HAAKON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Coordination and
Transition Plan
2015-2016
Reviewed 9/04/14
Table of Contents
Program Development
Page 1
District Demographics
Page 1
Coordination and Transition Plan Goals
Page 1
Coordination and Communication
Page 2
Transition Process
Page 2
Professional Development
Page 3
Parent Involvement and Education
Page 3
Kindergarten Handbook
Page 4
Evaluation
Page 12
Program Development
The district coordination and transition plan was developed and reviewed by a group of people
involved with the school and other childcare agencies throughout the district. The district
currently coordinates with Head Start, Haakon School District Kindergarten Teacher, Haakon
School District Special Educational Staff, Haakon Administrational Personnel, Preschool and Day
Care providers in the area. This plan will be reviewed yearly with each person reviewing the plan
and making suggestions on the effectiveness.
District Demographics: The Haakon School District is located in western South Dakota.
Haakon school district covers 1,646.74 square miles and includes the rural communities of
Philip, Quinn, Milesville, Deep Creek. It is made up of
students in grades K12. This would
make the school district sparsity .182 students per square mile.
The school district has three sites:
Philip Elementary – K-6 (133 students)
Philip Junior High School – 7-8 (44 students)
Philip High School – 9-12 (102 students)
Milesville Rural Attendance Center – K8 (11 students)
Deep Creek Rural Attendance Center- K8 (4 students)
During the spring pre-school screening days, the Title I Coordinator may visit, call, or email
various agencies to inquire about any necessary professional development and communication
skills needed to make a smooth transition towards our school district. The school will coordinate
efforts with all parties, viewing the strengths and weaknesses of our district plan. All parties are
encouraged to attend any professional development opportunities offered by the school district.
Our Special Education department oversees and directs services birth through preschool children
attending our school district. The school district has an interagency agreement with the Head Start
and the Birth to 3 programs. Each agency recognizes and supports the effort to share available
resources to provide services to children with special needs. Agencies will coordinate and cooperate in
the identification, the evaluation, and in the delivery of services to children with special needs. This
agreement is updated yearly by the Head Start Director, Haakon School Superintendent, and special
education staff of the Haakon School District. Contact is maintained by the Haakon School District
Special Education staff, so communication is shared quickly and easily.
Coordination and Transition Plan Goals:
The school district will coordinate with all participating agencies to help identify, recruit, and provide
services to any child with special needs. All agencies will honor confidentiality policies regarding
children and families receiving services. The various agencies will share resources and information to
best serve the needs of children with special needs. All agencies will work together so all children
feel welcome in the Haakon School District.
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Coordination and Communication
The district will coordinate and communicate with the following agencies:
Rural Head Start:
Youth & Family Services:
Birth to Three Program
Day Care Providers:
SD Dept of Health-Community Health Nurse:
Kindergarten Teacher:
Community Preschool Teachers:
Special Educational Staff:
Title I Coordinator:
Superintendent:
Kristie Stone
Susan Fedell
C.J. Moit
Jenny Terkildsen/Kerry Burns
Shar Moses/Amy Moses
Cindy Kerns
Jennifer Henrie Kim Pinney
Heidi Burns
Melanie Morehart
Tayta West
Diane Walker
Erin Baer
Tara Johnson (Children Therapy Services)
Vicki Knutson
Keven Morehart
Our district only has home based child care opportunities. These agencies are on a voluntary
basis with communicating and coordinating with the school district. The school district will
maintain an open line of communication and offer resources and information. On a yearly basis,
the Title I coordinator will contact each agency person with regards to any necessary needs. This
contact will be made mainly at the preschool and kindergarten screening in the spring with follow
up phone calls or emails from non attending agency personnel. Due to the vast area our school
district encompasses, it produces a challenge to gather the complete group, so the school Title I
coordinator will be the contact person to get information gathered and dispersed. The school
personnel will be able to meet and discuss on a regular basis with additional input from any
agency member.
Transition Process
During the spring screening, a child count is gathered for the upcoming year for students to
enroll in kindergarten. Transitioning into Kindergarten at Philip Elementary School is a day
reserved in the spring whereby potential students are invited to the school. They are greeted by
the Kindergarten teacher and become acquainted with each other and the classroom. Read to
Books are shared followed by a tour to Specials (PE, Music, Art, Computers). An art activity that
involves cutting, pasting, and tracing is given. An ABC Scavenger Hunt is the final activity that
takes students around the school campus looking for particular items to help familiarize them
with their surroundings. When they return to the classroom, they are given a list of school
supplies and the Kindergarten Handbook. For children with special needs, accommodations are
made whether it is a piece of furniture to allow access to a smart board activity or to practice the
use of a device that makes communication possible. Parents have the opportunity to provide
records to the school making the fall process smoother.
The transition process will be reviewed annually to ensure that all the needs are met for the
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children within our district. This annual meeting will be scheduled either as one large group or
through contact via emails or phone calls by the Title I Coordinator.
Professional Development
Haakon School District maintains an open line of communication to all interested parties and offers
resources and information. Our district has only home based child care opportunities. These
agencies are on a voluntary basis communicating and coordination with the school district. There is
no professional development provided for child care programs other than the collaboration among
team members.
When the school district gets suggestions or concerns regarding early childhood, the Title I
Coordinator will seek an answer.
Parent Involvement and Education
Each school year begins with an afternoon Open House. Parents are provided the opportunity to tour
the school and meet their child’s teacher and the school staff. They are informed of the availability
and location of the parent resources and about a link on the school website to SD PIRC (Parent
Information and Resource Center)/Parent Resource Network. The following pamphlets are available
at the open house and at Parent/Teacher conferences:
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A Parent’s Guide to: The No Child Left Behind Act
Curriculum of the Home
Activities for Preschool through Grade two: Moving into Reading
Ideas for Increasing Reading Comprehension
Promoting School Success – A Parent’s Guide
Suggestions for helping your child with Math homework!
Questions to Ask AFTER “How was your day?”
A BUSY Parent’s Guide to HOMEWORK!
The BEST School Year Ever!
A Parents Guide: Helping Your Child with TEST TAKING
Building Blocks: A Guide to Reading Readiness
A Parent’s Guide to : Kindergarten Mathematics Standards (one for each grade through 5)
A Parent’s Guide to: Kindergarten Reading Standards (one for each grade through 5)
You are the POWER in your child’s education
It is also at this time that the Parent Involvement Policy is disbursed as a hard copy and parents are
informed that all policies including the Parent Involvement Policy are now on our website.
Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled each semester. Parents in the elementary are sent a
letter explaining the importance of parental involvement in their child’s education and
encouraging them to attend with a scheduled date and time. They again have the opportunity to
peruse the parent resources and pick up brochures from the SD Parent Resource Network. At
our Early Childhood/Kindergarten screening day the parents are given a the School Handbook
(Kindergarten) which includes School Readiness booklet that gives the parents information on
getting their child ready for the school experience.
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Kindergarten Handbook:
Welcome to Kindergarten!
I want to take this opportunity to welcome you and your child to the classroom! Each year is exciting
and challenging for all, and I am looking forward to getting to know you and your child.
The beginning of the school year is an exciting time for both children and their parents. I hope to
make this time easier for you and your child by compiling some information that will help answer
some of your questions.
I look forward to establishing the best possible learning environment for your child. With teamwork
and cooperation among parents, teachers, and students, we will all have a SUPER year!
Money
When sending money to school for lunch tickets, book order, etc., please put the money in a
Ziploc bag or an envelope with the child's name, the amount enclosed, and what the money is
for.
Transportation
Please remember to NOTIFY THE SCHOOL IN WRITING OR BY TEACHER CONTACT if there is a
change in the normal routine of your child going home from school. Without written instruction from
you (we cannot accept verbal changes from a child or sibling), we will send your child home as usual.
Clothing
Tennis shoes with laces or Velcro closures are required for PE days. Extra shoes/boots are
required for recess. If they do not have extra shoes/boots, they will be asked to stay on the
sidewalk on muddy and snowy days. Students should be able to tie their own shoes and zip their
own coats.
Communication
Everyday your child will take home a daily folder. Inside you will find any important notices,
homework, and daily work. Please review your child's folder each day and send it back to school
the next day. We want you to feel free to contact the school with any questions or concerns.
Please call the school between 7:30 and 4:00 at 859-2001.
Behavior Plan
As you know good behavior and learning go hand in hand. Simple rules are established to ensure
your child will experience a positive and safe learning environment. There is a five colored behavior
card system in place. Each day the students start out with a purple card. The color of the cards and
the consequences that go with it are as follows:
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Purple – awesome
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Green – good
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Yellow – warning
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Red – five minutes of recess taken away
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Black – principal’s office
Even at the young age of five or six, children need to learn the importance of accepting
responsibility for their actions. I believe students thrive on positive recognition and praise. I work
hard to create an environment of friendship and respect in my classroom. I teach students that life
is about choices and I expect them to make appropriate choices. I strive for consistency and will
start the school year with clear expectations.
Our Classroom rules:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Keep, hands, feet, and objects to yourself
Follow directions first time given
Raise your hand and wait to be called on
Treat self and others with kindness
Always try your best
Specific Playground Rules:
1. Students will sit on the slide and go down only
2. Monkey bars are to be used for grades 2-6 only. (Students are not allowed to sit or chicken
fight on bars)
3. Students will sit on the Merry-Go-Round with feet off the ground.
4. Balls and bats are to be used on the fields or near fence area only.
5. We encourage all students to wear appropriate clothing which includes boots, caps, and
gloves during wet or snowy weather.
6. Tag is to be played only on ground level.
Self-Help Skills
Some skills are important for your child's personal safety. Each student will need to learn the
following information: address, phone number, allergies, 9-1-1, birthday, family members, and
tying shoes. Please help your child as often as needed at home until (s)he has mastered these
skills.
Students may either eat lunches prepared at home or may eat lunches served at the school.
Applications for free and reduced meals may be obtained from the office. Following are the prices for
lunches: K-6 student price $1.75 reduced lunch $.40 and a carton of milk is $.25. You can put money
into a lunch/milk account and Lisa Schofield will give your child a ticket when the account gets low.
We have milk break every day in Kindergarten. Students choose whether or not to have milk each
day.
Conferences
Parent of students at Haakon Schools are invited and are most welcome to visit school. Parents
may request conferences with their child's teacher at any time.
Parent-Teacher Conferences are held mid-term during the first and third nine-week grading
periods. Information pertaining to the scheduled conferences will be sent home with your child at
the appropriate times.
School District Website
The Haakon School District website address is www.philip.k12.sd.us. There you will find daily
bulletins and other information to keep you informed as to what is happening at school.
Arrival to School
School begins at 8:00 a.m. Children are asked not to arrive early. As a general rule, students may
arrive 15 minutes before school starts.
Late Starts/Early Dismissal/No School
Weather in South Dakota can change very quickly and unpredictably. Please prepare your child for
temperature changes year-round. When inclement weather or another emergency make it necessary
that school be called off, notification will be broadcast over radio stations KGFX (1060 AM) of Pierre,
KBHB (810 AM) of Sturgis, and KIMM (1150 AM) of Rapid City. TV stations KEVN and KOTA will also
broadcast any cancellations. Early closing will be broadcast over the same stations. It will also be put
on the web site. Parents are asked to pick up students at the school in case of early closings.
Regular and prompt attendance at school gives your child a definite advantage in learning and
developing good study habits. If your child will be tardy or absent to school, please notify the school.
All students must present a written explanation of absences signed by the parent/guardian on the day
of return to the school.
Recess
Request for students to stay indoors at recess because of illness or injury will require a written
request from the parent stating the reason.
Your Child's Special Needs
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Allergies
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Excessive Shyness
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Medication
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Nicknames
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Chronic health issues
Bathroom difficulties
Physical or emotional disabilities
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Hyperactivity
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Anything else you may think would help us better serve your child
School Supply List
2 Large Box of Kleenex
Highlighter–wide tipped - 2
Crayons, 24 count (2 boxes)
Set of Crayola Markers
20 glue sticks (put in a baggy and label)
1 spiral notebook
Pencils (No. 2) (No plastic coated)
Art supply box or bag
2 packs of unlined index cards (3x5)
Scissors
4 dry erase marker sets X2 (8 markers)
Large Eraser
1 bottle hand sanitizer (8 oz)
Boys: 1 box small Ziploc bags, 1 tub of sanitizing wipes
Girls: 1 box large Ziploc bags, 2 tubs of sanitizing wipes
Confidentiality
The safety and well-being of the students are the schools number one priority. Any conversation or
observation made while in the school setting should not be discussed in or out of the school with
anyone other than me or Mr. Morehart.
Differentiation
Because all children enter the classroom with different abilities, learning styles, prior knowledge, and
experiences, they may require different levels of instruction. It is my responsibility to take each child
from where they are to a higher level. Students may be learning concepts differently from his/her
peers. With this type of teaching in the classroom, you can be sure that your child's individual needs
can be met.
Birthdays
We have lots of birthdays to celebrate this school year. Please contact me prior to your child's
birthday so arrangements can be made if you plan on doing something special.
Fire and Tornado Drills
There are two fire drills and one tornado drill held during the school year.
Specials
The following specials will be attended by the Kindergarten class: PE, Computers, Library, Music, and
Art. Schedules will be sent home when specific times are known. That way you will know when to
return library books and have PE shoes in school.
Snack Time
Your child generally will get hungry by mid-morning so I'm requesting that each family contributes
to our community snack program. Every child should bring a bulk-size snack to share with the
entire class. This should be peanut free, healthy snacks that can be eaten quickly such as dry
cereal, crackers, fruit roll-ups, raisins, Teddy Grahams, Goldfish, etc. We will get a drink of water
after our snack so no drinks are necessary. When our snack begins to run low, I will let you know.
We will have a milk break in the afternoon.
Toys
Bringing toys to school is discouraged because they distract the children from learning. Please
encourage your child to leave personal items at home, such as toys, Pokemon Cards, Game Boys
etc. Our classroom has items to keep us busy, and lost or broken toys can result in very sad
feelings!!
Visitors
All guests, including familiar faces, MUST check in at the school office. Haakon School welcomes
and encourages family involvement. It is important to remember that while this may seem
inconvenient to frequent visitors, it is our goal and our responsibility to create a safe learning
environment.
Medication
All medications must be taken to the office by an adult. Please do not send any medications (even
cough drops) with your child to school. If you have any questions, please call the office.
Goodbyes
Saying goodbye at school can be very emotional for you. But try to send your child off with a smile
and wave along with the reassurance that you will see them after school. Remember even distressed
children settle very quickly once you're gone, so make your leave loving and brief. Trust that they will
be shown compassion from the moment they enter the classroom. My main goal is to make them feel
comfortable right away.
Wish List
Throughout the year, I may post requests for items that we may need for our classroom. You just
never know when we may need something that you're about to throw away.
You
Please remember that you are your child's first and most important teacher. No one can
influence your child's life in the way you can!
Zz Zz Zz
Please keep sure that your child gets plenty of rest each night. Setting and keeping a bedtime helps
them to be alert and ready to learn each day. We do not have a nap/break/quiet time in Kindergarten.
Word Wall
Each week I will attempt to introduce a few sight words (these include number, color, and other sight
words attached in back of handbook).
We will add these words to our word wall each week. Students are expected to practice these words
at home.
Characteristics of Kindergarten Children
Since each child has his or her own built in rate of development, there is a large range in the
developmental age of a group of children who are chronologically five or six years old. A child can
function at several different developmental levels. Developmental age is a better determinate of
school readiness than chronological age since it indicates the child's level of functioning. A range of
two years in the developmental ages of a group of five or six year olds is considered normal.
First Day
Kindergarten students must have a certified copy of their birth certificate in accordance with a law
passed by legislature. The birth certificate is placed in the student's personal file. There are also
immunization requirements that your child will need before entering school.
Finally
Encourage your child to ask questions about school. Informed children are confident children. Talk
positively about school. The way your child perceives your feelings about his/her school and teachers
will have a direct effect on how (s)he feels about them. We are excited to have your child in school
and we look forward to working with you to make sure your child starts school on a positive note. We
GREATLY appreciate your support and anticipate a fun and successful school year!!!
Kindergarten Goals and Expectations
Language/Reading Readiness
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Distinguish initial and final sounds
Tell stories in sequence
Identify role of author and illustrator
Describe character, setting, and key events
Identify sources to obtain information
Writing
 Write letters in acceptable form
 Write neatly in daily work
 Use punctuation at the end of a sentence
 Begin sentence with a capital letter
 Recognize upper and lower case letters
 Recognize sounds of each letter
 Recognize Kindergarten Sight Words (see attached list)
 Begin to read simple predictable books
Math
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Identify and draw a square, circle, triangle, and rectangle
Identify coins and their value (penny, nickel, dime, and quarter)
Recognize and create patterns
• Count to 20/40/60/80/100
Determine the number of objects in a set ® Identify the number of objects in a set
Identify time to the nearest hour
Recognize and write numbers 1-20
Knowledge Skills
• Identify right and left hand
• Recognize and name and basic colors
• Know full name
• Print first name
• Print last name
• Recite and recognize phone number
• Recite and recognize birthday
• Recite address
Kindergarten Sight Words
a
and
are
at
baby
bear
black
blue
brown
can
come
did
eight
father
five
for
four
fun
get
go
going
green
have
here
I
in
is
it
like
took
me
mother
my
nine
no
not
of
on
one
orange
pink
play
purple
put
red
run
said
see
seven
six
she
ten
the
this
to
two
up
went
white
will
yellow
yes
you
Evaluation
The coordination and transition plan will be evaluated annually during preschool screening. The
group meets with each person making suggestions (as needed) on the effectiveness. Follow up
phone calls or emails will be made to any non-attending agency personnel. Each member will
receive a copy of the plan, so they may refer to it adding comments they wish to discuss at a
later time. The parents of children attending our preschool screening will be given a survey to
gather their thoughts on how well they felt the school district and the various partner agencies
work together to ensure a positive transition.
Parent survey given: Coordination and Transition Survey
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