• What can I do to prepare my child for kindergarten?

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    1. Thoroughly read the booklet “Are You Ready? A Family’s Guide to Starting Kindergarten", filled with information on: Social and Emotional Readiness, Physical Skills, Language & Academics, Family-School Partnerships and more.
    2. Practice social greetings and following directions.
    3. During the summer, make several visits to Cherry Chase.
      1. Walk through the hallways, play in the playground, have a picnic on the grass, etc.
      2. Point out the office, library and multipurpose room
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  • When do kindergarteners begin the full day program?

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    For the first six weeks of school, kindergarteners are dismissed Monday - Friday at 11:35 AM.

    Kindergarten students begin full day on Monday, October 3, 2022.

    Monday -Thursday  8:15 AM - 2:25 PM

    Friday 8:15 AM - 12:45 PM

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  • When do we find out about our child’s teacher and classroom?

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    Class assignments will be sent home via email on the Friday before school starts. 

    Teachers look at gender and age along with the information from the Kindergarten Readiness Appointments, and then distribute the students as evenly as possible, so that each class has a similar composition. Parents cannot request a teacher. All our teachers are qualified professionals. Class assignments are subject to change after school begins to ensure classes are balanced.

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  • Do all the teachers at Cherry Chase teach the same things?

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    They all have the same reading, math, science, and social studies standards. They all have their own unique personalities and may teach the same thing differently.

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  • At what age are children required to attend school in California?

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    In California, children between six and eighteen years of age are subject to compulsory full-time education.

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  • What is the minimum age for admittance into kindergarten?

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    According to Education Code 48000[a], a child shall be admitted to a kindergarten maintained by the school district at the beginning of a school year, or at a later time in the same year if the child will have their fifth birthday on or before September 1 of the school year.

    Students with birthdates between September 2nd and February 2nd are eligible for Transitional Kindergarten.

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  • What are the eligibility requirements for enrollment in kindergarten?

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    Eligibility for kindergarten is on the basis of age only. Once a child has entered kindergarten, the district will administer tests to determine a child’s readiness for specific aspects of the curriculum. These include English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (also known as the ELPAC), administered to students whose primary language is other than English, and district assessments for language, mathematics, and social-emotional well-being.

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  • My child will turn 5 shortly before September 1, should I enroll them or should I wait?

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    We frequently get questions regarding the skills needed for students to attend kindergarten along with concerns that a child may not be ready for kindergarten, even though their age would place them at that grade level.  Below are some of the common concerns we hear and an explanation of how those concerns are addressed in the kindergarten classroom.

    1.  My child struggles to sit still for long periods of time, and I am concerned they will be a distraction.  Developmentally, children at this age are very active and curious, so they are frequently moving their bodies to explore the world around them.  At the beginning of the kindergarten year, teachers plan for a lot of movement in their lessons and provide short, focused mini-lessons for students.  As the year progresses, students learn how to sit and listen for extended periods of time.

    2. My child struggles with social interactions, and I am concerned they will struggle to make friends.  One of the main foci for kindergarten students is the development of social skills to enable them to make friends and work well with others.  Teachers plan specific lessons to help develop these skills and support students in making decisions about how they will interact with others.

    3. My child does not know all of his/her letters or numbers yet, and I am concerned they will be behind.  According to the California Common Core State Standards, children are not expected to know their letters or numbers prior to entering kindergarten.  By the end of the kindergarten year, students are expected to learn their letters and numbers through 30. 

    If you are concerned that kindergarten would not be the appropriate placement for your child, we encourage you to schedule a meeting with one of our administrators to further discuss your concerns.

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  • My child went to kindergarten at a private school. Can they automatically be enrolled in 1st grade?

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    No. Consistent with Education Code Section 48011, a public school may only admit an age-ineligible child who has attended a private school kindergarten to the first grade if:

    • the child is five years old;
    • the child has completed a full year of private school kindergarten;
    • the local district determines that the child is ready for first-grade work; and
    • the parent or guardian consents.

    It is important to recognize that private schools are not required to comply with the kindergarten and first-grade admission dates for public schools, the curriculum, or the State Board of Education-approved content standards that are followed by public schools.  Therefore, when you register your child, they will automatically be placed at the age-appropriate grade level.  Should you wish to consider an alternative placement, you can make a request to speak with the school administrator.

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  • My child already knows numbers and letters. Can they be enrolled in first grade?

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    Although learning the letters, their sounds, and numbers are some of the key standards students learn in kindergarten, there is a great deal more students learn during this school year.  Students are developing their social and problem-solving skills.  In addition to the California Common Core Standards for Language Arts and Mathematics, there are also California Standards for science, social studies, physical education, and the arts.  

    To address the varied needs of the students in their classroom, teachers use differentiation.  All students will have strengths in some areas and may need additional support in other areas.  Using assessment data, the classroom teacher will determine the level of support or challenge your child needs and provide instruction to meet those needs.

    If you are concerned that kindergarten would not be the appropriate placement for your child, we encourage you to schedule a meeting with one of our administrators to further discuss your concerns.

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  • Who helps students with their lunch?

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    Parent volunteers and paid yard duty personnel help supervise all kindergarteners with lunch. Your child is learning to be independent and will be expected to carry his/her own lunchbox or order hot lunch and to feed him/herself. We do not heat food brought from home, so please pack lunch appropriately. Please use containers that your child can open independently. You might try practicing with them at home.

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  • Do children have a rest period during the full day program?

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    No, the children do not have a rest period, but activities in the afternoon are usually less academic than the morning.

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