Welcome to

Kindergarten
ŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸ
Golbow Elementary
2019-2020 Orientation
 Golbow’s Mission and Vision
Mission:
Golbow Elementary, together with family and
community, provides authentic learning experiences in a
student-centered environment that inspires lifelong
learners to be honorable citizens who positively impact
the world.

Vision:
Creating a legacy…every student, everyday!
 Administration
Dr. Ann Lalime – Principal
Jeff Carrus – Assistant Principal
Shelley Holcombe – Assistant Principal
 Professional Support
Colleen Walker – Counselor
Kathy Bloyd – ELA & Social Studies instructional coach
Wendy Ryder – Math & Science instructional coach
Lisa Roberts – LSSP
Cecilia Aguilar Ulloa – Diagnostician
Meet the Team
Golbow Kindergarten Team:

Ms. Northey, Mrs. Ballard, Ms. Zuazua, Mrs. Byrd

Mrs. Sorensen, Mrs. Roder

 Registration
Visit our PowerSchool Online Registration website to
begin the registration process.
www.katyisd.org
-Go to PARENTS
-Go to ONLINE REGISTRATION
-Click on New Student Registration or Annual Student
Update
-Create an account or login
-Fill out online forms and submit
 Registration
To qualify for kindergarten, your child must reside in
Katy ISD and be five years old on or before September
1st of the current school year.

Required Documents:
-Birth Certificate/passport (original)
-Social Security card
-Immunization Records
-Parent’s Driver’s License/Passport
-Proof of Residence
*HUD closing statement/lease agreement
*Recent utility bill
*Sales contract & Loan Approval Letter
 PowerSchool
Please ensure that as soon a possible, you sign up for
PowerSchool, or sign in and update your information.
Most school communication will be sent via email.
 ADA/Registrar
Barb Cummins – (281) 237-5355
Absences and Tardies
Always notify the attendance clerk if your child is
absent. Report child’s name, teacher, grade and reason
for absence.

Students are able to walk to the classroom beginning

at 8:00. The tardy bell will ring at 8:18. All students
should be in class at this time. If students are late, a
parent must walk them into the building and sign the
child in.
 Clinic
Azzure Howard – Nurse
Uyen Vu – Nurse Aide
24 Hour Rule
Students who demonstrate signs and symptoms of illness or a possible
communicable disease should be referred to the school clinic for further
assessment. Those with an elevated temperature of 100 degrees or above
or those who vomit or have diarrhea must be isolated and sent home. The
student must be fever free without fever-reducing medication for 24
hours before he/she can be allowed back in school. Those excluded due to
vomiting or diarrhea must also be free of symptoms without the use
of preventative medications before being allowed back in school.
 Medicine
Children may not carry medicine with them at school-not even
cough drops.

If your child needs medicine at school, a KATY ISD approved form

is needed. This must be filled out by a parent and/or the physician
with the medicine in its original container.

The form is located on katyisd.org - search medication or you can

get it from our clinic.
 Extra Clothing
Please pack an extra set of clothes, including
underwear and socks, in a plastic bag inside of your
child’s backpack. Students may have restroom accidents
or liquid spills in the cafeteria.

Please keep in mind to switch out the extra clothes as

the weather changes. There will not be extra clothes
available in the clinic.
 School Readiness
Students entering kindergarten should:
*know basic personal facts
*write their first name
*identify some letter names and sounds
*identify basic colors
*show interest in books and learning
*color and “write”
*recognize numbers to 10
*count to 10 use 1:1 correspondence
*identify basic shapes
 Social Readiness
Students entering kindergarten should:
*show self control by following rules and
routines
*problem solve by using words to solve conflict
*share and play with a variety of friends
*take turns and follow simple directions
*share adult attention and communicate needs
 Fine Motor Readiness
Students entering kindergarten should:
*use crayons, scissors, and glue
*attempt to hold and write with a pencil
*trace lines and shapes
*cut a variety of lines
Daily Schedule
Arrival & Developmental Centers
Read Aloud
Reader’s Workshop
Guided Reading & Literacy Centers
Phonics
Positive Action
Recess & Snack
Handwriting & Writer’s Workshop
Science
Specials
Lunch
Recess
Math Workshop
Math Centers
Recess
Social Studies
 Language Arts Block
Reader’s Workshop: students will gain independence in
reading through a variety of books
Guided Reading: students will learn a variety of reading
skills and strategies in a small group
Phonics: we will learn songs, chants, rhymes, and games
that help with the challenge of learning to read and
write
Handwriting: students will learn proper pencil grip and
letter formation
Writer’s Workshop: students will learn about the writing
process and different styles of writing
 Math Block
We begin by working on basic math skills like number
identification, shapes, counting, and sorting.

We do this through:
*whole group instruction
*small group instruction
*number progressions
*math centers

We also focus on creative ways to solve problems and

think critically.
 Science and Social Studies
Social Studies includes topics from
basic map skills to historical figures
and events.

Science is taught through a ”hands

on” approach that is engaging and
encourages further exploration and
discovery.
 Homework
Each month a new calendar will be sent home in your
child’s folder. Homework will be checked weekly.

Each month will include an at home project that should

be returned at the end of the month. These projects
are often displayed in the classroom or hallway.

Homework is NOT an independent activity in

kindergarten. Thank you for taking the time to work
with your child on their homework.
 Report Cards
Report cards will be sent home at the end of
each grading period. Please sign and return any
comments and return the envelope to school.

All kindergarten teachers will conference with

parents in October. We will discuss student
progress and concerns. We will also answer any
questions you may have.
 Specials
Students will rotate between Art, Music, and P.E each
week, attending one specials class each day.

Schedule:
Monday: Day 1
Tuesday: Day 2
Wednesday: Day 3
Thursday: Day 4
Friday: Rotates between each day

*Tennis shoes should be worn daily*

 Library
Melinda Webb – Librarian
Marlene Wimpenny – Library Aide
Students will visit the library as a class on a weekly
basis. Once a month, students will stay for a library
lesson. Students will have the opportunity to check out
a new book each week. Please make sure that library
books are returned on the assigned day so that your
child may check out a new book.
 Snack
Please send a dry, healthy snack to school each day.
Students will eat snack at the beginning of the first
recess. Snack should be able to be eaten in about 5
minutes. Please keep your child’s snack separate from
their lunch. Recommended snacks: crackers, goldfish,
apple slices, grapes.

Please send a filled water bottle to school each day

that is labeled with your child’s name. We would prefer
reusable bottles without screw top lids to help prevent
spills. Only water is permitted in the classroom.
 Arrival
Breakfast is available beginning at 7:30 in the cafeteria.

Students who do not eat breakfast at school can enter

the gym beginning at 7:45.

Students walk back to the classrooms at 8:00 and the

tardy bell rings at 8:18.
 Lunch
Parents may pay in advance for their child’s lunch by
uploading money onto their Pay N’ Go account or by
placing money in an envelope (labeled with your child’s
name) and sending it in your child’s daily folder.

Please do not send your

child with loose money.
 Lunch
Parents are welcome to visit their children for lunch!
Please sit at the designated table in the cafeteria with
only your student.

Lunch will be from 12:35-1:05 each day.

On early dismissal days, lunch will be from 11:35-12:05.

*The cafeteria is closed to all visitors

the first 2 weeks of school*
 Birthdays
You are welcome to provide store bought mini cupcakes
or cookies for your child’s class on their birthday.
Please do not send cupcakes with candy or other treats
on top.

Please notify your child’s teacher 2-3 days in advance if

you are planning on sending something. Many times
more than one student will share a birthday.

Birthday treats will be enjoyed the last 5 minutes of

lunch and must be delivered to the office by 10 am.
 Names
Please put your child’s name on everything!

*Backpacks
*Lunchboxes
*Jackets
*Water Bottles
 Dismissal
It is important to keep the mode of transportation for
your child consistent throughout the year. Switching
around can become confusing and stressful for the
child.

If for some reason, your child needs to go home a

different way than they normally do, you will need to
send a written note to your child’s teacher the day of
the change.

Without a written note, your child will go home the

same way they normally do each day.
 Behavior Expectations
At Golbow, we expect all of our students
to follow our behavior expectations.

Students will be:

*Respectful
*Responsible
*Ready to Learn
 PBIS at Golbow
PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) is a school
wide framework to teach and positively reinforce behavior
within our building
• Relationship building is crucial

*Clearly teaching students the expectations and positively reinforcing students

who follow them is essential

*Interventions are used for students who struggle with this to help teach them
correct behaviors

*Students who demonstrate positive behavior choices are acknowledged

frequently

*Expectation matrices explain how to be respectful, responsible, and ready to

learn in common areas of the building (please look at PBIS informational flyer
sent home)
 PBIS Incentives
*Bird Tracks are small incentive coupons that staff members hand out to students
who are following expectations and being leaders (Dojo points turn into
birdtracks)
*Blue Jay Café are certificates given to students going above and beyond in
following
our 3 R’s so they can eat lunch with a friend at the special table (Tuesday or
Thursday)
*Preferred Activity Time (PAT) is once every 9 weeks for students who meet the
criteria in
specific areas such as “listens well”, “respects authority”, “disciplines self” or
“interacts appropriately”
*PAT time could be various indoor games, outdoor games, dance parties, sports
games,
arts and crafts, and much more
*Golden Ticket Events are twice a year following months seen as a need by
reviewing discipline data
*Students who earn 100 golden bird tracks and have no more than 1 office
referral during this time frame can attend the events which may be a teacher
talent show, movie and popcorn, outdoor sports activity, or any other large group
student event
 Ways to Get Involved
*Join the PTA for only $12
*Volunteer for VIPS
*Attend school events, parent conferences, spirit
nights, and other meetings
*Follow us on social media
Facebook: Golbow Elementary
Twitter: @golbowtweets
 Contacting Your Child’s Teacher

If you have questions or concerns please call, email, or

send a dojo message to your child’s teacher. Please
allow a 24 hour response time from the time the
message is received.

You will find upcoming dates, important information, and

our weekly newsletter on the ClassDojo app. Please
make sure you sign up today!
 Teacher Contact Info
Elaine Ballard Lauren Roder
(281) 237-5397 (281) 237-4333
elaineballard@katyisd.org laureneroder@katyisd.org

Elizabeth Byrd Mary Sorensen

(281) 237-4323 (281) 237-4342
elizabethdbyrd@katyisd.org maryesorensen@katyisd.org

Callie Northey Lora Zuazua

(281) 237-4303 (281) 237-4307
callienorthey@katyisd.org lorazuazua@katyisd.org
 Thank you!
We are looking
forward to a
wonderful school year!