Beginning of the Year Frequently Asked Questions
It's your child's first year in Kinder and let's be honest, YOU have some worries! It's okay, we get it and are here to ease this transition for you as much as possible. Below are questions we are asked every year that you may be wondering about or that may help ease your mind!
What Are
"Teacher/Family" Visits
Families may sign up to bring your child to their classroom to visit with their teacher before their first day of school. This is an opportunity for us to begin building a relationship with your child & ease any questions or fears they have about starting school. These visits are typically 10-15 minutes long. They are NOT mandatory. If your child feels great, keep that positiveness going!
What does a "Staggered Start" look like?
The first week of school looks different for only Kindergarten. Monday & Tuesday are reserved for teacher/family visits. On Wednesday we will welcome our first half of our class. Thursday the second half will be welcomed. Friday all students will come to class and continue on regularly from then on. You will need a childcare plan for the days your child will not come to school to allow the same experience for all children.
What is the purpose of a "Staggered Start?"
The first day of school can be overwhelming or overstimulating, especially for 5 year olds. This helps us ease the children into our schedule in a small group setting as we go over procedures and rules. The whole class then joins together on Friday and are now familiar with their school day and friends.
Can I walk my child to class on their first day?
Of course! HOWEVER, you will need your car tag with you in order to enter the building to walk your child in! You can walk your child in on their first staggered day of school and on the Friday we welcome ALL the kids. Afterwards, students will be expected to walk into the building by themselves. This makes transitions from parents easier for us, as well as promoting independence to the little ones. But no worries, we will be right outside our classrooms waiting to greet the kids!
My child is nervous, what can we do?
Keep positive! Have a donut date before school! Create a quick, fun farewell hug/handshake and practice it before their first day! Place a family picture in their backpack they can sneak peeks at! Add something they can look forward to after school. Lots of positive words of affirmation! Help set the tone that they are going to not only have a great day, but also a great year!
Can my child bring a stuffie/toy to calm their nerves?
We prefer if students do not get used to bringing in stuffie/toys. We focus on giving the same/equal opportunities to ALL our students. There will be classroom incentives that your child's homeroom teacher will have that the children will have to work together to earn. These incentives go hand-in-hand with our classroom expectations. Wait until your child's teacher promotes this! The kids LOVE it more when they earn and are praised with rewards!
What does lunch look like?
We will walk students down to the cafeteria. Teacher's guide those who are getting a tray in the lunch line while our IAs are helping settle those who brought lunch from home. Since lunch time can pass by so fast and little minds get distracted so quickly, the first 10 minutes of lunch is silent and the kids are focused on eating. After 10 minutes, students may talk to their friends at a level 1 voice. Our IA's stay with the class during lunch to help with any needs while teachers take their own break.
How do I add money to my child's lunch account?
Click this LINK and follow the directions in order to set up an account for your child. You may also send money in a ziplock bag with your child to hand to our cafeteria ladies so that they may add money to their account manually.
Please be aware that we are not responsible for your child's money if it gets lost.
How will they know where to go for dismissal?
We practice! We show all our students where each dismissal exit is whether they are bus riders, walkers, car riders, or attending an after school program! The first few days, we have extra staff members guiding our kids towards their destination. Then the students will be expected to go by themselves. We try to send students together who are going to the same location so that they have a buddy to walk with. Please be patient and have grace as our priority is making sure all our students get home safely!
How does breakfast work?
If your child is eating breakfast at school, it will be a "grab and go." Students will eat in the hallway outside of their classrooms, against the wall. Students will not eat in the cafeteria for breakfast. Once teachers open classroom doors to greet students at 7:40, they will be able to eat/finish their food inside the classroom. Breakfast is done at 8am.
Can I come eat lunch with my child?
Of course! Sign in with our front office and meet your child's class in the cafeteria! Make sure you know your child's lunch time and try to get here 5 minutes before. Those 30 minutes of lunch pass by fairly quickly!
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