Incoming Kindergarten Information

Dear WHES Kindergarten Families,

This is a duplicate of incoming Kindergarten information for the 24-25 school year - if you have already completed all tasks below, you can disregard! See you soon!

We are so excited that you have chosen Woodmen Hills as the elementary school for your child's educational journey!

Our main channel of communication is the WHES Highlights newsletter sent to all families weekly via email on Fridays. Keep an eye on your spam folder, just in case! You can also check our website for more back-to-school information.

Like and follow along on our school Facebook page, too ---> https://www.facebook.com/WHESTornadoes/! We post updates, as well as learning and fun taking place at WHES all year long!

Our school office will reopen on July 8th. You can stop by or call (719-495-5500) with questions or needs between 9:00am-2:00pm. We will then begin following normal hours of 8:00am-4:00pm starting July 24th.

Please complete the student information form (below) by July 28th and sign up for a Kindergarten Assessment session on July 30th (more information below).

We can't wait to meet your family! See you soon, Tornadoes!

**You are receiving this email because you have a child registered for Kindergarten at Woodmen Hills Elementary School for the 24-25 school year. If that is an error or no longer the case, please contact our school office on/after July 8th so we can support you with this.

As we get set to begin a new year, the WHES Family Handbook and Information Guide is a great place to find all information in regards to WHES operations, procedures, policies, etc. All information included is linked and serves as a reference guide for families. Please continue to check this information frequently and as questions arise.

You can view the Family Handbook by following the link here.

Please ensure you have accessed and set up your Parent Portal in the D49 Student Information System, PowerSchool. Having accurate information for all students is imperative always, and as we start a new school year. Linked here are directions to support you in setting up your portal account.

This is also the main information system in which you designate who and how to receive communication like snow days, as well as who can pick up your child(ren) on the designated school pick-up list.

Please mark your calendar for the following dates:

JULY

July 30th - Kindergarten Assessments & Tours by Appointment

July 31st - Classroom Placements Released via email from Classroom Teachers

AUGUST

August 1st - 3:00-3:45pm Kindergarten Family Social and Signing Day

August 1st - 4:00-5:30pm Back to School Bash

August 2nd - First Day of Kindergarten (your child's teacher will let you know which session your child will attend)

• Half of the Students will attend 8:30am-11:00am (no lunch served)

• Half of the Students will attend 1:00pm-3:30pm (no lunch served)

August 2nd - WHES PTA Night at the Vibes baseball game

August 5th - All Kindergarten students at school - full schedule for all students begins

August 9th - Elementary Assessment Day; students attend by appointment only

August 13th - 4:00pm PTA Meeting in the Library or via Zoom

August 16th - No School; Professional Learning Day for Staff

August 23rd - 5:30-7:30pm WHES PTA STEM Night

August 30th - No School; Professional Learning Day for Staff

SEPTEMBER

September 2nd - No School; Labor Day

We greatly value getting more information about your child as they begin Kindergarten at WHES. Please complete this student information form by clicking the button below to provide your child’s Kindergarten teacher with insights and interests. This form is only used to best inform your child's teacher about information regarding their learning and interests and will not be shared in any other format. Thank you for providing us with key details as we get set to begin a new school year and for sharing your child with us in the year to come!

Please know, we use this form for parent input and our best intentions for Kindergarten classroom placements at the beginning of each school year. However, changes to classroom placements could occur for Kindergarteners once the school year starts in order to create the best learning environment for all of our students.

Please utilize the link below to sign up for an assessment time slot on July 30th (you only need to sign up for one time slot). Students will spend time with our Kindergarten teachers to complete readiness assessments in which provide intentional data to create balanced classrooms at the beginning of the school year.

Families should arrive at the main, front door at your scheduled assessment time. Parents and guardians are welcome to remain at WHES during the 45-minute time slot for an orientation and tour with WHES Administration. Please join us to learn more about Woodmen Hills and all that we will offer your family this year!

You can click on the link below for the complete 2024-2025 school supply list used to support your child's learning and classroom throughout the school year.

If you ordered school supply boxes through 1st Day School Supplies, your supply boxes will be in your child(ren)'s classroom when you arrive for the Back to School Bash on 8/1!

Also listed on each list (at the top), you will see activity fees by grade level. Activity fees are $20 per student for grades K-4th and $25 per student for 5th grade, and are set by grade level teams/teachers and approved annually by the Board of Education. Teachers shall determine a basic course for each class which can be completed with materials furnished by the school. However, students may be charged a fee for expendable supplies and materials used in the course. Fees for expendable supplies and materials shall relate directly to the actual cost of providing these materials to the student. Students shall be required to pay for materials that go into shop, crafts, or art projects that are above the basic requirements for the course and are to be retained by the student. These fees are published on the school supply list each year (you can find those lists linked on this site) and can be paid via cash, check, or the online payment portal (please call the school office to set this up). We greatly appreciate your help with providing separate payment for each child as individual classroom teachers maintain records on who has paid fees. You can read the Board Policy regarding student fees linked here.

Watch for an introduction email from your child(ren)'s teacher on July 31st around 4:00pm! This email will also contain information regarding Assessment Day on August 9th.

Kindergarten families are invited to Family Social and Signing Day on August 1st from 3:00-3:45pm on the WHES Playground! Join us to celebrate the start of the year at WHES - meet other Kindergarten families and enjoy some social time with your child and their soon-to-be friends! We will celebrate our newest Tornadoes with a fun 'signing' event, too! This is also a great opportunity to join WHES PTA and hear about other ways to get involved at school! Then, join us at Back to School Bash immediately afterwards (see more information below)!

The WHES Back to School Bash is an open house format for families - you are able to come to Woodmen Hills anytime between 4:00 pm-5:30 pm on Thursday, August 1st. Please arrive through the main entrance and staff will be present to help you find the classrooms. You are able to visit your child(ren)'s classroom, meet teachers, drop off supplies and activity fees, walk the halls of WHES, visit our PTA for engagement opportunities, and complete some online information necessary to start the year.

We have annual forms that need to be completed as we start a new year! We will have school devices for you to complete these items during the Back to School Bash or you can complete them ahead of time, too. Please read more information in regards to completion...

• Annual Health Information Form (complete one per student)
• Free/Reduced Benefits Program (complete one per family regardless of family income to support with many benefits throughout the year)

We can't wait to see you, Tornadoes!

August 2nd - First Day of School for Kindergarten - 5th grades!

• Half of the Kindergarteners will attend 8:30am-11:00am

• Half of the Kindergarteners will attend 1:00pm-3:30pm

• Kindergarteners - your child's teacher will let you know which session your child will attend for the first day; no school lunch will be served for Kindergarten on this day
  

• 1st - 5th graders attend all day, normal school hours

August 5th: All Kindergarteners attend all day

On Friday, August 9th, we will have an Elementary Assessment Day in which students will attend school by appointment only. This is an opportunity for us to measure baseline assessment information during this beginning of year benchmark assessment timeframe.

Teachers will send more information about signing up for an assessment time soon.

All students will arrive and be dismissed at the front main entrance (including Kindergarten and 5th grade). You may use the kiss-and-go lane in the front of the school to drop off your child(ren). After drop-off, you may either leave school or park in the front parking lot. At the end of your child(ren)'s one hour assessment appointment, please either drive back through the front kiss and go lane to pick up or walk up to the main entrance. Please reach out if you have any questions!

These are just a few ways you can support your child as they get ready to start Kindergarten this fall. Learning is fun and engaging - we can't wait to see your child take on their school journey!

Principal: Bethany Stegman

Assistant Principal: Amanda Bower

Dean of Students: Cheryl Curry

Counselor: Camille Reagan

Website: www.d49.org/woodmenhills
Address: 8308 Del Rio Road, Peyton, CO 80831

Phone: 719-495-5500

Office Hours: 8:00am-4:00pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WHESTornadoes/