WINDMILL SCHOOL

 WELCOME TO WINDMILL SCHOOL

Welcome to all of our new and returning families at Windmill School! We are so happy to have our children and families back on campus and are looking forward to a wonderful year together.

This site will serve as a helpful resource throughout the school year, providing you with important information, updates, resources, and everything you need to stay connected and informed. We encourage you to check back regularly for announcements and helpful reminders.

What a day at school looks like:

Before you come to school, talk about a routine with your child. Children begin their day at Windmill by applying sunscreen, washing their hands and putting their items away in their cubby. During the morning the children engage and connect in large group meetings, explore different art mediums, sing and dance together, engage in small groups to work on developmental domains, eat a snack, and so much more before a whole room clean takes place and our half day children end their day. 

Our Full day children will continue on to lunch, enrichment, rest/quiet time and afternoon activities/small groups with the school day concluding at or before 5:30pm.

What you and other caregivers need to know about saying “goodbye” to your child:

***If your child has come to Windmill as a younger sibling in the past, please keep in mind that he/she may still have a hard time separating. While they may have never wanted to leave when dropping off an older sibling, this is the first time they are being left at Windmill without a parent/caregiver. 

Even though your child may be comfortable in the Windmill environment, separating from a parent/caregiver is a new experience.***  

• • If your child is having difficulty separating, it may be necessary for you to stay with your child as he/she is transitioning to our school. If this is the case, a teacher will discuss a plan with you and work on how best to support your child as he/she transitions to the school. 

• • If your child does need you to stay at school, it will help your child gain independence and confidence if you allow your child to explore the environment at his/her own pace. We may suggest that you step out of the classroom and spend time in our Family Lounge or Redwood Grove area while your child explores and plays in the environment. This allows your child time to engage with peers/teachers. It also allows space for the child and educator to bond and will help in the separation process once your child is settled and able to easily separate at drop off. 

• • When you are ready to leave, make a clear statement that you are leaving (ie. “I’m going to leave to go to (work, home, grocery store), (indicate name of person) will pick you up at the end of the day.”). If you pose a question (ie, “Can I go now? or “I’m going to leave, okay?”), your child now has the choice to say, “no.”

• • Make sure your child knows that you are leaving (Quietly leaving when they are engaged in an activity, may leave your child feeling scared and alone when he/she realizes that you have left without his/her knowledge).

• • Have a routine on how you say “goodbye” to your child. Examples: After the morning routine of sunscreen application, hand washing, and placing items in cubbies, give a hug, a kiss or a high five etc…

• • Once you have decided to leave, please exit the room and keep out of sight. Your child will pick up any cues of hesitation. If you look confident when you leave, then your child will feel safe and secure. They will build an understanding that the adults they are staying with are safe and trusted and relationships will begin to form. 

• • If your child is crying during separation, an educator or administrator can call you or come find you to let you know once your child has settled into the program or to let you know that your child will need you to come back to school. You are always welcome to call us to see how your child is doing in their day.

• • If you would like to wait to make sure your child is settled after you leave, please wait in the Family Lounge or Redwood Grove area and we will reach out to you as soon as possible.