FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How many students are enrolled at Howard?

Each year, approximately 360–380 students are enrolled at Howard Early Childhood Center. The majority of these students are enrolled in 15 or 16 kindergarten classrooms. The remaining numbers are students in our pre-kindergarten program and Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities.

2. How many students are assigned to each classroom?

The State of Texas mandates a maximum of 22 students in kindergarten through grade four classrooms. In a typical year our class size is 19 – 20 students per kindergarten classroom. Occasionally, we will exceed that number depending on enrollment.

3. What are the school hours? Will my child take a nap at school?

The school day officially begins at 8:20 and ends at 2:00. Teachers encourage parents to have their children at school by 8:00 to allow time for them to ease into the school day. Children do not take a nap at Howard. Students are actively engaged in meaningful learning activities the entire day. For many children this will require an adjustment period, but all children soon adjust to the busy day.

4. Will my child be able to ride the bus to and from school?

Bus service, both to and from school, is provided for students living more than two miles from the school or for those having to cross a designated hazardous street/road. At the August orientation, you will receive a schedule if your child is eligible for bus transportation. You are strongly encouraged to allow your child to ride the bus if he or she is eligible beginning the first day of school. Most Howard students love riding the bus!

5. Is after-school care available for my child?

Several options for after school care are available for parents of children at Howard. Registration information for these programs is available in the Howard Office.

6. How are students placed in classrooms? Can parents request a specific teacher?

In placing students in classroom groups, consideration is given to the following: gender, ethnicity, age, previous schooling, receiving elementary school, information available from previous schools, and information provided by parents. Though parents should not request a specific teacher, information a parent can provide us about their child is welcome and helpful. This is usually done through a letter addressed to the principal.

7. How does the school ensure the safety of its students?

The safety and well-being of our students and staff is emphasized at Howard Early Childhood Center. Teachers and staff wear nametags identifying them as employees of the school or district. Visitors are required to sign in and wear a visitor’s badge. Teachers and staff have received training in this area and work to apply school safety research and practices to the vision we have for a safe school.

8. How do I enroll my child in kindergarten? If I do not register my child in March, will there be room for him/her?

Children who are five on or before September 1 of a given school year and residents of the Alamo Heights Independent School District are eligible for enrollment in kindergarten at Howard Early Childhood Center. A limited number of tuition-paying students will also be accepted. In addition to meeting the above criteria, additional documentation is required. Pre-registration will be held early in March of every year. Howard is a public school and part of AHISD and as such registrations are accepted throughout the school year.

9. May I volunteer in my child’s classroom?

Teachers encourage parent involvement in the form of volunteers. Parents are also encouraged to visit during lunch and on special occasions such as classroom parties or other classroom or school-wide events. Volunteers and students from local universities or those who do not have children enrolled at Howard are required to submit to a criminal background check. This does not apply to prospective parents.

10. How can I help my child prepare for his or her kindergarten school year?

A list of suggestions on “How to Help Your Child Get Ready for Kindergarten” is available on Howard’s campus homepage (http://www.ahisd.net/campuses/howard). Copies are also available in the office. Visiting our website will also provide information on teachers’ schedules and classroom activities.

11. What background/training do teachers have?

The competent, caring and energetic teachers at Howard have an average of 17 years experience. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten teachers are certified in early childhood education. Other faculty members have additional certification in their areas of specialty.

12. What is the kindergarten curriculum at Howard? What phonics program does the school use?

Howard’s has an exceptional instructional program which is aligned with the state’s Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). A number of instructional resources are utilized by teachers to provide active learning activities in the areas of reading, oral language development, mathematics, science, social studies, music, physical education, art, handwriting and phonics. The explicit teaching of phonics and phonological awareness is a critical component of early reading instruction. State-adopted materials which must meet strict criteria are utilized by the teachers. Though Howard does not utilize one specific program, many resources for teaching phonics are utilized and evident in each classroom.

13. How does a teacher meet the needs of my child who is already reading?

Our goal is to meet the needs of students at whatever stage of development they might be. Teachers use both formal and informal assessment measure to determine a child’s ability level. The results of these assessments allow teachers to appropriately address all elements of reading including comprehension, decoding, problem-solving, word attack skills and context clues. Teachers also expand on children’s writing abilities. Kindergarten teachers’ background and training in working with young children make them well-equipped to handle this tremendous task.

14. Will my child attend music, physical education, computer and Spanish classes?

Kindergarten students at Howard attend physical education classes every day. In addition, children have recess daily, weather permitting. Music is also an important part of regular classroom activities. Technology is integrated into all aspects of the curriculum and several computers are in every regular classroom. The Spanish immersion program does not begin until first grade.

15. What additional programs and services are available at Howard?

*An instructional assistant for every two classrooms * Gifted and Talented Program*Title I Literacy and Oral Language programs*English for Speakers of Other Languages* Support Liaison*Bilingual Program for eligible students* Speech/Language services for eligible students*Physical & Occupational Therapy for students who qualify for these services*Librarian*School Clinic staffed by a degreed, registered nurse* Pre-K program for qualifying four year olds

For additional information or to schedule a visit, please call (210) 832-5900.