Welcome Little Acorns

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Ms. Barnett, Mrs. Friermood, Mrs. Rieck, Mrs. Baldwin, Mrs. Corbin

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Children are apt to get off to a better start in school if they enter Kindergarten with certain basic skills.&nbsp; The following list indicates some of the skills that children should be working on throughout the preschool years in order to be better prepared for Kindergarten.&nbsp; This list does not suggest that your child must have all of these items mastered prior to Kindergarten, but if he/she has mastered most of them and is making progress toward others, he/she is probably ready to begin a successful learning experience at school.

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How Do I Register My Child for Kindergarten?

Your child must be&nbsp;five years old by August 1, 2023 Register on our school's website at <a href="https://www.wws.k12.in.us/domain/560">https://www.wws.k12.in.us/domain/560</a>

"From little acorns, mighty oak trees grow..."

7:40 - 2:30 Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 8:10 - 2:30 Wednesdays

Arrival Community Circle Reading Workshop Writers Workshop Recess Lunch Math Workshop Specials Dismissal

(BAC) is available for students before and after the regular kindergarten day, as early as 6:45 A.M. and is open until 6:00 P.M. after school.&nbsp;&nbsp; Enrollment for BAC is open on May 1, 2023.&nbsp;Information will be posted on the district website on May 1st. You can find more information <a href="https://www.wws.k12.in.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=925">here</a>.

Knows his/her name and parents names and can write his/her first name Speaks clearly and is able to communicate needs Can separate easily from parents Independently uses the restroom and knows how to wash hands Can follow simple one and two-step directions and respects authority Plays cooperatively with peers- knows how to share and take turns, knows that others have feelings,&nbsp;and knows the importance of being truthful Can sit quietly for a period of time and listen to a story or attend to a task (try to wean your child from napping over the summer prior to starting kindergarten) Can recite ABC’s Can count items up to 10 Knows how to hold a pencil and crayon and has experience drawing and coloring pictures

A Safe Visitor Background Check is required for the following school events: To have lunch with your child To chaperone a field trip To volunteer in class To help with a class party To attend a special event in your child’s class during school hours Background checks are good for three years at any school in the district. These background checks will cost $12.95 and can be acquired via this link: <a href="https://www.wws.k12.in.us/Page/1474">https://www.wws.k12.in.us/Page/1474</a>

We can't wait to share a wonderful kindergarten year with you!

* Hearing screens are mandated by Indiana law on all Kindergarten, 1st, and 4th grade students. *They are usually done at the beginning of the school year. *You will only be notified if your child fails the first and second screening.&nbsp;Otherwise, they have passed. *Screening can be done upon request. *If your child already has received speech through the schools (with an Individualized Education Program or IEP) then they will continue these services with me at the start of&nbsp;the school year.&nbsp;&nbsp; *If your child has moved from another school district and had speech and language therapy there please let me know so we can hold a quick conference to provide those services here at Oak Trace.&nbsp;&nbsp; -*If you have any current concerns regarding your child's speech or language please feel free to contact me or your child's teacher.&nbsp;I do consult closely with all of our Kindergarten teachers and attempt to screen any Kindergarten students that teachers or parents have concerns regarding their speech and/or language.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hand Strength: necessary for efficient grasp, pencil/crayon pressure, cutting with scissors, opening containers/school supplies, and managing buttons/snaps Bilateral Hand Use: although we all choose a dominant hand, we use both hands in almost all activities Stabilizing paper while coloring and drawing Holding and manipulating paper while cutting with scissors Managing clothing fasteners Opening cafeteria containers and accessing school&nbsp;supplies/materials Self-Help: increased independence in activities such as toileting, hand washing, nose-blowing, and clothing management = increased confidence ☺&nbsp;&nbsp;

Making sure your child has a “FINE” start in school means that you are aware of kindergarten-readiness in the areas of fine motor skills. As an Occupational Therapist, I want to share some basic knowledge on the prerequisite skills your child needs when entering kindergarten. Proper Grasp Patterns: Pencil – tripod (3) or quadrupod (4) Tripod = thumb opposing index and middle fingers Quadrupod = thumb opposing index, middle, and ring fingers Scissors – thumb in little loop; middle and ring fingers in larger loop with index inside or outside of larger loop

Information from Mrs. Dawn Skiles, Occupational Therapist

Mrs. Baker - secretary, Mr. Fekete - counselor, Mrs. Herring - assistant principal, Mr. Hoosier - student mentor, Mrs. Egler - secretary, Mrs. Hurst - nurse, Mrs. Hitch - principal, Mrs. Walther - instructional coach,  and Oakley our therapy dog.