Kindergarten Syllubus
Instructional Materials and Resources
Brushy Creek Elementary kindergarten teachers and students are fortunate to have access to a wealth of instructional materials and resources. We also rely on valuable support from volunteer parents and the community.
Brushy Creek Elementary uses the State Standards for language arts and math. Teachers draw from many sources to enhance concepts and skills. We use many aspects of Literacy Centers, Fountas and Pinnell (Guided Reading and Writing), and language arts curricula within our day. Students write daily in journals and have two high frequency focus words per week.
Kindergarten teachers integrate materials and methods from the Everyday Counts Calendar Math curriculum to ensure a comprehensive math program that reaches each student’s needs. Our mathematics curriculum is very hands on and called GO MATH! Kindergarten celebrates the 100th day of school as a math milestone during the year. Fun activities are planned for that day!
Social studies and science are integrated into each unit of study. Our students participate in school-wide activities that enhance social studies/science and health awareness. We use the same language/vocabulary in each grade level to instill success at an early age. The children become scientists and sociologists as they immerse themselves in meaningful hands-on learning opportunities.
Throughout the year, teachers may call on parents and the community to volunteer their services. Many parents provide numerous hours tutoring, making materials, or sharing expertise with students about units of study. Community leaders and businesses also offer enrichment through speaking engagements and field trips.
For the 2019-20 school year, Kindergarten will travel to
Lowe’s Foods and Riverside Park
Fisher’s Orchard
The Peace Center (tentative)
For more information about the South Carolina Kindergarten Standards please visit:
https://ed.sc.gov/scde-grant-opportunities/NewSCStandards.cfm
Major Assessments and Evaluations
The assessments used throughout the year on kindergarten students, include: the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment, Fastbridge Letter Names/Sounds Benchmark, and the Greenville County 5k Math Assessment. BCES also implements common assessments in math and language each nine weeks. Reports of student progress are sent quarterly in the form of a K5 Skills Report. No letter or numerical grades are assigned in kindergarten. Information regarding each child’s progress will be shared with parents at fall (required) and spring (per parent request) conferences.
Homework Policy
Kindergarten homework is integrated into our classroom newsletter. All assignments are meaningful and meant to help support what has been taught in the classroom. If homework ever becomes a burden on you and/or your child, please contact your child’s teacher.
Missed Work/ Make-up Policy
Every learning day is important. Regular, prompt attendance helps young children build a lifetime of good school habits. Families will be contacted when attendance or late arrivals impede student learning.
Students have five school days to make up any missed work due to an absence. If time is available, work may be made up in the classroom. If work is sent home, it should be returned within the specified time.
Attendance Policy
The school year consists of 180 days. To receive full credit, students must attend at least 85 days of each 90-day semester and at least 170 days of each 180-day year course. Students are counted present only when they are in school, on homebound instruction, or present at an activity authorized by the school principal. For students to be counted present, they must be in attendance for THREE HOURS during the instructional day. Absences in excess of 10 days may cause the student to lose credit for the entire year. Student absences are recorded beginning the first day of school.
Tardies
School begins promptly at 8:00am. When tardy, a child must go to the office to be admitted to class. When a student has been tardy five times, the school will contact his or her parents, either by email or phone. The administration will hold a conference with the parent to help resolve the problem. Any student who has an excess of five tardies for the year will forfeit eligibility for a perfect attendance award at the end of the year.
Procedures for Non-Instructional Routines
Lunch
Each morning students choose between three main entrees for lunch. When the class enters the cafeteria, the child’s selection is on the tray. Each child may choose any of the side items available. Students collect silverware and condiments before going to the assigned table for their class. As a school, we practice a Red/Green system projected on the Promethean Board in the cafeteria. Every five minutes, the screen changes from Red, which indicates no talking, to Green, which permits talking quietly.
Restroom Use
Each class has a child size restroom. Children are encouraged to use the restroom during non-instructional times. We will remind children to visit the restroom at various times throughout the day. Parents are asked to send a seasonally appropriate change of clothing including socks and underwear to school with their child.
Snack
A snack time will be built into the school day. We ask that parents send in donations of healthy snack items for the class to share. WATER is the only beverage permitted. Please look out for more information regarding snack from your child’s teacher.
Dismissal
IF YOUR CHILD IS GOING HOME IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN USUAL, YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER MUST BE CONTACTED IN WRITING TO THE FRONT OFFICE BEFORE 1:00 PM.
If you are picking your child up in the car line, you must have the current BCES- issued number tag hanging from your rearview mirror and be on the contact list in the office. If you do not have the tag, you will need to park and pick up your child in the front office.
Please remember if your child is a bus rider, they must have a designated family number card. If someone is not present to meet your child, ACCORDING TO DISTRICT POLICY, your child will be brought back to the school and you will have to pick them up. If this becomes a continuous problem, your child will be unable to ride the bus.
Walkers must have a walker form filled out and approved by the front office, prior to them walking in the afternoon.
Allergies
FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE CHILDREN WITH ALLERGIES, BCES IS A NUT-AWARENESS SCHOOL. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING DIETARY RESTRICTIONS, CONTACT YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER.
Birthdays
Your child is allowed to bring in treats to share with the class on or around their birthday at their designated lunch time. Please let your child’s teacher know if you plan on sending in treats prior to the day. Please no party favors, balloons, special plates, napkins, etc. Please make certain treats are nut-free. Students will be allowed to pass out birthday invitations. Every student must be included, or girls can invite all girls and boys can invite all boys.
School Hours
Our day begins at 8:00 AM. Students may be dropped off as early as 7:15. As they enter the building, they will go to the cafeteria only if they are eating breakfast. If they are not eating breakfast, students will need to look for the purple cone, outside one of the K5 classrooms, where they will wait until 7:45 AM.
Our day ends at 2:30 PM.
Communication with Parents
Our kindergarten program fully supports the development of children’s lifelong learning experience through partnerships with each child’s home and family. Classroom communication with each family will include the following: a communication folder, weekly newsletter, access to the classroom website and teacher email, copy of classroom rules and procedures, notification of parent-teacher conference, progress reports, and report cards. Open communication with your child’s teacher is encouraged via email, written notes, and voice mail during the school day.
You are your child’s first teacher. Together, we will continue to build a solid foundation that will help your child reach his or her potential. This is a lot of information to absorb at once. If you have any questions/concerns, PLEASE do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher!