BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
Brandi Thomas, M.Ed. & Yan He
Kindergarten Chinese Immersion Program 2015-2016
A little bit about Mrs. Thomas
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Hello, I’m so excited to be your child’s teacher this year!
I have been teaching for 21 years and moved here from Oklahoma City
three years ago. I taught in Deer Creek, Edmond, and Putnam City
Public Schools before becoming a Jenks Trojan.
I attended Oklahoma State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s
degree in Child Development. I also received a Master’s degree in
education from UCO.
I enjoy being outdoors, running, reading, and being with friends and
family.
A little bit about He Laoshi
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Nihao!你好！ I’m very excited to be your child’s Laoshi. 
I have been teaching Chinese as a second language for one year and a
half. I moved here from Oklahoma City last October. I am proud to
become a Jenks Trojan!
I attended Tianjin Foreign Studies University in China and graduated
with a Bachelor’s degree in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. I
also received a Master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second
Language (TESOL) from Oklahoma City University.
I enjoy jogging, cooking, traveling, watching movies and hanging with
my friends and family.
General School Information
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Site Principal - Lindy Risenhoover
Building Principal - Lynette Talkington
Our Classroom Early Childhood Assistants - Joy Niles &
Song Laoshi
Brandi.thomas@jenksps.org
Yan.he@jenksps.org
School Safety is our FIRST Priority
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Campus Police
School Emergency Response Team
(SERT)
Video Surveillance systems covering
areas inside/outside all student
buildings and parking areas
Random drug/explosive K-9 sweeps
at all school sites
Anonymous email, text or 1-800
number to report any school threat
or concern
School Safety Training and
Compliance Officer
Pandemic Influenza Plan
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Safe Schools Committee at every
school site
LobbyGuard
Commercial two-way radio system
for Administrators and duty staff
If you see something, hear something,
SAY SOMETHING
Anti-bullying programs incorporated
into the curriculum at all grade levels
Emergency Procedure Guide
endorsed by all emergency response
agencies that could respond to JPS
District Emergency Operations and
Continuity of Services Plans
Curriculum –
National Standards
Oklahoma State
Standards
Jenks Curricula
Continua
Primary
Teaching Tools
Language Arts
Writer’s Workshop
 Reader’s Workshop
 Phonemic Awareness & Phonics
 Handwriting
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Reading
The Comprehension Toolkit
 Focuses on “Reading as Thinking”
 Builds key thinking strategies for increased comprehension
 Supports time for shared reading, guided reading groups, small groups,
independent reading, and collaborative discussions.
 Students read a variety of genres.
 Matches students with “just right” reading texts.
Fountas & Pinnell Word Study
 Builds word knowledge through instruction in phonological awareness,
phonics, spelling patterns, high frequency word knowledge, vocabulary
development, and word-solving actions.
Mathematics
Everyday Mathematics:
 Emphasizes
conceptual understanding while
building a mastery of basic skills.
 Relates math to real life situations.
 Hands-on activities
 Practice through Games
 Cooperative learning through partner and
small-group activities
 Home and School partnership
Social Studies
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TCI
 Me
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and My World
The Pre-Kindergarten - Twelfth grade social studies
curriculum is to develop responsible, action-oriented
citizens with a personal, global, and historical
understanding of cultural diversity and community.
Science and Health
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Science and Technology for
Children:
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explore the structures,
needs, and life cycles of
plants and animals
plant seeds and watch them
grow
use their senses and the tools
of meteorologists to explore
temperature, precipitation,
wind, and cloud cover
bring motion to a personal
level as they consider their
daily activities and the
motions that accompany
them
STC/Carolina:
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Units of study
1. Exploring with Plants and
Animals
2. Exploring My Weather
3. Exploring Forces and
Motion
Technology
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Integrated into the daily routine of the
classroom through:
 Delivery
of lessons
 Smart Board
 Audio Enhancers
 Document Camera
 Learnpads
 Laptops
 Weekly visit to computer lab
Character Education
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Character Education
Compassion
 Honesty/integrity
 Respect
 Self-discipline
 Courage
 Perseverance
 Responsibility and
Accountability
 Teamwork
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Homework
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HOME READING: Please read with your child every evening. This
will help your child grow tremendously as a reader! Practice,
practice, practice! 
RazKids
Math: Students will have one math home link a week. (We will
send home in Red/Yellow folders on Thursdays and you have a
week to finish and return on the following Friday.)
Thursday Folders
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WEEKLY FOLDER: Every Thursday a folder will come home in your child’s
backpack. The folder will contain notes from the school and completed
student work. Please send the folder back to the classroom on Friday for
use the following week of school.
All About…
Birthday Celebrations – Last Friday of the
Month
Illness – 24 hours fever & vomit free
Brain Break Quiet Time– Small Bath Towel
Snacks - Sign-up for 1-2 weeks
Volunteer Opportunities
Thursday Readers
 Computer Lab
 Thursday Folders
 Center Volunteers (helping kids during centers)
 Class Parties
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Introductions…
Homeroom Moms
Tara Saylors
Emily Wiltshire
Angela Ellis
Jessica Zimmerman
PTA
PTA – Please support Southeast’s PTA. They have provided so many
wonderful additions to our school.
 Auction Basket - Each class will have a basket this year at the
Jenks Foundation Auction. If you work at a business or own a
business that would be willing to donate for our basket this year
please let us know.
 PTA Volunteers - Can you help with – Teacher Appreciation Day,
Dynamic Dads, Book Fair, Parties, etc.
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Together We Can!
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Thank you for being here tonight!