March Early Learning Newsletter
Vancouver Public Schools 2018
Dear Early Learning Families,
Although spring isn't officially here, the weather and warm temperatures say otherwise. If your family is anything like mine, you are still adjusting to the time change. The darker mornings have definitely made it harder to get going each morning! I find myself looking forward to the longer, sunnier evenings the season will soon bring.
With the spring comes an exciting time: kindergarten registration. If your little one turns five before September 1, 2018, you can register him/her for kindergarten (gulp!) at one of our 21 elementary schools. Kindergarten registration begins Tuesday, April 10. Our elementary offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 4:00. In order to register your student, you will need his/her birth certificate (or signed hospital certificate), as well as his/her immunization records. Once your student is registered, he/she will be invited to a Kindergarten Visitation Day (see box below for more information). This is a fun time for students and parents to visit the school, meet kindergarten teachers/staff and enjoy the company of future classmates.
Enjoy!
Kendra Yamamoto
VPS Dates to Calendar
March 12th: One-hour early release
March 26th: One-hour early release
April 2nd - 6th: Spring break
April 9th: One-hour early release
April 10th: Kindergarten registration
Kindergarten Readiness Skills: Social & Emotional Part 2
The guidelines highlight some of the skills children need to be prepared for kindergarten. The list suggests ways to work with your child to help him/her be ready for school.
- My child can put away toys, clean up small spills and pick up after him/herself.
- My child shares, takes turns and helps others.
- My child adjusts to new situations and/or people.
- My child plays cooperatively with others.
- My child can comfort others.
- My child has the opportunity to play regularly with friends his/her age.
Your Child's Early Development: 3 - 4 years
- Copies adults and friends (like running when others children run)
- Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences
- Climbs well
- Plays make-believe with dolls, animals and people
- Shows affection for friends without prompting
- Hops and stands on one foot for up to 2 seconds
- Would rather play with other children than alone
- Tells stories
- Draws a person with 2-4 body parts
- Plays cooperatively with others
Washington State Immunization Guidelines for Kindergarten
Protect your child and his/her classmates by making sure he/she gets all required immunizations before starting school:
- Hepatitis B: 3 doses
- Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTaP): 5 doses
- Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV): 4 doses
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR): 2 doses
- Chickenpox (varicella): 2 doses
- Hepatitis A (HepA): 2 doses
For best protection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend your child also gets these immunizations:
- Flu (influenza): yearly
- Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib): 3 to 4 doses (before age 5)
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV): 4 doses (before age 5)
Kindergarten Visitation Schedule
SJ Anderson
May 17, 2018
4:00-5:00 pm
Chinook
June 1, 2018
9:00- 10:00 am & 1:00-2:00 pm
Eisenhower
May 17, 2018
10:00-11:00 am
Felida
May 23, 2018
8:45-9:45 am
Franklin
June 6, 2018
9:00-10:00 am
Fruit Valley
May 30, 2018
9:30-10:30 am
Harney
June 5, 2018
6:00-7:00 pm
Hazel Dell
May 24, 2018
5:30-6:15 pm
Hough
May 24, 2018
9:00-10:00 am
King
May 31, 2018
9:00-10:00 am
Lake Shore
May 24, 2018
1:00-2:00 pm
Lincoln
June 7, 2018
5:30-7:00 pm
Marshall
May 31, 2018
5:00-6:00 pm
Minnehaha
May 22, 2018
5:30-6:30 pm
PS Ogden
May 23, 2018
9:00-10:00 am
May 24, 2018
6:00- 7:00 pm
Roosevelt
May 31, 2018
6:00-7:00 pm
Sacajawea
June 7, 2018
4:30-5:30 pm
Salmon Creek
May 31, 2018
1:00-1:45 pm
Truman
May 31, 2018
4:00-5:00 pm
Walnut Grove
May 31, 2018
4:00-5:00 pm
Washington
May 23, 2018
1:30-2:30 pm
Jump Start Kindergarten
When you register for kindergarten, be sure to register for Jump Start Kindergarten as well. The program is offered at all VPS elementary schools.
Jump Start Kindergarten – 15 Day Program:
Location: Anderson, Fruit Valley, Harney, Hazel Dell, Hough, King, Lincoln, Marshall, Minnehaha, Ogden, Roosevelt, Sacajawea, Truman, Walnut Grove & Washington
Begins: Monday, July 30th
Ends: Friday, August 17th
Time: 9:00am – 11:30am
Jump Start Kindergarten – 5 Day Program:
Location: Chinook, Eisenhower, Felida, Franklin, Lake Shore & Salmon Creek
Begins: Monday, August 13th
Ends: Friday, August 17th
Time: 9:00am – 11:30am
Transportation is not provided
Social & Emotional Learning
Children learning through healthy family interactions. If you get upset, kids observe how parents express those emotions. When kids see grown-ups navigating stress in their own lives in a healthy way, they are more likely to respond healthily to stress in their own lives.
mamasmiles.com
And finally...
“Children whose parents read to them at home recognize letters of the alphabet and write their names sooner.” -
- C.W. Nord, J. Lennon, B. Liu & K. Chandler,
Home Literacy Activities and Signs of Emerging Literacy