welcome to kindergarten!...ertified copy of your child’s birth certificate social security ard for...

Tomball ISD serves students through a culture that provides an innovative, personally rigorous and individually valuable education, reflective of community standards.

Welcome to Kindergarten!

2016-2017 School Year Tomball Independent School District

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Our children are the promise of our future!

Tomball ISD students will

succeed academically and

in the work place.

Tomball ISD will promote a

climate reflective of

community standards.

Tomball ISD will retain and

recruit quality staff.

Tomball ISD will

continuously pursue

innovative teaching and

learning practices.

Tomball ISD will be fiscally

responsible.

Tomball ISD Goals

Dear Parents,

We want to personally welcome your child to kindergarten. The first year

in school is a great adventure away from home for children.

This booklet has been prepared to assist you in helping your child make

the happiest and best possible adjustments to kindergarten and the many

new experiences of school. We feel that this booklet can help the home

and school become joint partners in better helping your child reach his/

her potential.

Why Kindergarten?

The aim of kindergarten is to develop the whole child intellectually, physi-

cally, socially, and emotionally. It is a program geared to make the transi-

tion from home to school as smooth as possible, and to make each child’s

first experience with school a successful and happy one.

The kindergarten program is designed to help stimulate a good self-

concept, providing each child with many experiences of achievement.

Kindergarten children will work and create independently and learn to

cooperate with others in a group. The program will provide opportunities

for social and emotional development, inspire language development,

and expand physical and mental growth.


What is included in this booklet?

The Registration Process

Immunization Requirements

Daily Schedule

Transportation

Attendance

Attendance and Health

Child Growth and Development

Speech and Language

Kindergarten Objectives

Language Development

Academic Growth

Social Emotional Development

Physical Growth

Fine Arts Development

Cooperation Between the Home and School

How parents can help!

Kindergarten Readiness Checklist


Tomball ISD Kindergarten Campus Directory

Canyon Pointe Elementary Principal: Barbara Coleman

13002 Northpointe Blvd

Tomball, Texas 77377

(281) 357-3122

Creekside Forest Elementary Principal: Jeanine Deyoe

5949 Creekside Forest

The Woodlands, Texas 77389

(281) 357-4526

Creekview Elementary

Principal: Daron Aston

8877 West New Harmony Trail

The Woodlands, TX 77389

Decker Prairie Elementary Principal: Dr. Jo Ann Colson

27427 Decker Prairie Rosehill Rd

Magnolia, Texas 77355

(281) 357-3134

Lakewood Elementary Principal: Deanna Porter

15614 Gettysburg Dr


(281) 357-3260

Rosehill Elementary Principal: Greg Chappell

17950 Waller Tomball Rd


(281) 357-3075

Timber Creek Elementary Principal: Lauren Thompson

8455 Creekside Green Dr

The Woodlands, Texas 77389

(281) 357-3060

Tomball Elementary Principal: Pamella Chatham

1110 Inwood Street


(281) 357-3280

Wildwood Elementary Principal: Sherry Baker

13802 Northpointe Boulevard

Tomball, TX 77377

Willow Creek Elementary Principal: Teresa Sullivan

18302 N. Eldridge Parkway


(281) 357-3080

Central Administration Office Superintendent: Huey Kinchen

310 S. Cherry Street


(281) 357-3100

Transportation Department Director: Beverly Beisert

1055 Baker Drive


(281) 357-3193


The Registration Process

Tomball ISD hosts two types of registration for Kindergarten. The first opportunity for en-rolling your Kindergarten student occurs in April of the year they will start and is referred to as Pre-Registration. The second opportunity to enroll occurs during regular enrollment which begins in August prior to the beginning of the school year. Of course, students who are eligible may be enrolled at any point during the regular school year.

To enroll your child in Kindergarten, he or she must have reached the legal age of 5 on or before September 1st of the current year. If your child is 5 years of age and you do not feel he/she is ready for kindergarten, you are asked to visit with the counselor at your child’s school. You may keep your child out of school for that school year. With the ap-proval of the school staff, your child may enter kindergarten the next fall when he/she is 6 years of age.

When you are enrolling your child, you will need to provide the following documents (at a minimum).

Certified copy of your child’s birth certificate

Social Security Card for your child

A current immunization health record signed by a physician or health clinic attendant.

Your valid state, federal, or international photo identification which contains your name and birthdate.

Your proof of residency (see next section)

Any legal paperwork regarding guardianship or custody (if applicable)


The Registration Process (Continued)

PROOF OF RESIDENCE The proof of residence must be in the name of the person with legal responsibility for the child. In the case of the student and the parent/legal guardian residing with a dis-trict resident, an Affidavit of Residence is required. The district resident shall be re-quired to demonstrate proof of residence. The Affidavit of Residence can be obtained through the Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services located at Central Office, 310 S. Cherry Street, Tomball, Texas.

Any of the following documents will satisfy proof of residence requirements:

Current Resident Current Utility Bill (light, gas or water)

Current Property Tax Statement (with homestead exemption)

Lease Agreement Lease agreements for apartments must include the name(s) of the student(s) enrol-ling. If the agreement is between two individuals, notarized signatures are required for both parties.

House Payment Voucher

Future Resident Letter from Home Builder with move-in date indicated*

Lease Agreement with move-in date indicated* If the move-in date will occur within 6 weeks of the student starting school, an Inter-district Transfer form, with supporting documentation, will need to be completed and approved by the Campus Principal. Move-ins occurring beyond 6-weeks after the student starts school must be approved by a Student Transfers Designee in the Central Administration Office.

Non-resident Approved Provisional Inter-district Transfer (Employees Only)

Affidavit of After School Care attached to a Public Inter-district Transfer form. These documents may be obtained from Central Office at 310 S. Cherry Street, Tom-ball, Texas. The Affidavit of After School Care must be signed by the grandparent providing care and notarized. The Affidavit of After School Care form with proof of residency must be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Ser-vices for approval.


Immunization Requirements

DTP Upon entry into kindergarten, students are required to have five doses of a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis containing vaccine, one of which must have been received on or after the fourth birthday. If the fourth dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday, only four doses are required. Students who start their vaccinations after age seven are re-quired to have at least three doses of a tetanus-diphtheria containing vaccine.

POLIO Upon entry into kindergarten, students are required to have four doses of polio vaccine, one of which must have been on or after the fourth birthday. If the third dose was admin-istered on or after the fourth birthday, only three doses are required.

MEASLES/MUMPS/RUBELLA Upon entry into kindergarten, students are required to have two doses of MMR vaccine with the first dose received on or after the first birthday.

HEPATITIS B Upon entry into kindergarten, students are required to have three doses of hepatitis B vaccine.

HEPATITIS A Upon entry into kindergarten, students are required to have two doses of hepatitis A vac-cine with the first dose received on or after the first birthday.

VARICELLA Upon entry into kindergarten, students are required to have two doses of Varicella vaccine with the first dose received on or after their first birthday.

A written statement from a parent or physician attesting to a child’s positive history of var-icella disease (chickenpox) is acceptable in lieu of either dose.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For all vaccines herein, vaccine doses administered up to and including four (4) days be-fore the minimum interval or age shall be counted as valid.

A complete listing of the immunizations required by all grade levels may be obtained from the Texas Department of State Health Services at 1-800-252-9152 or on their website at www.dshs.state.tx.us, or on the Tomball ISD website at www.tomballisd.net in the Health Services Department section.


Immunization Requirements (Continued)

Exclusions from compliance are allowable on an individual basis for medical contraindi-cations or reasons of conscience, including a religious belief.

MEDICAL CONTRAINDICATIONS Medical contraindications must be signed by a physician licensed to practice in the Unit-ed States. The statement should indicate that, in the physician’s opinion, the required immunization would be injurious to the health and well being of the child/student or a family or household member. It should specify the specific vaccination contraindicat-ed. Unless a lifelong condition is specified, it is valid for one year from the date signed and must be renewed annually. It does not have to be notarized.

REASONS OF CONSCIENCE, INCLUDING A RELIGIOUS BELIEF Religious exemption is granted by an affidavit (notarized) signed by the parent/guardian. Only official forms issued by the Texas Department of Health, Immunization Division, can be honored by the District. The original form must be signed, notarized and submitted to the child’s school no later than 90 days after the date of notarizing. No photocopies may be accepted per state guidelines. Exemptions for reason of conscience are effective for 2 years from that date. During disease outbreaks, exemptions for rea-son of conscience may be revoked.


Daily Schedule

Tomball ISD provides full-day kindergarten. The daily kindergarten schedule is as follows:

Creekside Forest, Creekview, Decker Prairie, Rosehill, Timbercreek, Tomball

8:10 AM - Campus open for morning session

8:40 AM - Classes begin

3:40 PM - Classes end

Canyon Pointe, Lakewood, Wildwood, Willow Creek

8:20 AM - Campus open for morning session

8:50 AM - Classes begin

3:50 PM - Classes end

All Tomball ISD campuses partner with the YMCA to provide before school and after

school care. For more information on this program, please contact your campus.

Watch school bulletins for notices concerning early dismissal times.


Transportation

The Tomball ISD Transportation Center is excited about having your child ride our school buses. School buses are the safest form of ground transportation, according to the Na-tional Safety Council.

To provide your child with the safest transportation possible the following guidelines are to be followed:

Be at your designated bus stop at least five minutes prior to pick-up and drop off time.

If you or your spouse cannot be at the bus stop to pick-up your child, we must have a permission form signed by the parent/guardian stating the designated person or per-sons you authorize to accept your child in your place. Please inform the designated person to be prepared to show his/her driver license. We will not release your child to anyone that is not listed on the permission document.

If no one is at the stop to accept the student when the school bus arrives, the driver will take the student back to school where the child must be met in the school office.

If you wish the driver to leave the child unattended at the bus stop, a permission form must be signed so that we can have it on file at the Transportation Center.

If your child's bus stop is not door-side of the bus, you are encouraged to cross the street to get your child. This is for his/her safety.

In case of an emergency or if your child needs to be dropped off at a bus stop other than his/her own, a bus pass must be issued by the school for each request.


Attendance

It is important to attend school regularly, because attitudes about school and a sense of responsibility are developed at an early age. Once your child enters the pre-kindergarten program, compulsory attendance guidelines apply.

Encourage your child to arrive at school promptly and go directly home after school.

When your child leaves for school, be sure he/she knows how he/she will return home. Also discuss changes that may be necessary due to bad weather, etc. Please notify the school if your child’s dismissal must be modified due to a doctor’s appointment, etc. Any transportation changes must be made in writing and received by the front office no later than 30 minutes prior to the end of the day.

Should it be necessary for a student to be absent, the parent or legal guardian should call and notify the attendance clerk of the student’s name, grade level, and reason for ab-sence. An attempt to contact the parent or guardian of each absence will be made by ei-ther campus attendance staff or an automated calling system. Whether or not contact is made, it is the parent’s responsibility to provide a written statement or other documenta-tion explaining the absence. The attendance policy for Tomball ISD is provided via the dis-trict website and should be reviewed carefully prior to the start of each school year.

If a student is temporarily absent as a result of a documented appointment with a health-care professional during regular school hours, and the student commences classes or re-turns to school on the same day of the appointment with a doctor’s excuse, he/she will not be counted absent.


Attendance and Health

Every absence, even part of a school day, interferes with your child’s progress at school. Each subject is taught in sequence which builds understanding and correct habits of study. In order to be ready for new steps in learning, your child must have mastered the previous steps and be sufficiently ready to profit from new materials. Your child should attend school each day he/she is well; however, there may be times when it is necessary for your child to be absent.

For the protection of your child and others, please do not send your child to school with fever, diarrhea or vomiting.

If a child is injured or becomes ill at school, the parents will be notified. If the parents are not available, then the person designated to be called in an emergency will be con-tacted. Be sure to keep the school notified of any changes in telephone numbers, ad-dresses, places of work, or emergency contacts.

All Tomball ISD policies regarding illness and medications at school are in the student handbook and posted on the district website at www.tomballisd.net under the Health Services Department.

Each child has a permanent health record. On this record pertinent health information is recorded and maintained confidentially.

Please contact the school to discuss any health problems or attendance concerns.


Child Growth and Development

Children go through the same stages of growth, but at different rates.

In most instances, kindergarten children start school on the basis of their age. However, all five-year-olds have not reached the same level of development. Each child is as “old as his behavior.” You cannot make a child learn, but you can help him/her be able to learn and want to learn. The attitude a child develops may help or hinder the ability to learn.

In kindergarten, a child prepares not only for his/her future years in school, but also for the rest of his/her life. Sometimes a child has not matured enough to have a successful education experience. Past experience has shown that if there is any doubt as to whether or not a child is mature enough, it is best to allow him/her another year of growth before entering kindergarten.

Speech and Language In kindergarten, great emphasis is placed on listening activities and language develop-ment. This first part of the year is devoted to helping the children recognize sounds in the environment. Beginning with discrimination of vastly different sounds, the program then works with the fine sounds of human voices, and finally the discrimination of speech sounds.

The development of speech is a continual process. Speech sounds are acquired slowly and perfection in speech develops gradually.

Sounds most four year olds can make: p, b, m, h, w, n, k, g, f.

Sounds most five year olds can make: v, t, d, ng, y.

Sounds most six year olds can make: j, sh, ch, l.

Sounds most seven year olds can make: r, wh, th

Sounds most eight year olds can make: s, z, tr, sl.

Children are able to understand language before they can speak. They first learn to communicate with a single word or idea and through increased experience, then they learn to communicate at more complex levels. Through language, children learn to try out their own ideas, express their concerns, social attitudes, and communicate with both adults and peers. The way others respond to a child will either reinforce his/her lan-guage or discourage it.


Kindergarten Objectives

The following are the general objectives students are expected to accomplish within the kindergarten year:

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT to develop ability to listen and talk with others to retell what was heard and/or read including description of the main character and

important parts of the story to understand how their language is written and printed to become more expressive and expand vocabulary to develop an awareness of the correspondence between letters and sounds to use verbal skills to problem solve to follow directions, exchange ideas, and ask questions to understand, make inferences, and draw conclusions about what is read and/or

heard to write legibly using basic conventions of print

ACADEMIC GROWTH to master necessary basic concepts (in, on, under, beside, behind, in front of, next to,

in back of) to develop an understanding of math readiness through counting, ordering, and

seriation of objects (largest to smallest), one-to-one correspondence to develop problem-solving skills. to apply reading readiness skills:

visually with color and shape identification, matching patterns, classifying objects and pictures, and identifying similarities and differences

auditorily by creating an awareness of sounds in the environment, following directions, reproducing clapping patterns through listening and recalling num-ber of words (repeating ta, ta, tee, tee, ta, or 4, 3, 7, 2)

to develop reading skills as formal instruction begins. These include: perceptual skills (listening to and hearing differences in sounds and visually

seeing differences in objects or letters) motor skills (through general physical coordination or fine eye-hand

coordination) language skills (through organizing thoughts and relating to others) listening skills (giving attention and following directions) number knowledge (understanding size differences, names of numbers, etc.) reading skills (showing a desire to read and enjoying readiness activities) speaking skills (speaking in complete sentences)


Kindergarten Objectives (Continued)

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT to develop a positive self-image to begin a development of responsibility to increase self-reliance to develop self-control to display good manners to enhance curiosity to explore new concepts and ideas to become both a leader and a follower to share experiences to respect others’ rights to wait for turns to participate as a part of a group to make decisions and choices independently

PHYSICAL GROWTH to develop large muscle coordination, strength, and endurance (running, skipping,

jumping, hopping, bounding, and catching a ball, etc.) to build fine motor skills (cutting, tracing on lines, stringing beads, etc.) to enjoy and appreciate group games to develop a sense of fair play and individual and group responsibilities to follow directions

FINE ARTS DEVELOPMENT to appreciate and enjoy music to develop self-expression to become aware of basic vocabulary and concepts of music to develop a greater awareness of beauty in his/her surroundings to develop self expression to explore and experiment with different medias to strengthen eye-hand coordination


Cooperation Between Home and School

Cooperation between parents and teachers is very important during your child’s first year

at school. Both the parents and the school are joint partners in the total education of the

child. Any concerns that may arise should be brought to the teacher’s attention. If your

child develops or already has a particular fear or dislike, it may be overcome more easily

if both the parents and the school are informed and work together cooperatively. If a

problem arises at school, you will be notified and given the opportunity to discuss this

with your child’s teacher.

If there is a change in routine at home or in the method of transportation, please send a

note to the teacher to prevent confusion for both the child and teacher.

If your child does not ride to school on a bus, arrival should not be more than 15 minutes

before the class starts to assure that supervision is available.


The First Five Years 1. Let your child share in home responsibilities, conversations, and activities.

2. Give your child duties around the house to develop self-confidence and responsibility. (Putting away toys, taking out the trash, setting the table)

3. Establish a regular pattern for sleep (10 hours), meals (keep snacks to a minimum), and play.

4. Teach your child to get dressed independently (how to tie shoes, how to put on, take off, and hang up outer clothing).

5. Be sure your child listens to others and follows directions (one at a time) and check to see that the directions are carried out.

6. Teach your child to help others (brothers, sisters, pets).

7. Supervise viewing of TV programs.

8. Supervise use of technology, including video games

PRIOR TO SCHOOL 1. Read and discuss nursery rhymes, poems, and stories with your child to stimulate a love

of good books.

2. Talk to your child as a friend, as well as a parent. Discourage “baby talk.”

3. Work with your child on tying his/her shoes.

4. Discuss experiences your child has had and places he/she has been (zoo, fire station, farm).

5. Provide opportunities to play and share with other children and to make friends.

6. Teach your child his full name, parent’s names, address, and phone number. When learning to print his/her name, he/she should form each letter starting at the top and use both capital and lower case letters (John, Mary).

7. Teach your child to be independent about appropriate toilet habits.

8. Encourage your child to look forward to kindergarten as a happy, friendly place.

9. Play games requiring moves of 1, 2, 3 spaces or steps.

10. Encourage your child to read the pictures in a book.

11. Encourage drawing with crayons. Have your child tell you about his/her drawing.

12. Make a game of naming objects.

How Parents Can Help!


How Parents Can Help! (Continued)

ONCE SCHOOL BEGINS 1. Make sure labels are on all outer personal belongings, with both first and

last names (jackets, sweaters, boots, backpacks, mittens, books, Show and Tell objects).

2. Encourage regular attendance and punctuality. Send an excuse when your child has been absent.

3. When you bring your child to school the first day, your child’s fears and tears will best be overcome if you do not linger. (Sometimes the first day is more difficult for the parents.)

4. Show interest in the work your child brings home to help develop a good self-concept. Admire those pictures! Encourage him/her to explain them and talk about them.

5. When asking your child what happened during the day in kindergarten, ask what happened first, second, and after that. If you ask to have things listed in order, it will eliminate answers of “nothing” or “We just played.”

6. Recognize that each child is different and that some develop faster than others.

7. Help your child to be happy in the activities he/she can do well, but not to shed tears or give up when difficulties occur. Each child needs to feel loved, that he/she belongs, and that successes outweigh his/her failures.

8. If you help your child with lessons, kindness will win out. Shouting only locks all doors to learning.

9. Please have your child wear clothes which can be conveniently removed for restroom needs.

10. Remember a good parent is the child’s first and most important

teacher.


Kindergarten Readiness Checklist

The following is a “yes” or “no” checklist for you to use to make the kindergarten year as successful as possible for your child. The more “yes” answers your child has in August, the more time he/she can spend getting along and learning with his/her class next year. Some of the “no” answers now could be because he/she has not had the chance to do or prac-tice the activity. Give your youngster the chance to do and practice those things he/she hasn’t done yet.

If you think your child has too many “no” answers and you would like to talk about it, call the school for an appointment to find out how the school staff may be able to help.

GROWTH AND AGE

1. Will your child be 5 years or older when he/she begins kindergarten?

2. Is your child at or above the following norms or average in weight and height?

Boys Weight: 40 lbs. Height: 43 in.

Girls Weight: 37 lbs. Height: 42 in.

3. Can strangers easily understand your child’s speech?

GENERAL ACTIVITY RELATED TO GROWTH

Can your child:

4. Pay attention to a short story when it is read and answer simple questions about

it?

5. Draw and color, beyond a simple scribble?

6. Zip or button up a coat?

7. Walk backward for a distance of 5 or 6 feet?

8. Stand on one foot for 5 to 10 seconds?

9. Alternate feet walking down stairs?

10. Walk a straight line?

11. Fasten buttons he/she can see?

12. Tell left hand from the right?

13. Use scissors, pencils, or crayons carefully?

Cut on the lines and color inside the lines?

14. Use a butter knife for spreading jam or butter?

15. Take care of his/her toilet needs by him/herself?

16. Be away from home 2-3 hours, under supervision, without being upset?

17. Cross a quiet residential street safely?


Kindergarten Readiness Checklist (Continued)

REMEMBERING

Can your child:

18. Repeat a series of 4 numbers without practice, such as “say after me 6-1-7-4”?

19. Repeat an 8 to 10 word sentence if you say it once, “The boy ran all the way home from the store”?

20. Remember instructions and carry out 2 or 3 simple errands or tasks in the home after being told once: (“Pick up the book” “Bring me the pencil” and “Close the door”)?

UNDERSTANDING Can your child:

21. Tell you the meaning of simple words like bicycle, apple, gun,

22. Count 10 objects?

23. Supply the last word to all of the following statements? Mother is a woman; Father is a … A fire is hot; an ice cube is … A plane goes fast; a turtle goes …

24. Put together a puzzle of 3 to 6 pieces?

25. Tell what parts are missing if you draw a stick picture of a person and leave out a leg and an arm?

26. Draw or copy shapes?

27. Name correctly simple drawings?


Kindergarten Readiness Checklist (Continued)

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Can your child tell you:

28. How many feet he/she has?

29. His/her address and phone number?

30. What a key is for?

31. What his/her ears are for?

32. What his/her eyes are used for?

33. The names of colors that you point out?

34. In what way a sweater, shoe, and hat are the same?

SCHOOL READINESS

35. Does your child look at books, magazines and newspapers in your home?

36. Does your child pretend to read?

37. Have you attempted to create in your child the idea of looking forward to school

experiences?

38. Is your child able to print or recognize his/her first name?

39. Is your child able to recite some nursery rhymes?

TOTALS: Yes ______________ No ______________

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Tomball ISD is a highly regarded public school system

with a reputation for excellence. We serve our students

in modern, well-equipped facilities that were designed

and built with students and their needs in mind. The

district is committed to high student achievement char-

acterized by quality instruction, equality of opportuni-

ties and resources, and demonstrated results. We also

maintain a strong foundation of guiding principles, be-

liefs, and a visionary mission of the future.

We rely on your continued support of our students.

Parents and community members are an important

part of our team.

Sincerely,

Huey Kinchen

Superintendent of Schools

A Message from our Superintendent

Tomball Independent School District 310 S. Cherry Street Tomball, Texas 77375

(281) 357-3100 phone (281) 357-3128 fax

www.tomballisd.net


welcome to kindergarten!...ertified copy of your child’s birth certificate social security ard for...

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