VALLEY STREAM UFSD #13
WHERE CHILDERN COME FIRST

Dr. Elizabeth Lison
Superintendent of Schools
568-6100

Linda Roth
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
568-6147

Lisa Sells-Asch
Director of Special Services
568-6120


James A. Dever School
Darren Gruen, Principal
585 North Corona Avenue Valley Stream, NY 11580
568-6120

Wheeler Avenue School
Christine Zerillo, Principal
1 West Wheeler Avenue Valley Stream, NY 11580
568-6140

Meredith Brosnan
Assistant Superintendent for Business
568-6110

Howell Road School
Frank Huplosky, Principal
1475 Howell Road Valley Stream, NY 11580
568-6130

Willow Road School
Stephanie Capozzoli, Principal
880 Catalpa Drive Franklin Square, NY 11010
568-6640

WHAT EXPERIENCES ARE BENEFICIAL PRIOR TO ENTERING KINDERGARTEN

• Take your child on trips, involve him/her in daily routines and discuss what you see, hear, touch, smell or taste (i.e., walk around the neighborhood, the park, a bakery, the supermarket, etc.).
• Bring your child to the library and take advantage of any preschool library programs available for youngsters. Many times there is a summer library program.
• Arrange play dates with children of the same age.
• Allow your child to have quiet time each day.

PREPARATION FOR KINDERGARTEN

• Practice having your child snap, zipper, button, and tie.
• Read to your child and discuss the pictures and stories together.
• Talk with your child about everyday experiences, and ask open ended questions.
• Help your child to recognize the letters of the alphabet.
• Expose your child to numbers 1-10.
• Have your child count objects and sort them by color, shape, size, category, etc.
• Help your child recognize and etite his/her name using uppercase letter at the beginning of the name and lowercase letters for the rest of the name.
• Let your child experience using (Fiskar®) scissors.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIFE OF A KINDERGARTNER

Q. Will the children have to go in the hallway by themselves to use the bathroom?
No, all kindergarten classrooms have a bathroom right in the classroom. Children are also reminded at regular intervals to use the facilities. Please practice bathroom skills with your children at home prior to the beginning of school.

Q. What happens if my child has an accident?
Your child will be sent to the nurse’s office to change clothes and you will be informed of the incident. Sending in an extra set of clothes is a good idea since accidents are relatively common at this age.

Q. Where will my child be eating lunch?
Howell, Willow and Wheeler kindergarten children eat lunch in the classroom with a teacher’s aide. Dever kindergarten children eat in the cafeteria. All lunches are to be sent in from home.

Q. Will my child have outdoor recess?
Kindergarten students do go outside to the playground and are monitored by classroom aides during this time. In inclement weather they remain in their classroom

Q. How will my child know where to go in the beginning of the school year?
For the first month of school, all available staff will be outside to greet the children and assist them in finding their place on line. In inclement weather they are brought directly to their classroom to wait on line. Children are monitored by staff and selected sixth grade students.

Q. What will happen if my child is crying when he or she gets off the bus?
Trained professional staff will be available to assess their concerns and help them feel more comfortable. This usually entails staying with the child until he/she is no longer upset.

Q. How will my child know what bus to get on in the afternoon?
Throughout the entire school year, staff will be escorting your children onto the bus.

Remember a bright smile and a quick hug is all most kindergartners need!

WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS?

 There are a variety of services available to meet the specific, individual needs of all our kindergarten students. These services are obtainable if it is determined that the child meets the school district’s guidelines.

~Speech-Language Therapy
Any questions or concerns call Special Services
Lisa Sells-Asch
568-6260
~Counseling
Contract your School Psychologist
~Occupational Therapy
Any questions or concerns call Special Services
Lisa Sells-Asch
568-6260
~Physical Therapy
Any questions of concerns call Special Services
Lisa Sells-Asch
568-6260
~English as a Second Language
Aida Ricci ESL Coordinator
568-6647

KINDERGARTEN CURRICULUM

English Language Arts
Reading
- letter recognition
- phonemic awareness
- Sight words
- Shared reading
- Guided reading
- Waterford computerized reading program in each kindergarten classroom

Writing
- expresses thought through pictures and print
- holds pencils appropriately

Listening/Speaking Skills
- listens respectfully
- takes turns speaking
- expresses thoughts clearly with detail
- listens to a story and contributes to discussions
- follows directions

Mathematics – recognition and understanding of numbers, shapes, and patterns

Social Studies - awareness of self, family, community, and holidays

Science/Health – hands-on experiences with an emphasis on the five senses

Special Classes – Library, Computer, Physical Education, Art and Music

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is provided for kindergarten children who live ½ mile or more from the school.

Questions about transportation can be directed to Claudette Costa at 568-6110.

THE SCHOOL NURSE
We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our Health offices. There is a nurse in each building to provide first aide, perform mandated screenings, and help maintain the general health of the students and staff.

James A. Dever School P. Ayres 568-6123
Howell Road School J. Lowery 568-6133
Wheeler Avenue School C. Ignaciuk 568-6143
Willow Road School D. Byrnes 568-6643

Early Absentee Check:
Our school district has an early absentee check system. We require that you call your school’s Health Office to report your child’s absence. Please leave a message as soon and you are aware that your child will be absent. A message may be left 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Nurse will call all parents of children who are absent but who were not reported by their parents.

Emergency Cards:
The first day of school you will receive an emergency card. Please provide the information requested on both sides of the card and sign the card. When entering the names and numbers of close friends or relatives, please include people who are readily available and have agreed to care for your child if you cannot be reached. When there are changes in contact numbers, please call the nurse immediately.

Immunization:
New York State Law requires that schools must have on file a Certificate of Immunization signed and stamped by a child’s Health Care Provider before he/she may enter the classroom.
The required immunizations are:

• Three(3) doses of Diphtheria, preferably as DtaP
• Three(3) doses of Polio, either as eIPV or OPV
• Two(2) doses of MMR, first dose administered after one year of age
• Three(3) doses of Hepatitis B
• One(1) dose of Varicella administered after one year of age or proof of disease signed and stamped by the doctor

Physicals:
Physical examinations are required by New York State Law for all new students and students in Kindergarten, grade 2 and grade 4. The physical must have been done within the last year. If a physical examination is not submitted, your child will be examined by the School Doctor.

Medication in School:
The school nurse may administer medication in school if ALL the following information is submitted:

• written request from the parent
• written order from the physician stating:
• child’s name
• diagnosis
• medication
• frequency of administration
• possible side effects
• The medication must be in the original pharmacy container and brought to school by an adult. Children should never have any type of medication in their possession, even over-the-counter medication. The School Nurse may administer over-the-counter medication with a doctor’s order and if the above procedure is followed.

Illness:
Please keep your child home if he/she

• has a fever (100 or over)
• is vomiting
• has diarrhea
• has a bad cold

If your child becomes ill in school, the nurse will call a parent to make arrangements to take the child home. The school district has a policy with regard to strep infections. Any student diagnosed with a strep infection will not be allowed to return to school until he/she has completed 48 hours of antibiotics. This policy has significantly reduced the amount of strep infections in the primary grades.
When a child visits the nurse, the child will bring home a “Health Office” form stating the date, time, and reason for the visit and care given. Please feel free to call you school’s nurse with any question you may have.

VALLEY STREAM DISTRICT THIRTEEN
BOARD OF EDUCATION

Frank Chicachiere, Ph. D.
Joseph DiSibio
Debra Evans
Bonnie Gorham
Jeanne Greco Jacobs
William Stris

ADMINISTRATION
Elizabeth Lison, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools

Meredith Brosnan
Assistant Superintendent for Business

Linda Roth
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

Lisa Sells-Asch
Director of Special Services

PRINCIPALS
Stephanie Capozzoli, Willow Road School
Darren Gruen, James A. Dever School
Frank Huplosky, Howell Road School
Christine Zerillo, Wheeler Avenue School