont.) Please be sure to see the website link to Home Learning Guidelines Please take family vacations during school vacations. We cannot make up the time they may miss. Regularly review your child’s notebooks together. Have your child experience natural logical consequences. Attend the once-a-month school functions with your child. Support your child with Mercado, Talent Show, Multi-Cultural Day and violins. Go on nature walks/celebration of nature Allow time for unstructured/imaginative play Dr. Dave will continue his Mindful Parenting series. Please check it out!

10. Home Learning Project Based Presentations (Formal, Informal, Science) ◦ Partnership between school and home ◦ Trips to library ◦ Supplies needed for presentation  Note cards  Tri-fold board or other media options  Display items (color copies) Reading  Jim Trelease “The Read Aloud Handbook”  Reading can be shared and joyful  Library  Reading levels and interests Math Facts  Different ways to practice - memorization  Web sites / games  Addition / Subtraction / Multiplication

11. Scantron August and April Adaptive K – 9 Areas of Assessment ◦ READING ◦ MATH

12. Conferences Conference 1 Goal Setting (August/September) Reflecting on the first few weeks Setting goals for the year Conference 2 (November/December) Progress Report Mid-term discussion Conference 3 (April/May) Progress Report Re-cap and look ahead

13. Communication Montessori Compass - please use for all written questions and concerns. Website Phone Calls (limited during class time) Person-to-Person (limited during class time) Office Hours - Please schedule with the Front Desk

14. Website Resources On our Classroom Page ◦Daily Schedule ◦Supply List ◦Orientation Slide Show LE 2014-15 ◦Audio/Visual Program ◦Formal Presentation Guidelines ◦Going Outs ◦Home Learning Guidelines ◦Specials ◦Mercado Guidelines ◦Parents’ Responsibilities ◦Sky-Y Trip ◦Student Ambassadors Under Parent Resources Parent Handbook 2014-15