Kindergarten Guide

Duneland School Corporation	601 W. Morgan Avenue, Chesterton, IN 46304 Phone: 219-983-3600
Bailly Elementary School	Carey Storm, Principal 800 S. 5th Street, Chesterton, IN 46304 Phone: 219-983-3670
Brummitt Elementary School	Nino Cammarata, Principal 2500 Indian Boundary Road, Chesterton, IN 46304 Phone: 219-983-3660
Jackson Elementary School	Sam Marshall, Principal 811 N. 400 East, Valparaiso, IN 46383 Phone: 219-983-3680
Liberty Elementary School	Heidi Hennigar, Principal 50-1 W. 900 North, Chesterton, IN 46304 Phone: 219-983-3650
Yost Elementary School	Josh Huwig, Principal 100 W. Beam Street, Porter, IN 46304 Phone: 219-983-3640

 

KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION FROM THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:
IDOE: Kindergarten

• Kindergarten Readiness: English |  Spanish

• Kindergarten Literacy Readiness: English |  Spanish

• Kindergarten Mathematics Readiness: English |  Spanish

 

KINDERGARTEN: IT'S MORE THAN ABCs AND 123s

Kindergarten is an exciting milestone! While learning letters, numbers, and early reading skills is important, being ready for kindergarten means much more than academics alone. It’s about helping children grow socially, emotionally, and independently—building the confidence they need to succeed in school and beyond.
In kindergarten, your child will learn how to be part of a community, care for themselves, and explore the world around them—all while developing important academic skills.

IN ADDITION TO ACADEMICS, YOUR CHILD WILL ALSO LEARN HOW TO...

Build relationships and social skills

• Get along with others by being kind, cheerful, polite, and fair
• Share toys, games, ideas, and experiences
• Think about others and accept differences

Grow independence and responsibility

• Care for themselves such as using the bathroom, washing & drying hands, putting on and taking off their coat
• Manage belongings and help clean up materials
• Take on classroom jobs and responsibilities
• Learn how to stay safe through safety lessons, fire drills, and supervised play

Express creativity and curiosity

• Explore new ideas and experiences
• Express thoughts and feelings through words, art, music, movement, paint, crayons, clay, and more
• Use new vocabulary through conversations, stories, technology, and classroom experiences

Develop thinking and learning skills

• Listen to stories and follow directions
• Ask questions, problem-solve, and think ahead
• Look at books and learn how to use them correctly
• Begin writing by dictating ideas, using inventive spelling, and recognizing sight words
• Count and connect numbers to real-life objects

Strengthen their bodies and confidence

• Play outdoors to build muscles, learn rules, and take turns
• Eat with others while practicing good manners and enjoying social time

Learn about safety and self-protection

• Know where to go for help and who the trusted adults are
• Learn routines that help them feel safe and secure at school

DON’T BE SURPRISED IF…

• Your child brings home artwork that looks like scribbling 
  • These creations are meaningful! They show growth, creativity, and pride. Encourage your child to tell you a story about their picture.
• Your child talks about conflicts with classmates​​
  • ​Comments like “Someone hit me” or “Someone pinched me” can happen as children learn to live and work in a group. Teachers use these moments to help children learn positive social skills.
• Your child comes home with paint, glue, or dirt on their clothes
  • Hands-on learning can be messy! These experiences are an important part of exploration and discovery.
• Your child chooses the same activities several days in a row
  • Familiar activities help children feel safe and confident. As comfort grows, so does their willingness to try new things.
• Your child says, “All we did was play today!”
  • Play is purposeful. What looks like play to adults is meaningful learning for children—helping them develop language, thinking, and social skills.
• Your child doesn’t immediately start reading, writing, or doing math
  • Children develop at different rates. Skills grow throughout the year, and patience and encouragement from families make a big difference.

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD GET READY FOR KINDERGARTEN AT HOME

Getting ready for kindergarten starts at home. Along with learning letters and numbers, children benefit from practicing everyday skills that build confidence and independence.
You can help your child by encouraging them to:

• Recognize their own name (written and spoken)
• Open their own lunch containers and manage snacks
• Put on and take off their coat, shoes, and backpack
• Use the bathroom independently and wash and dry hands
• Follow simple directions and routines
• Clean up toys and care for their belongings
• Use words to express their needs, feelings, and ideas
• Take turns, share, and solve small problems with others
• Sit and listen during short stories or activities

One of the most important things you can do to support your child is to READ TO YOUR CHILD.
Reading together every day is one of the best ways to build language, confidence, and a love of learning.

By practicing these skills at home, you’re helping your child feel capable, confident, and ready to thrive in kindergarten.

STAY CONNECTED  

When you enroll your child it is important to give the school an accurate phone number and email where you can be reached.  When there are weather delays, school closing or important school information, Duneland uses ParentSquare as our automated system to contact all parents in the corporation.  No more getting up early and listening to the radio. It is the parent’s responsibility to make changes or update a phone number or email as needed through the Skyward Parent Access.

Progress will be issued in the form of report cards four times during the school year.  Your child will also be given a math and reading assessment periodically during the school year. The testing will occur in the beginning of the year, middle of the year, and end of the year.  These results will be shared with you.

Families are encouraged to participate in the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).  It is free, and it’s a great way to be involved in your child’s education.  Participating in PTO meetings and activities will allow you to meet other families and become involved in your child’s school.

PARENTSQUARE

ParentSquare is Duneland School Corporation’s primary communication platform.  Accounts are automatically created for families based on information already provided to the schools via Skyward.  Parents are encouraged to activate their accounts using their cell phone or email associated with the district.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELEMENTARY HANDBOOK

An Elementary Handbook with more detailed information is available online and is updated every year. The handbook goes into further detail about the elementary school day, procedures, policy references, attendance, homework, etc.

KINDERGARTEN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

To stay up to date with FAQ visit Duneland School Corporation: Kindergarten (www.duneland.k12.in.us/kindergarten)

Download this guide as a PDF