Thank you for stopping by our class webapge. We will use this page and our Class Dojo to communicate this year. Most photos will be shared via Class Dojo. Please look for that log-in information after TK Tea. Those who do not sign up may be reminded several times until all set up -- it is an important way for us to stay in touch. We will add our weekly digital newsletter to Dojo and this webpage, newest update at the top, in case you need to scroll down to see previously shared information.
Class Snack Sign Up: LINK
Playdough Sign Up (Make & Send a fresh batch of playdough -- unless a special color is requested, you and your child may choose!) - Coming Soon!
Room Parent contact info: TBD
Thank you for stopping by our class webapge. We will use this page and our Class Dojo to communicate this year. Most photos will be shared via Class Dojo. Please look for that log-in information after TK Tea. Those who do not sign up may be reminded several times until all set up -- it is an important way for us to stay in touch. We will add our weekly digital newsletter to Dojo and this webpage, newest update at the top, in case you need to scroll down to see previously shared information.
Class Snack Sign Up: LINK
Playdough Sign Up (Make & Send a fresh batch of playdough -- unless a special color is requested, you and your child may choose!) - Coming Soon!
Room Parent contact info: TBD
Week 1 - First Week of School! August 10-14, 2026
😎 Happy Saturday!
WOW! What a week we had- meeting new faces, learning new expectations and routines, and getting more and more comfortable with our new physical spaces. Every child (and adult) seemed to grow more comfortable with each day and that will surely continue as we get further into our year.
As a mom, I remember hearing a friend say, “the days are long, but the years are short.” This has stuck with me because yes, some days seemed to last for weeks and felt so long…but, every so often I’d look back and wonder how my son had grown so much so fast?!? Just think back to when you met your baby for the first time. That time went by in the blink of an eye…one long day at a time. This is the magic of parenting…and teaching. Thank you for allowing Ms, Veronica and I to be part of your child’s long (and quick) journey through TK.
Some reflections on the week:
👋 Drop off: THANK YOU for being such a punctual group! Starting on time is VERY important. Building that habit now in TK will help your child as they grow. Many older grades begin the day with academic content and being late means missing important instruction. In TK, we do start with recess, but this time is just as critical in these early years. Play is your child’s work right now. We see and hear your child working out how to make friends, share toys, take turns, manage self-care by using the bathroom, and sometimes move through big emotions during recess. All of these “soft skills” help predict future success in so many other areas. The time we spend supporting the students' growth in these areas will pay off in dividends. Slower start to finish strong. There are a few tears hanging on, this is normal and these fade quickly once our day gets going. If you have specific concerns, please let us know.
🍔 Food:
**If your child is bringing Home Lunch— please be sure they know what is SNACK and what is LUNCH, Separate snack and lunch bags are the easiest for students, Addibg a “snack” or “lunch” label can also help us adults support.
🍎 Snack: Most children seem to have enough snack through the day. Some children are observing more still and snacking less— but even if they are not eating all the food, they are using the time to talk with their classmates and teachers. Most snacks seem on target - healthy food. Please- NO COOKIES or CANDY. Save those treats as leverage at home— rewards for a successful day at school- cooperating with their teachers and classmates. Water should also be the only drink students bring from home. Milk is available at lunch. Please do not send Gatorade or juice.
🍱 Lunch: Students play first, then eat. Our system for ensuring School Lunch and Home Lunch students have time to eat each day relies on being prepared and students following their group from the playground to the lunch arbor. Talk with your child about staying in their correct line so they have time to eat. Once we leave the playground, there is no walking back to play. If they forgot something, they need to let an adult know. This first week we focused on getting to the correct table (we eat as a class at the 4th table) and how to use the trash bin, compost bin, and leftover milk bucket. Next week, especially for School Lunch, we will focus more on being independent with opening their own food containers. A good skill to practice is “pinch and pull open” — like opening a ziploc bag. Ms. Veronica and I have taken our lunch time this first week to be extra hands on deck at lunch, but we will be fading this support as students get more independent so that we also get a lunch break. Safety Crew will then be relying on the students to be responsible for following the routines of getting from the playground to the lunch arbor, opening their food, and staying at their table. If students need to use the bathroom, they do need to raise their hand and let a Safety Crew member know - but we do use the bathroom as a class right after lunch. It gives your child more time to eat if they wait for the bathroom until after eating. Students have a 40-minute recess/lunch break: 18-ish to play, 2-3 to walk, 3-4 to get settled and open food, 10-13 to eat, 2-4 to clean up. When lunch is over, they clean up, then stand in line by the table. Safety Crew only has 5-minutes between grade levels to reset the area, so everyone working together to ensure the next grade has clean tables is critical. Students need to look for me at our line and we need to stay together as we exit the Lunch Arbor. Single file line down the ramp and up the stairs to the bathroom.
💧Water: The water bottle situation has been great! Thank you for labeling and sending reusable water bottles. Students have a tray at their table to have easy access to water through the day. They also try to remember to carry it to and from lunch, so they can hydrate as they eat. Students may also have milk at lunch with the school lunch, and may choose to leave their water bottle on the white table outside our classroom door while they go get lunch. If you have questions about what your child is eating or any concerns, please let us know. It is a busy time with a lot of activity- we try to see it all, but we may miss something. We appreciate you asking if you are concerned about your child’s eating time.
🥱Rest: Some students have been falling asleep during rest time, about ⅓ of the students. But all students have been using the time to lay down, relax, and restore their energy. This is important practice to help your child manage their emotions, process all they are learning, and just be more balanced with their work/play/rest spheres. Rest blankets went home Friday to be washed. RETURN THE BAG WITH YOUR CHILD'S WASHED BLANKET ON MONDAY.
👟 Shoes: Some children have been taking their shoes off at rest time. We are asking that they only do this IF they can put them back on by themselves. PRACTICE at home!! Not all students are independent with putting their shoes on yet. If they cannot put them back on, they will be asked to keep them on as they rest. If there were an emergency and we needed to leave the classroom, Ms. Veronica and I would not be able to help everyone put on their shoes.
🚻 Bathroom: PLEASE be sure your child is comfortable and INDEPENDENT with how to manage their clothing for using the bathroom. Buttons, closures, zippers, etc. can be tricky and we are not supposed to provide help with using the bathroom. We are there for support, if needed, but they should be self-sufficient in using the bathroom and managing their clothing to do so. This includes wiping. We are not able to provide help. If you have concerns about toileting, please let us know.
🎒 Backpacks: Your child is expected to be unzipping and zipping their backpack to take out their planners and snacks. Please practice at home and if your child is not yet independent— keep practicing. They will get better with daily practice. The goal is that students can independently unpack their own materials at the start of each day and repack their belongings at the end of the day.
🟩 🟨 🟦 🟥 Zone Cards, Helping Hands & Treasure Box: We have begun using our Zones Cards in class to help students identify and keep track of their emotional Zone of Regulation. Green=Ready to Learn, Yellow=Excited/Extra Energy, Blue=Sad/Tired, Red=Mad.
All zones and feelings are valid. As humans, we expect to not always be feeling a-okay and in the Green Zone. As students and part of the TK-D School Family, though, we are all expected to work together and cooperate. Students not in the green zone may use the Calm Corner or a fidget or other tool to help reset. We encourage them to let us know if they are needing a break, a hug, or a moment to reset. The goal is being able to communicate this with words. We know all humans get frustrated and mad sometimes, but hitting, biting, pushing, etc. is not expected or okay. When students can cooperate and use their self-control as they are with us, they have been earning a sticker in their planner to communicate this to you at home. A sticker means your child worked WITH their teachers and class. We will also begin to use a system to track and acknowledge their Helping Hands by using a Treasure Box system. 5 days of cooperation=a visit to the treasure box. I will introduce this to students this coming week. Most students will be earning a trip to the Treasure Box on Friday because they cooperated all 5 days in the week. If your child had a hard day, maybe they were consistently ignoring directions or being unsafe with their body— it may take longer than 1 week to earn the 5 days of cooperation and their Treasure Box trip. We will keep track in class and have a chart to help students see their progress.
*IF you would like to make a donation of small treats (toys, slap bracelets, special stickers, etc), they will be gladly accepted.
🕝 Dismissal: Principal Mora has communicated the change in pick up procedure at the end of the day. Grown ups will ALL need to walk up and come to the classroom to pick up your TK-D student. This will be a first for us, but we believe it will be the safest approach and help create a smoother end of day experience for your child. KinderMission and AfterStein students will be picked up by these programs and transferred safely. Thank you for your patience and flexibility regarding all of these logistics. In another week or two; we should be working as a well-oiled dismissal machine! Wednesday is 12pm! All other days, pick up @ 2:30pm. Students not picked up by 2:45pm will be waiting in the front office for you to sign them out.
🏁Planners & Homework: Many parents are initialing nightly, helping students write their name each evening, and writing the names of books read in the planner. Thank you! If you have not started with this routine yet, please work to do so as you are able this next week, or so. We understand this has all be a big transition. A lot of new things!
🧑🧑🧒🧒 Family photo: If you have not sent in a photo for our Family Tree yet, please do. We can also take one at Back to School Night, if you would like.
🗓️Important Dates
Back-to-School Night: September 10th, 2026 at 5 pm to 7 pm
Pastries with the Principal: Aug 20th at 8:30 am
Week 0 - Before School Begins! August 3-7, 2026
Hello TK Families!
TK Welcome Tea Event:
Save the Date Friday, August 7, 2026, 9:45 am – 10:30 am
It is an AEA tradition to have a TK/ Kinder Tea on the Friday prior to the start of school. This is an opportunity for our newest Einstein students to meet their teachers, see their classrooms, and receive their special Schultüte. Stay tuned for specifics from the office! Check your email!
Please note the start times below:
FYI -- Kindergarten will be held at 9:00, before TK.
9:45 TK Welcome Tea
*Your TK student’s class placement will be emailed to you the week of August 3rd for your planning purposes.
IF you don't receive an email, please contact the front office staff or email "Support@aeacs.org" for help.
We look forward to meeting you and beginning our journey together! It's going to be a wonderful year!!
Remember, School Begins on August 10th and campus opens for breakfast at 7:45am, students not eating breakfast are welcome on campus at 7:50am. First Day Only - grown ups may help walk their child to their line up area shared at TK Tea.
Check back for the most current information & updates!
~Mrs. Findlay
Zones of Regulation:
We use colors to help describe our feelings and emotions. See these resources to help understand what we are sharing in class so that you can support at home, as well.
Green Zone - All is as it should be. Happy, calm, peaceful, patient, flexible, ready to learn
Yellow Zone - Can be positive or negative, excited or anxious. Frustrated, Anxious, Excited, Silly These emotions are opposites of the same coin. We can move through the yellow zone and get back to green or help ourselves feel more positive about the energy we are feeling. Naming the emotions we are feeling helps us understand ourselves and have better control over our actions.
Blue Zone - Slow, tired, or sad. When we feel this way, we may have physical reasons, like we did not sleep well, or it may have been an interaction with a friend or family member that left us sad. Sometimes, though, we all just feel a little blue and that is ok. Feelings come and go, they don't stay too long and we can stay calm until our feelings change and we feel ready to be back in the green zone.
Red Zone - Angry feelings or out of control, when we are mad we need a break. We want our friends and family to feel safe aroud us and taking a walk, listening to music, reading a book, or squeezing a pillow, stomping my feet, or have a cry may be what we need to help get back to the green zone. Talking with a friend or adult when we feel calmer can help, too. This is hopefully not a frequent zone, but everyone does get mad and upset from time to time. This is normal and together, we can work through the red zone.