2020-2021 Kindergarten Orientation
for Incoming Swanson Kindergarten Students
Do you have a child ready to start kindergarten in the fall?
How exciting!! We know you will have a lot of questions as your little one transitions to kindergarten, and we are hoping that this newsletter, provides some answers for you.
Kindergarten is a very busy place!
Kindergarten at Swanson Elementary:
Kindergarten programs across the district are very similar, but each school has unique qualities which transform the learning environment. For example, roll-in schedules, arrival/ dismissal times, and daily schedules are different from school to school. This newsletter will showcase what you can expect at Swanson Elementary. Please note that due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are unsure if social mandates will alter the way we open the school year. However, we feel it is important to provide you with our "normal" guidelines so that you and your student can be well prepared.
- Registration: The very first thing you need to do is register your child for kindergarten starting on June 1, 2020. You can click on the Parent Vue for Registration link below.
- Initial Group Roll-In: parents should expect a phone call early August to schedule an initial roll-in for your child. This roll-in will be with the kindergarten teaching team/ staff. During this roll-in, students will be assessed on different skills, and afterwards- the kindergarten team will form class lists. *tentatively, this is scheduled the week of August 10th
- Individual Roll-In: after the initial group roll-in, parents will be contacted to schedule a second appointment with their child's individual teacher. *tentatively, this is scheduled the week of August 17th.
- During the school day, your child will engage in many valuable lessons that include social, emotional, and academic learning. Our core topics include Literacy, Language Arts, Math, and writing, and your child will also rotate through Specials which includes Library, Music, Physical Education, and SEL. Please see the Standard Aligned Report Card link below to learn how your child will be assessed throughout the year.
- Kindergarten students can bring their own lunches from home, or they can receive lunch through our Nutritional Services department. Parents are encouraged to send snacks to school for their children as snack breaks are offered throughout the day.
- Transportation: your kindergarten student can ride the school bus. It is a requirement that parents be at the bus stop in the morning and afternoon. Please click on the Bus Transportation link below
Some Quick links you will want to bookmark:
MSBSD Parent Quick Links
The main link for parents on the MSBSD webpage
Parent Vue for Registration and student accounts
*Registration opens on June 1, 2020.
Federal Programs: Support for our students
The Federal Programs Department works to provide financial, academic, and others supports to our students and families
Bus Transportation Link
Defines the bus routes, school boundary maps, and bus rider expectations
State and Local Standards
student objectives and examples
Standard Aligned Kindergarten Report Card
How your child will be assessed during their time in kindergarten
Swanson School Supply list
Describes what materials your child will need for their classroom. This list will be update by August 2020
We hope this newsletter answers most of your questions!
Please make sure to register your child so that we can contact you when we return in August. The window for registration opens on June 1st (see the Parent Vue link above).
We look forward to seeing you next school year!!
Sincerely,
The Swanson Kindergarten Team
Swanson Elementary- home of the Squirrels
Email: swe@matsuk12.us
Website: https://www.matsuk12.us/swe
Location: 507 North Gulkana Street, Palmer, AK, USA
Phone: 907-861-5300