Welcome to Curriculum

NightMrs. Walters

The First Day of SchoolAuthor Unknown

I used to be little, but not anymore. Tomorrow I’ll get up and walk out the door. I’m going to school- it’s the first time for me.It’s great to be big, but I’m scared as can be. 

My tummy is in knots, want to know why?I’m thinking that maybe, just maybe, I’ll cry.

When Mommy & Daddy leave school and I’m there alone,I’m thinking that maybe I’ll want to go home.

But wait, Mommy said I’ll play lots of new games. And meet lots of friends-I can learn all their names.

The first day of school, oh there’s so much to do!There’s painting and books and the big playground, too.

I used to be little, but not anymore. Tomorrow I’ll get up and walk out the door. I’m going to school-it’s my first day, you see. It’s great to be big. I’m so glad that I’m me!

 

Mission StatementKyrene de la Esperanza’s mission is to provide a positive and engaging learning environment that promotes student achievement and inspires success in every student.

Skills SummaryReading Readiness

•Remembers pictures from a printed page •Repeats a 6-8 word sentence•Pretends to read (has been read to often)•ID’s own first name in writing•Attempts to print own first name•Answers questions about a short story•Looks at pictures and tells a story•Understands words are read Left to Right•Familiar with the letters of the alphabet•Knows some nursery rhymes•Knows the meaning of simple words

Skills SummaryTime

•Understands day and night•Knows age and birthday

Recognizes Colors and Shapes•Recognizes primary colors•Recognizes triangles, circles, squares, rectangles

Numbers•Counts to 10•Can count objects

Skills SummaryListening and Sequencing

•Follows simple directions •Pays attention•Recognizes common sounds•Retells a simple story in sequence•Repeats a sequence of sounds•Repeats a sequence of numbers heard

Motor Skills•Run•Walk a straight line•Jump and Hop•Walk a straight line•Alternate feet walking downstairs

Motor Skills continued on next slide

Skills SummaryMotor Skills, continued

•March•Stand on one foot for 10 seconds•Walk backwards for 5 feet•Throw a ball•Paste pictures on paper•Clap hands•Builds with blocks• Completes simple 5 piece puzzle or less•Draw or color beyond simple scribbles•Zip clothes•Handles scissors•Cut and draw simple shapes

Skills SummarySocial-Emotional

•Express self verbally•Looks forward to going to school•Recognizes authority•Shares with others•Works independently•ID’s other children by name•Can take care of needs (toileting, snack) independently•Can be away from parents for 2-3 hours•Maintains self-control•Gets along well with others•Talks easily•Puts toys away

Skills SummaryChild Knows…

•Body parts•Own first name•Own last name•How to use a tissue and cover mouth when coughing/sneezing •Own sex

These 80 skills help ease preschool children into kindergarten

A project of the Florida Partnership for Parent Involvement

Student Drop Off & Pick UpThe door to classroom opens 5 minutes before the start/end of class and closes 5 minutes after the start/end of class. Please wait for teachers to open the door.

Preschool classes do not coincide with the start and end of the rest of K-5 classes. Your child should:•Be quiet in the halls at all times.•Always use walking feet.•Stay with you at all times.•Keep hands away from the art on the walls.

Please remind your child to be respectful of our school at all times by following these rules.

Sign In & OutFor the safety of all children in the school, you will need to sign in and out at the office. This allows the office to keep track of who is in the building at all times. For Preschool licensure, you will need to sign in and out at the door of the classroom. Unfortunately, because these two sign in processes are for different purposes, both are required.

Each day, you will:1. Sign your child in at the office.2. Sign your child in at the classroom door.3. Sign your child out at the classroom door.4. Sign your child out at the office.

An adult, 18 or older, must sign your child in and out and all parts of the sign in sheets must be completed each day.

Show & TellFridays are show and tell day!

Show and tell will begin sometime in September

•Your child may bring one item only.•Remind your child that their show and tell item will need to stay in our special basket until it’s show and tell time. •Please do not sent items of great value as things do occasionally get lost or broken.•Students will not be allowed to play with their item during the school day.

The purpose of show and tell is to encourage the use of language, build confidence in front of peers, and foster good listening skills as an audience.

Please prepare your child for the rules of show and tell to help us avoid unnecessary tears. Please do not send toys or other items from home on any other days.

Yum! It’s Snack TimeEmpowered Pack

Department of Heath Services Snack Program

This program is designed to promote healthy lifestyles including physical activity, good nutrition, and no smoking. Please help us

by sending your child with healthy snacks like:

To learn more about this program you can go to:http://azdhs.gov/empowerpack/index.htm

Vegetables1% Milk

100% JuiceFruits

S.H.A.R.K Safe-Honest-And-Respectful-Kids

Classroom Behavior Expectations

SAFE HONEST RESPECTFUL

ARRIVALWalk, say, “Hello”, unpack backpack, put backpack in your cubby, place lunchbox in designated area, wash hands; wait for staff member on the carpet (sit on the floor)

Follow the expectations on a daily basis to the best of your ability; be truthful

Sit quietly with peers and wait for instructions, ask for help by using, “please” and “thank you”

TRANSITION

Stop, listen , and do, hands and feet to self, use quiet voices; walk, push chairs in, line up, no pushing or cutting in front of others

Take care of yourself and do what you know is the “right” thing at the time

Treat classroom materials with care and put items back where they belong

COMPUTERS(LAPTOPS,

ETC)

Gentle touch, wait for permission to use the equipment

Take turns and let a teacher know if something is broken or not working

Ask politely for help, listen for directions, and wait patiently for assistance; help a friend if you can

HOMEWORKTry to do your best, work cooperatively with parent(s) or siblings at home

Return homework in your backpack and remember you are not expected to be “perfect”—you are just practicing

Feel good about yourself, compliment others on their efforts

INDEPENDENT TIME

Always think before acting, use good manners and follow the classroom rules; be the best you can be at all times

Treat others kindly, be a good friend to all classmates

Use nice words, share with others, take turns; remember to always use a “gentle touch”

SUPPLIES & MATERIALS

Always use classroom supplies in the way they were intended, please be careful with scissors; only color, use markers and paint on paper; no throwing items at others or across the classroom

Follow directions and ask the teacher or a classmate if you don’t understand; remember to share and take turns; be welcoming and inviting to playing and sharing materials with friends

Treat classroom materials with respect, put them away when asked; help a friend or the teacher when asked or when you see a need

HomeworkPreschool homework is: •Something to do with your child.•Meant to be challenging (that’s why you will need to help).•NOT expected to be perfect.•Meant to reinforce what the kids do during the school day.•Something to take your time with and return when completed.•A way for you to see what your child could use more help with.

Please reward your child’s efforts with lots of praise and encouragement!

•Fill out ALL boxes and lines on ALL paperwork in your child’s folder. This includes zip codes, doctor and hospital information.

•Every child must have TWO completed emergency contacts on the blue (or white) emergency form.

•Do not leave any lines blank. All lines must have something on them –either draw a line in the space or write ‘N/A.’

•Return forms as soon as possible. The state licensure department has the right to revoke our license and part of their requirements include having all emergency forms fully completed.

Important ReminderForms and Paperwork

Lesson PlansA Typical Day in Preschool

CentersCenters facilitate decision-making skills, creativity, and cooperation and problem solving with peers. Centers help develop fine motor, gross motor, adaptive self help, social-emotional, speech language communication, and cognitive skills.

Circle TimeCircle Time teaches skills necessary for Kindergarten, such as sitting criss-cross applesauce, listening to the teacher and raising a quiet hand. Circle Time provides daily reinforcement of counting, days of the week, months of the year, and exposes children to patterns, name recognition, and the responsibility and privilege of classroom jobs.

Small GroupsStudents practice important skills like using scissors, coloring, name tracing/writing, using glue, and direction following during Small Groups.

Restroom Break & RecessStudents are given the opportunity to use the restroom throughout the day, but are encouraged to go at least once before recess. Recess gives children the opportunity to further develop gross motor skills and ‘get the wiggles out’ after working in class.

Snack TimeChildren are encouraged to be as independent as possible before, during and after snack. Students are expected to open their own lunch boxes, unpack and unwrap their snacks and open their own drinks. Children who need help learn to raise their hands and use their words to ask for help. This is excellent practice for lunchtime in Kindergarten!

Some of our students have severe allergies to peanuts and tree nuts. We are required to maintain an environment free of these products.

Please do not send any items with peanuts or nuts.

SchedulePre-K (AM) and Preschool (PM)

(AM) Centers/Free Play (PM)

8:05 – 9:00 12:05 – 1:00Clean-up

9:05 – 9:10 1:05 – 1:10Circle Time

9:15 – 9:35 1:15 – 1:35Small Groups

9:40 – 9:55 1:40 – 1:55 Restroom Break

10:00 – 10:10 2:00 – 2:10Recess

10:15 – 10:30 2:15 – 2:30Snack + washing hands and clean-up

10:35 – 10:50 2:35 – 2:50Recall/Dismissal

10:50 – 11:05 2:50 – 3:05

Preschool vs. Pre-KPre-K (Morning Class)

Students will be working on academic skills and will have less time to play and to practice social skills. The class will meet from 8:05-11:05. Only children old enough to attend Kindergarten the following year can enroll in the Pre-K program.

Mixed Age Preschool (Afternoon Class)Students will learn through play and through hands-on activities in a developmentally appropriate practices classroom. The class will meet from 12:05 to 3:05. Children will range in age from three to five years old.

As always, the students of both classrooms will include typically developing peers and students who have special needs.

Back to School Donations•Kleenex

•Cleaning Wipes•Plastic Spoons•Foaming Hand Soap•Wiggly Eyes, large size•Hand Sanitizer•Spray Lysol•Glue Sticks•Paper Plates •Paper bowls

Please check the board outside the door for classroom needs throughout the year.

Preschool Staff & ServicesMarcia Walters, Special Education Teacher

Heather Macey, Instructional AssistantAnissa Stringer, Instructional Assistant

Katie Sterbenz_, Speech Pathologist Lisa Starzetski, Occupational Therapist

______, Physical Therapist

Kyrene de la EsperanzaDr. Greene, Principal

Denise Tobin, Assistant PrincipalKyrene de la Esperanza’s Preschool program is for children ages 3-5 who have differing abilities. We provide EARLY INTERVENTION to children with developmental delays. We provide a structured preschool experience and prepare students to be successful in Kindergarten.

CommunicationThere are several ways to learn about what’s going on at Esperanza and in our classroom:

• Kyrene Website (school calendars, school contact info)• Your child’s folder (papers, forms and notes)• Weekly classroom newsletters (classroom activities)• Shark Bytes (school and PTO info)

To talk to me directly:• Add your email to our contact list before you leave tonight!• My email address is mwalters@kyrene.org

Friendly ReminderPlease be respectful of the need for confidentiality when approaching staff at the door during pick-up. It’s better to wait to talk to us after everyone else has departed so we can talk openly.

Parking

There is NO PARKING in front of the school along the red line or in between the orange cones.

This is a protected school zone, and the buses use this space to load and unload children several times a day.

Questions?

We are looking forward to a wonderful year!