All about Kindergarten at Everett School
Frequently asked questions
- What thematic units will be studied?
Habits of Mind, Apples, Community, Winter Weather, and Human Impact on the World around me - How do the half-day and extended-day models work?
Our entire kindergarten curriculum is covered through the morning section of the day. For those families who have opted for the extended-day model, the students stay for lunch and recess and have a variety of enrichment opportunities beyond the scope of the standard curriculum. In addition to Music, Gym, and Library, the extended-day students receive additional opportunities to visit Art, Library, Science, and Gym - What curricula is used in kindergarten?
We currently use the following curricula to support the Common Core standards:- Reading - Team Read and Reading Units of Study (Lucy Calkins' Reading Workshop)
- Math - Bridges
- Writing - Writing Units of Study (Lucy Calkins' Writing Workshop)
- Reading - Team Read and Reading Units of Study (Lucy Calkins' Reading Workshop)
- What are the school-wide assemblies?
Everett School has 3 assemblies throughout the school year; one in Fall, one in Winter, and one in Spring! These assemblies help our students to celebrate our district's 5 character traits: Teamwork, Respect, Responsibility, Honesty/Integrity, and Caring. All students will have the opportunity to participate in at least one of these assemblies by performing a skit, song, or dance. - How can parents get involved at school?
Parents can volunteer to chaperone field trips, share a job or hobby, etc. Your child's class has 2 room parents who will help in coordinating volunteers. Additionally, we have 3 classroom parties throughout the year! We are always eager to have parents participate in the students' learning. Everett School also has an Association of Parents and Teachers (APT) and the Spirit of 67 which are opportunities to support students and teachers "behind the scenes!" - How do we celebrate birthdays?
Each of the kindergarten classes celebrates birthdays by sending home an "Estimating Jar." The jar will be sent home approximately a week prior to your child's birthday with directions on how to fill the jar. When the jar comes back to school, we will estimate, count, and divide ("fair shares") the items as part of a Math lesson. We ask that the items all be non-edible and that the total number of items stays between 15 and 50. - When will the kindergartners get their first report card?
Our district operates on trimesters and we will have parent-teacher conferences in October and February/March. However, kindergartners receive their first report card at the end of second trimester. In October we will hold portfolio/goal-setting conferences where we will celebrate each kindergartners' successes and opportunities to grow! - How can parents enrich learning at home?
First and foremost, we highly encourage parents to utilize the Book Bag program. We believe that there is no better way to strengthen comprehension and thinking skills than engaging deeply in books using high quality literature. Every Book Bag guide has extension ideas that may lead you to the Lake Forest Library or on a local field trip. For example, after reading the book Star Seeker, you might want to check out other books about stars/space and maybe even visit the Adler Planetarium! To enhance your child's Math skills, engage in everyday problem solving and counting activities. Have your child count out 20 crackers for a snack with siblings or friends and before eating them, ask him/her to divide them equally among the children. Food allows limitless options for making numbers meaningful in everyday life (lemonade stand, measuring cups, weighing food, etc.). Let's not forget how important and meaningful it is for children to engage in play. Research has proven time and time again that children make connections, problem solve, strengthen creativity, and learn countless other skills through play! Remember to make learning fun and avoid using it as a punishment, which could deter their desire and confidence to grow!