Welcome to Kindergarten!

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Welcome to Kindergarten!

• East Penn School District

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Welcome!

• This is the beginning of an exciting journey into
  the world of elementary school. In this brochure,
  you will find information about the Kindergarten
  program and ways we can work together to help
  your child have a wonderful school experience!

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Kindergarten Philosophy

• Kindergarten makes a unique contribution to the
  education of children in East Penn because it is
  the first year of a childs formal public school
  educational experience. Basic procedures that
  will be used in succeeding levels of school are
  introduced as part of the kindergarten program.
  Equal emphases are placed on the academic,
  social, emotional and physical growth of the
  child.
• We recognize that children come to kindergarten
  with a wide variety of abilities in these four
  areas. Therefore, large-group, small-group and
  individual activities are planned by teachers for
  specific purposes throughout the kindergarten
  year.
• The curriculum is designed to provide educational
  experiences appropriate for the developmental
  level of kindergarten children and to prepare
  each child for first grade. An emphasis is placed
  on promoting inquisitiveness, capitalizing on the
  natural curiosity of children and fostering a
  love of learning.

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Registration
Registration of a child for assignment to an East
Penn kindergarten is complete when the following
items have been verified

• Proof of the childs birth date (State Birth
  Certificate). To be registered, the child must be
  5 on or before September 12.
• Verification of immunization for diphtheria,
  tetanus, polio, German measles (rubella),
  measles, mumps, chicken pox (varicella) and
  Hepatitis B.
• Two proofs of residency (see registration forms).
• Proof of identification Valid Parent Photo ID.
• Completed registration packet.

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East Penn Elementary Schools

• Alburtis Elementary 610-965-1633
• Jefferson Elementary 610-965-1645
• Lincoln Elementary 610- 965-1636
• Macungie Elementary 610-965-1617
• Shoemaker Elementary 610-965-1626
• Wescosville Elementary 610-395-5851
• Willow Lane Elementary 484-519-3300

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Assignment

• Your child will attend one session, either
  morning or afternoon. Several factors, including
  transportation schedules and enrollment
  equalization, are taken into consideration in
  making assignments.
• For special reasons (parents work schedules,
  daycare situations, home emergencies, etc.) you
  may request assignment to a particular session
  and we will make every effort to accommodate you.
• Assignment letters and transportation information
  will be mailed home in August.

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The Kindergarten Program

• The kindergarten program provides opportunities
  for your child to learn to relate to others and
  build respect for the teacher and his/her
  classmates.
• Experiences are provided which increase knowledge
  and improve skills, develop good habits and
  attitudes, and build understandings of
  responsibility to self and the group.
• A good classroom atmosphere helps a child develop
  a sense of security and belonging. Natural
  curiosity is directed into a zest for learning.

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Weekly Time Allotment

• Kindergarten programs must be flexible. Each
  teacher sets up a schedule that best suits the
  needs of the class and the school. The weekly
  time allotment of approximately 800 minutes per
  week is a basis on which teachers build daily
  programs that include
• Opening, closing activities
• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Social Studies
• Science
• Health, Safety
• Music, Art
• Library
• Physical Education
• Please visit our East Penn website under
  Curriculum at www.eastpennsd.org to access the
  curriculum for Kindergarten.

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Language Arts

• The kindergarten Language Arts curriculum is
  centered around reading and writing activities
  that help children progress on their journey
  toward literacy. Developmentally appropriate
  learning opportunities enable children to explore
  oral and written language through active learning
  that incorporates reading and writing
  experiences.
• Reading to children, with children and by
  children are all integral parts of the
  kindergarten day. The relationship between
  sounds, letters and words is explored as the
  children learn about reading and writing.
• Content areas are integrated into the
  kindergarten program through the inclusion of a
  wide selection of childrens literature.

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Language Arts

• Through kindergarten experiences your child
  develops
• Auditory Abilities Reasoning
• Hearing sounds Solving simple problems
• Discriminating between sounds Planning
• Visual Abilities Sequence of Ideas
• Likenesses-differences In stories
• Memory In experiences
• Left-to-right and top-to-bottom In classroom
  activities
• Listening Skills Love of Literature
• Stories Storytelling
• Directions Listening to stories
• Vocabulary and Word Meaning Poetry
• Experiences
• Class interest and activities

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Mathematics

• In kindergarten there are many opportunities for
  children to use numbers and hands-on math
  materials.
• Children participate in activities that provide
  experiences in the following areas
• Problem Solving and Reasoning
• Look for patterns
• Use a graph
• Classify objects
• Use manipulatives
• Use calculators and computers

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Mathematics

• Number Sense Money/Consumer Skills
• Recognize, read and write numbers Recognize
  penny
• Label sets of objects Recognize nickel
• Identify whole numbers Recognize dime
• Counts in sequence Use coins to solve problems
• Mental Math/Estimation Geometry/Spatial Sense
• Estimate number of objects Recognize circle
• Estimate measurements Recognize triangle
• Estimate various time components Recognize
  rectangle
• Recognize square
• Recognize diamond
• Recognize 3-D objects

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Social Studies
One aspect of the kindergarten program is that of
social living. It is designed to help your child
acquire knowledge, habits and skills that result
in understanding how people live and work
together.

• Responsibility Member of a Responsibility
  Member of a Family Kindergarten Class
• A family group Working together
• Living together Care of room and materials
• Working together Learning about school
• The family community Learning about the
  playground
• School
• Government
• People Places Long Ago Today
• Community helpers Our country
• Heroes and leaders Transportation
• Housing Communication
• Geography Holidays

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Science
The kindergarten child is curious and eager to
watch, touch and question. The science program
provides daily exposure to scientific concepts.
Some of the areas that may be explored are listed
below

• Natural Phenomena
• Weather
• Seasons
• Mechanical Processes Living Things
• Transportation Animal babies
• Construction Animals the environment
• Tools technology

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Creativity and Play
Creative Expression Children learn to work
creatively with paints, chalks, blocks, crayons
and clay. Through music, they gain pleasure and
skill in group singing. Rhythmic activities help
develop muscular coordination and poise. Play
Activities Play activities contribute to your
childs whole development physical, mental,
emotional and social. Through play (directed and
supervised), physical ability and control are
gained. The physical education program includes
the following activities

• Choosing Body Control
• Senses Gymnastics
• Dramatics Imitation
• If there is need, special physical
  activities can be provided.

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Getting Ready for Kindergarten

• Be consistent and reasonable in the behavior you
  require.
• Share experiences and places of interest explain
  what is seen.
• Listen as experiences are being shared with you.
• Offer experiences that teach your child to share
  and take turns.
• Give encouragement freely. Be enthusiastic about
  schoolwork, but do not expect perfection.
• Never make comparisons with other children in the
  family or neighborhood, because every child is
  different.
• Help your child to accept corrections when needed
  without becoming upset.
• Help your child develop self-confidence. Praise
  your childs strengths and discuss ways to solve
  problems.
• If your child tells you a disturbing story, talk
  it over with the teacher immediately rather than
  simply attributing it to a vivid imagination.

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Getting Ready for Kindergarten

• Label all clothing or anything else your child
  takes to school.
• Work with your child to learn the following
• To say first and last name, address and phone
  number
• How to get to and from school safely
• To recognize own possessions
• To tie own shoe strings
• To button, snap and zip
• To put on and remove outer clothing and hang it
  up
• Set aside a daily time to read to your child.
• Involve your child in family outing and learning
  experiences.
• Encourage appropriate speech in sentences,
  without baby talk.
• Make opportunities available for play with other
  children of the same age.
• Assign simple duties at home and expect them to
  be carried out.

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Before School Starts

• We will
• Make sure that each kindergarten classroom has a
  warm, understanding and serious teacher who will
  help your child make a good start.
• Prepare materials and equipment.
• Set-up the transportation schedule. Not all
  children will be transported. The same rules for
  transporting other elementary children apply to
  kindergarten.
• Prepare for Kindergarten Orientation before the
  start of school.
• Prepare for the Parent-Teacher Conferences in
  fall and spring.

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The First Day of School

• If your child will be transported by bus, wait at
  the bus stop until the bus arrives. Make certain
  the bus tag, which will contain valuable
  information for the bus driver and teacher, is
  worn for the first few days of school. Help your
  child learn the number of his/her bus.
• If you accompany your child to school, follow
  specific drop-off procedures for your school.
  Give a cheerful, but firm, farewell. The teacher
  will call you in case you are needed.

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Attendance
The kindergarten child should abide by the same
rules and attendance regulations as other
children in the elementary school. Each child
should be present unless absence can be
classified as excused.

• Excused Absences
• Illness, death of close relative, quarantine,
  impassable roads, inclement weather,
  exceptionally urgent reasons.
• Unexcused Absences
• Visiting, away from home, or overslept.
• Notify the teacher when your child is going to be
  absent for three or more days.

Coming to school every day, on time, is very
important. It will help develop good habits and
aid progress in schoolwork. Appointments with
physicians and dentists should be made for after
school hours.
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If you have a question

• When you have a question
• Classroom teachers, IST teachers, guidance
  counselors and building principals are
  responsible for the workings of each building. If
  you have a question or problem, it can be best
  answered or solved by speaking to the person or
  persons responsible for that area.
• Classroom Situation
• The best person to talk to about your childs
  academic progress, classroom behavior or daily
  concerns is your childs teacher. You can contact
  the teacher easily by sending a note, emailing or
  calling the building to schedule a personal or
  phone conference.

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If you have a question

• Building Assignment Asst. Superintendent (610)
  966-8321
• Bus Assignment or Stop Transportation Office
  [phone]
• Elementary Academic Progress Classroom Teacher or
  Support Teacher
• Building Principal
• Parent Volunteer Building Administrative
  Assistant
• School Parent Group
• Community Liaison [phone]
• School Closings Channel 69
• Local Radio Stations
• District Website (www.eastpennsd.org)
• Autocall
• Elementary Classroom Assignment Building
  Principal
• Special Medication Classroom Teacher
• Nurse
• Elementary Assignments During Illness School
  Administrative Assistant
• Classroom Teacher
• Family Vacations on School Days Principal
• Communicable Diseases School Nurse
• Special Education Services Student Services
  Office [phone]

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Thank you!

• Have a great year!
• We are glad you are with us!

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EPSD Board of School Directors

• Alan C. Earnshaw, President
• Kenneth Bacher, Vice President
• Charles Ballard
• Lynn Donches
• Francee Fuller
• Rebecca Heid
• Ziad Munson
• Samuel Rhodes, III
• Rev. Waldemar Vinovskis
• Janine Allen, Board Secretary
• Debra Surdoval, Treasurer
• Marc S. Fisher, Esq., Solicitor
• Dr. J. Michael Schilder, Superintendent of
  Schools
• The East Penn School District is an equal
  opportunity education institution and will not
  discriminate in its educational programs,
  activities, or employment practices on the basis
  of race, color, national origin, sex, age,
  religion ancestry, disability, union membership,
  or other legally protected classification.
  Announcement of this policy is in accordance with
  state and federal laws, including Title VI, Title
  IX, Section 504 and the Americans with
  Disabilities Act. For information regarding 1)
  civil rights, 2) grievance procedures, 3)
  services, activities and facilities that are
  accessible to and useable by disabled persons, or
  4) employee or participant complaints harassment
  or discrimination, contact Personnel Office,
  Compliance Officer, 800 Pine St., Emmaus, PA
  18049 [phone].

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EPSD 1/2015
Vision The East Penn School District will
empower students to maximize their potential and
become lifelong learners and contributors to
society. Mission The East Penn School District
will provide a learning environment in which
students become problem solvers, collaborators,
and critical thinkers.
Administrative Offices 800 Pine Street Emmaus, PA
18049 [phone] 24-hour Information Line
[phone]
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