Arriving at School

At Brackett, the children line up by class on the basketball court just next to the school. On the first day of kindergarten, there will be signs with the teachers’ names on them to indicate where the lines should form. That location will be the same for the entire year.

In case of bad weather, the kindergarten students and parents will gather in the gymnasium to line up.

Children are not allowed to play on the school playground during this time. School policy dictates that children may arrive beginning at 8 am, after which three to four staff members begin monitoring the play area outside. Kindergarten teachers walk their students into the building through the “side” door (the door located near the right front corner of the building as you are facing the main entrance). Kindergarten students exit from the same door at the end of the day.

Many parents enjoy walking their children to the classroom at the beginning of the year; however, we ask parents in all grades, including kindergarten, to foster appropriate developmental independence by encouraging their child to enter the building with their teacher and classmates.

The school schedule is as follows:

8:00 line up begins on the basketball court

8:10 first bell, enter building

8:15 second bell, class begins

2:10 first bell, class ends

2:15 final bell, dismissal

If your child arrives after the second bell, you will need to report to the school office to sign him/her in.

Absences

If your child will be absent from school for health or other reasons, you should call the school’s Safe Arrival Number at 781-648-2576. (Don’t forget to notify your child’s after-school program, too.)

Snow Days

In the event of severe winter weather, the Arlington Public Schools may be closed, as decided by the school superintendent. You can find out about school closings by watching most local television stations and/or by checking the web at: http://wbztv.com/schoolclosings

The number of days taken as “snow days” will be made up at the end of the school year. (See the June section of the month-by-month calendar section of this guide for more information.)

Lunch

Kindergarten has lunch from 10:55 to 11:30. Teachers walk students to the cafeteria and make sure that students are settled. Students have 20 minutes to eat. There is a peanut-free table for children who require it. Students who buy their lunches may volunteer to sit with their classmates at the peanut-free table so that allergic students do not sit alone.

There are lunchroom monitors to assist the children and supervise their behavior. Monitors also accompany the children to outdoor recess at the end of the lunch period and then walk the children inside to their classrooms.

Children may buy milk or hot lunch. Monthly lunch menus will be sent home with the children to help you with planning. All menus are also posted on the district website at: http://www.arlington.k12.ma.us/foodservices/

Prices as of the 2009-2010 school year: Hot lunch -- $3.00

Milk -- $.60

You will receive updated prices when the school year begins. You can pre-pay lunches on a monthly basis for your child. More information on this will become available at the start of the school year. The teachers will help the children handle their lunch order and their money.

P Parent Tip: You may find it useful to put your child’s milk or lunch money in a ziplock baggie or envelope with her/his name on it.

P Volunteer: Brackett welcomes parents to help volunteer in lunch room.

Snacks

You will be asked to provide an afternoon snack for your child. This should be a healthy snack (fruit, yogurt, cheese/crackers).

Dismissal

When students are dismissed at the end of the day, they exit through the “side” door where they entered the building in the morning. The teachers stay with the students outside until all of them have been picked up. Teachers meet the drivers from the Boys and Girls Club or Fidelity House to ensure a smooth pick-up for after-school programs. Children who attend the Brackett After School are met by the BASP staff and walked to the after-school room.

P Parent Tip 1: At the very beginning of the year, be sure to let your child’s teacher know on what days and where your child is to attend an after school program so that she can help your child get to the appropriate meeting place.

P Parent Tip 2: If your child has permission to go home with a friend for an after-school play date, let your teacher know in advance with whom she/he will be leaving. Sending a note in your child’s folder is the surest way to get the message through to the teacher.

Homework

Kindergarten students are given homework. Assignments vary but many involve practice in writing letters and numbers, as well as drawing or cutting out pictures.

Proper Attire

Children should always be dressed in comfortable clothing that they can manage on their own. On days when your child has physical education (P.E.) class, s/he should wear sneakers and appropriate clothing (no dresses/skirts). In addition, children should always be dressed for the weather since outdoor recess and outdoor P.E. classes are routine. In winter, children will need hats, gloves/mittens, boots and snow pants, in addition to their regular coats or jackets.

Daily Schedule

It is hard to describe a “typical day” in kindergarten at the Brackett, since art, music, library and P.E. classes occur throughout the week. However, the day might go something like this:

• Arrival
  The school day begins at 8:10. See the previous section for details.

• Meeting Time
  During this time, the class gathers on the rug to discuss the day and introduce materials and topics for learning.

• Workboard
  The children work in different areas around the room focusing on literacy skills, math, social studies and science. Students work in mixed ability groups on activities that are flexible for different developmental levels. They may work independently or collaboratively to complete their assignment.

• Outside Time
  The children have outdoor recess every day, weather permitting. Inclement weather might result in taking a break in the classroom, going for walks, or engaging in some type of kinesthetic activities.

• Lunch
  The children eat together as a grade, but sit with their own class, then have a second recess period. (See the previous section for more information on how lunch is organized at school.)

• Quiet Time
  Students have about 10 minutes to rest their bodies while in the classroom.

• Math Centers
  Children engage in activities that allow them to explore and revisit math concepts.

• Choice Time
  The children may choose from various activities in the room (e.g., puzzles, listening center, art projects, blocks, dramatic play, sensory table).

• Snack Time
  Children are offered a snack near the end of the day. (See the previous section for more information.)

• Dismissal
  A bell rings at 2:10 to signal the end of classes, after which students are dismissed. (See the previous section for more information.)

Other Useful Information

Communicating with teachers

You have several options for communicating with your child’s teacher. One way is to make use of the folder that each kindergarten student is required to purchase. (You’ll hear more about this from your teacher at the start of school.) This folder is used to transport class assignments and information to and from home. If you have a message that is urgent, call the school and leave a message for the teacher. If you have any serious concerns that you’d like to discuss with your child’s teacher, set up a time to meet with her in person.

As a way to keep you informed of what’s happening in kindergarten, each week, the teachers prepare a newsletter, which provides an overview of the week, including material covered, activities, and special events. You will also receive a weekly school-wide bulletin that provides plenty of useful information on happenings at the school.

Volunteering in your child’s classroom

Volunteering in your child’s classroom is a great way to better understand his/her daily experiences in kindergarten. It also allows you to better know both your child’s teacher and the other students with whom your child regularly interacts. While some parents are able to volunteer on a regular basis, others may only volunteer for special occasions. The school staff recognizes that parents have busy schedules and multiple responsibilities. Your efforts to volunteer are appreciated by teachers as well as the children.

Each teacher organizes parent volunteers in a different way. Early in the year, your teacher will let you know what time slots are open to volunteers and you can sign up based on your availability. In order to be able to volunteer at school, you will need to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Check (CORI). If you are interested in volunteering, you can get CORI FORMS from Office. Be sure to ask your child’s teacher about opportunities to volunteer outside the classroom if your schedule does not permit you to volunteer during class time. For example, teachers may need help with preparing materials, such as cutting out paper shapes that are used for math pattern-building activities. This type of work can be very helpful to teachers and can be done on your own schedule at home.

Each class has a set of 2-3 room parents selected by the PTO. The PTO will provide information regarding room parents and volunteer opportunities at the beginning of the school year.

Parent-Teacher Organization

The Brackett School has a very active Parents-Teachers Organization (PTO). The goal of the PTO is to maintain and enhance the community spirit at the Brackett School and to support the principal and teachers in their academic plans. The PTO is made up of a number of committees and a Board. All PTO members contribute to support the PTO’s goals. The strength and success of the PTO lies in the strength of its volunteer force. You can become involved with the PTO in three ways: attend monthly meetings, volunteer, and make a financial contribution.

The PTO organizes a variety of activities throughout the year that depend on parent volunteers for their success. Early in the school year, you will receive an invitation to support the PTO and receive a listing of the many events in which you can participate. Many of these events are noted in the Month-by-Month Calendar section included later in this guide.

Other resources

The Arlington Public Schools has a website that offers useful district-wide information, such as school calendars: www.arlington.k12.ma.us

In addition, the kindergarten website offers a set of FAQs, as well as information on curricula and tips on preparing your child for kindergarten and managing the transition to school: www.arlington.k12.ma.us/kindergarten

Buddies

Each kindergarten student is assigned a “buddy” from an older grade. Once a month, buddies visit the classroom to spend time with students reading or doing a craft or other type of activity.

A Little Bit About Learning in Kindergarten

Literacy

Literacy development is addressed in a variety of ways that are integrated into daily life in the kindergarten classroom. Each classroom provides a language-rich environment and many activities offer children the opportunity to develop their reading and writing skills from whatever level children begin kindergarten. This growth is fostered through a balanced approach to literacy instruction that incorporates whole group, small group and individual activities.

At the whole group level, direct phonics instruction is given to help the children connect letters with sounds. This instruction is enriched through the use of big books, poems and activities during workboard. During read aloud times, the children strengthen their comprehension as they begin to make connections from the stories to their own lives and the world.

Small group instruction can further support whole group lessons. Also during small group meetings, the children are introduced to texts that they are able to read independently at their own level.

Authentic writing can happen throughout the day, however, a block of time is allotted just for independent writing. The children draw and write about their real experiences. Through this, their knowledge develops in the functions and conventions of print.

Math

In kindergarten, children explore math concepts in a variety of ways. Activities are usually introduced to the whole class and then children work in centers practicing and strengthening their understanding of concepts such as patterning, counting, sorting and shapes. On a daily basis, math is woven into many routines through such experiences as attendance taking, calendar, weather graphing and daily survey questions.

The Arlington Public Schools have adopted the Investigations Curriculum from TERC.

TERC is a non-profit organization “engaged in developing curricula that support all students in acquiring mathematical knowledge, skill, and confidence to become active mathematics learners who can reason about and represent mathematical ideas and relationships. Investigations in Number, Data, and Space, a comprehensive K-5 curriculum, is the centerpiece of this work. Its development was informed by research on how children learn mathematics, and extensive classroom-based field-testing” (TERC website: http://www.terc.edu).

You can read more about the district approach to math instruction on the Arlington kindergarten website: www.arlington.k12.ma.us/kindergarten

You may also want to visit the following websites to learn more:

• Department of Education Curriculum Information:
  www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks

• Town of Arlington K-5 Curriculum:
  www.arlington.k12.ma.us/curriculum.htm

Science Units

• Plants

• Magnets

• Rain Forest

• Seasonal Change

• Tide Pools

Social Studies

• Personal/social change

• Community work/job locations

• National Holidays

• National symbols

Open Circle

• Social/Emotional Curriculum

ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HEALTH OFFICE

Health Services

SCHOOL NURSE: 781-316-3701

The Arlington School Health Services Program is designed to protect and promote the health of our school children. A registered nurse in each school manages these services. While not all of our schools have a full-time nurse on duty, a school nurse is always available in the event of an emergency.

The school nurse recognizes that parents have the primary responsibility for the health care of their children. The health room is not designed for the extended care of seriously ill or injured children. Parents should not expect children to receive care for illness or injures which occur at home. The nurse does not make a medical diagnosis or prescribe treatment.

There are times when a student should remain at home for his/her own welfare and the protection of other students. Your child should remain at home if she/he has:

• The early stages of a cold

• Sore throat and swollen glands

• Fever over 100.4 degrees within 24 hours

• Vomiting or diarrhea within 24 hours

• Undiagnosed rash or skin eruptions

• Earache or drainage from eyes

• Head lice or scabies, until properly treated

• Any untreated communicable disease

• For 24 hours after an acute illness

When a child becomes ill at school, a parent or guardian will be notified and expected to come for the child immediately. Each family is asked to supply the school with the name of an alternate person to be contacted in case of an emergency.

Parents are expected to notify the school if their child is diagnosed with a communicable disease. This enables us to be alert to refer early, similar symptoms in other students.

Medications cannot be administered to a student unless the parent has made a written request and signed the appropriate forms. Prescribed medication must be delivered by an adult, in a labeled prescription bottle. Contact your child’s school nurse for the required forms.

In addition to first aid, medication administration and health assessments, your registered school nurse manages screening programs to monitor vision (K-5), hearing (K-3) and postural screening (grades 5-9).

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires that a record be maintained of the immunization status of all school children. Proof of immunization for DtaP, Polio, MMR, Hepatitis B, and Varicella are required for all new students. In addition, entering kindergarten students are required to have documentation of lead testing and vision screening prior to the first day of school. A current physical examination is required for all new students, and at grades 4, 7, and 10.

Your school nurse is an advocate for each child in our school community.