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Hilltop’s newest students get sneak peek of school
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Cathy Mowry (right), Hilltop Elementary School principal, helped the students familiarize themselves with the computer lab, during the Kindergarten Big School Visit tour.
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During Hilltop’s Kindergarten Big School Visits, the students were able to check out the kindergarten classrooms.
By ABBY SLANKER
Children entering kindergarten this fall at Hilltop Elementary School had a chance to take a tour of their new school during Kindergarten Big School Visits Aug. 9-10. The visits also provided the students an opportunity to ask questions and make friends.
Cathy Mowry, principal of Hilltop Elementary School, welcomed the students and their parents to the school and gathered them in the library. Mowry covered school routines and procedures, the curriculum, school expectations, how to get involved and the Red Carpet Reading Program.
Handouts were also available explaining the attendance policy, the dress code and the school district’s calendar.
Mowry also went over the school’s bus bay identification chart, which will help the new students recognize which bus they ride with corresponding color-coded bus dots painted on the front parking lot and posted in the bus windows.
After a question-and-answer during, she took the soon-to-be kindergartners on a tour of the school. In order to help the students know which rooms they will be utilizing in the fall, the tour followed multicolored footprints on the floor of the hallways.
The footprints led to the library, the computer lab, both kindergarten classrooms, the gymnasium/multipurpose room and the music room.
Mowry took the students to each of these rooms and made them feel comfortable in their new surroundings. In the computer lab, the students practiced counting and said their ABCs. In the classrooms, they sat at the tables and practiced sitting down for circle time. In the gym, Mowry showed them where they will sit for assemblies and in the music room, they sat in a circle and introduced themselves to the person next to them. That way, when they come to school, they will at least know the name of one other student.
While visiting the classrooms, the students were even given a chance to check out the kindergarten playground and give the slide a try.
Parents followed along on the tour and the students were eager to assure them they are ready for kindergarten.
“We’re ready! We’re ready!” they all said in unison after visiting the gym.
At the end of the tour, Mowry gave the children crayons and a coloring and activity book titled “Why I Like to Take the Bus.”