Kindergarten Camp

 

Kindergarten Camp: Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kindergarten Camp? Kindergarten Camp is our classroom placement process held during the first week of school. Rather than starting day one in a permanent placement, each child rotates through all six kindergarten classrooms to spend time with every teacher.

Why do we use this rotation system? Because all students learn differently, this system allows our team to observe each child’s unique academic, social, and emotional needs. This helps us match every student to the learning environment where they will thrive best.

Who are the kindergarten teachers this year? We are proud to have an exceptional kindergarten team consisting of six teachers and one resident teacher:

• Mrs. Dickerson
• Mrs. Grogan
• Ms. Haycraft/Ms. Garcia (Resident Teacher)
• Mrs. Misch
• Ms. Smrstik
• Mrs. Woodson

Why does Skyward show a teacher assigned to my child before school starts? For district administration and operational purposes, every student must have an official teacher assigned in Skyward prior to the first day of school. Please note that this initial assignment is temporary and not guaranteed to be your child's permanent placement.

Where do students go when they arrive each morning? Every morning—during Kindergarten Camp and throughout the rest of the school year—kindergarteners will go directly to the cafeteria upon arrival.

• During Kindergarten Camp: Students will receive a name tag each morning and wait at assigned tables with help from school monitors until teachers collect their rotation groups.
• For the Rest of the Year: This morning cafeteria check-in becomes a daily routine where students safely gather and wait for their permanent teacher to pick them up to start the day.

How does the daily rotation work? Each child will spend a portion of the school day in every classroom over the course of the first week, ensuring they get a feel for every room and teacher.

What will my child be doing during Kindergarten Camp? During rotations, teachers will focus on:

• Introducing essential school rules, daily routines, and classroom expectations.
• Conducting brief, informal assessments to gauge your child's skill levels and strengths.
• Engaging students in learning activities and play to observe peer interactions.

What is the HVSA House System? At HVSA, we use a House System to build community, school pride, and character. Each house represents a specific color, animal, and character trait.

When your child is assigned a house in kindergarten, they remain in that same house for their entire time at HVSA!

• In Kindergarten: All students in a classroom share the exact same house as their teacher.
• In 1st–5th Grade: Classrooms contain a mix of students from different houses, but your child’s individual house assignment stays the same.

What are the Houses? Each kindergarten teacher represents one of our six houses:

• Red Orca
• Orange Otter
• Yellow Seal
• Green Eagle
• Blue Leopard
• Purple Penguin

How and when will we find out our child's permanent teacher and house assignment? At the end of the week, our team reviews observations to form balanced, supportive classes, and we celebrate final placements with our Big Kindergarten Reveal!

• On the morning of the reveal, all kindergarteners gather in the cafeteria alongside our teachers, administrators, counselors, and 5th-grade student helpers.
• Students are called up in groups to receive a special goody bag containing a small gift and a t-shirt representing their assigned teacher's house.
• Once revealed, students will safely run down the hall to their official classroom, which will be fully decorated in their new house color!