Getting Ready for Kindergarten

• First, it is important to know if your child meets the state minimum age requirement of five-years-old on or before September 1 of the kindergarten year. If your child can demonstrate the following skills then you know your child is ready to start kindergarten!
• In ISD 728, we are here to meet your 5 year old as they are and help them become a successful learner.

• In ISD 728 we believe that it is the responsibility of each learner's adults, teachers, programs and systems to support learning.

   

  We do this through an common understanding that:

  • Children are always learning.

  • Experiences, skills and knowledge are tied to each family culture. 

  • A strengths-based mindset is critical to supporting children and families.

  • Diversity of all types should be celebrated.

  • Instruction should be individualized and developmentally appropriate.

  • School should be welcoming and joyful for all.

  • Adults and systems should support all children wherever they are in their learning progression. 

Skills you can practice at home to support your child’s transition to Kindergarten:

• Repeating simple rhymes or songs

• Using 5-6 word sentences

• Expressing needs and be understood       

• Recognizing some letters of the alphabet

• Recognizing numerals 0-10

• Counting out loud to 20 

• Recognizing 8 basic colors

• Understanding terms such as:
  big and little and up and down

Skills you can practice at home to support your child’s transition to Kindergarten:

• Keeping hands, arms and feet to self appropriately while playing with others  

• Waiting appropriately for short durations of time

• Using materials and toys respectfully, purposefully and appropriately

• Staying on task with a short activity

Skills you can practice at home to support your child’s transition to Kindergarten:

• Participating with others, sharing, playing and can take turns

• Taking care of toilet needs independently 

• Demonstrating self-help skills
  (buttons and zippers)

• Dressing for outside 

• Playing independently

• Paying attention to a short story

• Remembering 3 step directions

• Separating appropriately from parent

Skills you can practice at home to support your child’s transition to Kindergarten:

• Alternating feet walking down stairs

• Running, jumping and hopping 

• Throwing and catching a ball

• Drawing/coloring, beyond a simple scribble

• Using scissors, pencils, crayons, glue and glue sticks carefully 

• Naming and copy a square, circle, triangle and rectangle

• Cutting out simple shapes

• Minnesota requires health and development screening before entering kindergarten. We recommend having your screening done as early as possible; to schedule your appointment call our Early Childhood Family Education Department at (763) 241-3525.
• Visit www.isd728.org/screening for more information.

• Attend and meet your school’s principal and receive useful information and answers to your questions about kindergarten.
• Information about future school events will be coming from your student's school administrator.

• This online guide provides all the instructions and forms you need to enroll your child at your new school by March 13.
• Our school staff is ready to welcome you and your kindergartner.

• Minnesota law requires that all school children be immunized allowing for certain specified exemptions. 
• Exemptions: No student is required to receive an immunization if they have a medical contraindication or if they have laboratory evidence that immunity exists. No student is required to have an immunization that is contrary to the conscientiously held beliefs of his or her parent / guardian. A medical waiver must be signed by a physician and conscientious objections must be notarized.

• If your child will be attending a daycare program, including the district’s EdVenture Club (at the school), submit the form no later than July 31 to assure your child’s transportation needs are communicated.

• Watch for mid-month communication from your school  for your teacher’s name, room assignment, and school bus schedules.
• Extended day programs offer before and after school options to accommodate your schedule.
• Register by August 15 for the first week of school.
• What a great way to see the school and meet teachers, staff, students and families, as well as learning about your new school year...plan to attend!

• Your kindergartner is now a student and on their way to achieving their dreams.
• We can hardly wait to educate, inspire and empower your child!

• There may be times when adverse weather or an emergency will result in school delays, closings or early dismissals.
• Weather: In cases of extreme weather, school delays or closures are normally announced by 5:30 a.m. Early dismissals are announced based on existing and forecasted weather conditions. On days schools are closed, all afterschool and evening activities are also cancelled.

• These are managed on an individual basis, typically in coordination with local public agencies.
• In all cases, if students are relocated, families are urged to follow the instructions provided by the school district and/or emergency agencies.

• District and school websites

• Social media: facebook.com/ISD728 and twitter.com/isd728

• ParentLink automated telephone notifications

• School district and/or school telephone recordings

• Campus email notifications

• By law, specified student data is classified as Directory Information, meaning that if requested in writing the school district must provide the following:

  • Name, address, phone number

  • Email address

  • Date and place of birth

  • Date of attendance

  • Awards received

  • Participation in officially recognized activities

  • Height/weight of athletic team members

  • Most recent previous educational agency or institution

• We encourage you as a parent or guardian to become actively involved in your child’s education and in decision-making. There is a strong correlation between active parent involvement and student achievement, so your engagement supports your child’s success.
• All of our schools have parent liaisons to assist and encourage parent connections; to learn about opportunities and how to become involved, contact your local school office (ask for the Parent Liaison). And thank you for volunteering!

• We need active, involved parents to help shape legislation that benefits all learners in ISD 728. The Legislative Action Team is led by parent volunteers; they help craft our district’s annual Legislative Platform, host forums, visit the State Capitol to educate legislators and more.
• To become involved, email Cory Franson, Director of Community Engagement, at cory.franson@isd728.org.

• A great way to know what is going on in your classroom and school is through your teacher and school websites. Additionally, your school has an online newsletter that you automatically receive.
• Our teachers and schools do their best to keep you informed, so please use these important communication tools.