A full-day kindergarten program is offered at the Center during second semester of each school year. Kindergarten students identified as gifted during first semester participate in a morning environmental unit called “EarthLinks”, take kaleidoscope classes in the afternoon, and are offered art, physical education and counseling lessons from program specialists.

Kindergarten Component FAQ

General

When will the kindergarten program start?
Kindergarten students identified for the Gifted Program will begin attending the Center for Creative Learning in mid January. 

How will my child get to the CCL?
Kindergarten students from each school will attend the Center on the same day as students in grades one through five.  Like their older counterparts, kindergarten students may ride the bus to and from the Center.  Parents will also have the option of dropping their child off at the Center and picking them up at the end of the day. 

Will my child attend for a full day or a half-day?
Kindergarten students will attend the Center for a full day of instruction each week.

Identification

What is the Fall Kindergarten Identification Procedure?
The Fall Kindergarten Identification Procedure consists of three phases. During Phase I, all kindergarten students participate in classroom screening lessons taught by the Gifted Program’s Kindergarten Resource Teachers.  These enrichment lessons take place in the regular classroom during the students’ regular kindergarten program.  A total of five lessons are offered during the months of September and October. Students who score at the upper levels on the nomination assessments are recommended to participate in Phase II of the Fall Identification Process. Phase II consists of administration of an individual intelligence test and completing a rating scale of gifted behaviors. Phase III involves administering an individual achievement assessment.  This assessment is conducted at each elementary school by Gifted Program Resource Teachers.  

What happens if my child is absent during a Phase I screening activity?
The Kindergarten Resource Teachers will offer a Saturday “make-up” session for students who are absent from class during a visit.  The Center Identification Office will notify parents by mail the specific date, times, and scheduling procedures for the “make-up” session.  

How do I prepare my child for Phase II Intelligence Testing?
During the weeks preceding IQ testing, it is best not to dwell on the issue.  Many times children can become so keyed up about the upcoming testing that they do not do their best work. When it is time to tell your child about IQ testing, please consider explaining it in terms of playing learning games with a teacher.  Also, please try to insure that your child gets a good night’s sleep the night before testing and eats well-balanced meals the day he or she will be tested.  If your child is not well the morning of IQ testing, please call the Center for Creative Learning (636-207-2579, ext. 223) to reschedule the assessment.  

What if my child is accepted into the Gifted Program but I do not want my child to begin in January of his/her kindergarten year?
Once the Gifted Program Identification Team identifies a child, parents have the option of waiting to enroll their child at the Center.  No further testing will be necessary when the parent decides to enroll their child at the Center.  

During Phase II Screening, what if my child doesn’t meet the intelligence test score criterion for participation in the gifted program? 
There is a two-year waiting period before the Rockwood Gifted Program will administer another intelligence test.  If parents want to move forward with retesting before that time, they may do so with a private tester at their own expense. See Private Testing Guidelines for procedures that need to be followed in order to have results accepted by the program. 

Can parents or classroom teachers nominate children for the Fall Kindergarten Identification Process?
No.  In the Fall, only gifted program staff can nominate students to participate in the Kindergarten Identification Process.  If identified, students nominated in the Fall are eligible to participate in the Center’s kindergarten program.  In the Spring, teachers and parents have the option of nominating students for the program.  If identified, students nominated in the Spring are eligible to participate in the Center’s first grade program.  

Will parents receive results from testing procedures?
Results from IQ testing will be shared with parents when a decision regarding placement is finalized.  For the Spring Identification Process, results will be shared with parents after the screening assessment and again after IQ testing is complete.  

Can parents have their child privately tested for the kindergarten program?  
Students need to be nominated and tested for the gifted program by gifted program personnel.  Private IQ scores are not accepted as part of the Kindergarten Identification Process.    

Program  

What will my child’s schedule be like at the Center for Creative Learning?
Kindergarten students will participate in a kindergarten ecology unit called EarthLinks and will have kaleidoscopes, physical education, art and counseling lessons from gifted specialists during their day at the Center.  

How will I be informed of my child’s progress?
Your child will bring home a daily Learning Log illustrating the learning of each day at the Center.  Also, parent/teacher conferences will be held during the semester.  If at any time a parent has any questions or concerns, they should feel free to contact the CCL kindergarten teachers.  

How is lunch handled during the CCL day?
All children may either bring their lunch and a drink or purchase a lunch or a drink.  When purchasing a lunch, all CCL students will use the Rockwood School District’s NutriKids program.  Students will use their fingerprints for identification.  Fingerprints are converted to a number and saved as a number, matched to the saved number, and the price of lunch is deducted from his/her NutriKid on-line account.  Payments for NutriKid accounts may be made on-line or at the RSD student’s home school.  Private, Parochial and home schooled families can use the NutriKid on-line account, or they can set up an account at the CCL.  Students who have not previously registered for the NutriKids lunch program will be registered at the CCL on their first day of attendance.  For more information about NutriKids and the NutriKids account, go to the RSD Child Nutrition Services website.  

It you do not want your child enrolled in the identification method of fingerprint scanning, please contact Child Nutrition Services at 636-458-7291, ext. 243.  

Will my child have P.E, art, recess?
Yes.  Kindergarten students will have P.E, art, and recess each week at the Center.  

Will my child have a snack time at the CCL?
Kindergarten students will have a morning and afternoon snack time at the Center.  Snack time drinks can be purchased at the Center or brought in from home.  A form for ordering snack drinks is available in the CCL office.  The form will be mailed home in the New Student Packet prior to enrollment in January.  

What plans are in place to help my child transition to the CCL program?
Prior to the student’s first day at the Center, a student/parent orientation night is planned.  Parents and kindergarten students will have the opportunity to meet the kindergarten teachers, hear about the curriculum, see the kindergarten classroom, and tour the building before the first day of attendance at the Center.