Orientation Packet

BACK TO SCHOOL

Welcome!  My name is Ms. Mary Elaine Gray. I will be the 3 year old  Preschool teacher for the upcoming school year. I am confident that this will be an exciting and successful year.  The following information will be most useful to you throughout the months to come:

Each child entering the 3 year old program must be potty trained. They must attempt to go to the potty themselves.  If they do not go on their own and still have accidents then they are not potty trained are not eligible for the program.  

 SUPPLIES NEEDED:  

Please see supply page!

 Note:  Please do not send in toys or any items that are not asked of you with your child to school.  Please keep them in the car for the ride home.  It makes life so much easier.

 Drop Off:  8:00-8:20 outside by New Gym

Morning Drop:   A teacher or aide will be at the New Gym door to greet the children.  

If your child is not here by 8:20, you will have to go to the main lobby and wait until 8:30 for an aide to come back to get your child. 

PICK UP: 

Afternoon Dismissal: Teachers will dismiss children in the car line.  Carline will be in front of the main entrance of the school.  Please stay in your cars….we will put your child in the car and you can pull into the church parking lot to buckle them.  4 year olds will be dismissed first, starting at 2:15, followed by 3-year-olds (2:30). Any child who is not picked up in carline will be taken to Cares at 2:30.  If your child goes to Cares please email me to let me know....as they will go in the Cares line.  

PLEASE DO NOT GET OUT OF CAR.   Once the door is shut, you may pull up further towards the church and buckle your child.  Thank you!  This year we are asking you to make a sign (8 ½ x 11) for your window labeled with your child’s name on it.  Because of the glare outside it is often hard to see who is inside the vehicle.  A great way to show your sign is to use a hanger that has clips on it, clip the name on there, and hang a hanger from the rear view mirror.  It would be most helpful.  If someone else is picking up please notify us with a note in the morning. Please make sure you log in to Pick up Patrol everyday.  

 LATENESS:   This year the school policy when you are late is to check in at the office and one of the aides will bring your child down to the classroom.  This is for safety purposes.   Parents are not allowed to come down to the classroom.  Please do your best to be on time.  Thank you!

LUNCH PARENTS NEEDED:  We will be asking for parents to sign up to be a Friday lunch parent. We will need 2 parents 2 times a week starting in October.  We will make a calendar for the year so you can switch as needed.  All parents must have clearances to volunteer for any classroom activities throughout the year.   If interested please fill out the sign-up sheet on Parent Orientation day.  

SNACK TIME:   Every day we will have a thirty-minute snack time/bathroom time.  Pretzels are available on a daily basis. I highly urge the purchasing of pretzels.  Pretzels are to be ordered online under the St. Thomas Website.  They are ordered on a monthly basis . Please only have ONE snack for your child at snack time.  The snack is to be placed in a separate bag.  Do not put the snack in with their lunch box.  With that being said, your child should have two bags, one for a snack and one for lunch. 

WEEKLY JOURNAL:   The children will be given a journal the first day of school.  Please decorate with pictures of your child, cover in clear contact paper and send back to school.    It makes for a great keepsake.

PARENT INFORMATION:  You will receive a school calendar with upcoming events for the month.  I will have a weekly newsletter informing parents of upcoming events..  The newsletter will be sent home in your child’s folder.  This is the best communication!!  PLEASE MAKE SURE TO ALWAYS CHECK YOUR CHILD’S FOLDER EVERY NIGHT!!    Please send in anything that you want us to see or send to the office in the take-home folder.

PHONE CHAIN:  You will be asked to sign a phone chain list so that you can be contacted by either the homeroom moms, phone chain parent or myself. 

PARTIES:  We will be having several celebrations throughout the year.  The homeroom parent will contact you as to what is needed for parties.  I really appreciate your support and help in preparing for our celebrations.  Parties are short and sweet!!

MEDICATIONS:  If your child needs to take any medication, please send it to school in a labeled container. Please be aware that even non-prescription medicine requires a note.

TAKE-HOME FOLDERS:  This will be our big communication saver!!!

SICKNESS:  If your child is sick, please email me and the nurse (nurse@staglenmills.org).   Please do not send your child to school if he/she has any of the following symptoms:  fever, coughing, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, lice, pink eye, etc… Also, if your child feels sick in the morning with a headache or other symptoms, please do not give any medication (Tylenol, Motrin etc..)  PLEASE KEEP THEM HOME.  Thank you so much!  

BELONGINGS:  Please make sure you LABEL ALL OF YOUR CHILD’S BELONGINGS!!

DRESS CODE:  All children are to wear the ST. THOMAS Gym uniform.  Sneakers are to accompany these uniforms.  NO necklaces or bracelts for the girls.  

ASSESSMENT:  The children will receive progress reports the second and the fourth marking periods (usually the end of January and May).

BEHAVIOR CALENDAR:   Will come home every night in your child’s folder  Please initial it every night.

EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS:  Preschool will dismiss at 11:30 on early dismissal days.  

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES:  I am very easy to contact.  Please call the office if you ever want to talk.  The phone number is 610-459-8134.  I will call you back the same day.  You can also reach me by email: mgray@staglenmills.org   Please do not try to have a conference with the teachers when dropping or picking up your child.  Thank you!  If you ever have any concerns or questions, please follow the procedures you see here!!  We look forward to a great school year!

                                                                        Thank you,

                                                                        Ms. Gray