West Side School

                               Parent's Guide Book


Parents,

    We would like to welcome you and your child to West Side Kindergarten.  the school wants to work with you to provide opportunities for the maximum growth and development of your child.

    This booklet is designed to help you prepare your child for the new and exciting experience of kindergarten.  Please help us in our aim to make kindergarten a pleasant and rewarding experience for your child.

    Please read this booklet carefully and keep it for future reference.  We hope this information and these suggestions will be helpful to you.

                                                                                                     West Side Teachers and Staff


West Side Curriculum

Reading Program
ELLA (Early Literacy Learning in Arkansas)

    Our Early Literacy Program (ELLA) has shown a significant difference in the reading skills of our children.  This program has opened many doors to the understanding of the alphabet, its sounds and the written words that come from it.  This program also offers a lab time that gives all children the opportunity to work in small groups for thirty minute sessions each day.  Through this program, and with its emphasis on print, we have observed many children learn to read.

Math
TERC (Math Investigations)

    The math program that is used at West Side is investigations in Number, Data and Space.  This program involves our students in hands on activities dealing with math concepts.  The basis of math such as pattering, arranging and seeing attributes within objects are taught.  The understanding of counting and grouping is based on objects that the child sees and is exposed to everyday in the classroom.  Children are asked to predict, explain, wonder and question in many of the activities.


Computers

    All classrooms are equipped with computers.  Each child is able to explore on the computer and reinforce skills from a number of programs that are available to each classroom.


Qualifications for School Entrance

    Children who will be five years old on or before September 15 may enter kindergarten.  For your child to attend kindergarten, the mandated requirements listed below must be presented to the office at West Side School:

  1. Proof of Physical Examination - The physical examination must be done within two years of enrollment.  The document must be signed by the child's physician or by the county health nurse and presented to the school office.

  2. Up-to-Date Immunization Record

  3. Birth Certificate - This should be an official birth certificate purchased from the Department of Vital Statistics in the state of the child's birth.  Application forms are available from the school office or the county health unit.

  4. Social Security Card - Application forms are available at the post office

  5. Medicaid Card - This card should be presented if the child is covered by Medicaid.


The School Day for Students

    Regular attendance is important to a student's success in school.  Each day provides new learning experiences for the children, and students must be in school to benefit from these experiences.

    So that children may be supervised, no child is to be at school before 7:30 a.m.  The school day for children begins at 8:05 a.m., any student arriving after this time is counted tardy.  It is very important that your child arrive on time and remain at school for the entire school day.  At the end of the school day, students who are picked up by parents should stay in class until the dismissal time.

    A student is expected to attend school at all times when school is in session.  It is the responsibility of the parent to see that the student is in attendance at school.  The parent is to notify the school's office when the student is absent.  When the school is not notified of absences, the student will receive an unexcused absence for the day/days the he/she missed.

    If it is necessary for you to take your child out of school for part of a day, please go to the office to call for your child.  All students who leave the school before the regular dismissal time or arrive after 8:05 are required to check in and out through the office.


Meals

    A nutritious lunch and breakfast is served each day.  However, the breakfast program usually begins a couple of weeks after school has begun.  Information about lunch and breakfast prices will be given to you.  Free and reduced price lunches are available to any child who qualifies.

    While in the lunchroom, children are encouraged to stay in their seats and to use soft voices.  Help is offered to those students who need assistance in opening milk cartons or containers.

    All lunch money should be sent each Monday in a marked envelope.  On the front of the envelope, write the child's name and the amount of money enclosed.  Please pin the envelope to your child's clothing.

    Because the school lunch is complete, additional snacks are not necessary.  Special treats for the entire class may be arranged with the teacher.


Visits to the School

    Whenever you visit West Side, please stop at the front desk for assistance.  During class time, teachers are busy with their students.  Limited interruptions are appreciated.


Supplies

    All school supplies for kindergarten children are furnished by the Magnolia School District.  It is recommended that your child have either a book bag or a backpack to hold his/her belongings.


Conferences, Parent Night & Open Day

    The school uses parent/teacher conferences in the Fall and Spring as a means of reporting your child's progress.  The two conferences should be attended by one or both parents/guardians.  If an additional conference is needed with the teacher, please contact West Side School at 234- 3511 to make arrangements for a convenient time.

    A parent night is scheduled in the Fall by the classroom teachers.  This night is designed to inform parents of their child's daily schedule, activities, curriculum, rules, etc.

    Parent Day is usually scheduled for early Spring.  During this time, parents are encouraged to come and observe their child in action in the classroom.  It is a very "special" time for each child as he/she shares his/her activities, friends, and classroom with his/her parents.


Medication Policy

    Sometimes it is necessary for children to take medication during school hours.  However, almost all three-times-a-day medicines can be given outside of school hours and often the four-times-a-day medicine can be also.  Please check with your doctor or pharmacist.

    When medication is necessary at school, medicine must be sent in the original container and accompanied by a completed and signed Medication Authorization form.  These forms are available in the school office.  Medication should be brought to the office in the original container and accompanied by an authorization form.  Medication will be administered by office personnel.


Health Care for Students

    Children should be free of fever for twenty-four hours before returning to school.  Please send a note if your child should not go outside during playground activities.

    PLEASE keep the school informed of current phone numbers and address changes in case of an emergency.


Riding the School Bus

    Parents need to call the school before 1:00 p.m. to make bus changes.  Lists of student riding buses are prepared daily to provide the bus drivers a list of student riding that day.

    If you need to pick up bus children, please pick them up at the front desk, not out of the bus line.

    While riding the bus, students are under the supervision of the driver and must obey the driver and the bus rules and safety regulations at all times.  The driver has the authority to assign students to seats.  Students should enter or leave the bus orderly and quickly.

    Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will not distract the attention of their driver or disturb other riders on the bus.  The coordinator has the authority to suspend a student's privilege to ride the bus temporarily for misconduct.  The school may suspend the student's privilege to ride the bus permanently for misconduct.


Buses

    Please explain the following bus rules to your child.  These rules were established for safety and must be observed.

  1. Children must remain seated while on the bus and move only with the approval of the driver.

  2. Children must not change seats while the bus is in motion.

  3. Children should not damage the bus in any way.  Property damage will be reported to the coordinator.  Students and their parents will be responsible for intentional property damage.

  4. Paper or other objects should not be thrown on the floor of the bus.  Aisles of the bus must be clear of books, lunches, coats, etc.

  5. Parents are expected to meet their child's bus.  Please meet your child at the bus door as he/she gets off the bus.

  6. Please notify the school before 1:00 if a transportation change is needed.


Dismissal

    Dismissal times for children being picked up at school are 2:35 or 2:45, depending on the classroom.  Please be prompt, teachers need this time for preparation.

    Students will be brought outside by their teacher. Kindergarten children are not allowed to cross the street.  Unless necessary, please wait until dismissal time to pick up your child.


Room Parties

    Parties are scheduled for special holidays so that every class in the school has a party on the same day.  It has been the custom to have four parties each year (Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter).

    Please let the teacher know if you wish to be a room mother.  Because some children might be frightened by unusual attire, the teachers have asked that no one come dressed in costume.


Inclement Weather

    Whenever weather conditions affect the opening or closing of school, radio announcements will be made by school officials.

    Depending on conditions, children do not generally go outside if the temperature is under 42 degrees.


Drills

    Fire drills will be conducted monthly without warning.  These drills are for the protection of the students and teachers and are taken seriously.  The evacuation plan will be explained to the students and practiced at the beginning of the year.

    Bus fire drills and tornado drills will also be held.


Rules

    The following rules have been developed to help the school day be more beneficial to your child.  Please discuss these rules with your child:

  1. Students should follow directions.

  2. Students should talk in soft voices.

  3. Each student should keep hands, feet and objects to himself/herself.

  4. Students should walk in the halls.


Information to Help Your Child

    Your child should:

  • Get plenty of sleep (Ten to Twelve hours is recommended for children this age)

  • Have a good breakfast

  • Have time and not be hurried in the morning

  • Wear comfortable, clean clothes

    You should know:

  • Teacher's name and room symbol

  • Bus symbol

  • Bus driver's name

  • Amount of lunch and breakfast money

  • Dismissal time

    Menu-Newsletters and memos for calendar of events will be sent home regularly.  Please read these so that you will be aware of our activities.

    Working together, we can make school a wonderful experience for your child.


Toys

Expensive and large toys should not be brought to school because they can be lost or broken.  The school is not responsible for lost articles, but will assist in trying to locate them.  All articles should have the child's name on them.  As a safety measure, real or toy guns, knives, and swords are not permitted at school.  Teachers may also use their own discretion in not permitting other toys.


The Magnolia School District does not discriminate on the basis of race,
 color, national origin, sex, age, qualified disability or veteran.