W E S T C L E R M O N T L O C A L S C H O O L D I S T R I C T

WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN

WELCOME

Welcome to West Clermont School District!

As superintendent, I am extremely proud of our students and staff. We are a quality school system that exists so each student can achieve excellence. Our enrollment is increasing, we are expanding our state-of-the-art facilities, and West Clermont is the place to be!

We are committed to successfully preparing our students for an increasingly complex and global world. Jobs are rapidly changing and require different skill sets. We know that our students have diverse learning, social and emotional needs; therefore, the school experience we provide is evolving and changing to meet these challenges. Creating a learning environment in which each student achieves academic and personal excellence is our core purpose.

A full-day, world class kindergarten experience is how we create a strong foundation for each student’s success. We know that engaging students through relevant and meaningful learning experiences is essential. Our students are taught by highly competent educators who are passionate, well developed and held accountable for providing learning results in a safe and nurturing environment.

I hope you find this packet to be informative as your child begins the journey with us. Please continue to connect with us by viewing our website, liking and following us on social media, visiting our schools and partnering with us. All of us share the responsibility of preparing our children for their successful futures. We are grateful for the strong support our community shows our schools, our dynamic partnerships with businesses and non-profit organizations, and the excellent parent involvement that contributes to the positive experience here at West Clermont Schools.

We are glad you have chosen us!

Kind regards, Natasha Adams Superintendent W E L C O M

E THE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM

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K A TYPICAL DAY I N D E R G A

R Morning Meeting Math Workshop T

E Morning meeting starts the day by engaging Learning mathematics involves a variety of skills, N

| students and building a strong sense of thinking and application. West Clermont's math

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A classroom community. Students and teachers instruction emphasizes the development of G

E greet one another and participate in sharing and mathematical thinking, procedural and conceptual

2 group activities. Morning meeting helps set a understanding and application of mathematical positive tone for the day and helps students concepts. Explicit instruction and small-group experience success both socially and activities and lessons help students begin to build academically. these skills and meet state standards in mathematics. Literacy Workshop The reading/English language arts program used Science in kindergarten is a rigorous yearlong curriculum The kindergarten student will explore several areas that addresses the core reading, writing, of science during the school year including Life speaking, and listening skills that students need Science, Physical Science and Earth Science. while fostering their growth as caring, collaborative and principled people. When taught Social Studies together, the modules of Collaborative Literacy - Kindergarten children begin to form concepts about Being a Reader, Making Meaning and Being a the world beyond their classroom and community. Writer - form a comprehensive ELA curriculum. Culture, heritage and democratic principles are Instruction includes teacher-led, whole class explored and build upon the classroom experience. reading and writing instruction; guided practice; Children begin to form an understanding of roles, and opportunities for students to independently responsibility for actions and decision-making in practice and apply skills and strategies. the context of the group setting. 3

E G A P THE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM |

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PROGRAMS T R A G R E D

Cultural Arts N I K "Specials" are classes that expand a student's O T learning, help them discover their talents and E

recognize additional areas for learning and M O

development in the future. West Clermont offers C L cultural art experiences in art, music, physical E W education and technology to kindergarten students.

Enrichment/Intervention Enrichment and Intervention time provides opportunities for students to work with teachers in small groups to support learning of a specific skill or need.

Access to Technology Kindergarten students have access to technology both in their classroom as well as through a technology "special." Teachers incorporate technology into their instruction to allow students the opportunity to communicate their learning and thinking in multiple ways. W E L C O M E

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS T O

K WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW I N D E R G

A Do all kindergarten students go to the first How can I find out which school my student R

T day of school or do they phase in similar to will attend for Kindergarten for the 2020-2021 E N

preschool? school year? |

P Kindergarten students have a staggered start to On the district website there is a My School A

G begin the school year. Each student will attend Locator. Families can enter their current address E

4 one of the following days: August 25, August 26, and the locator will let you know what school is in or August 27. ALL kindergarten students will your attendance area. attend beginning Friday, August 28. You will What supplies do I need to buy for my child? receive information from your child's school Please check the district website for supply lists. regarding the staggered start. Your school will communicate when you will be What is the daily schedule? able to drop off supplies in your child's classroom At your school's open house event, you will be before the start of school. given a copy of your child's daily schedule and Will transportation be provided for my many other pieces of information. Plan to attend kindergarten student? the open house to find out details and sign up for Yes. The district provides transportation for any volunteer events. student in grades K-8 within their home school What are the costs associated with attendance boundary. Information regarding bus kindergarten? routes will be published on the district website West Clermont offers a full-day kindergarten and available in August. program tuition free for all students and families. Will someone make sure my child gets to the As required by law, West Clermont offers a half- carpool line or the right bus at the end of the day kindergarten option for families. There is an day? annual school fee of $50 for all kindergarten Each school has established procedures to ensure students. students' safety during dismissal. Your child's When will I know who my child's kindergarten school will share their specific dismissal plan. teacher is? Are there before and after school care Students will be assigned a homeroom after our options? kindergarten orientation that occurs during the Child Focus operates a before and after-school first week of school. program, paid for by parents who utilize the program. Cost and additional information will be available during open house. Additional information is available at www.child-focus.org. 5

E G A P FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW T R A G R E How can I get involved? What do I do if my child is sick and needs to D N I

Each school's PTO has many opportunities to get miss school? K

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involved in the classroom and the community. If your child is sick and cannot attend school, T

Volunteers can help in the classroom and school please follow your school's guidelines for E M on a regular basis or to chaperone a field trip. contacting the office to ensure they know your O C

Information on volunteer opportunities will be child will not be in attendance. L E available during open house. All volunteers must W What if my child needs to arrive late or be have a background check completed, submitted dismissed early from school? to the District Office, and approved by the Board Whether picking up or dropping off students of Education to be a school volunteer. Sign up outside of the regular arrival and dismissal times, for your child's PTO to stay connected with ways please be sure to come into the main office and to get involved in your child's school. sign your child in or out. If you have a planned If I have a current WC Preschooler who is early dismissal, please send a note and we'll work transitioning to kindergarten for the 2020-21 to have your child ready in the office when you school year, do we have to register again for arrive. kindergarten? Are there any outside health resources Yes. Families will need to complete the new available to students and their families? student registration application for the 2020-21 West Clermont is proud to have a partnership school year. However when you set up the with HealthSource of Ohio, which provides our appointment to finalize registration, the only district with a School Based Health Center located documents needed are a photo ID of the at West Clermont Middle School. The Wolves parent/guardian and updated immunization Wellness Health Center serves students and staff records. across the district, as well as members of the How does lunch work? community by providing medical, dental, vision At the beginning of the day, students inform and behavioral health services both during and their teacher if they are buying lunch. If your after school hours. child is buying lunch, you can either send in or put money into your child's online account. School staff will assist your child with buying the lunch. There are several adults in the cafeteria to help students open packages if they are having difficulty.

How do I know what is being served daily for lunch? The lunch menu may be accessed via the district website at www.westcler.k12.oh.us. Click on Child Nutrition in the top right corner.

W E L C O M

E KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

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O Kindergarten appointments will begin in FEBRUARY. All registration appointments are held at the West

K Clermont District Office located at the Union Township Civic Center (4350 Aicholz Road, Suite 220, Cincinnati, I N Ohio 45245). Appointments are held Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Please check the D

E Appointment Scheduler on the district website for availability. R G A R

T HOW TO E Who can register N REGISTER for kindergarten? |

P All incoming A kindergarten students G

E 1) Go online to our district website: www.westcler.k12.oh.us. must be 5 years of

6 age by September 30, 2) Click on NEW STUDENT ENROLLMENT on the right hand side. 2020.

You will need to create an account. If you have previously enrolled a student, log in and register a new student.

3) Complete the online registration process.

4) After you complete the online enrollment application, you will register for an appointment with one of our enrollment specialists. a) Pick an appointment time. b) Confirm your appointment! c) You will receive an appointment confirmation email, including what you need to bring and the date, time, and location of your appointment.

WHAT TO BRING REMEMBER: ONLY a parent/guardian WITH YOU: may enroll a student for school.

1) ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE for the child (we will make a copy).

2) PROOF OF RESIDENCY (you must present one of the following during registration): * Official lease, Title, Deed, Settlement Statement, Purchase Contract * Homeowner or Renter's insurance statement or Gas/Electric/Water statement or mail from federal, state or local government dated within the last 30 days * Mortgage Statement dated within the last 60 days * Federal or State tax return dated within the last 12 months

3) Parent/Guardian Photo ID

4) Kindergarten Physical (use our Health Form Record - print from www.westcler.k12.oh.us). Not required for registration but will need to be completed and submitted to start school.

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E G A P

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getting ready for KINDERGARTEN N E T R

To prepare for kindergarten, children need to be supported and A

nurtured in all areas of development. This list can serve as a guide G R

as you and your child prepare for the exciting transition to E D

kindergarten! N I K

O T

Can your child separate from his/her Can your child use classroom tools and E M

primary caregiver without anxiety? Can toys efficiently? O C

your child use self-control? Cutting with scissors. L E

Keeping hands to self. Holding and using a pencil or crayon. W Sharing and taking turns. Building with blocks or Legos. Cooperating and playing with other children. Using classroom supplies appropriately.

Can your child demonstrate Can your child cooperate with adults and self-help skills? authority figures? Using the restroom independently. Following directions. Putting on and zipping own coat. Communicating effectively. Tying shoes.

TIPS FOR MAKING THE TRANSITION TO home to school SCHOOL SUCCESSFUL FOR YOUR CHILD

Give your child opportunities to leave you Take your child to visit the school. Playing and spend time with other adults and on the playground, touring the building, children. and finding the bathrooms are helpful activities. Expect your child's transition to be successful. Remember the adjustment can Ask your child what she thinks school will take time. be like. You may learn that your child understands what to expect, or you may Give your child opportunities to play with find that she has unrealistic fears or items like scissors, crayons, pencils, misunderstandings. markers, paint and paper. Visit the bus stop or walk the route to Read books to your child and talk about school. the pictures and story. Talk about school in positive ways. Encourage your child's independence by letting him follow simple directions and by Your positive outlook can help your child; letting him do tasks on his own. let him know you are confident in his ability to do well. W E L C O M

E DIVERSE LEARNERS

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K SUPPORTING ALL STUDENTS I N D E R G

A English Language Learners R

T West Clermont is committed to providing high E N quality instruction for all students. Upon

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enrollment, students whose primary or home P A

G language is other than English are screened to E

determine their proficiency level in the English 8 language domains of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. If the level is less than proficient, a student is identified as an English Language Learner and offered instructional support through the district's English as a Second Language (ESL) program.

Gifted Education At West Clermont, we strive to meet each student's instructional needs through a wide variety of academic strategies and programs. Gifted students, as defined by the Ohio Department of Education, perform or show potential for performing at remarkably high levels when compared to others of the same age, experience or environment. Ohio law requires that school districts test and identify students for giftedness. West Clermont provides multiple opportunities for such testing.

Enrichment classes in grade 3 and gifted services in grades 4 and 5 are taught by licensed Gifted Intervention Specialists. Special Education What should I do if my child is West Clermont's Special Education program is committed to helping having difficulty learning in students who require additional support. The district follows the school? Evaluation Team Report (ETR) and the Individual Education Plan (IEP) Please ask for help. Contact the teacher to discuss your concerns and process to deliver a quality program that meets the needs of each provide information that might be individual student. All children who are determined to be eligible for helpful. services are offered a free appropriate public education that What should I do if I believe my emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet child has a disability? their unique needs and prepare them for further education, If you believe your child has a employment, and independent living. Students in Ohio can be identified disability, you should speak with your with one of 13 different disability conditions. WCSD offers a continuum child's teacher. Additionally, you may contact your school and ask to speak of extensive special education services that comply with all of the state with the School Psychologist. and federal requirements. 9

E G A

KINDERGARTEN ASSESSMENTS P

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CURRICULUM E T R A G R E Standards-Based Reporting DIBELS D N All students in kindergarten will be assessed using I K The standards-based report card in grades K-5 is focused the Dynamic Indicators of Early Literacy Skills O T

around individual student progress toward meeting

(DIBELS) in the fall, winter, and spring. This quick E identified learning standards. The purpose of standards- assessment is research-based and provides teachers M based reporting is to more accurately and consistently O C

communicate detailed student progress, as well as a reliable means of evaluating letter-naming fluency, L represent student knowledge and skills, related to the E

phonemic awareness (the ability to identify sounds, W learning standards. All students are expected to meet or or phonemes, in words), and oral-reading fluency. exceed grade level learning standards and are presented with multiple opportunities to grow in their learning Teachers will use the results of these assessments, throughout the school year. Progress is determined by along with classroom information, to help monitor each student's ability to meet a standard; not on how he your child's progress. They will also use this or she compares to other students in the class. information to identify students' strengths/needs, make instructional decisions and plan for interventions and enrichment.

Kindergarten Readiness Assessment The Ohio Department of Education has developed a screening instrument that must be given to all kindergarten students. The assessment includes ways for teachers to measure a child's school readiness. Ohio's Early Learning and Development Standards are the basis for the assessment. It has six components: social skills (including social and emotional development and approaches towards learning), mathematics, science, social studies, language and literacy, and physical well-being and motor development. Teachers will begin working on the assessment at the beginning of the year and have until November 1st to complete the screening tool.

Vision and Hearing The Ohio Department of Health requires us to conduct vision and hearing screenings for all students during their kindergarten year. This screening will be completed in the fall during the school day and you will be provided with a notification if your child fails the screening. If your child is screened by his or her physician for vision or hearing, it is suggested that you provide those results on the issued Health Record Form. W E L C O M HEALTH AND WELLNESS E

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K I N D

E CHILD NUTRITION R G

A R

T How can we access the Free and Reduced Lunch

E Farm 2 School Initiative N Program? West Clermont began incorporating more locally |

P sourced produce, dairy and proteins last school To apply for Free and Reduced price meals, visit the A

G year in celebration of National Farm 2 School West Clermont District Website beginning August 1st. E

There will be a link to our online portal. Need a paper 1 month. The positive response from students was 0 overwhelming so we began working in earnest application? No problem, you can print one from our with Green Umbrella and Local Food Connection district home page or contact your child's school for a to source and procure seasonal items that could copy. easily fit into our current menus. At the close of the 18/19 school year, 1/4 of all produce For more information on the meals program, please procured was from a farm located within a 125- visit the Child Nutrition web page at: https://www.westcler.k12.oh.us/administration/8. 150 mile radius of all West Clermont Schools. At the start of the 19/20 school year, and in partnership with Green Umbrella and Local Food Connection, we were able to establish a food sourcing plan. WOLVES WELLNESS CENTER

HealthSource of Ohio is proud to partner with the West Clermont School District to provide primary care services at its School-based Health Center (SBHC). A SBHC is a health care delivery model that acknowledges and supports the strong link between health and academics. HealthSource operates a SBHC in the nearby Western Brown School District and has over 40 years experience providing care to communities throughout Clermont County.

MEDICAL DENTAL VISION Services include acute Services include cleaning, Services include complete illness and injury, annual routine check-ups, some eye exams, glaucoma preventative exams, extractions, and intensive testing, eyewear chronic illness diagnosis cases can be referred to prescriptions, glasses for and management, outside specialists. Medicaid Caresource, immunizations, routine Buckeye Molina and lab tests, and medication A mobile dentistry unit Paramount Insurance, presecriptions. will visit each elementary and Safety Goggle school during the year. Program.

HealthSource of Ohio's Wolves Wellness SBHC aims to help keep students in school and ready to learn. We believe that healthier students achieve more and that together, this partnership can create healthier, happier communities - one student at a time. 1 1

E G A P

HEALTH AND WELLNESS |

N E T R

from the DISTRICT NURSE A G R E

Immunizations Requirements for Kindergarten D N I

K

All students enrolled for the first time in public or private schools in Ohio are required to be O T

immunized as follows: E M

O C

In accordance with Ohio State Law 3313.67, West Clermont School District requires students L E provide record of immunizations to prevent the spread of communicable diseases among W pupils attending. Required immunizations and doses for kindergartners are as follows:

DPT (to protect against Diptheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis). Your child should have a total of four or more doses with the last dose being on or after the fourth birthday. Polio (IPV). Your child should have a total of three or more doses with the last dose being on or after the fourth birthday. Hep B (to protect again Hepatitis B). Your child should have a total of three doses. MMR (to protect against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella). Your child should have a total of two doses with the first dose given on or after the first birthday and the second dose being at least 28 days after the first dose. Varicella (to protect against Chicken Pox). Your child should have a total of two doses with the first dose given on or after the first birthday and the second dose being at least 28 days after the first dose.

You are required to provide proof of immunization record by Friday, September 18, 2020 or your kindergartner will be excluded from school beginning Monday, September 21, 2020 until these records are provided.

The full immunization schedule can be found on the Ohio Department of Health: goo.gl/oRmQCX.

If my child requires medication at school, what should I do? We encourage medications to be administered and taken at home. However, we recognize that there are situations where medication has to be administered during the school hours. For all medications including prescription, over the counter and supplemental, the West Clermont Medication Permission Form must be completed and signed by a physician. This form can be found on our website at goo.gl/UxAr45.

All medications must be brought to school by a parent/guardian or an adult representative of the parents choosing, to be counted and signed in with the school's health assistant. Medications, including over the counter, cannot be sent to school with your child.

If your child has a chronic health condition (i.e. Diabetes, Asthma, food allergies, or seizures) please reach out to the District Nurse Heather Burns at 943-3862. (https://www.westcler.k12.oh.us/administration/110) W E L C O M E

T

O DIRECTORY

K I N D E R G A

R West Clermont District Office * 4350 Aicholtz Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45245 T

E Superintendent, Natasha Adams N

| Treasurer, Kelly Sininger

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A Assistant Superintendent, Mike Overbey G

E Assistant Superintendent, Dr. David Fultz

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2 Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Ellie Preston Director of Special Education, Dr. Ben Jenkins Director of Operations, Lance Perry Director of Technology, Lawrence Parece Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives, Jeffrey Riel Central Enrollment, Lesa Loudin

Amelia Elementary * 5 East Main Street, Amelia, Ohio 45102 Principal, Shane Short 513.943.3800

Clough Pike Elementary * 808 Clough Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio 45245 Principal, Kevin Thacker 513.943.6700

Holly Hill Elementary * 3520 State Route 132, Amelia, Ohio 45102 Principal, Erin Parker 513.943.8900

Merwin Elementary * 1040 Gaskins, Cincinnati, Ohio 45245 Principal, Cheryl Turner 513.947.7800

Summerside Elementary * 4639 Vermona Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45245 Principal, Lisa Courtney 513.947.7900

Willowville Elementary * 4529 Schoolhouse Road, Batavia, Ohio 45103 Principal, Meghan Lawson 513.943.6800

Withamsville-Tobasco Elementary * 3950 Britton Boulevard, Cincinnati, Ohio 45245 Principal, Sue Litman-Hall 513.943.6900