Welcome Drum Point
Families
Kindergarten and First Grade Orientation
Housekeeping Information
• Please make sure to have received
from your child’s teacher:
– Parent/Student Handbook
– Back to School Night Information
– Bus Safety Packet is found online
Housekeeping Information
Continued…
• Please make sure if you did not complete
the Emergency Verification Form tonight
to return it as soon as possible.
• The tag with your child’s name on it you
received – please have your child wear that
on the first day of school! Please fill in
their bus number.
• Please return the paperwork you received
as soon as possible, many of the papers are
time sensitive. Thank you!
Kindergarten Staff
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Mrs. McGlynn
Mrs. Farrell
Mrs. Wascho
Mrs. Krebs
Mrs. Koehler
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First Grade Staff
Mrs. Keough
Miss Goubeaud
Mrs. Popp
Mrs. McGrath (Mrs. Rossi)
Mrs. Krebs
Mrs. Koehler
Mrs. Grace
Other Friendly Faces
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Principal – Ms. McConnell
Assistant Principal – Mrs. Gibbs
School Nurse – Mrs. Knittel
Secretaries – Mrs. Bench & Mrs. Cole
Social Worker – Mrs. Walsh
Custodial Staff – Ms. Kocses Head
Custodian
Daily Specials
• Art – Ms. Wollek
• Music – Ms. Sanford
• Physical Education – Ms. Lukosius and
Mr. MacCarrick
• Media Center – Mrs. Cappetta
Important Reminders
• Students must report to the Main Office if you arrive late to
school
• Call in absent students – send a note upon return
• Bring all medications to the nurse’s office
• Send in a note for a change in dismissal
• Report to the main office upon arrival. Bring a license for
picture i.d.
• Please notify the Main Office if there is a change in address,
phone number, or emergency contact information
• Refer to the Parent/Student Handbook for other important
procedures
• Please don’t send your children to school with toys!
Academics
• Kindergarten and First grade will
focus on Language Arts Literacy and
Mathematics
• Students will have daily instruction in
Science and/or Social Studies as well
Language Arts - A Path
to Balanced Literacy
• Whole Group, Small Group, and Independent Literacy work
• Variety of genres – Literature, Informational Text, Poetry…
• Leveled Readers – Students are taught at the appropriate
instructional level.
• Six Traits Writing – Opportunities for modeled, shared, and
independent writing activities.
• Focus Wall –Target Skills & Strategies clearly posted each
week.
• Common Core Standards integrated into daily instruction.
• Technology- Interactive Whiteboard Lessons
• Think Central provides access to student editions.
Mathematics Instruction
• Combines elements of standards-based instruction
with the best traditional approaches.
• Through objects, drawings, conceptual language, and
real-world examples, it helps students make sense of
mathematics while offering new ways to teach and
learn mathematics through exploration, modeling and
discussion.
• Math Expressions supports the CCSS by covering
select concepts for deeper mastery.
What can I do at home?
• Read, Read, Read
• Reading is the foundation skill for all learning.
Teach your child to love books and you will build a
lifelong reader.
– Read to your child, with your child, allow them to read
quietly and read to you.
– Allow your child to make predictions about the story.
– After you finish a story, ask your child how the story
relates to a personal experience he/she may have had.
– Ask your child how he/she might have changed the story.
– Using daily opportunities and situations (such as recipes,
restaurant menus, grocery store, driving in the car) to
integrate reading.
What can I do at home?
• Provide opportunities for your child to write and practice
different context for writing.
• Practice math skills within context of real world situations
• Create fun math games for your child to help you solve problems
• Practice basic facts to develop a clearer understanding of
number sense
• Help your child develop critical thinking skills by embracing the
“why” questions. Asking what happens next or making
predictions also encourages this skill.
Transportation
• Students are encouraged to use the buses!
• Send in a note for any changes in dismissal. We need this is
writing!
• Review bus rules with your child.
• Should you need to drop your child off, please do not arrive
before 8:10.
• At 8:10 students can be dropped off at the front of the
school.
• Your child will be considered late after 8:25. Please see
that your child arrives on time to begin the school day!
• If you are picking up your child, please arrive by 2:45 for
dismissal. We will start to load the buses by 2:50.
Breakfast
• Research shows that having breakfast can impact the
academic achievement of students.
• Breakfast will be available daily for purchase and will be
delivered to the classrooms.
• Breakfast will be organized like snack time. On most days
students will continue to work while enjoying breakfast
items.
– Students who receive free lunch will be offered a breakfast
for free
Please consider pre-paying for the meals by using the pre-pay
system!
Lunch
• Lunch is at 10:45 a.m.
Please consider pre-paying for the meals by
using the pre-pay system
https://www.parentonline.net/Public/Login.
aspx
BEST Program
• Before care and after care offered at Drum Point School
through the BEST program
– Before school care starts at 6:30 AM
– After school care ends at 6:00 PM
– Children have an opportunity to participate in physical
activities, arts and crafts, special events and projects,
etc.
– Staff helps the children with their homework for 45
minutes to an hour during after care everyday
• Please contact the BEST office, which is located at the
BCPLC (732-262-2590)
Drum Point PTA
• The PTA is part of the national Parent/Teacher Association
that strives to enhance children’s educational experiences.
• The primary objectives of the PTA is to provide our schools
with funds, programs, resources and services that will
enrich and maximize the education of every child.
• The PTA provides our children with the homework agendas,
music and dance events, family fun activities, grade and
curriculum based assemblies and other hands-on interactive
experiences and presentations. Last year the PTA
graciously purchased new white boards for every classroom.
All of this directly benefits the students of Drum Point.
• Please get involved in our school by joining the PTA!
Safety Drills
• One Fire Drill and
One School
Security Drill a
Month
• Notification of
these drills will not
come home prior to
the drill.
Home/School Connection
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Website ~ www.brickschools.org
Friday folders
Phone calls/conferences
Newsletters
Intervention and Referral Service
School Social Worker
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Kelso’s Choice Conflict
Management For
Children
“Intelligence plus character-that is
the goal of true education.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Drum Point Elementary School’s Character Education Program
 Integrate six pillars of character into curriculum and school day
 Highlight monthly traits
 Students will be rewarded for demonstrating positive changes
and good character by being invited to have lunch with the
principal.
A few words from our
Assistant Principal –
Mrs. Gibbs
A few words from our
School Social Worker…
Mrs. Walsh
A few words from our
Intervention Specialist…
Mrs. Krebs
A few words from our
School Nurse…
Mrs. Knittel
A few parting words…
• Thank You, I Know We Will Have a
Great Year!
• I look forward to a fantastic year at
Drum Point! Please feel free to
contact me with any further
questions!
Together Everyone Achieves More