Eisenhower

Kindergarten

Parent Handbook
2008 – 2009
Eisenhower Kindergarten Schedule Sessions:
AM session 8:30 am – 11:55 am
 PM session 10:25 am –2:35 pm

Tuesdays:
AM session 8:30 am – 11:40 am
PM session 10:05 am – 2:00 pm

Sample of Daily Schedule

8:15 – 8:30 am
AM students arrive (recess)

8:30 – 10:25 am Small Group Activities (AM Time)

• Mathematics
• Library (Wednesdays) • Phonics
• Computer Lab (Thursdays) • Social Studies
• Writing • Buddy Activities
• Reader’s workshop • Art
(Reading comprehension skills) • Kinder sing along/movement
(Fridays)

10:25-10:30 am
PM students arrive:
Attendance

10:30 – 10:50 am
Recess

10:50 – 11:55 am
• Calendar • Read Aloud (Reading comprehension skills)

• Writing • Science
• Art • Centers
• Fun Fitness (Physical Education) • Music Class (Wednesdays)

11:55 am
AM students dismissed

12:00 pm
Lunch for PM students
12:45 – 2:35 pm – Repeat of the AM small group time activities
2:35 pm – PM students dismissed

Curriculum Breakdown
Thematic Teaching
We have school wide, grade level, and classroom themes integrated into all curricular areas.

Math
We will be using a math series by the Houghton-Mifflin Company, Mathland by Creative
Publications, and teacher selected materials. The program includes workbook pages for daily
practice in class, homework for independent practice, chapter tests for assessment of the
material, and math manipulatives (math exploration) for daily use.

Language Arts (Reading & Writing)

We will be using the Houghton Mifflin Language Arts program, along with Rigby books,
poems, big books, district core literature, phonics, Step up to Writing, Readers Workshop,
journal writing and a variety of other literature as the basis for our reading and writing
program. Step-up-to-Writing will be used in conjunction with journal writing throughout the
year and is a core piece of the Kindergarten writing program. Students will focus on reading
strategies taught through the Readers Workshop program, which will provide for student’s
individual reading needs.

Physical Education/Fun Fitness

Fun fitness is a special 30 minute per week class led by a parent volunteer where students
practice catching, throwing, jumping and other gross motor skills as well as a variety of
cooperative and team building games.

Music/The Arts
Students will have music class once a week where they will sing, play instruments, and
dance. We also use a variety of songs from books, CD's, and tapes in class daily. On Fridays,
all of the Kindergarten classes meet together for Kindergarten music and movement. Once
a month, we have all-Primary grade sing-a-longs in the GLC. Art activities are incorporated
into all themes and areas of the curriculum throughout the year.

Science
We have adopted a new science curriculum this year and are excited about the changes. We
will now be using a program designed by Foss. Our first teacher Learning Day will be spent
focused on this new curriculum. Students will be studying plants at our Life Lab, animals,
health, nutrition, safety, weather, seasons, holidays, and multicultural understandings
throughout the year to go along with the Cupertino and California State Standards.

Social Studies
We will be using a Social Studies series published by Scott Foresman. The Social Studies
units include Getting Along, Symbols, Work, Where We Are, Calendars, and Times Past. Each
uniit includes interactive booklets that students will complete, various pieces of literature to
go along with the lessons, and an opportunity to access the lessons from home via the
internet.

Computers
Students will be working on a variety of computer programs. Software includes, but is not
limited to: Orchard math and phonics, Dr. Seuss' ABC's, KidPix, Kidspiration (web building)
and Reading Counts. Computers are used in the Lab as well as in the classroom to develop
student’s understanding of basic computer skills and focus on the core curriculum. Students
will also be interacting with websites on the internet (www.starfall.com, www.dositey.com).
 Field Trips
Kindergarteners will be going to Airborne Gym, a local farm in the spring, and end the year
with a trip to Maywood Park. Fields trips will be between $10 - $15 each. Please make checks
payable to Eisenhower Elementary School. There will be a permission slip sent home and
scholarships are available for families needing assistance.
**Please note we are currently looking into a fall field trip and will keep our families
posted***

Special Activities
The children will be 'cooking' simple items and participating in special activities throughout
the school year, such as the 100th day of school. Aspects of health, nutrition, science, and
math are incorporated into cooking lessons done throughout the year. We are asking for a
$10 donation from each family to cover the cost of the supplies.

Big Buddies
Big Buddy activities will take place approximately once a month. Students will be paired up
with a big buddy from third grade for a variety of fun activities focused on building peer
relationships

Character Counts
The Character Counts program is a school wide character building program that teaches
students basic values throughout the school year. The Character traits and months that we
will be focusing on are as follows:

August & September - Responsibility

October - Respect
November & December - Caring
January & February - Citizenship
March & April - Trustworthy (ness)
May & June – Fairness

Classroom Policies
Kindergarten Discipline Policy
Our policy is to encourage cooperation and appropriate behavior through positive support
and reinforcement. Our goal is to provide a safe learning environment for all students.
Some general expectations are that students will show respect to teachers, other adults in
the room, and other students. Students will respect the property of others, the classroom,
and the school. Children are given verbal reminders when needed. If a child needs time
away from the group to “cool off”, he or she is given that time apart from the group. The
student is allowed to rejoin the group when he or she is ready to participate appropriately. If
the problem continues, it will be discussed when all parties are able to talk cooperatively. If
a child is endangering him/herself or others in the room, he or she will be sent to the office
for the safety of all. Please reinforce these agreements with your child, as well the
classroom agreements.

*Please refer to the Eisenhower School calendar/handbook for information about general
school rules that also apply.*
**Cupertino has a zero tolerance policy concerning weapons,drugs and violence at school.
Please help your child to leave all play weapons (guns, swords, knives) at home.

Homework Policy
Homework will be sent home on Thursday in the manila envelope (eagle folder) and the
homework folder (red or blue) and should be returned on Monday. Phonics pages will be
sent home to practice handwriting and reinforce letter-sound knowledge. Math homework
will be sent to reinforce math skills taught in class. Kindergarten is a time to develop good
homework habits. Completion and the turning in of homework is the responsibility of the
kindergartener. These skills are necessary for success in school, so a record will be kept.

Reading with your child every night is also of great importance AND IS THE NUMBER ONE
PREDICTOR OF READING SUCCESS. We ask that you spend at least 15 minutes each night
reading with your child. We will be participating in the BOOK IT reading program. This
program offers a monthly pizza reward for students who read the minimum minutes
recommend per month.

Make-up Policy
Students will make up missed work upon returning to school, when possible.

Eagle Folders (Manila Envelopes)

A large manila envelope will come home every Thursday. It will contain valuable parent
information and your child's special projects and work. Returned papers are for you to keep
at home, unless otherwise noted. Please make sure to look at it each week, sign it, and
return it each Friday.

Attendance
Please bring your child to school on time each day. If your child is absent, please call and
notify the office at 248-4313 ext. 6. If your child is late, you must go to the office to pick up
a tardy slip before coming to class. For parents of afternoon students, it is important to
remember that your child must be at the classroom at 10:25 a.m.

Recess Snacks
Please send a healthy snack with your child every day (fruit, juice, crackers, etc.). Please do
not send any candy, soda or foods high in sugar. Please label any containers, bags or
lunchboxes with your child’s name.

Backpacks
All students need to have a backpack brought with them daily. This helps keep student work
and reminders organized. Please label your child’s backpack.

Wish List
If you would like to donate something to the classroom, there is a ‘Classroom Wish List Book’
in the office. If you would prefer, you may make a monetary donation toward the items on
our classroom wish list. Please make your check out to Eisenhower School. Also, look into
your employer matching your donation to your child’s school; this has been successful to
fund special projects. Thank you!

Book Orders
Scholastic book orders will be sent home monthly in Thursday Eagle Folders. If you wish to
purchase books for your child, please return the completed order form by the scheduled
date. Checks can be made out to Scholastic and given to your child’s teacher. We
request that no cash be given, as Scholastic does not accept payments in cash.

Birthdays
Teachers will honor the celebration of birthdays during school time, in the classroom. District
Policy no longer allows for family celebrations at school with food or gifts. It is important to
remember that our school days are very busy and birthday parties should be held outside of
the school day. Refer to the Eisenhower Parent Directory for classmate’s addresses and
phone numbers if you are planning a party for your child.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS SCHOOL POLICY THAT PARTY INVITATIONS

ARE NOT TO BE DISTRIBUTED ON THE SCHOOL CAMPUS.

Goal Setting Conferences

Kindergarten conferences are scheduled for December. For those families with older siblings,
please note the change in timing from October. Kinder conferences will be during the school
day. Please notify your employer as soon as possible in order to be available during these
times.

Release Time
Students are released by their teacher from the classroom daily. Kindergarteners cannot
walk to the parking lot, cars, or other classrooms. Parents and/or siblings must come to the
classroom. Also, it is very important that whoever is picking up your child is prompt and on
time. Teachers often have meetings and other responsibilities around campus after school. If
you will be running late to pick up your child please call the office, 248-4313, and the
secretaries will notify your child’s teacher. Students who are not picked up on time will be
taken to the office to wait for parents. In the case your child is picked up in the office, you
will be required to sign your child out.

PLEASE NOTE THAT STUDENTS MUST TELL THE TEACHER, WHO IS PICKING THEM UP. YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD PRACTICE THIS
AT HOME – “GOODBYE MRS. ______, MY (MOM, DAD, GRANDPARENTS, TEACHER, ETC.) IS HERE.”

Communication
Classroom work and notices are given to students to take home every Thursday. Please look
through the work with your child. A monthly newsletter will be coming home to inform you
of what is going on in the classroom and upcoming events or dates. Please feel free to call
us at school if you have any questions or concerns at 408-248-4313.
 Mrs. Galletta, rm. 1, ext. 201 [email protected]
Mrs. Dinh, rm. 2, ext. 202 Dinh_Georgina @.cupertino.k12.ca.us
Mrs. Canepa, rm. 7, ext. 207 [email protected]
Ms. Schlotterbeck, rm. 29, ex. 229 [email protected]

ALL Kindergartners will attend

the AM session
(8:30 – 11:55 am)
on the following dates:
Friday, October 31 – Halloween Party
Friday, December 19 - Winter Party
Friday, February 13 – Valentines Party
Friday, June 5 – Dance Festival
Wednesday, June 10 – Maywood Park Field Trip
 Friday, June 12 – Last Day of School
Date To Be Announced – Airborne Field Trip
Date To Be Announced – Farm Field Trip
* Date To Be Announced - Possible Fall Field Trip*
 Characteristics of the Kindergarten
Child
Children are growing and maturing continuously. Every child has his/her own pattern of growth, but
some characteristics are common to children of kindergarten age. To know these gives the teacher
and parents a better understanding of the child, and better guidance is the result.

The Kindergarten child will be:

1. Four years and nine months or five years old
2. Extremely active,
3. Self-dependent in eating, dressing, toileting, and sleeping.
4. Growing rapidly.
5. Losing his/her first lower teeth.
6. Well matured in motor control; will hop, jump, and skip with ease.
7. Non-resistant to disease.
8. Far-sighted, requiring large objects and close contact.
9. Interested in other children, yet individualistic.

The Kindergarten child will have:

1. Good reasoning power.
2. Ability to make good decisions with adult guidance.
3. Ability to plan and carry out plans.
4. Desire to speak plainly and to use new words.
5. Ability to relate experiences and to retell stories.
6. Changeable minds – gradually acquiring more defined ideas.

The Kindergarten child needs:

1. To feel secure and loved.
2. To have group approval and acceptance.
3. A few special friends.
4. A happy environment.
5. Opportunity for exercising large muscles.
6. To share toys and take turns in play.
7. To increase his/her vocabulary.
8. Alternate periods of rest and activity.
9. Ten or more hours of sleep each night.
10.Good nutrition habits.

Parent can help by:

1. Being interested in the child’s activities.
2. Providing good food and opportunity for plenty of sleep.
3. Having a quiet time each day
4. Inviting other children to the home, providing group play.
5. Talking with the child about new experiences while on walks or rides.
6. Taking him/her to the library.
7. Reading to him/her, helping him/her to be aware of written words telling something.
8. Helping him/her develop unselfish attitudes.
 Ways To Help Your Child At Home

1. Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and encourage them to eat a healthy breakfast.
Be sure you get your child to school on time each day.

2. Dress your child in practical school clothes. Soft-soled, athletic shoes are best for physical
activity. Don’t inadvertently limit your child’s growth and experience with shoes and clothing
that are too dressy for hard play.

3. Please send healthy foods for snacks and lunches. For example, sliced apples, carrots,
crackers and juice. Try to avoid snacks such as soft drinks and candy. It is important to
encourage your child to eat a balanced meal.

4. Show enthusiasm for your child’s school work and find a place to display some of it. Talk with
and listen to your child Ask them questions about the work they brought home and about their
day. Try to avoid yes/no answers. For example, “Tell me the best part of your day,” Tell me how
you would have changed your day,” and “What did you learn in Math?”

5. Read to or with your child, EVERYDAY!! Get a library card for your child and use it often. Look
for easy reading books, books for you to read aloud and books on topics that interest your
child. Take your child to a children’s bookstore for author visits or an occasional book treat.

6. Furnish the following supplies to help your child master their fine motor skills: paper, scissors,
pencils, crayons/markers, alphabet/number chart and glue/paste.

7. Always review all school communications and stay in contact with the teacher.

8. Teach your child: full name, address including zip code, phone number including area code,
how to tie shoes, how to tell time, coins and their values, how to use a calendar. You are your
child’s most important teacher. I will be very happy to help you with suggestions.

9. Provide a quiet place and time to study and do homework.

10.Give your child responsibilities that are age appropriate.