All right. Well, wonderful. Thank you all for joining us this evening. My name is Cararissa Kester. I'm the chief of staff for Stillwater Schools, and I'm excited to welcome you to our first time kindergarten parent meeting. Um, I was right in your seat about three years ago. I have a second grader now, so I remember very well all of those feelings as your little one is getting ready to start kindergarten in wow, very, very soon. Just just uh around the corner it is. So, um, we know that there's a lot of feelings as kids are getting ready to go into kindergarten, especially if this is your first time. And so, we have a group of experts here to talk you through what it's really like from a parent and a teacher perspective. So, we're excited that you've joined us. Um, our format tonight is to just share a little bit of information about kindergarten, but really to focus on a panel of parents and teachers who are going to answer some of the most common questions we've heard from parents in the past. And um that's at the end we might have some time for some questions too. If you do have a burning question during the the presentation, you can put it in chat. We have Chris um Chrysell here and she's kind of monitoring that chat and she will save those questions for us at the end. Um but just so you don't lose a question. Feel free to type it in the chat. There's also going to be some contact information. I'll actually ask Chris if she can put our email into the chat, too. If you have questions, you can always email us and we will respond to you at a later time. So, I will kick things off. Um, I was just saying earlier it's I'm trying to get used to Zoom again. So, bear with me as I'm a little clumsy here, but I want to pull up a PowerPoint presentation and just share a little information with you to start. Bear with me. Okay. So, again, this is our first time kindergarten parent meeting. And I think the very first thing to do is let the kids tell you a little bit about what kindergarten is all about. So, we have just a short video that gives you a quick sneak peek at a day in kindergarten. >> We love kindergarten. >> I love myself. [music] >> [music] >> I just love it. I love this. Hallelujah. [music] I don't know why. Nice job. How many more do we need? >> Great job. You made that. Way to go. Wow. [music] So, that is a sneak peek at kindergarten. As you can see, a lot of happy faces. And I just love that at the end, the two kids walking down the hall handinand. Um, best friends are made in kindergarten, and it's it's really cool to see those relationships blossom with our youngest learners. Um, you, as you probably know, are in the very midst of kindergarten enrollment season. Um, hopefully you received some information in the mail back in November with all of the uh, important checklists and things to know and some good information about what kindergarten is all about here in Stillwater Schools. We have the opportunity for you to come visit our schools, meet principles, tour buildings. Those dates are scheduled in December and into January. So, you can go to the website to find more. dates were also included in um some of those mailing pieces that came to you. There is a deadline and we say deadline, it's a soft deadline. Um January 15th is priority enrollment really. It just means that if you are trying to apply for enrollment in a school outside of your boundaried area, we call that alternate enrollment. If you get that application for alternate enrollment in before January 15th, you are kind of prioritized in the lottery. If you get that application in after January 15th, it doesn't mean you can't get in. it just means that you'll be lower priority. Um that also is if you're an out of the district resident, if you live in a different community but want to open enroll to our district, that January 15th deadline is also in place. We also use January 15th as the cutoff again for priority for immersion for Amigos Unitos immersion if you're interested in that program. So if at all possible, get your application in before January 15th. Um but know that if it is later, we will definitely still do our best to get you in. And then by the end of January, that's when we let people know their status, too. So, if you've applied for alternate enrollment into a different building in our district, you would find out where you are in that process if you've been accepted or if you're on a wait list. Um, same for our Spanish immersion program called Amigos Unidos. You might hear it referred to both ways. Um, we let families know about their status in that program as well at the end of January. And then you'll want to mark your calendars already for April 9th and 10th. Um, we have an April 9th evening orientation or a 10th is a Friday and that's a daytime orientation. This is an opportunity for you to bring your kids into the school. They get to meet teachers and actually kind of experience what kindergarten is like. Parents then go off into a different area and talk with principles and just learn more about what they can expect from a parent side. It's a lot of fun. Kids love this day. They get their little pony t-shirt. They get to see their classroom. It's a lot of fun. So, make sure you mark your calendar and there'll be a lot more information coming about that as well. So, what you're really here for is because you got a lot of concerns and worries, I'm sure, about what kindergarten is going to look like for your student. Some of the things we hear about most are just kind of the what about my kid? What's it like for them to go to the bathroom on their own in a big school? Um, what about lunch and riding the bus and how are they going to handle that first day when we drop them off at school? Are they going to make friends? Um, how are they going to keep up academically? What I want to tell you is that everybody has these worries and most of them um really it's going to be okay. We have great staff here that are going to help your child through all of these things. Um but I'm going to let them tell you that story. So we're going to turn it over to our panel now so that they can share some experiences with you um that they have had as parents and as teachers and hopefully be able to put some of your worries um just kind of take those away from you and just really help you feel prepared for that first day of kindergarten and the whole first year. So with that, I'm going to introduce our panelists. Um, we have Tyler from Lily Lake, Aaron from Stonebridge, and Angela and Matt from Lily Lake. Um, hopefully they're all on here. I will ask that they unmute. Chris, if you can help unmute them. Um, we also have two teachers, Kim Nelson from Anderson and Ashley. Oh, I always say that wrong. Ashley, I apologize. You can >> actually I'm not immersion. I'm English at Lake Elmo. >> Thank you. Thank you for clarifying that. I apologize for that mistake. Um, a Lake Elmo teacher as well. So, we are going to um let them each introduce themselves quickly. Tyler, do you just want to tell us a little bit about more about you and maybe your family? >> Yeah. So, my name is Tyler Botnan. Um we have my 5-year-old daughter, Mave, who's in rolled in enrolled in Lily Lake, and we also have uh my fourmonth-old son, Isaac. >> Wonderful. Thank you, Tyler. Erin, >> hi. So, Erin, I have a 5-year-old at Stonebridge, Sylvia, and then a three-year-old um who is not obviously in kindergarten yet. >> Wonderful. Thank you, Erin. And Angela and Matt. There they are. >> Yeah, I can go. Um Angela, we have um a six-year-old in kindergarten. She's an August birthday, so if anyone's kind of thinking about that, we can speak to that decision. Um, and she's at Lily Lake and I'm from Still Water and I actually went to Lily Lake as well. So, that's kind of fun. >> And I'm [snorts] Matt. Angela covered the rest. So, thanks. >> Wonderful. Well, why don't you Angela and Matt just tell us a little bit because that is a common question we get for those summer birthdays. Do you want to just tell us a little bit about that experience? >> Yeah, I think um we kind of did a whole like deep dive into all different aspects of why we'd make that that decision. Um, I think some of the the key points for us, I mean, one is just who our daughter is. We thought it would be better for her to have that extra year. Um, she's a wiggly one. Um, and then but we also did some like every time I heard from teachers or got an opportunity to ask teachers, a lot of them, all of them actually recommended waiting with the August birthday. Um, we heard arguments about like giving them an extra year of childhood. And um our kids, we also have a three-year-old, went to um a really go to a really great um nature preschool. So that gave her another year of just running around in the woods, which I think was really good. But it was it was amazing. I would say of like I was so anxious thinking like a year ago of her going to kindergarten. I was like that wouldn't be going well at all. And then it like it was truly the right decision for her and she felt so much more ready as we actually approached kindergarten for her. >> We felt so much ready for her, [laughter] you know, I think she would have been fine um from a you know just adaptability perspective. But I do think that um you know being being in there at six is is giving her a little extra confidence and and kind of she she's a much different person at six than she was at five. So um >> and maybe one more thing I also did read some research about mental health especially in middle school. Um, and it seems like being on the older end can be an advantage in terms of mental health later in schooling, which was really impactful for me. >> Wonderful. Well, thank you. I totally went off script already, so I apologize for that. Thank you for that was a great um segue, so thank you for that. Now, I'll go back to our teachers to introduce themselves. Um, Ashley, do you want to introduce yourself first? >> Uh, sure. I am Ashley Hoyus. I teach kindergarten at Lake Elmo. Um this is my fifth year with the district and fifth year in kindergarten. Um prior to that I taught upper elementary and then reading and math intervention for 10 years. >> Thanks Ashley and Kim. >> Hi Kim Nelson. I'm currently a kindergarten teacher at um Anderson Elementary. I've been teaching kindergarten for five years and I've been in the district for 24 years and most of my career has been in second grade or two three mix um and also did a first grade year. >> Wonderful. Well, thank you again to all of our panelists for joining us tonight and for being willing to share your experiences. I will just jump out um any of the parents who want to answer this, feel free to see who jumps in first, but just tell us about that transition to kindergarten. Um what went well for you? Maybe what were some of the the challenges or struggles that you had as you started kindergarten? >> I think I can jump in. Um I actually it's um uh my daughter Mave who's five um we kind of had the similar discussion about like whether we should um wait another year or like is you know decide if she's feeling ready for kindergarten. Um and we kind of talked to her about it too and that she loved school. She was already in like three school and she did a lot of that. She loved it and we just kind of felt that she was ready for that kind of full day kindergarten transition. Um it was definitely a little nerve-wracking. Um I think that's one of the big issues we had. Well, not issues but concerns was her going to school for a whole day. Um and what that would look like for her as far as yeah, the bathroom breaks. Um, also getting on the bus. Um, she takes the bus to Lily Lake. Um, but I think a lot of that too was just trying to gauge her readiness. Um, I did do feel like there was a bit of a growing pains maybe the first couple of weeks. Um, but nothing that felt overwhelming. It felt like an appropriate kind of stepping block for her. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, Erin, Angela, Matt, any other thought when we talk about those growing pains? I mean, this is a big transition to go to the big school, the full day, the lunch, the all the things. Um, what was that like for your family as you got through those first few weeks of kindergarten? >> Sure, I can share. So, when I was in this, I went to the kindergarten orient, you know, first time parents last year, and it's crazy how fast I'm here on the other end of it. So anyways, um last year one parent said, you know, pre be prepared to get your kiddo back in like six weeks. Like meaning like >> they go to school and they're holding it all together and they're like doing so well at school and then they come home and they just kind of like ah you know all the things that they're feeling and you know and I feel like that that's very true at least for my kiddo. She she's doing great at school, like amazing. But then she comes home and there are like she's tired and like hungry and there's big emotions just um she's still transitioning. You know, it is December, but I still think it's they're just still learning a lot and growing a lot and it's just a big change. Um my kiddo also was not in a full day setting before this, so just that alone I think. Um, and I asked her tonight as she was getting out of the bath, I'm like, "What what is or you know, obviously what do you love about school?" And then what's something that's hard for you or what is something um that you find challenging at kindergarten? She said, "It's so long." So, I just think like um yeah, they they hold it all together and then they come home and they just kind of got to process. So, we're we're still getting getting through that, I think. But overall, it's going well. Yeah. Laney was at full day and she still has the uh the whole like I've been holding this in all day. So it I mean regardless I going from not full day to full day is hard. But even like kids that went full day they have a hard time too. It's it's a big adjustment. Um let's see here. I had a point that I was going to make with Laney. Oh. Um, we we so for our kid uh she we were nervous like, oh man, she's going to have accidents and but I think the for us her like she's able to focus a little better at school than she was at um at her care before. So honestly for us some of the problems that we were like the most nervous about uh they deal with, you know, we were able to prep the teacher beforehand. Um, but she's doing great with those things. But yeah, Krabby some nights definitely uh they [clears throat] definitely work them there. [laughter] >> I think as adults we can relate too, right? Like we put it we hold it all together at work and then we just come home and yeah relate. [laughter] So >> yeah, I would big emotions for sure. Be ready for that for the first couple of weeks and then even through the weeks there's there are definitely weeks that get pretty intense. um teacher perspective, like what what do you expect or what do you hear from families or what do you even see with students in those first few weeks, months of school? >> Ashley, go ahead. >> Yep. >> Um yeah, I would say that the kids are definitely very very tired. Um the first few weeks we spend a lot of time learning routines and procedures and things that seem very simple and easy um at home or even at a a childare or preschool setting are very different in a classroom full of kindergarteners. Um, so we we spend a lot of time learning very simple things and how those simple things might look different in a bigger environment and that's really overwhelming to them at at first until they get into the routine of things. So yes, the exhaustion at the very beginning is hard. Um, we try really hard to make sure parents understand when they come to their ready set go conference that um, we will treat them like they are our own. We will care for them. We will give them all of the love and nurturing that they need as they learn their independence as well. >> Yep. And to piggyback on that, even like the bathroom needs and that it it can be common for them to have accidents like we said or things that happen like that when they come to school, but one of the things that we have is they bring extra clothing. It's not a big deal, you know, and we help them overcome their fears by working together, talking it through, and going through the routines like Ashley said, and teaching them those things. And it's a great opportunity for them to learn and practice empathy, too. In fact, this school year, I had a student who had an accident and she said, "I peed on the rug." And one of my other students turned around, he goes, "I peed on the rug at my grandma's house." [laughter] >> That's what they do. >> All of us. >> They're like, "Connection. I do that. I'd had that happen, too." So, that can be And it builds I mean, it builds that connection and friendships too for them. So, it's fun to see that develop too with the kids. So >> actually mentioned something about ready set go conference. I just want to make sure we explain what that is and how how that works. >> Are you explaining or do you want us >> Sorry. [laughter] So all of our kindergarten through fifth grade students come in for what we call a ready set go conference. Um and they have I believe it's is it 30 minutes? >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. I was like, "Okay." So, 30 minutes where it's just the family comes in one-on-one time kind of instead of an open house type setting. So, a family would come in. Um, they would bring their supplies, meet their teacher, get to know the classroom. Um, >> in kindergarten, we sit down and kind of have like a it's almost like an interview where we get to know you, you get to know us. Um, we'll share about our day. You'll share about your child, your family. Um, some anything that you would like to share with us in a more like intimate setting versus in a large group like this. Um, and then we may do some like short, if your child's feeling up to it, some short assessments, some really simple reading and math things to kind of get the year started so we know how to go in on that first week of school with our instruction. >> Wonderful. Thank you. Um, back to the parents. So again, kind of getting back to that helping your child beforehand, what were some things that you did either before school started or as they were kind of getting into the school year to help them to adjust to those routines? I think some of what we did was just kind of talking about expectations. And I think one of the maybe important lessons that I've learned as we've gone through this is to just go back to like what Matt always reminds me like let's just parent the way that we parent. Like we we do try to give our our daughter, you know, heads up on things that are coming or things that she can expect that might be different. And we try to debrief with her and keep communication open. These are all things that we've always done, but sometimes with like a big change, I feel like you can kind of be like, whoa, I'm supposed to be doing things totally differently. And and that's not the case. I think for us, it was just kind of lean in on the things that we've seen work up till this point. >> And just, you know, being listening and and saying, you know, uh our daughter likes having us all at the bus. So yeah, I'll get up and walk the quarter mile to the bus stop with her every even though it's some days it's cold, but if that's what it takes to, you know, see a happy kid at the end of the day instead of a sad one, like cool, I need the walk anyway, you know? So >> that's cool. Yeah, your kids, they let you know what they need, right? So just be receptive and listen to what they're telling you. That's good. >> Um Tyler, any any thoughts on how you helped adjust to routines? Yeah, I think um what we tried was just practice some of the smaller things. Um like recently it was practicing getting our snowsuit on at the same time, you know, or on our own. Um and so that's kind of been been like a recent hurdle, but it's also like how do we pack our backpack or where do you want your snacks in your backpack? So, it's like when they're at school, when it's snack time, or when they're thirsty, they know where that's going to be. Um, you know, we've kind of covered that up to that point, so there's just less for them to to worry about when they're in the school. >> Good. Anything else, Erin? >> Yeah, I think kind of what Tyler said. Um, again, I did I remember so clear the advice that was given to me at the this meeting and someone also said like making sure they're independent and I'm like, "Okay, yeah, my kid does that. She does her clothes already. Like, she can do all that." And then they're they're like, "No, but like there are snack bags like at, you know, like and I'm like, wait a sec. I I do help with a you know just like kind of realizing like Tyler said like all those steps that you may be helping with without even thinking like realizing okay they they really will be doing like all of that on there like pack your backpack on your own that's great practice and open your snack bag on your own and all those kind of little independent things and it's not like they're like alone out there in the world like there are teachers and paras and support but there are also a lot more kids so they maybe would just have to wait before getting their help. So, yeah, just those independent skills, definitely practicing all of those things. And then I think also, yeah, like um the first family, I forgot your guys' names, sorry. They they were talking about preparing and talking about expectations. Um we've read a lot of books about kindergarten and just all those those kind of things. Um yeah, >> great. Thanks, Aaron. Teacher perspective, like what can parents be doing to help get ready? Um, you know, sometimes I think families feel like, I have to quick cram all this knowledge and get my kid to know all their ABCs and their numbers and all these things, but what do you really expect as they are entering kindergarten? What what skills do they really need to have at that point? >> Well, I think Tyler and Aaron and and the others who have shared as parents, it is that independent skill that is very useful for the kids at school to be able to know to zip. I mean, even as simple as knowing how to pull up their pants or put, you know, all those kinds of things. Zipping. um tying their shoes, being taking care of their snacks, their backpacks. Um also then you can work with them with the large motor skills, the small motor skills with playing games, cutting, writing, learning, learning their names and learning how to write their name. Um are some of the other pieces, their colors, practicing some of that, just counting with them to 10. Um, but one of the big things that you do probably already is to continue reading to them and just that joy of reading and even the higher level books and some of those high harder words are even better for kids to hear those and you can talk about that a little bit too to expand their vocabularies. So are some of the things that um would be helpful for the kindergarten students as they come in. Those independent skills as you said are really helpful and we are dealing with the snow pants and all those boots and that stuff too. So it can be a 10 to 15 minute journey to get outside for us sometimes. So >> they get real quick though. They realize like the the quicker I get ready the more time I have to play out there. So [laughter] >> yes, >> um I think in addition to just conversation, like having conversations with your child on a regular basis and allowing them to have a voice in things um is really important and it helps them learn cooperation and working together and um not always getting their way and how to work through those conflicts and things like that with and skills with peers, whether it's siblings or friends or or even even parents. Like I remember thinking about my own kids and how it, you know, there's so much joy that it brings you when they win the game of Go Fish. But what happens if you win? How are they going to respond to that if if you win or if a friend of theirs wins? Um just some some conversation pieces that you could have with them are great. >> And Ashley said games really are a great tool for that. Um they learn so much with that. Even with the academic piece of it, it gets fun too. So letter names and not letter names, letters and but the skills of learning to be social are very important to learn through that too. >> Well, on that topic of social and kind of making friends, um let's talk a little bit about that from a parent perspective. How was that social adjustment? Um you know, sometimes kids walk into a kindergarten classroom and they don't know anybody else or they might just know one or two kids. So talk a little bit about that experience. >> I can jump in. You probably saw me smirk right away. Um I so our daughter did not know anyone in well actually she knew one person in her class but not super well um just from living in the same neighborhood. But she would come home and and that was a concern for me. I was like who did you play with at recess and who did you sit with at the lunchroom? And she'd be like I played by myself. I didn't sit with anyone. And I was like is that bothering you? And I I was asking a lot of questions and then she was like, "Yes, yeah, that's bothering me, Mom. I'm feeling really sad." And then it was like Matt did a good job of pointing out he was like, "I think she's just like playing you." [laughter] And eventually I stopped really asking those questions in the same way or just asked other questions about her day. And she never brought it up again. And just recently it's been like, "Oh yeah, well I was talking to so and so and I was doing that." Like she's starting to reference friends more. And when we went in for conferences, I asked if it was an issue and the teacher was just like she's, you know, the kids that didn't know each other coming in are all kind of just flopping around at this [laughter] point in the year and then they start to form friendships. So I was very concerned about it, but it was more me projecting it on her. She has been fine. [laughter] >> Tyler or Aaron? >> Yeah. Um I guess it's just kind of been my daughter's um MMO. It's anytime she's been in a new class or a new situation, she'll pick like one or two people and she's like, "You're my friend." And like that's just how it is. So, um, and actually there was a popsicle social at Lily Lake. I think it was like the first week or two, um, after school had started. And, um, she, you know, we went there and she immediately like pulled us over and like, "Oh, this is my friend." like we're on the same bus and we're in the same class and you know she introduc introduced us to her and and her parents and um so yeah, she's always kind of been that I would I wouldn't say a social butterfly, but she's just had a very direct way of uh making friends and um it was good to see that kind of constant um behavior, you know, through the transition into kindergarten. >> Thanks, Tyler. I would say it's going well for her. Um, we had considered open enrolling in a different school, which the school we looked at was wonderful, but in the long long term, we just determined to go with our neighbor's school because just because of that little community and the neighbors that she knows. And um, so for us, it was a good fit to go with our neighbor schools, which is Stonebridge. And um, yeah, so she gets to ride the bus with the kiddos that she knows. and then they're not necessarily in our class, but just having that little community and they all go together and um that's been nice. And yeah, and we we get a lot of updates and we see pictures and a lot of videos and she's I'm always looking, okay, where is she? She's always with K. You know, there's a lot of room for friendships to be made. I think they do a lot of there's a lot of opportunities for them to interact with all their peers. So, I think that's really nice. >> Erin, that's a perfect segue. I was just going to ask the teachers to talk a little bit about how you build community in your classroom and how you help students build those friendships. >> I think one of the biggest things that we start our day with is morning meeting which is part of our responsive classroom piece. Um we start by getting together as a group and we are in a circle usually and we'll have a greeting with each other and then we'll share out. There's different ways of sharing like some of your favorites or sometimes we'll have certain kids share. We'll have start star of the week possibly share during that time and then we'll play some games together. We'll learn some interactive games that are non-competitive usually where they're just working to build their skills together and listening and following directions and um we'll end it with a message for the day that will have some academic pieces to it and what we're going to be doing for the day. So, we start our day as a community and build it that way together. And um that's one way that we can get our group of um our classes started. Then we also learn how to interact in the classroom by doing our rules um following the rules um talking about the rules just so that we know what what what's expected in class. So then we know we we are a class. We are like a class family. So we're going to work together and share and be kind and how do we do that? There's a lot of different things that we'll do through our academics just on the daily basis with with all of our academic pieces. So, >> and Ashley, I might ask you just a little bit um different, but what about those kids who come in who maybe don't know others? They're maybe more shy or anxious, the ones who are maybe more likely to kind of stand off to the side and watch things happen. What do what is that experience like? And what do you do to help those kids? >> It really depends on the kid and what their comfort level is with things. I never try to push kids outside of their comfort zone to make them uncomfortable. I want to make sure every child that's in our classroom feels comfortable with whatever it is that's going on. Um, typically if I see a child who at the beginning of the year is kind of hanging back watching, I'll get to know their interests and then introduce them into like, oh, you know, Cararissa really likes Polly Pocket, too. I don't know what it means. >> I love Polly Pocket. [laughter] So, like maybe let's talk like what Polly Pockets do you have, Cararissa? And kind of get gather their interests together. Um, and they might not feel comfortable like speaking out like I love Polly Pocket, but if I bring that to the table, then maybe they'll feel a little bit more comfortable in creating those connections, which are really important. Um, and allowing unstructured playtime, like just really unstructured playtime. In my classroom, we start every morning with 20 to 25 minutes of unstructured playtime where they are playing with their peers and interacting and learning to cooperate. Um, and that's where those conversations between them happen, where they find their common interests, which is really great to see. >> Wonderful. Thank you. Um what I'm I'm going to get into just a little bit more of the um academic side. We haven't beyond the video. We haven't really talked about the typical day in a classroom and what what's actually happening more academic. Um Kim or Ashley who wants to jump in first and share some of that that schedule. >> Sure. Um well for my schedule we'll do the morning meeting but then we move into our benchmark reading curriculum and we will learn all of the pieces about like stories and books and and characters and non-fiction. Then we also do the UFly after that which is our um phmic oric phonics pieces of it that we spend a lot of time on that. Then we'll move into um some writing and we run some centers that focus on learning how to read by yourself and independently. That's one of the centers. One is for writing, one is for word study and then we also have one that's um computer time which we are using a program right now that enforces or re or the kids are building at their own levels um of learning there. Um then then we move into recess lunch. Um, we have a quiet time after lunch that the kids kind of get to reset and have their own quiet time for about 10 minutes to just color or read or whatever they feel. And some kids, as some of you have mentioned earlier, kindergarteners, especially at the beginning of the year, are super tired. So, they have the option to just lay down a little bit for like that 10 minutes as well. Then we our afternoon has specialists which um currently are um music, science, and gym. And then we have some social studies and math. We end our day with math. And then we have some playtime pockets in there too when we have time as well. And then we end our day with some playing too. >> So I heard you say reading and writing. I mean, whoa, this is kindergarten. Like what does that really look like when we say reading or writing at a kindergarten, especially at the beginning of the kindergarten year? >> Yeah. Reading stories and we talk about the book and then we talk about like the characters and the pieces. We've talked about non-fiction books and then we talk about the components of a non-fiction book. um reading and writing. They're they're using whiteboards, they're using tile boards, they're moving letters, they're writing and and then with writing as well, they have like their own independent journal packets that they're writing. They're writing to prompts that we have. Math can be um activities that we put together where they're hands-on learning and they are um playing some games together along with the curriculum that we're doing. But we also have small groups and as we get to know the kids, we will we'll get kids together to help them build on their skills that they're at. um and even some one-on-one time with some of the kids who might need that if we can get that time there. >> So, all of our kindergarten reading and writing standards are written as by the state with guidance and support. So, we're there to to guide them, to support them. Um our phonics curriculum this year is is called UFI. And none of it is meant for students to be doing independently. It's I'm going to model now we're doing it together. I'm going to model and now we're doing it together. There are opportunities in small groups for those students who are ready for that independent practice to practice, which is great. Um, and then as Kim referenced, our benchmark is our new reading and writing curriculum this year. And it's it's pretty great. Um, it's very rigorous. Um, it really builds those knowledgebased standards that um that seem too big for kindergarten, but I'm really amazed every single day at the conversations that we have on the rug as we're reading and writing and talking about what authors do and what illustrators do. And um we talked about the shades of meaning among verbs in kindergarten and they got like they were just they were blown away and they like I was blown away and like okay so move is the verb but we can we can run and we can skip or we could tiptoe and all of the different ways ways that we can do that action. It's really amazing. It's great. >> It is >> awesome. Thank you. So parents and you're now almost halfway through the school year. What's surprised you um about your student? Just how much they've learned or what they've learned so far this year? >> I think I can start. Um I think what surprised me is how much um she brings home. Um, and cuz it's like during like immediately when she comes home, it's usually like she wants a snack, she needs like a break, she needs to play, just kind of settle everything. But then, you know, it'll be like even like getting ready for bed, she'll talk about like, "Oh, I want to do um categories and they do apparently it's something that they did in their class where um you know, they sound out something that's in a specific category and then they, you know, it's not the right word and they hear it and they connect it to the right word." or um she'll ask us to do math problems um before bed and like I'll give her like 2 plus 2, 5 plus 4, whatever. And I'm like I it's so funny to hear like that that's unprompted from her. Um and how much she's retaining that and kind of showing us when she when she gets home. Um that's probably my biggest biggest takeaway right now. >> Thanks, Tyler. Anything else from Angela, Matt, or Aaron? >> I can uh talk about it next. We So, we didn't prep our kid at all. She knew how to write her name and that was about it as far as like reading, writing. Um they did a little bit of, you know, like she might be able to recognize an M because it's part of mom, you know, that kind of thing. And it's it's been amazing how like we're almost halfway through, but the amount that she's learned and the excitement she has around, you know, being able to read stuff herself and she'll we'll wake up and she's written on her little whiteboard in her room some something that's that's, you know, not necessarily spelled exactly correct, but the words are all, you know, like phonetically we can figure it out no problem. It's like a cool sent, you know, it's it's interesting. It's not just like dog is on rug kind of thing. Um, so her like vocabulary, the way she uses words, the ability to to kind of sit and sound something out, her excitement around it, like it's been wild. It's It's really fun. >> That's awesome. Thank you. >> Yeah. Just like she's reading and it's December. I just I I actually teach in elementary but I teach special ed and it's obviously very individualized. each learner is at their own level and so I just am used to moving at a different pace and so for her I just was like what all like whoa it's just um I don't know I just imagine that was something more end of the year like they'll be reading a sentence but no her homework is they are reading and they're off and running and it's just it's just incredible and yeah they're learning every day and yeah it's pretty pretty awesome >> exciting is fun to walk into a kindergarten classroom and just hear the conversations they're having it. I, as a teacher, I'm sure you are blown away. I know when I walk into a classroom, I'm blown away by what I am seeing and hearing. Um, we're going to start to wrap this up, but before I ask your last question about just advice, I do want to talk a little bit about communication. Um, someone touched on the the communication you get from school, you see pictures, you see things like that. From a parent perspective, what does communication look like with the teacher? Anyone want to jump in and just talk about that communication flow back and forth? Yeah, you I've heard I've heard rumors of these photos and videos. We do not get those. [laughter] Um and I think that's fine, but we u we have emails our our teacher sends um she calls them peak at the week emails at the end of the week that kind of look forward to the next week and what to expect. And some of the learning things I enjoy seeing like the here are the heart words that we've learned or and different things like that. And then we've had a few circumstances where she has sent an individual email for one reason or another. Um, usually or I've sent emails saying, you know, I heard this and I'd like to, you know, just hear your perspective there. Um, but I would say a lot of it's been minimal. Um, and that was crazy for me coming from a school where like I got, you know, 15 pictures a day and notice of every bite that my kids took. So that was a big adjustment for me personally. I think it was good to step back a little bit though. [laughter] >> Probably healthy and and yeah, I mean, we've always gotten responses when we've needed them, but it's it's a lot of more [clears throat] trusting your kid or sending a note in the folder and just moving on. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I can say I don't feel like I've had um any issues with communicating with my teacher. Um, I know that they're always available to be reached um, via email. Uh, and kind of similar to we've had those kind of weekly emails where it's like this is what their schedule will look like for the next week. Um, these are like special notes to consider like we have this special event on so and such a day. Um, and then to like the personalized emails, like if there's a particular issue in the class or anything like that that's always um been brought up in a timely manner and I know if I have issues or if I have any concerns um I send them off in an email and I typically get a a quick response. So I've Yeah, I've had no complaints for for the communication. Wonderful. >> All right, I am going to move us forward with just the last question and that's what advice do you have for parents? And I'm going to open that up to all of you to just kind of do your little closing statement here on um what you have learned now that you're an expert a year into kindergarten and what advice you have for these parents here listening today. >> Sure. [laughter] >> Thanks. [clears throat] Um, yeah. Well, my advice is also, I mean, it's a it's a great time for you with your child going to kindergarten. We're excited to have them come. It's a fun and enjoyable experience for us as well. And also remember to take care of yourselves, too, especially as this is your first child going to kindergarten. You're going to have some emotional moments, too, as far as trying to let as you're letting your child, your baby go to school. Um, but we're going to take care of them and we will do the best that we can to communicate with you. We ask the same from you as parents, too. Don't be afraid to contact us. Don't be afraid to email. Um, even if it's a you feel like it's a silly question, it's probably not and it's probably something that will help you feel better then as well. So, we are excited to have them come and um just know that it's going to be big emotions, but it's going to be a great great experience, too. So, so my my advice is just be kind to you. Just read with your kids, have fun, play games, and be ready to just have fun with kindergarten. >> Thanks, Kim. >> Yeah. Um, I guess I would say to I felt like I really knew my daughter going into kindergarten. I think we did know her very well, but we've also been surprised by some things. So, I think just kind of leaving yourself open to listen and experience and and watch what they can do. And like we've learned that our daughter can be a very good rule follower at school. That was unexpected [laughter] for us. So, um I think just kind of keeping an open mind and then um don't do what I did and ask leading questions. Let [laughter] them kind of keep things open. >> Yeah. Talk with your kids. They're having fun. Uh, don't be afraid to go to bed at 6:30 if they're really tired. Just let them let them and give them, you know, that you're sending them to to school. They're going to be following a bunch of rules. You know, if you can give them a little control at home that you might not normally have, that's good to relax or let them kind of just unwind a little bit. Yeah, I think that was uh part of my transition too. Before kindergarten, I was so kind of obsessed with filling our time like we've got to be getting outside. We've got to be reading so much and and doing so much. Um, but I think now what so much of her day is taken up with learning and exercise and all of that, when she comes home, she's exhausted. So, um, really give them a chance to, um, kind of absorb what they learned throughout the day. Um, I think we also learned too not to like question them right away, like off the bus, how was school d like she doesn't want to talk about that right off the bat. just give them some time. Um, and you know, oftent times she'll bring it up herself, whether it's at dinner or later in the afternoon, she'll say, "Oh, this and this happened or you know, I learned this and this." She'll be singing a song like, "Where'd you learn that?" "Well, that was in my music class." And so, a lot of that is like again just kind of sitting back, letting them come to you. You, you know, but you know your child best and um you're able to read how how they're processing everything. Great. Any other last words, Erin or Ashley? >> I think too like just communication is really important both both ways. Um, and ask your child the questions and ask the teachers the questions and also assume positive intent. Um, and if you're if you're curious about something and what what the intent is, we're happy to help explain because sometimes things are very different um when you have a classroom of 22 to 25 5-year-olds versus um one or two at home. So, ask your questions. Know that we're always here for you guys and and and your kiddos. Anything else, Erin? To close? I don't want to put you on the spot. You've shared a lot of great advice already, too. >> I don't think so. You guys did a great job. And I just like for my kiddo, I'm have the snacks ready when they get home. She's just starving. And just like the lunch, I've heard other kids mention it too. I'm like, she comes up with the full lunch and I'm like, "What's going on?" She's like, "I didn't have time." So, I don't know if she's just talking or it's just quick or I don't know, but they're hungry and they're exhausted. So yeah, just give them their time and I think you all will know what to do because you love your kiddos and you care so much and you're all here. So yeah, that's all. >> Wonderful. Well, as you can see, we picked some great experts here to share advice. So hopefully they answered a lot of your questions. You can, if you have some questions, put them in the chat. We might have time for a couple of them. Um, but there are a couple things I just want to share for next steps here. So I'm going to click on to our slideshow once again. Um, we do get a lot of questions about Adventure Club, which is our child care program that is before and after school care. We also have SK uh care on non-school days. Um, it's an optional fee based program. Registration this year will actually be happening in April. Um, but you will get information will be available in January. So, if Adventure Club is something you're interested in, watch for more info in January. And just know that registration is in April. We are actively working to hire so that we can try to fill more spots. You may have heard in the past that um it has been harder to get into Adventure Club, but we're very confident that some of the changes we've made are we've already seen numbers increasing and we're hoping to be able to get um people into Adventure Club right away. So, definitely register if it's something that you're in need of and um stay tuned for more information. Transportation is another piece. Um buses are available if you live if you're attending your neighborhood school. Um busing is if you're greater than a half mile. There's also some factors where if it's an unsafe street, we have hazardous roadways where we will transport to so your kid doesn't have to walk across a highway to get to school or anything. So, there's more information about that. Um, stowwaterchools.org/bus and more information will be shared about that after you are enrolled. Just a couple more reminders of things to do before that first day of school. Uh, if you haven't already had your ear early childhood screening, you can schedule that. That's just a check-in for us to be able to uh work with your student just to identify maybe any issues if if there's maybe a vision or hearing or some other things that we can help get them the the support that they need before the first day of school. You will also need a school health exam. Um immunizations or a waiver u is necessary. Uh you have to re get those forms to school before the first week of school. And then we talked a little bit about the Ready Set Go conferences. information will be coming in the summer to you about those. They are definitely a great way for you to meet the teacher and really help your student just feel comfortable. I know when my kid went to her ready, set go, she could just march in on that first day of school and know right where to go and this is her classroom and um felt like she already owned the place after being there with her teacher for a half hour. So definitely a good thing to take part in that Ready Set Go conference. With that, there's some more information on our website. We invite you to visit that at any time and if you have questions you can always reach out to us. The email address is there. Um you can visit the school, talk to the principal. As you saw we have amazing teachers. These are just two of many outstanding teachers who are ready to welcome your student and your entire family into our district. Any questions? I'm just going to turn it over to um Chris to see if we have any questions in chat. >> Yes, we have a question. Curious about the new Lake Elmo Elementary as we are in that area. How will visit work for that? I assume the April events will take place at the existing school. >> They will. Unfortunately, we can't get you into that new building. I know Ashley's had a sneak peek probably, right? As a staff member got to go in and see it under construction with a hard hat. [laughter] >> Ashley, do you want to talk a little bit about the new school just from a staff perspective? What you saw? What you're excited about? >> I think the question was that yes. So, the ear the um I'm really tired. >> The orientation in April will be at our existing building. Typically, we have the students in my classroom actually and then parents go to another location for their um parent session. Um and then I we haven't everything kind of is waiting on construction dates and things like that. Um, I'm I'm hopeful that we can have some little previews prior to the start of the school year, but time will tell. Um, it's it's it's very exciting. So, kindergarten will have its own pod, um, our own little house that will all be together, both English and immersion, a lot of opportunities for collaboration. Um, very it's it's going to be very exciting. >> And it just so happens we actually have an Anderson teacher here as well. So, when we're talking about the new Lake Elmo, we also have the new Bayport Elementary um which is opening too. Kim, anything you want to say about that? >> Yeah, we're excited for a lot of the same reasons that Ashley is too that we will have our own little space that'll be preschool kindergarten sharing that space together. Um also, I also had the chance to go and see the construction happening. And so it was fun to see um the spaces evolving and and where we're going to be at kind of that. They're really still in the early processes of it, but it was fun to just see it coming together. So, >> right. >> So, your your question is unfortunately you won't get to see the actual classrooms your kids will be in next year at those new buildings just yet, but we will be doing some openhouse things um prior to the start of the school year, so you'll get a chance to see it then. There's a lot of pictures and video on our website that you can check out to see progress. >> Yes. Yeah, and I think that there's like there's some like mockups and things like that on the on those websites as well. >> We have another question. Carissa, what is the max class size for standard and Spanish immersion classes? >> Uh Kim or Ashley, do you want to talk a little bit about class size at the kindergarten level for traditional classrooms? >> Yeah, it's the same at both the English and um Spanish immersion. Um our class size caps at 25. >> So, it kind of depends on the year. I've had years where I've had 18. I've had years where I've had closer like this year of 22, which is the most that I've had at Lake Elmo. Um, but it just really depends on the year. >> Yep. Yeah. And mine currently is 17 students in the classroom and I've had up to 21. So, yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions, Chris? >> Nope. That's all I'm seeing. >> Okay. Well, this is perfect because we just have a couple minutes left. Um, I just want to thank everybody again for joining us and great work from our panel here to share great information. Um, if there are any other questions, as I said, you can reach out to us. We would be happy to answer them as one-offs. Um, I encourage you, if you haven't already, to take advantage of the tours and get to see the schools, get in there and um, and actually walk through the halls and see the spaces that your kids are going to be into. There are also a lot of events that happen, especially in the spring towards the end of the year. There's field days and there's all sorts of fun things, carnivals, things like that. Um, encourage you to bring your kid to the the carnival at your neighborhood school so they can just walk the halls again and get to see what that atmosphere is like. It's a lot of fun. So, watch for those opportunities. Um, and most off I think what we just heard from this group is just read to your kids, get them excited about kindergarten and support them every step of the way. It really is a fun time um I think for for the kids as well as the families. So, just enjoy every moment of it. Thank you all for joining us tonight. We can't wait to see you next year.