Midway PreK-3 Elementary School

Pre-Kindergarten Handbook
2014-2015







WELCOME TO
Midway PK-3 Literacy Center






WHERE WE ARE
Extraordinary in Every Way
The MIDWAY learning community is a place
were we provide EXTRAORDINARY teaching
to EXTRAORDINARY students and
produce EXTRAORDINARY results.

Midway PreK-3 Elementary School
3840 Greenwood Road
Shreveport, LA 71109
(318) 636-1861
www.midwayprek3mustangs.com
Marvin Rainey, Principal
Jeanette Smith, Coordinator



August 5, 2014
Dear Parents
It is indeed a pleasure to have your child in our pre-k
program here at Midway PK-3 Elementary School. To start
off the year right, we are providing you with this Parent
Survival Handbook that has been assembled for you to
understand our goals and expectations for the 2014-15 school
year. We feel that having an open line of communication
between parents, students, and teachers is the key to
promoting an educational climate that is conducive to learning.
We look forward to working with you and your child as we
enhance the childs academic knowledge. Together we can
make a difference! You can help by sending us well-rested
children with full tummies, with a hug and a kiss fresh on their
minds each morning. This sets the stage for a lovely and
successful day.
Please feel free to contact us at anytime if there is a
question or situation you would like to discuss. You will receive
additional communications throughout the school year. We look
forward to building a relationship with you and your child and
thus providing the best educational experience possible.
Sincerely,

The Pre-K Teaching Staff
&
Marvin Rainey, Principal


Contact Information

Mrs. Goree can be contacted at:

[email protected]
School Phone Number: 318-636-1861
Classroom Phone Number: 318-364-4181
(Phone will not be answered during instruction.)
Visit her classroom website at http://www.blogofkim.weebly.com




Daily Take-Home Folders

Each student will be provided with a laminated take home
folder. Parents will need to check their childs back pack and
folder daily for daily conduct reports and any additional notes that
may be sent home. All documents placed on the KEEP AT
HOME side will need to be removed from the folder and kept at
home. All forms and documents placed on the RETURN TO
SCHOOL side will need to be signed or filled out and returned on
the next day unless notated for another date.
These folders are capable of holding up for an entire
school year with proper handling. However, if at any time this
folder is misplaced or destroyed (torn), it will be replaced with a
folder that was from your childs school supplies however it will
not be laminated.


********Table of Contents********

Pre-K Program Goals
Eligibility and Enrollment Requirements
Heath Requirements
Student Transportation
Child Nutrition
Fees & Sponsorship Donations
Parental Classroom Expectancy
The Classroom Environment
Pre-K Curriculum
Attendance Policy
Behavior Expectations
Classroom Behavior Plan
Parental/ Family Involvement
Parent Orientation
Field Trips
Classroom Volunteers
Parent/ Teacher Conferences
Daily Reading
Home Learning
Parties ( Special Snacks) / Holidays
Daily Snack Program Goals
Campus Visits
School Supplies
School Uniforms


Midway Pre-Kindergarten Program Goals

Our Pre-K Program provides students the opportunity to
gain academic knowledge by using developmentally appropriate
practices that help prepare young children for school. A child that
is school ready is one that is emotionally, physically, socially,
and cognitively prepared for kindergarten success.
We would like to encourage you to become actively
involved in what your child is learning and experiencing in Pre-K,
because your participation contributes highly to the success of
your child in school. It is important to remember that as a parent,
you are your childs first and most important teacher.




School Uniforms

Navy Bottoms (ONLY)- pants, shorts, (Girls--skorts, skirts
and jumper dresses (girls should wear shorts under skirts and
dresses)
Pre-K will ONLY wear Kelly green 3-button polo shirts
(should be tucked in daily). NO SYMBOLS or EMBLEMS are
to be worn on shirts.
Black, Brown or Navy Belts (daily)
Tennis shoes or basic casual shoes- NO SANDLES or
OPEN BACKED SHOES or SHOES w/ THICK SOLES.
(Students will be participating in outdoor activities and we do
not want any incidents because of shoes). Students need to
wear tennis shoes on the day their class attends physical
education for enrichment. Your childs teacher will be able to
give you the exact physical education enrichment day of the
week.
NO excessive Jewelry- watches, bracelets, necklaces. Girls
may wear small earrings.

If possible please send a complete uniform (labeled) for your childs
change of clothing (include socks and undergarments), place them in
a plastc Ziploc bag with your childs name on the bag.


School Supplies

***See the list provided in packet***
We ask that you please bring all school supplies and
school fees to your childs testing appointment. Due to limited
storage space, students are only allowed to have the red/blue
kindermat. Please do not label materials as they will be shared
throughout the year. If you leave the program, materials that
you bought will be reissued to you.
CLEAR backpacks will be used daily and need to be
large enough to hold a folder and a large towel. NO ROLLING
BACKPACKS.


Enrollment Eligibility

Students must meet the following requirements to remain in the
Pre-k Program:
Reside in the Midway PK-3 Elementary School district and be
four years of age on or before September 30, 2014.
Have a current immunization record on file.
Attend school regularly and consistently.


Health Requirements and Regulations

Student immunizations must be up to date. Students may be
dismissed if these requirements are not met by the deadline.
All doctor prescribed medication are administered in the office.
Please make sure information from the doctor is submitted to
the front office.
Students with food allergies must have the proper paperwork
filled out by a doctor in order for the cafeteria to prepare food
substitutions.




Campus Visitations

All persons visiting campus MUST check in through the
office to receive a visitors pass. In some cases, an I.D. may be
required. Anyone checking out a students must be on the
emergency contact form and they also must show ID at the time of
check-out. In case of an emergency and a non-listed pick-up
person will be sent to check-out a student, the parent must inform
the office as soon as these arrangements are made.


Snack

Each child is to provide snack for 20 students at least once
a month. A monthly snack calendar will be sent home with snack
items listed on your childs assigned snack day at the end of the
month for the following month. Snack days can also be found on
the daily conduct sheet.
SNACK IS NOT OPTIONAL.
State policy requires that students can consume 100% real
juice; this includes your juicy juice, apple juice, and grape juice
and the 100% Capri Suns (green box) and Minute Maid 100%
juice. This does not include regular Capri Suns, Kool-Aid
Jammers, Hawaiian Punch and Hugs. Additional beverages that
may be requested for snack consumption are gallon of 2% milk
and water. PLEASE BE PREPARED TO SEND DIXIE CUPS, if
sending milk or water.


Student Transportation

Caddo Parish School Bus- Students will be dropped in the
front of the school prior to the start of the school day. All bus
riders are dismissed at 2:55 to load buses at the back of the
school. Please have someone at the bus stop to pick up Pre-K
students at the appropriate time (contact bus driver for more
information). Students will be tagged at the beginning of
the year and it is imperative that they wear the tag back to
school daily.
Car Riders- Arrival- Students are dropped off in the middle
drive way at the front of the school. Do not drop off students
before 7:40 because no adult supervision will be available.
Dismissal- Students will be dismissed at 2:45 from the
auditorium. All persons must notify the teacher before
removing a student from the area. ID will required for
non-parental pick-ups.
Daycare- Students utilizing daycare services will be dismissed
at 2:45 to go to designated daycare pick area (office area.)
Please inform daycare providers that students will be
tagged at the beginning of the year it is imperative that
they wear the tag back to school daily.
Walkers- Students that walk home will be dismissed at 2:50.
Older siblings will be allowed to pick up their younger brothers
or sisters but, they must be notated on emergency contact for
pick-up.


Child Nutrition Services

Breakfast and Lunch meals are served daily. Breakfast
starts at approximately 7:40 and ends at 8:05. Once students are
dropped off for breakfast, the paraprofessionals will bring them to
class.
Every child has the right to a nutritious breakfast and lunch.
Free lunch applications are available or you may go to
www.applyforlunch.com. If you do not qualify for free lunch the
fees for breakfast and lunch are listed in the chart that follows.









Lunch envelopes are available, however, feel free to send
lunch money in an sealed envelope with your childs name,
amount & Lunch Money on the outside. Payments can also be
made at www.mylunchmoney.com. You can pay by the week,
bi-weekly or monthly. Student that owe or have no money on their
account may be served a cheese sandwich and milk.

Breakfast Lunch Total
Per Week $5.00 $8.75 $13.75
Quarterly
1st 44 Days
2nd 42 Days
3rd 46 Days
4th 44 Days

$44.00
$43.00
$45.00
$46.00

$77.00
$73.50
$80.50
$77.00

$121.00
$116.50
$125.50
$123.00
Bi-Annually
Semester 1
Semester 2

$87.00
$91.00

$150.50
$157.50

$237.50
$248.50
Yearly $178.00 $308.00 $486.00


Parties / Holidays

We do not have birthday parties, we may have a Special
Snack day. The special snack days are limited because the
designated time allotted for snacks does not allow time for big
elaborate parties. Each childs birthday will be recognized, we just
ask that you please consult with your childs teacher about the
snack. Special holiday/ season will be recognized with a small
celebration. A list of items needed will be sent home and you may
send those items as requested.


Home Learning / Word of the Day

A weekly home learning/word-a-day activity sheet will be
sent home on Fridays. Please spend time daily with your child on
these skills. The words listed, as word of the day will be
discussed the next morning in class after you have discussed it
with them the night before. They will be able to share what they
have learned about the word with the class.
The words listed as word of the day on the home learning
sheet are robust spoken vocabulary words. Spoken vocabulary
words are words that can be and should be used on a daily basis.
For example, instead of saying, You did good! we will Introduce
words like: awesome, wonderful, magnificent, and outstanding,
etc Language development is very important as the students
begin reading and comprehending what they are reading. We
encourage you to begin or to continue using the words on the
home learning sheet in your daily vocabulary with your child
whenever possible.


School Fees and Sponsorships

There is a $20.00 classroom fee. Please pay in cash or money
order made out to Midway PK-3 Elementary School.
Sponsorships /Donations for field trips may be requested
when applicable.


Parental Classroom Expectancy

Pre-K Classrooms have 11 learning areas or centers set-
up that are supplied with books, writing materials and learning ac-
tivities for independent practices. The learning centers are tagged
as manipulatives (math), blocks, reading, art, science, quiet area,
dramatic play, sand, water, computer and music. These centers
are designed to promote development in the following areas:

Social Emotional
Physical
Language
Cognitive
Literacy
Math
Science & Technology
Social Studies
The Arts
English Language Acquisition

The Pre-K classroom has ample space to accommodate
individual, small and large group instruction. Story time, outside
time, rest time, and direct instruction (included with centers) is also
included in our daily routine.
As the year progresses you will notice that the classroom
does not run like other classrooms. We will be keeping the
children actively involved by utilizing areas of the brain that helps
them to retain much more information than the standard
lecture-discussion method of teaching.


Reading Aloud

We suggest that you read to your child as often as you can.
Time spent reading to your child and encouraging your child to
read will strengthen your childs school success. Together, at
home and at school, you can help your child be an explorer, a
discoverer, a problem solver, and an inventor.


Parental / Family Involvement

Orientation Meeting - Mandatory
Field Trips Experiences outside the classroom that give the
students exposure, familiarize the children with their
community and broaden their educational experiences.
Parental Involvement- It is imperative that parents (families)
actively involve themselves in the Pre-K program and
maintain open communication with the teaching staff.
Research shows that active family participation in a childs
learning experiences contribute to success in school.
Parent / Teacher Conferences- There will be a minimum of
two conferences offered through out the year. During these
conferences the students progress data will be shared with
the parents. This data will provide information about your
childs performance in language/literacy, mathematics, social
studies, science, social/emotional development, health and
physical development, creative expression, approaches to play
and learning, and cognitive processes. The Louisiana Birth to
Five standards will be used as a discussion guide during
meetings.


The Curriculum

We will using Scholastics Big Day for Pre-K, Louisianas
Birth to Five Standards, and Teaching Strategies Gold to instruct
the students. These components make up a proven, effective
early learning program that embraces the childrens natural
curiosity and encourages them to explore and connect to the
world around them. This program is aligned with the Birth to Five
State standards as well as our Pre-k specific assessment,
Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG).
Student progress is monitored and evaluated three times
during the school year using TSG. The first part of the school year
is spent adjusting to the school environment, learning routines and
procedures, and practicing social skills. For this reason, Pre-K stu-
dents will not receive a progress report (report card) the first nine
weeks. Progress reports will be issued the second, third and
fourth nine weeks. However, if a need or concern should arise
before the progress reporting time, the teachers will discuss these
concerns prior to.


The Attendance Policy

School attendance is a very vital component of a childs
academic success. Students who do not attend school regularly,
are routinely late, or have to routinely leave early in the day may
be dismissed from the program. If a student is out for medical
reasons, a doctors note must accompany them upon returning to
school. Please do not send the students to school sick (excessive
coughing, running nose, fever, stomach issues, etc...). He or she
must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to class.
Teachers cannot administer medicine to students, if a
students illness requires a mid-day dosage, a doctors note must
be on file in the office along with the medication that has the
childs name on it. Parents may bring and administer medicine to
the student as needed.
It is the responsibility of the parent to make contact with
the teacher concerning any imperative information missed during
the childs absentee. Please be considerate of the amount of time
allowed for the teacher to get information together. If a request is
made early the morning of the absence, the teacher will make
every effort to have the request filled before the school day ends.
Late afternoon request will be ready the next day.


Behavior Expectations

Our school believes that all students are learners. In order for the facul-
ty and staff to effectively educate students we must create an environment that
is conducive for learning and growth. It is imperative that students
Get Caught ALIVE, doing the MIDWAY HIGH 5.
The MIDWAY HIGH 5
Be HONEST Tell the truth about yourself and others.
Be SAFE- Keeps hands, feet and all objects to yourself.
Be RESPECTFUL- Respect self and others, Be polite ,courteous, and follow
directions.
Be RESPONSIBLE- Bring all instruction materials to class, Follow classroom
rules and routine.
Be KEEP HANDS & FEET TO YOURSELF stay within your personal space.

***Classroom Rules & Expectations***
I CAN STATEMENTS
I Can --FOLLOW DIRECTIONS ! I Can- SHARE OUR CLASS MATERIALS!
I Can TREAT OTHERS WITH RESPECT ! I Can BE RESPONSIBLE !
I Can- USE MY INSIDE VOICE ! I Can- PLAY SAFELY !
I Can- MAKE GOOD CHOICES ! I Can ALWAYS DO MY BEST !

Our classroom behavior system is designed to keep our learning
environment positive and to make sure the student realize that he/she is
responsible for his/her own behavior. The expectation of the school and the
class will be taught, modeled, and reviewed as needed. Students will bring
home a daily conduct note or calendar for you to discuss any issues that may
have occurred during the day or to praise them for displaying outstanding
behavior. THIS NOTE MUST BE SIGNED AND RETURNED. Please assist us
with the classroom I Can statements and the Midway High 5,by discussing
the rules, consequences, and rewards with your child. Stress the importance of
good classroom behavior and practice being a good listener at home. Abiding
by these rules will promote a positive learning environment and will help to
develop social skills and self-discipline in our Pre-K students.