Congratulations! Your little one is on his/her way to Pre-K! Here you will find some quick and basic information about our class and beginning Pre-K at Holy Family!
Our classroom is bright, clean, and full of friends and things to do! Our day starts promptly at 8:30 am. Children may enter the building beginning but not before 7:40 am. When your child arrives the general schedule goes as such (please note this will vary by day and according to special classes and special events)
8:15 Circle
8:45 Bathroom
9:00 Special classes (we move to other rooms around the building and specials are: Art, Technology, Spanish, Music, Gym, Religious Enrichment and Social/Emotional Learning. Special time varies from 30 minutes to 50 minutes per class.)
9:30 Snack
9:45-11:00 Learning Time and Centers (ELA, Math, Social Studies, and Science)
11:00 Outside Play (weather permitting but we do go out if it is above 35 degrees)
11:30 Inside and Half Day Dismissal
11:30 Bathroom for full day, learning review games and prepare for lunch
12:00 Lunch
12:45 Bathroom
1:00 Outside Play or Outside Recess
1:45 Bathroom and Rest Time
2:30 Full Day Dismissal (Preschool children will dismiss before K-8 to allow parents to gload children and exit the parking lot before regular car line! This is awesome for you!)
When preparing your child to attend school for the first time, you can do several things to help get them ready. Below are some suggestions:
All children must be completely potty trained and self-sufficient in all areas in the bathroom. Teachers are not allowed to enter the bathroom and assist with dressing. This is for the safety of your child and the teachers/staff. Therefore your child should be able to use the toilet, wipe, dress, and undress him/herself, snap and zip pants, and pull on tights. NO PULL-UPS ARE ALLOWED.
Independence is Key! Begin to foster independence by giving your child jobs to do around the house and where his/her activities are concerned. For example, setting the table, opening his or her own snacks and juice boxes/bags, setting out his/her clothes for the day, putting on and buttoning/zipping sweatshirts/coats. Let your child help with daily routines because once they are in school, there are lots of routines! Below is a link to appropriate jobs for 4/5 year olds.
https://www.lifewithlessmess.com/chores-for-4-year-olds/
Children at 4 are very capable! Just remember your expectations, it may not be exactly how you would do it but it will be done and they will be proud!
One of the most important things to ensure your child can do when he/she comes to school is to know that if you use something or take something out, you put it back how and where you got it. Everything that the children will be responsible for taking out and putting away is labeled in our classroom with word/picture so that everything has a place and they know where that place is. This is very helpful both at school and at home.
Start to play games, board games are especially helpful, so that your child begins to understand the idea of taking turns, waiting and losing. Don't always let your child go first, instill the idea that sometimes we have to WAIT for what we want.
Finally, it is very important that your child gets plenty of sleep and that they eat a balanced diet. These two things are essential for a successful learner. Make sure your child wakes with plenty of time to welcome the day. When you are rushing to get ready and out the door, it can create stress for both you and your child. A good morning routine can really set the tone for your child's day. While we will be learning about the ABCs and 123s as well as a lot of other fun things, we are still working on basic social skills, self-care, and fine/gross motor skills.
What your child needs on the first day of school:
1) Our usual in-class supplies: 1 box of tissues, 1 pack of baby wipes, 1 container of Lysol/Clorox Wipes
2) A school bag big enough for a regular-size folder (the little preschool size is not large enough).
3) Lunch box: Please send a washcloth to be used as a placemat. This helps children to understand and visualize their space while eating. Dish towels are too big! Only send in a washcloth, nothing bigger than a full paper towel. Include a snack and a drink (plus lunch and another drink if your child is full day). Should you choose to send your child with water, please only send small bottles or a thermos. We have a bottle filling station right outside our classroom so we can always provide water as needed if your child brings a bottle/thermos.
4) Change of clothes: Please be sure to send a season-appropriate shirt, bottoms, 2 pairs of underwear, and a pair of socks. Pack the clothes in a gallon Ziploc bag and be sure to label them with your child's name. Make sure it is weather appropriate, so start with lighter clothes. When school uniforms transition to winter, that would be a good time to send in warmer clothes.
5) Art and Computer class: Please send in a headphone set for your child (NO EARBUDS PLEASE!). Be sure to put it in a Ziploc bag labeled with your child's name. These will be kept in the classroom for the duration of the school year. For art class, your child will need a smock or a larger t-shirt. We will travel the halls with our smock on, so dad's old undershirt may be a tad too long and create a tripping hazard. Be sure to put it in a Ziploc bag labeled with your child's name.
6) Any additional items will be outlined at our Preschool Orientation held the week before school starts.