St. Austin Catholic School

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St. Austin Catholic School

• Be it known to all who enter here that Christ is
  the reason for this school. He is the unseen,
  but ever present teacher in its classrooms. He
  is the model for its faculty and the inspiration
  of its students.
• Our Expectations
• Respect Dignity Integrity Community

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St. Austin Mission Statement

• St. Austin Catholic School is committed to
  preparing life-long learners in the Catholic
  tradition.
• We develop spiritual, intellectual, social, and
  physical excellence in each individual.
• Our school creates responsible contributing,
  moral leaders in the church and community.

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St. Austin Vision Statement

• Christ grounded
• child centered
• community engaged

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St. Austin 4 Core(ACORN) Values

• RESPECT-Positive feeling of esteem for a person
  (being kind, take turns, share)
• DIGNITY-Showing deference, honor and respect
  (present yourself like a king/queen, self
  control)
• INTEGRITY-Being honest with strong moral
  principles (knowing the right thing to do,
  INside)
• COMMUNITY-Unified as a group of individuals
  (teamwork!)

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Welcome to PreK!!

• Our names are Mrs. Madeline Miller and Mrs.
  Kathleen Meyer
• Contact Information mmiller_at_staustinschool.org,
  kmeyer_at_staustinschool.org or 512-477-3751
• Office Hours are by appointment
• We are going green this year, so we are not
  printing out handouts! Please look for this
  document and other important information at
  www.staustinschool.org, click on admissions, then
  click on PreK.

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Helpful Morning Routines

• At Home
• Get plenty of sleep
• Eat a healthy breakfast
• Positive interactions
• At School
• Arrive on time. First bell rings at 750 and
  second bell rings at 800
• Positive attitude and interactions
• Students come inside hang up backpack, put lunch
  in white basket, put water bottle in green crate,
  move their person and begin table work-all part
  of morning routine.

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Snack Time

• We have 2 snack times each day, one in the
  morning during centers and one in the afternoon
  after rest time.
  Morning snacks are kept at school
  (provided by teachers parents). Afternoon
  snacks are brought from home or leftover from
  lunch.
• It is helpful if their afternoon snacks are in a
  different container other than their lunch box,
  especially if they are buying lunch.
• Please, no candy or sweets for snacks.

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Classroom Schedule

• We begin each day with table work
  (manipulatives). This is a time for friends to
  get ready for the day put lunches up, move
  their person, get drinks, go to the restroom and
  visit with one another.
• Our morning schedule (before lunch) includes
  circle time, calendar, outside time, centers and
  snack, Religion/Godly Play and Mass.
• Our Language Arts Handwriting will be done
  throughout the day.
• After lunch we have all our special classes
  Mon./Wed.-Music , Tues./Thur.-Spanish Tech.,
  P.E. , Wed./Fri.-Art Library, P.E.
  
• Friday-mass with our buddies, Show
  Tellschedule will posted on PreK website.
  Please check weekly. (will begin in Sept.)

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Grading Policy

• Grades Pre-K through 2nd use a 4 point grading
  system, with grades 1 point through 4 points.
• 4 Advanced Outstanding performance of grade
  level standards
• 3 Proficient Regularly meets grade level
  standards
• 2 Partially Proficient Inconsistently meets
  grade level standards
• 1 Not Proficient Below grade level standards

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Classroom Behavior Expectations

• The GOLDEN RULE is our guide along with our 4
  core values RESPECT, DIGNITY, INTEGRITY,
  COMMUNITY.
• We encourage these values throughout the day in
  ALL we do and say using words our friends can
  understand and begin to use themselves such as,
  to be kind, considerate, a good friend, using our
  manners (RESPECT), taking care of the bodies God
  has blessed us with by sitting/standing/walking
  tall, using our smart brains, treating ourselves
  like royalty-kings queens (DIGNITY), being
  honest and true, knowing the right thing to do
  even if others are not, having self control,
  making good choices and taking responsibility for
  what we do (INTEGRITY), and finally, working
  together as a team, sharing, taking turns
  (COMMUNITY).

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Behavior Expectations cont.

• At this time we are learning and practicing how
  to be in our classroom and around campus. The
  expectations are being taught, modeled and
  practiced. If a preK student needs to re-think
  the unacceptable choice they made, they do so in
  a space away from their classmates and are able
  to return when they are ready to use their ACORN
  choices.
• In September, when we have had ample opportunity
  to practice using and seeing ACORN choices at
  work, we will put into effect the Clip-Up Tree-a
  visual reminder of how well your child is using
  his/her ACORN values.

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Weekly CommunicationWednesday RED Folders

• The weekly school information will come home in
  the RED folder each Wednesday. Any important
  classroom information will also be included in
  this folder including book orders.
• Please make sure to check Wednesday folders,
  remove all paperwork and PLEASE send back the
  NEXT day.
• If YOU need to send an important bit of
  information, the RED folder is a great way to do
  it.

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Parent Homework

•  Talk to your child about their day highs and
  lows(most grateful for), best part or not so
  great thing, who they are playing with-their
  names and what they are doing or need help with,
  etc.
• Read with your child. Let them read the story to
  you by reading the pictures. Ask them where the
  cover is, the spine, the back of the book. Let
  them point to each word, count how many words in
  the title, the authors name, clap the syllables
  of words. Read the newspaper-the comics,
  magazines.
• Give your child opportunities to strengthen their
  finger, hand, arm muscles with playdoh, tearing
  paper, rolling dough (making bread or cookies,
  planting or picking a garden, etc.)
• Have FUN-laugh, sing, be silly, smile!

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Curriculum Highlights

• Cooperative, center-based approach using
  developmentally appropriate practicesbased on the
  High/Scope Key Experiences in conjunction with
  the PreK TEKS. Each day consists of a daily
  routine including large group time/small group
  time and planning time where the children are
  actively engaging with one another and adults,
  making choices, problem solving, and encouraging
  each other.
• Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) program for
  handwriting, letter sound and recognition and
  overall body stability.
• For Religion, we divide conquer using both the
  Godly Play stories as well as the Allelu! series
  that aligns with the Diocesan curriculum,
  following the Church calendar as well. Our
  relationship with our 5th grade mass buddies is a
  hands-on learning experience as well.

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Field Trip Information

• We take 2 big trips a year, one in the Fall and
  one in the Spring In October we take a walking
  tour with First Grade Buddies to the Fire House
  across the street (free) and in March we will
  take a trek to the Austin Nature Center where we
  will do a little digging and see the animals.

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Dress Code

• Please make sure your child is dressed in dress
  code every day.
• Please remind your kids that the shirts being
  tucked in is a part of our uniform, and they are
  expected to be tucked in at all times!! If your
  child is not sure how to tuck in their shirt,
  please practice this at home.
• Please practice pulling unfastening shorts and
  skirts at home with your child. We encourage
  elastic waist-bands for shorts, skirts/skorts.
• Lastly, girls need to have on shorts under their
  mass jumpers.

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Birthday Celebration Procedures

• Birthdays are blessed days that we like to help
  celebrate!
• Your child will receive a birthday poster to fill
  in prior to his/her birthday (family members may
  help). Once returned, it will be displayed on
  the Birthday board and they will have an
  opportunity to talk about it.
• Each birthday friend will be crowned in the
  morning, will get to wear a birthday sticker, and
  receives a birthday certificate to take home
  show the family (and keep for his/her memory
  book?)
• If you would like to bring a birthday treat for
  your child their class, please let us know in
  advance. We will enjoy that during afternoon
  snack with a special birthday prayer song at
  245.

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Lunchroom Procedures

• Our lunch is from 1045-1115 each day!
• Pre-K through 2nd grade visitors, please join
  your child at the designated guest table in the
  cafeteria
• Any child who doesnt have a lunch to eat after
  10 minutes into their lunch period will be
  provided with a hot lunch and an invoice will be
  sent home. If you are planning on bringing your
  child lunch, please let us know!
• We encourage eating healthy food first and send
  home any leftovers so parents know what their
  child is eating/not eating.

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Room Parents

• Communications-Carolina Corpus
• Treasurer-Jennifer Frederick
• Volunteer/Event Coordinator-Rachel OLeary
• Class Representative-Cathy Stacy

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2012-2013 Music

• Mrs. Corroa
• email jcorroa_at_staustinschool.org
• Office hours by appointment
• Academic Policy - All students in extracurricular
  music programs should agree to maintain their
  academic best. At any time, if a student is
  experiencing academic issues and needs a short
  time-out from band and choir to work on
  academics, the students parent should notify
  Mrs. Corroa.

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Music Dates to Remember

• December 7- 7PM Advent Cantata-All students
  participate
• March 8-Pre-K through 2nd grade spring musical

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Spanish 2012-2013

• Sra. Carmen de la Morena
• E-mail cdelamorena_at_staustinschool.org
• Office Hours Tuesdays by appointment
  between 330-400 in Rm. 201
• Parents need to confirm students appointment
  via email.
• Website location www.staustinschool.org
• click on Academics
• click on Spanish

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Spanish Highlights 2012-13

• Fall
• Spanish Around the World
• 16 de septiembre
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• All Saints Day Mass/Día de los Muertos
• Winter
• La Posada de Navidad
• Spring
• 39th Annual Spanish Declamation Contest at the
  University of Texas at Austin - April 2013
• Cinco de Mayo Celebration/Ballet Folklórico
• See school calendar and join us for the event!

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Spanish Curriculum Grading

• Pre-K Kinder SWS/Conversation for
  day-to-day
• Meets 2 times per week for 30 minutes each
• _________________________________________________
  __
• E Excellent
• S Satisfactory
• N Needs improvement
• U Unsatisfactory

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School Wide Spanish! (SWS

• This year we will continue a school wide
  initiative to create common-ground Spanish
  vocabulary.
• See monthly School Wide Spanish Newsletter
  included in Mrs. Kennedys Friday E-blasts.
• Common ground vocabulary will also be posted in
  hallway in front of Spanish Classroom, Rm. 201.
• Dont be shy!! No seaís tímidos!!

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Library

• Mrs. Kathy Hymel
• E-mail khymel_at_staustinschool.org
• Each grade comes to library twice a week, as an
  extension of Language Arts. Students read,
  sometimes have enrichment activities related to
  the reading, learn basic library skills, and
  check out books.
• Behavior expectations are Be Respectful, Be
  Responsible, Be Ready

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Physical Education

• Mr. Jordan Elbers
• E-mail jelbers_at_staustinschool.org
• Office hours are by appointment
• For more information go to www.staustinschool.org,
   click under Academics, then PE

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Art

• Mrs. Michelle Lyczak
• E-mail mlyczak_at_staustinschool.org
• Office hours are by appointment
• For more information go to www.staustinschool.org,
   click under Academics, then Art
• Expectations
• A ct responsibly
• R espect others, the tools and the place
• T ry to do your best always!

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Technology

• TEACHER Mr D
• CONTACT jdziedzic_at_staustinschool.org
• TECH SCOPE Integrated with core classes.
• Focus on keyboarding, both for speed and
  accuracy.
• Projects will use Office, Mac Applications
• Projects driven from core classes and will be
  used in Technology to supplement instruction.
• Focus on technological independence and creating
  an environment where students can learn about and
  navigate changing technology.
• Focus on cyber safety in an internet culture.
• All TEKS will be taught by years end.

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The End

• (Or is it just the beginning?)
• THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING!