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We were so excited to see everyone and to see how much our older friends have grown over the summer. Our second and third year students are acting as wonderful helpers and role models to the new children. We are proud to see children who were once the youngest in the room now stepping into leadership roles. Our returning friends have been eager to get back to favorite works and to explore new materials.

Our new friends are adjusting beautifully. They are discovering new works and learning new rules and routines. Separation can be challenging at the start of the school year, and I commend all of our parents and caregivers on their brief, cheerful, and confident goodbyes. Your children are getting the message that you think of school as a safe and happy place. Each child’s adjustment process is unique. It is normal for your child to have some tears and anxiety. This is a passing phase so hang in there. You are doing a great job.

During the first few weeks of school, we are focusing on establishing routines, teaching skills toward independence, introducing classroom materials, learning classroom ground rules, and making new friends. This early groundwork leads to a smooth and happy school year.

During the fall season, our curriculum themes include: the harvest, farms, fall produce (like apples and pumpkins), and the changing of the seasons. Our science shelf theme will change monthly. During the month of September, the science shelf will feature works related to ocean life.

Our classroom snacks will be mostly fresh fruits and vegetables. Each family will take two turns bringing in the snack items during the school year. When it is your turn, you will receive an email on Friday or Saturday listing the requested items. Please don’t worry if you don’t receive a request anytime soon. We have a long list of families to work through. Thank you for helping us to provide healthy snacks to the children.

We will keep backpacks at school during the week and send them home with your child’s work and information from the office on Wednesdays. Please be sure that your child has a backpack on Wednesday. If your child stays for extended care, please take their bag from the shelves to the left of the front door before leaving on Wednesday. If your child does not have a bag on Wednesday, we will send them home with a canvas loaner bag. Please return these bags the following week.

Your child may want to bring toys to school with them. These items can be very distracting and may get lost at school. Please explain to your child that toys stay safely at home. A security object such as a blanket or a special stuffed animal is permitted. Children will typically lose interest in bringing the item as they become more comfortable at school. Of course, napping children may bring a “lovey” with their nap items throughout the year.

This year the 3:30 p.m. pick up time is much busier than it has been in the past so we will be following a more structured pick up routine. Please stay in your car if you are using the pick up lane. Young children may run towards you if you get out, and this creates a big safety hazard. We will bring your child to your car as you reach the front of the carpool line. Please display your child’s name card on your dash board and pull all the way up to the front of the carpool line as space becomes available. Please pull forward towards the red barn to stop and buckle your child in. No cell phones in the carpool line. You may also choose to park in a designated parking space and walk to the red benches to pick up your child. Please wait at the red benches rather than outside of the door. It is difficult for children to stay in line with their class after they have seen you. Also, please do not park or stop alongside of the building. This blocks pick up traffic and causes safety issues. We will try to be at the benches at 3:25 p.m. Pick up ends at 3:35 p.m. Please pick up your child from the playground if you are running late.

There is a bulletin board in the hallway outside of the classroom. This is where we will hang notices and fliers as well as sign up sheets for mystery readers and volunteers. Parents are invited to sign up to visit the classroom to read a story to the children as a mystery reader or to help out in the classroom as a volunteer. This is a nice opportunity to spend some time with your child in the classroom and to see the classroom in action. The bulletin board is also a good place to leave a note for the teacher if you need to tell us about something or to request a phone conversation.

This is the beginning of a wonderful new school year. We are so pleased to have your family as a part of our school community.

Warmest Regards,

J&C