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Madison Metropolitan School District

Welcome to Kindergarten!

Kindergarten Orientation: Fall 2024

Learn more about our enriching kindergarten program at Glenn Stephens Elementary School by scrolling below, or visit our orientation slideshow.

Memories of Kindergarten

Take a moment to try and remember your kindergarten experience. Are your memories similar to these photos?

A group of kindergarten students
students doing classwork
a cirlce of students working on an activity
smiling students working on a numbers game

Let me introduce you to some of the adults you will be meeting in person soon!

  • Josh Reineking - Kinder Teacher
  • Katie Roosa - Kinder Teacher
  • Carrie Turner- Kinder Teacher
  • Jorie Steffen - Kinder Teacher (bilingual)
  • Sarah Galanter-Guziewski - Principal
  • Margo Benzschawel - School Secretary
  • Ingrid Tornbaum de Richter and Destiny Jones - Bilingual Resource
  • Amy Bennett - School Social Worker
  • Adan Vasquez - School Psychologist
  • Lindsey Johnson - Family Liaison

Arrival

Students come via yellow school bus, walking or driving. All students  enter through  on the path to the left of the school. Then go in their assigned door. If you arrive after 7:35 am go in the front door. If you arrive after 7:40 am you are considered tardy. The tardies can add up and be an unexcused absences so be on time unless there is an emergency.

Parking

There is a crossing guard at Stadium Drive that leads to the front of the school. Check out this brochure about where you can and can’t park. Please use the crossing guard it is the safest way to cross. If you are coming up South Rosa towards Mineral Point there are drop off spots but you need to stay with your car in the drop off zone. Other parking is further ahead.
 

Google Maps areal image of Stephens Elementary School

Typical Day in Kindergarten includes...

  • Arrival 
  • Breakfast
  • Literacy
  • Math 
  • Science/Social Studies
  • Specials - Physical Education,, Art, Music, Library, CAMP 
  • Well Rounded - Lunch, Recess, Choice Time, Mindfulness,  & Quiet Time
classroom full of students working

Start of Day

Breakfast starts at 7:20am: All students have the opportunity to eat breakfast from school or bring a breakfast from home. If you haven’t applied for free and reduced lunch meals, visit the School Cafe website.  

Morning Meeting: Students and their teacher get together to build community, share a morning message, and preview topics and activities for the day.

Literacy

Whole group instruction includes three components:

  1. Language Comprehension - A high-interest read-aloud

  2. Foundational Skills - Language sounds and phonics instruction

  3. Writing - Handwriting, mechanics, and composition

Small group instruction may include:

  • Foundational skills work, writing, reading, expressive and receptive language instruction

Independent practice may include:

  • Writing, reading to self or a partner, Lexia (computer based), skill practice

Math

Our Math Workshop is typically divided into three sections:

Number Corner: Students participate in calendar, number line, and fluency building activities on a daily basis

Whole Group and Small Group lessons: designed to meet kindergarten standards and support student areas of growth

Independent work: Dreambox and Curriculum Workplaces

Science and Social Studies

Science: Needs of Plants and Animals, Pushes and Pulls, and Sunlight and Weather. This will be new for us in 22-23

Outdoor Education: spending time in our garden

Social Studies: Inquiry practices and processes, wants and needs, geography, history

Specials Classes

  • One hour a week with Ms. Gallo in Art Class
  • Two half hours a week with Music with Ms. Haugen
  • Three half hours a week for Physical Education with Mr. Huggins or Mr. Hampton
  • One hour a week for CAMP (Creativity, Arts, Mindfulness, Projects) with Ms. Speich and 30 minutes in the library with the classroom teacher and Ms. Roberts.
students build snowmen at recess.

Recess

30 minutes a day. Dress for success! In the winter we go out in very cold weather. Depending on wind chill it can be up to 10 below.

What does Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) look like at Stephens?

  • Daily SEL lessons, community circles, and opportunities to practice SEL skills embedded across the curriculum

  • Integrated school-wide and classroom systems to support emotional regulation and social skills

  • SPARK hallway - a space for students to regulate during the day

  • What happens if my child struggles with social emotional skills at school? Students have access to personalized support through their classroom teacher, school psychologist, and school social worker

Stephens PTO

  • Strengthening relationships between families, teachers, and school

  • Events and Fundraising

  • Volunteer Opportunities

  • Kindergarten Play Dates

  • Facebook

facebook.com/GlennStephensPTO

two smiling students doing math work

IMPORTANT DATES

Your Kindergartener is registered so they are a “returning student”. Every August you will “enroll” your child. Online enrollment opens on August 5,  2024.

Go to: madison.k12.wi.us/enrollment

Questions? Email Margo at mmbenzschawe@madison.k12.wi.us

First day of school for 4K and K is Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

Important Times

Mondays

Breakfast: 7:20am
Start Time: 7:35 am.
Dismissal: 1:10 pm

Tuesdays - Fridays

Breakfast: 7:20am
Start Time: 7:35 am
Dismissal:  2:35 p.m.

4K Hours (Tuesday-Friday)

Breakfast 7:20 a.m.
AM – 7:20-10:47 a.m.
PM – 11:23-2:35p.m.

What questions do you or your child have?

Email me at anytime: sgalanter@madison.k12.wi.us

See you soon!