TK Frequently Asked Questions

TK FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What are the drop off and pick up procedures? 

• School begins at 8:15 and dismisses at 2:10 on Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri and 12:25 dismissal on Wednesdays. Gates open daily at 7:45 for supervised play and breakfast in the cafeteria. So feel free to drop off your child any time between 7:45-8:15. At 8:15 I will retrieve students from the playground and bring them into the classroom to begin our day. 

• Drop off is at the kindergarten gate. Independence is encouraged! After a quick goodbye at the gate, students enter the playground independently, hang up backpacks on the rack, and play on the playground until it is time to start class. There are playground duty supervisors on the playground for the before school play time.. I do not pick the students up until 8:15 from the line in front of my class. So drop off time is flexible (7:45-8:15). Students are not considered late unless they come after the 8:15 bell and the gate closes. 

**Gate drop off is required because this is a closed campus, which means EVERY person on campus that is not a student, faculty or staff, must be accounted for by checking in the office. If you need to come on campus at any time during school hours (7:45-2:10), you must sign in at the office with a photo ID and pick up a Visitors Badge. 

• Pick up is now at our classroom, door enter through the kindergarten gate and come to our classroom door--parents please form a line and I will dismiss your child in a hand-to-hand fashion. 

• If you are late picking up your child, please email me or call the office. If you are more than 5-10 minutes late, your child will be in the office with our school secretary. 

• If you are late dropping your child off, it's okay-please take them to the office to check in with the secretary. 

***Please note, the parking lot near the kindergarten gate is STAFF ONLY parking, please do not park in this lot or use this lot as a drop off spot for your child. 

Can I volunteer in my child’s classroom? YES

• • Please ask the school secretary for the volunteer forms and requirements 

  • There will be special event/holiday opportunities to volunteer.

  • Please no siblings allowed when volunteering per OUSD school policy. 

What will my child need to bring for school everyday? 

• Water bottles are encouraged. Please label your child's name on the bottle. We also have water fountains in the classroom. 

• Kids need to wear comfortable clothes and closed toe/heel shoes. No open sandals, please. This is a district policy and students who wear sandals to school are not allowed on the playground for safety reasons.  

• Your child will need a standard size backpack that he or she can easily unzip and use to pack up their papers and belongings independently. He or she will be bringing school work home daily.  Make sure to check and unpack it daily. A regular size backpack works best--no small/mini backpacks please!!! The small ones crumple papers and are hard for them to pack up their belongings independently. Practice with your child how to unzip their backpack and how to take it off and on. 

• Please label personal items like backpacks, jackets, lunchboxes, etc.

• Please keep an extra outfit in your child’s backpack in a ziplock bag at all times in case of accidents or spills!!!

• Snack/Lunch: All students are provided a school lunch every day and you can access the OUSD monthly menu on the district website or click here.  However, you may also choose to pack your own lunch for your child in a lunchbox. 

  • 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. We also have a ‘snack break’ during our 1st morning recess, which you will need to provide from home if your child would like a snack. Not all students want to eat a snack during that time, which is totally fine (lunch is just about an hour and half later). Recess is only 20 minutes so just a small snack is best that way they can eat AND play. Also, please make sure the foods you pack from home are healthy and not full of sugar AND in packages/containers that they can open independently. Please practice with your child how to open package and baggies etc. 

****If you do pack a snack and lunch for your child, please have a discussion with your child about what foods are for snack time and what foods are to be eaten for lunch time. It may be easiest for them if their snack and lunch are packed separately. In the past, kiddos have tried to eat all their food at the snack time recess, then not have anything to eat at lunch time. 

2.Breakfast is also served before school 7:45-8:15 in the MPR, which is free to all students. Breakfast must be eaten in the caftertia area, not playground. 

How are birthdays celebrated at school?

Your child will be recognized on his or her special day with a crown and singing.  If you want, you may also bring a small treat/donation on your child’s birthday.  It is best to let me know if you plan on bringing in something so I can plan accordingly. Typically, I will have any food items be passed out as students are being dismissed at the gate. 

Donation ideas include the following: 100% fruit juice, fruit snacks, goldfish crackers, fruit (individual serving sizes), fruit juice Popsicle or sugar free popsicles. Please no sugary treats (candy, cupcakes, cookies, etc.) OUSD has a “healthy treat” policy that I am required to uphold. Other ideas include fun pencils/erasers, stickers. You may also purchase a "healthy treat option" from our cafeteria--if interested, please see the school secretary. Please let me know at least a day ahead of time if you plan on bringing in a birthday treat. 

How can I communicate with the school and teacher?

Santa Margarita School and OUSD will send emails, calls, and flyers home to all students when necessary. The Santa Margarita School website contains important school information and school calendar info (days off of school etc.) Please check the Santa Margarita website regularly.  

The primary way to communicate with me is through email. Please be sure the email you use and check regularly is the one you entered in the Aeries Parent Portal. I can always be reached at erica.nance@oside.us or call the office 760-901-7900 (email is preferred). I will also send home weekly Mustang Communication Folders with paper flyers from OUSD every Wednesday, and I send a newsletter home each month highlighting our learning goals and events. 

What to do if my child is sick or will not be at school for any reason?

If your child is sick, please keep them home from school to prevent the spread of viruses!! It is OUSD policy to keep your child home from school 24 hours after they have had a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea and without medication that prevents such symptoms. For more information on the OUSD wellness policy, please see the district website. 

If your child will be absent from school for any reason, please call the office and notify the secretary or leave a message about the absence: 760-901-7900

What are the bathroom procedures?

All students are highly encouraged to use the toilet INDEPENDENTLY in TK (undress, wipe, flush etc.-please see the Toileting Tab on this website). I have 2 private bathrooms in my classrooms. I will give frequent reminders to use the toilet and wash hands properly. The school nurse or the teacher assistant will assist with any accidents if they occur. I always tell students they never need to ask permission to use the bathroom. They can go at any time they need-just like at home.  I also set aside special times to remind students to use the bathroom for those that get too busy having fun. Please have a discussion with me if your child is not toilet trained.