New kindergartners get first look at school

VERNON — Parents, children, soggy rain, and many excited voices gathered, June 16, in their new to be Cedar Mountain School home during two kindergarten orientations.
The 2030 class received bright gold little Viking t-shirts, book bags saying, “I love books,” and rode in big yellow school buses, with parents and guardians, around the community.
Principal Rosemary Gebhardt introduced the 10 kindergarten teachers before they toured their new building. As part of district transfers, the Walnut Ridge Primary School Kindergarten classes, staff, and Gebhardt are moving into Cedar Mountain School.
Cedar Mountain will teach only kindergarten and first grade.
Gebhardt also introduced the new head custodian Diane Joyce and Lori Remner of Sodexho.
Remner explained, parents will receive paper menus at home — also available on the district website — or may use the Smart Phone App. Lunches cost $2.75, and parents can set up an account for their child on the website. Also, Sodexho will create a new app with nutritional and allergy information.
Cedar Mountain School nurse, Kim Forrest, encouraged everyone to turn in their medical information by July 1 in order to begin school in September.
School Counselor Nicole Keane encouraged parents to call her, the child's teacher, or Gebhardt with questions or concerns. She reminded the audience, they are their child's best teacher and to enjoy the summer with games, playing outside, and sharing books. Also, in “September,” Keane added, “there will be a very, very special new program to be revealed at Cedar Mountain.”
Reading Specialist Kristina Krops reviewed the multi-sensory Balanced Literacy program: daily reading, writing, and oral language. She said they also use Readers' Workshop, guided reading, and Writers' Workshop. In January, the children are assessed, thus, helping teachers best instruct each child. During summer she encouraged: reading, using magnetic letters to build consonant – vowel — consonant and sight words, visiting new places — to specifically teach new vocabulary, and keeping a summer journal.
Math Coach Laurie Nelson introduced Math Supervisor Vincent Gagliostro and explained they use Math in Focus. She said, the program uses: concrete – manipulatives, pictorial, to abstract features. She encouraged everyone to attend the first Family Math Night this fall — which features children's math games. Nelson also recommended parents utilize, on the district website: Access Think Central (K-5) and sumdog.com, a math tutorial.
Gebhardt encouraged parents to join the School Community Association (SCA) and introduced some of the SCA officers and President Trisha Furman-Leve. They do “a lot of wonderful things,” Gebhardt added, “for the children: social activity, cultural activity, every single week in their school.”
Business Administrator Steve Kepnes introduced Transportation Coordinator Jamie Van Gilst, who will answer questions regarding busing or changes in routes.
For safety, Kepnes explained, if no one is at the bus stop, the driver finishes the route and returns to the stop one more time. If someone still is not there, the driver brings the child back to school. He asked parents to develop a contingency plan - in case of an emergency - and give it to the main office.
He further explained, each child receives a badge with a picture of the child's bus — for identification. The first day, he added, buses could run an hour late, as drivers and children get used to the new routine. He said, “It gets better over time.”
Gebhardt invited all parents to schedule a summer appointment with her for “a nice meeting with just you and your child.” Plus, she has a special gift for each child who meets with her. Parents may schedule the meeting on the district website, which she included in a letter mailed home.
She encouraged the audience to also use the booklet with daily summer activities — from May through August.
Gebhardt recommended if a child — or friend's child — has not yet registered for kindergarten at Cedar Mountain Primary School, go to: vtsd.com/17-18-registration. After registration, the parent or guardian will receive a phone call to screen the child for kindergarten. For more information, call: (973) 764-2801 or (973) 764-2890.
In addition, the district portal will open at the end of August, identifying the child's teacher and bus.