001Good evening everyone and welcome to Countdown to Kindergarten. Thank you for joining us tonight. Before we begin, I'd like to share a quick note about interpretation services. Spanish interpretation is available tonight. To listen in Spanish, click the interpretation globe icon in your Zoom toolbar and select Spanish or your preferred language channel, including English. This will allow you to hear the presentation in that language. Zoom Spanish. We also want to share that we received many thoughtful questions from families in advance. We will incorporate responses to these questions throughout tonight's presentation. During the session, you are welcome to use the Q&A feature to submit questions. Our team will do our best to address them as time allows. If you have any specific questions about your student, please contact your future school. Now, it's my pleasure to introduce
002Arlington Public School Superintendent, Dr. Francisco Duran to get us started. >> Thank you, Roxanna, and good evening to everyone who's joined us tonight. Welcome to Arlington Public Schools countdown to kindergarten webinar. We want to thank you for joining us tonight for this very important introduction to Arlington Public Schools. Some of you may be joining us as a brand new parent and others may be joining us with a new kindergartenner and you have an older student who's an APS. For both groups of parents, we want to welcome you. My name is Dr. Francisco Duran, superintendent, and I just want to say how excited we are to welcome you to join our school system if you are brand new to APS. Kindergarten is a very important first step in your students educational journey. It's where your children
003will begin to build confidence, to make friends, and really discover that love for learning that we want them to have throughout their entire time with us in APS. I want you to know that every student in APS is counts. it's no they're known, they're valued and supported. And we work very hard in our elementary schools and uh to make sure that our students feel safe and welcome when they're joining classrooms and then throughout their journey in APS that they learn how to have that sense of belonging every day with their classmates and with their teachers. One of our biggest strengths in APS is our diversity. You we have students from many different backgrounds, cultures, and languages, and that makes our school system stronger. And it's exciting for us to have so many different families and
004students joining us. Our classrooms are places where kindness and respect are part of our daily learning. And we work hard to instill those values and help students not just learn English and reading and math. Very important part of learning, but also how it means to interact with others that are different than you and how to enter into the world in a space and a place where we respect everyone. You as parents joining us are a central part in the success of your student. And we want to make sure that what we do is commit to building a strong relationship with you from day one. When our students see that we're connected and working together, they will be more confident, supported, and ultimately will be more ready to learn in our school system. We want to
005make sure that you know we're committed to being open with communication. And I encourage all of you to become involved in your school through parent teach parent teacher conferences through PTAs, school events, a lot of volunteer opportunities, and even we have many parents who sign up to be substitutes in our school. So find a way to get connected and not just in kindergarten, but stay connected all the way through your child's journey with us in APS. Tonight joining us, you're going to learn what to expect, how to prepare for kindergarten, uh what a day actually looks like for a kindergarten student, some resources available to support you, and and most importantly right now, how to register and make sure your child is registered in our system. So, with that in mind, again, welcome tonight. And
006we want to start out with a video highlighting our kindergarten classrooms. Let's take a look. My favorite thing is math. Math groups. >> It's math groups, reading groups, and some the names of the groups are named like weird food names. I have no idea why. There's games and we play the games. Some are partner games and some are not partner games. 60 + 60 = 120. I could do the hard ones, too, and the easy ones. >> My favorite part of kindergarten is um having fun at recess. When my teacher gives me jobs to do, >> you get to make friends and you get to learn with with your teachers. >> I get to learn new stuff. >> We get to learn like new stuff in science. My favorite thing is morning meeting. >> I
007like the counting. We do reading books. I love reading because it makes me happy and it helps my brain grow. And I also love Cala because um their stories. I like like to write and stuff >> like in drawing letters and other stuff and drawing sentences. >> So, I really like that. >> I write a paper and then I write some more papers and then I turn it into a book. >> There's a lot of fun things to do. I would tell them that kindergarten is fun. >> Okay, first you can get breakfast here. >> You can do it. >> It's not scary. >> You don't need me. Be scared. >> Do it. >> It'll be fine. Put your finger on. >> I could walk with you to school. >> How many hugs? >> And
008give you a hug if you would like. >> Repeat after. >> I was nervous, but I I got I got friend, too. >> I was going in a new cat class and there was new people. They had name tags. Then I knew everybody's name and that made me less nervous. >> So, the advice that I would say is, >> let's count our dots. Ready? Your teachers are going to be very nice to you and you're going to do fun things in kindergarten and you're going to be really happy when you make new friends. >> I think skills that are important for kindergarteners, you know, things parents can work on our self-help skills like being able to zip their own jacket, pack their backpacks, open their lunch items, um, and ask for help. understanding that, you
009know, if you can't do something, you can ask for help. There are lots of adults here that are here to support and help us be successful. >> Hey, um, >> don't be scared. Kindergarten is fun. >> Hi, families. My name is Cameron Childs and I'm excited to be here with you tonight to talk about what your family can expect as you begin kindergarten. The beginning of kindergarten can bring a mix of excitement and nerves both for children and for families. It's normal to feel a little emotional as your child takes this important step. Arlington Public Schools and your new school community are here to support you every step of the way. Before school starts, you can expect to receive your child's class or teacher assignment in Parent View, our online family portal. Your school registar
010will provide you with information about accessing your parent view account when you register for school. The week before school starts, families often have the opportunity to meet teachers and building administrators during openhouse events. Once the school year is underway, back to school night offers a great chance for parents and guardians to visit the classroom, ask questions, and learn more about the school year ahead. We highly encourage your participation in these events as they are great opportunities to familiarize yourself with the school, your child's teacher, and the school staff. Your school will communicate with you regarding the first day procedures and ongoing arrival and dismissal procedures and school hours as they vary by site. On the first day, your child will be greeted by their teacher, teaching assistant, building principal, and other school staff who are
011there to support them and help them feel welcome. These individuals will soon become familiar faces and they are there to help the children feel safe, connected and ready to learn. It takes a dedicated team to run a kindergarten classroom and I want to briefly introduce you to key people who will be walking alongside you and your child next year. At the helm of every school are our principles and assistant principles. They are the instructional leaders and lead learners in our buildings. Their doors are always open. Registars will often be your first point of contact. They will assist you with the school registration process and will ensure that we have the correct contact information so that you receive important school communication. Our bilingual family specialists are here to serve as a liaison between the school and
012the family and bridge communication gaps, ensuring that language is never a barrier to your involvement in your child's education. At the center of everything are our kindergarten teachers and classroom assistants. They work hand in hand to ensure that every child gets personal attention. While the teachers are the primary leaders of instruction and will serve as your main point of contact in the classroom, our instructional assistants are vital to our kindergarten classrooms, often supporting with small groupoup instruction, classroom management, and providing an extra pair of caring hands. Beyond the home room classroom, your child will explore the world alongside our specials teachers. Specials include art, music, PE, and library. These classes give students a well-rounded educational experience and provide an opportunity for students to explore, learn, and grow in a variety of ways. We know that
013a child can't learn if they don't feel supported emotionally. Our school counselors and social workers support social emotional learning, help students navigate big feelings, and assist families who may face challenges outside of school. Lastly, there are many individuals in the school who support students and instruction who you will likely meet on an asneeded basis. A few of these individuals include English learner teachers, special education teachers and instructional assistants, and academic coaches. If your child has an individualized education plan or IEP, you will have the opportunity to meet your child's case carrier in the days leading up to school, during openhouse events, or at back to school night. Every single person mentioned has one goal to support your child's academic growth and journey. Now that you're familiar with some of the individuals that you and your
014child will meet as you begin kindergarten, let's talk about a few simple ways that you can support your child's transition. Reading books. Reading books about kindergarten can build excitement and help your child understand the transition that's about to happen. The public library is a great resource for finding books about kindergarten, and they regularly have relevant displays as the school year approaches. As Jess mentioned, helping your child with self-help skills is critical. Help your child practice using a water bottle, opening their own lunch containers, feeding themselves, zipping their coat, and putting on their backpack. These small wins build huge confidence as they make this transition. Kindergarten is an active day. Starting with a consistent bedtime routine a few weeks before school helps build their brains and bodies so that they're ready for learning. We recommend plenty
015of sleep and a predictable morning routine. And lastly, talk it up. Kindergarten is an exciting time. If you're excited, your child will likely model similar excitement. While you may be a little nervous, it's best to focus your conversations on the excitement of this new journey. Now, we'd like to give you a glimpse into a day in the life of a kindergartenner. I'm excited to introduce one of our very own kindergarten teachers, Jess D'vorak, who will share more about the daily routines, classroom activities, and the curriculum your child will experience. This will help you and your child feel more prepared and confident for the school year ahead. Hi everyone, my name is Jessa Vorak and I have been a kindergarten teacher here at Arlington Public Schools for 12 years. I'm so excited to walk you through
016what a typical day in our classrooms look like and answer some of the questions that we received. If you're feeling a little nervous about how your child will handle a full day of school, please know that you are not alone. We understand and expect that our students come to class with various preschool and daycare skills and experiences. We spend the first few weeks of school creating and reinforcing routines that are predictable, joyful, and active. Everything we do is designed to help your child feel confident, safe, and engaged each day. When your child arrives, whether it be on a bus, a car, or walking, they will learn the routine of entering the school independently, unpacking their belongings, hanging up their backpack in their locker or their cubby. This builds independence right from the start. You can
017help your child prepare for this by encouraging them to be responsible for their belongings at home. Once the students have arrived and are settled, we begin with a morning meeting, which is an important part of our social emotional learning and helps set a positive tone for the day. At morning meeting, we greet one another, we share briefly, and we connect as a classroom community. During this time, we use a curriculum that teaches skills like empathy, emotional management, and problem solving. Um, after this, we move into the bulk of our kindergarten schedule. While schedules do vary between schools, all kindergarten classes use an instructional template from the county with instructional minutes prescribed for each subject. Throughout the day, students will receive instruction, focused instruction in phonics and phmic awareness, reading and writing, math, and content areas
018like social studies and science. Students will have lunch and recess each day, uh, which together provide time for nourishment, movement, and social development. Students will spend a minimum of 30 minutes of recess each day. Kindergarten students do eat lunch in the cafeteria and they're able to bring a lunch from home or buy a lunch in the cafeteria. Depending on lunch times, there may also be an opportunity for snack which is provided by parents. Aside from recess, movement breaks are incorporated throughout the day as needed. Physical activity and brain breaks are important for helping young learners stay focused and ready to learn. Each part of the day is intentionally designed to support academic growth, independence, and social emotional development. We are excited to partner with you and support your child's kindergarten journey. So, it uh as
019students receive grade level instruction using all students receive grade level instruction using highquality curriculum that are grounded in research. All students are screened throughout the year to identify their areas of strength and need in both reading and math. We use common formative and summitative assessments um that are given to measure their growth and achievement. And then using that information, teachers provide differentiated small groupoup instruction to meet the needs of each learner. APS uses the Virginia standards of learning to guide our instructional areas of focus across the content areas. In literacy, our ELA standards reflect the current science of reading research that guides the knowledge and skills students need to be proficient readers. We focus on building foundational literacy skills, including phonics, just sounds, listening, comprehension, just understanding stories, and writing, helping our students move from
020drawing to writing sentences. Um, in math, our math standards are designed to promote deeper understanding of concepts by embedding the five mathematical process goals and the inclusion of the data cycle. So this focuses on five main areas which are number sense, computation and estimation, measurement and geometry, probability and statistics and patterns, functions and algebra. In science and social studies, we explore our world and our community. So we learn about from plants and animals, pushes and pulls to history and economics. These lessons are brought to life through mentor texts, experiments, and shared experiences. Social emotional learning um is the foundation for everything. We teach children how to manage big feelings, collaborate with their peers, and build a growth mindset. You can find specific information about these standards, essential questions, and more on the VDOA website, which
021is shown here. One of the best ways to connect with your child's learning is to know how they're doing in the classroom. So, here are some ways that we keep parents informed. Parent teacher conferences. These are dedicated one-on-one meetings where we talk about your child's growth. Celebrate their success. Plan next steps together. We have two of these. We do one in the fall and one in the spring. Um, we also have quarterly report cards. These reports are directly tied to the standards of learning and provide a snapshot of your child's progress towards these standards. Um, and we also have classroombased communication through Parent Square. Parent Square is an app that parents and teachers can message privately. They can message as a group. They can share pictures. You can sign up for parent teacher conferences and
022other activities happening in the classroom. This application will translate these messages into the preferred language for each person. Um, I also quickly wanted to address some questions we had regarding the amount. We had some questions about the amount of classes and class size or daily schedule and teacher placement. So, class size is determined by the number of students enrolled at your particular elementary school. Uh this number can be roughly 24 or 25, but schedules, teacher placement, um those are all really determined at the school level. So your school will hold an open house and a back to school night, which will talk about those things specific to your elementary school. We also had some questions about iPads and screen use. So currently kindergarten students do not receive or have access to iPads in the classroom.
023Our instruction is focused on hands-on learning opportunities. So, you may have some questions about important resources like transportation, food services, and afterchool programs. So, to share more about these supports and how to access them, I'll now turn it over to Roxanna Hernandez, our communications coordinator, who will walk you through the details. Thank you, Jess. APS provides preschool bus transportation for students who live beyond the walk zone, which is more than one mile for elementary students and farther for middle and high school students as outlined in our guidelines. Bus assignments, including child stop, route number, pickup, and drop off times will be posted in parent view just before the school year begins so families can see that information there. We also use the Where's the Bus app so you can track your child's bus in real
024time. This free tool allows you to see where the bus is and how many minutes away it is from your stop right on your phone or your computer. For our youngest riders, a parent or authorized adult must be at the bus stop to meet every kindergartener. If an adult is not there, the driver will safely return the student to school for pickup. If you have any questions about transportation or need assistance, you can call the transportation department at 7032288000 option 2 or you can submit a question online. Every APS school offers balanced breakfast and lunches with fresh season seasonal ingredients. However, students can choose to either buy lunch or pack lunch from home. Kindergarten students typically line up with their class and are supported by teachers and aids. All students will have a meal account
025which can be accessed by entering their student ID into the pinpad in the cafeteria. APS allows students to charge meals even with insufficient funds, ensuring that no child is denied a meal. Families can easily manage meals using two helpful tools. My School Bucks. In My School Bucks, you can check your child's meal account balance, transaction history, and add funds. With Meal Viewer, you can see what's on the school menu, screen for allergies, and see detailed nutritional information. If your child has allergies or specific dietary needs, contact the school nurse or make sure to list these details in the back to school forms that are filled out during the first week of school. We encourage all families who may qualify to apply for free or reduced price meals. This process is 100% confidential. Applications are available
026online through the APS food and nutrition services website or through paper forms that you can request at the food and nutrition services main office. Reminder, families must apply at the beginning of every school year. For questions, contact the Food and Nutrition Services Office at 7032288000 option 4 or view more information online. Now we'll move on to the extended day program. As you know, many families have been looking forward to this information. Our director of extended day. Good evening everyone. My name is Tony Hall and I'm the director of the Arlington Public Schools extended day program. Our afterchool program includes the elementary school before and after care at all of our elementary school sites. and parents. It's also important to note that in the month of May when registration begins, parents can register for either before
027care, after care, or both. And the Arlington Public Schools extended day program includes the middle school check-in program. Uh new parents, it's also important to note that the middle school check-in program is only after school. Extended day plays a critical role in the development of young people's social, emotional, and academic skills. Over 400 child care professionals work for the Arlington Public Schools Extended Day program, and we do that daily to meet the individual needs of every child in our program and to meet the expectations of every family. The program is available to families in or caregivers that are currently working when parents or caregivers are enrolled in school or otherwise unable to provide care due to medical reasons. Families once again our registration periods begins in May and families can register for extended day using
028their 7digit student ID number. That number is issued by the school registar your SK that your kindergartenner attends after you have completed the registration process. It's also important to note families that our registration process is conducted in four phases starting in the first week of May. That is right. That means we do it is not first come first serve. Been getting a lot of questions about that particular aspect of registration this evening. So once again, the registration process begins the first week of May and it is in four phases. During the appropriate phase, either phase 1, phase 2, phase three or phase 4, families can submit their registration information online to the extended day central office. Subsequently, families will receive a notification that either your child or children have been enrolled or that you have
029been placed on a wait list for your particular school. Our website contains many details about eligibility, the registration phases, and the lottery process. We will be updating our website frequently this spring throughout the registration process and we're always available to answer any questions you have at 703228 and choose option three. Now that you've learned about preparing for kindergarten, what to expect at school, and the resources available for families, the next step is to make sure your child is registered. Miss Ilana Gonzalez will share more information about the registration process. >> Thank you, Tony. >> Good evening, families. I'm Ilana Gonzalez, the director of student registration and language services, and I'll be walking you through the APS registration process tonight. Registration is your official welcome to APS. Our goal is to make this process as smooth
030as possible for your family. Registration is open now and we're here to support you every step of the way. Family's first step is to determine your boundary or also known as neighborhood school. You can visit the APS website and use the boundary locator tool and input your home address to find your neighborhood school. Next, complete the online registration request or register in person at the welcome center or your neighborhood school. We encourage families to make an appointment if you're registering in person to help the process be easier and faster. You'll need to upload and submit some important documents including the enrolling parents identification, proof of Arlington address, either a lease, a deed or shared housing forms A and B with a lease or a deed. Proof of age and relationship to child such as an
031original birth certificate. Please note it must be the original birth certificate and if it's not in English an official translation is required. Then we also need health records including immunizations and a physical exam. After that your school's registar will reach out to confirm a time for your registration interview. You will then receive a code to activate your parent view account. If you need help at any point, our school registars are here to guide you step by step. Don't hesitate to call your school's main office if you have questions or need support. While most families choose their neighborhood schools, we also want you to be aware of our prek to 12 option schools and programs. These offer specialized learning environments tailored to different interests and goals. Some of our options include dual language immersion, outdoor learning,
032monastery, and a traditional learning environment. The late application window opened yesterday in school mint. While many programs may move to a wait list at this stage, this is your opportunity to get your name in the system for the upcoming school year. Currently, we have open seats for many of our programs. And please remember that a schoolman application is not the same as an APS registration. The schoolman application only adds your name to an option school and programs lottery and a registration actually makes your student an official student of APS. Learn more about our option schools and programs watching recorded information sessions and visit the website to see videos and more information. Next, my colleague Jodie Bobbit will provide details about health requirements and what families need to know for enrollment. Thanks, Illiana. Hello everyone. My
033name is Jodie Bobin. I'm the school health coordinator here in Arlington Public Schools. Um, as you can see on the slide, just I wanted to review a couple of the requirements um just in case you have questions. So, a physical exam is required. um a health exam. So, please call your medical office to make an appointment soon because sometimes it takes a while to get an appointment. Um once you have that um the physical exam paper completed and filled out, please take that to the school or get it to the school um sooner rather than later, as soon as you can rather than waiting until August or the beginning of school. It's helpful for um the nurses to review those during the school year in case there is a concern or there's something that's missing.
034Um at the appointment, typically vaccines will be given. Vaccines um there are some that are required. You can see those there for our kindergarteners in Virginia. Usually those are given at age four or five. Um if you're not sure which vaccines are needed, um you could ask your doctor or you can reach out to your school nurse. um your school nurse is there all year long. Um so she or he is available to answer some questions and they can even give vaccines in the school clinic um obviously with your permission. Um but that's that's an amazing um aspect that we have here in Arlington. Um some other things that nurses can do to help um is just answer some of your questions. For example, if you're not sure how to find a doctor for your
035child, or if your child has a health concern and you have some questions about food allergies, asthma, anything like that, um, reach out to your school, connect with your school nurse, um, and they can help, um, answer some questions, get information from you to keep your child safe at school. Um, and they are they are there for you. So, please reach out to them. and we are so excited to have you in our school. So, welcome. Thank you, Jody. So, we have shared a lot of information tonight from the classroom to the bus and everywhere in between. As we wrap up, here are a few important next steps for families. First, please be sure to register your child if you have not already done so. Registration is open. We also encourage you to attend your
036school's information session, which occur over the next few months, where you can learn more about your child's school and meet staff. You can visit the website to see specific dates for the school you are interested in. Remember, practice routines and prepare your child for school using tips mentioned tonight. For school supplies, each school website will share a list before school begins. Visit the APS website to learn more about our services and departments, including support for English, English language learners, military families, and the parent resource center for families of students with disabilities, and to view the school year calendar. As the school year begins, there are many ways to stay connected and informed. Use Parent Square to receive district updates and school messages and direct communication with your school. As mentioned tonight, you can access parent
037view to view attendance, progress report, bus information, absences, and much more. Follow us on social media, including Instagram and Facebook, for updates, and important announcements. And of course, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at 7038000 or submit a question online. Thank you for joining us tonight. We know that this is a lot of information and we're here to support you every step of the way. Please visit our website to view the recording of tonight's presentation, access the resources that we spoke of tonight, find information session dates for schools, and learn more about registration and next steps. We are here to support you, and we look forward to welcoming your family to the upcoming school year.