Dear Friends,
We’re still basking in the amazing energy from our New Parent Orientation last Thursday night. It really looks to be another great year with so many of you already forming friendships that will sure to be lasting. Exciting. As promised, below is the recap of what was said, plus a little extra so be sure to read it all! We know it’s a lot of information in the beginning but we promise that you will get in the swing of things naturally as we all walk with you together.
We’re looking forward to seeing you tonight at Family Pages Night from 6:45 to 8:45. Let me know if you DID NOT get Kris’ email explaining the details and I’ll resend it. It’s an important night for parents to meet each other again but this time through their children’s eyes. Bring photos to answer the questions in Kris’ email and we’ll have everything ready for you to get started on your child’s notebook. It’s our goal that all the books are ready for the children and on the shelf for their first day of school. It’s a great connection to home and school and a strong relationship builder as they sit and share their books with each other.
We didn’t hand out any paperwork this year and we’re excited and ready to make our NSWparents blog work even more efficiently. With that, we hope you connected with Kris about how to get “linked”. You’ll find all the paperwork you’ll need to download and complete before your child starts school under the heading “Important Docs”:
Child History
Consent for Medical Treatment
Financial Agreement
ID and Emergency Info
Major Disaster Emergency Procedure Card
Parent’s Rights
Permission Slip
Personal Rights
Physician’s Report (to be signed by the doctor)
Pre Admission Health History
NSW Parents Handbook Signature Page
We are revising the school’s calendar for the 2014/15 year and will have it ready for you by August 13th when school starts (or sooner if I can get everything in sync) and post that in Important Docs, as well. The Parent Handbook is also entered in the Important Docs, so be sure to read that and print out and sign the form marked “NSW Parents’ Handbook Signature Page”. All the forms need to be in the office by the time your child starts school. Since we leave for vacation on July 18th, we’re making July 17th your deadline date. Remember that your final deposit balance is due July 1st. August tuition, plus the $300 yearly materials fee and the $100 one time emergency pack fee is due August 1st.
Thanks to our current families who came to welcome our new families and get their pompoms out to rally attention for the Parent Teams. It used to be that we’d have sign up sheets ready for you during this first evening together but agreed it’s just too much information. That said, it’s still really important that you become partners with us so go on the blog and click on “Teams” and read all about the great opportunities there are to be involved. If you have any questions, there are e-mail links for you to make direct contact with our parents. Our Parent Partners Meeting where we’ll fine tune the committees’ yearly plans will be on August 20th and we hope we see you there. In the meantime, expect to hear from Team Chairs who may be reaching out to support ongoing projects.
This all may be so much information but, remember, you are not alone. We’ve asked some Parent “Buddies” to be available for you. Hopefully, you’ve received a call but if not, you will soon. They (and we) will hold your hand along the way. Don’t be afraid to let us know if you need help. The following is a short summary of what we talked about at our first meeting together. They are some of the most important things to remember upon preparing and arriving to NSW. (READ YOUR HANDBOOK FOR MORE DETAILS!):
WHEN SHOPPING in preparation for your days at preschool:
- Buy or bring clothes that are comfortable and support autonomy (children want to get in and out of them quickly. . .on their own). They don’t need to be pretty or “hip” and they won’t stay clean for long so consider that and don’t spend a lot of money.
- But bring LOTS of them! LABEL EVERYTHING! Bring the extra change of clothes in a labeled cloth bag. This bag will be kept in the cubbie in case we need to change your child’s clothes at any point during they day. It’s not a bad idea to bring several changes during the first weeks (months?!). Be sure to LABEL EVERYTHING WITH YOUR CHILD’S FULL NAME! Initials make us crazy!
- Remember, for safety, it is best that the children wear closed toed/ rubber soled shoes (or at least bring them to keep in their cubbie because they’ll need them to play in the wood chip area). Velcro is great (and empowering!) but shoes with laces are O.K. Just think of us tying 60 pairs of shoes and take pity! For added safety, you might want to avoid backless shoes, boots, crocks, flip flops and slippery-soled shoes. Remember to send clothes that promote independence. Belts are hip but really hard for children to maneuver (especially when they really have to go NOW!) and long dresses are hard to climb in without tripping. LABEL EVERYTHING WITH YOUR CHILD’S FULL NAME!
- Let us know if any of this is problem for your child.
- We want the children to be well on their way to feeling comfortable using the toilet. That said, we know there will be accidents and so bring lots of underwear (labeled!) to be kept in their cubbie. Please do not bring diapers or pullups. If you are still struggling with this, please contact us so we can help ease your stress. The teachers are really good at this!
- We want to support our efforts to take care of the environment and so we ask that you bring a trash-free lunch. Containers, utensils, cloth napkins should be labeled so we can return them to you in case they don’t get back in the lunchbox. Please think about alternatives to foods with disposable wrappers (such as individually wrapped string cheese and yogurt containers) and buy in bulk with containers that can be reused. Since we don’t refrigerate or microwave, consider freezer packs and/or thermoses. We’ll be posting lunch and snack ideas on the Blog in the Important Docs section for your reference. BE SURE TO LET US KNOW OF ANY FOOD ALLERGIES but we already know that we have a child allergic to peanuts so WE WILL BE A PEANUT-FREE SCHOOL FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS.
- If your child is napping, bring a crib sheet (regular size, not the infant size) and a blanket. If he or she needs a pillow, make it small. Everything needs to fit in a 9”x11” basket because the Health Dept. says nothing can touch each other. This basket is kept in the bathroom closet and, yes, you can bring one soft cuddly toy or a special blanket if your child needs it for a comforting naptime. LABEL EVERYTHING WITH YOUR CHILD’S FULL NAME! You will take the bedding home once a week and return it the following school day.
WHEN PACKING to come to school:
- Bring a zip lock bag for our whole school emergency bin. This bag should contain: A family photo, underwear and socks, a long sleeve shirt, long pants (and they don’t have to be new), a flashlight with batteries (keep the batteries separate), and a letter from you: “You are safe. I/we will be there soon. Listen to your teachers. They will take care of you until I /we arrive.” This bag should be placed in the basket marked “Emergency Bags” which is in the office.
- Your paperwork should all be completed and in the office by the time your child starts school (July 17th is your deadline date). If you are bringing in the paperwork on your play days with us, put it in the envelope marked “New Children/Paperwork” which is on the office door. NEVER HAND THE TEACHERS ANYTHING! They are too busy helping the children settle. REMEMBER, YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO START NSW UNTIL ALL THE PAPERWORK IS IN.
- Label extra clothes and put them in your child’s cubbie.
- Please DO NOT BRING TOYS FROM HOME. If your child needs a transitional object, make it a picture, a note, a cuddly stuffed animal for napping, or a book and make sure it is LABELED. Talk to them about this and have them in on the process of choosing what to bring. You can always leave their favorite toy in the car for safe keeping upon drop off and pick up. Please note that if this becomes a big issue, the teachers can help. They (or you) can put the toy in the file box for safekeeping. It should not go in the child’s cubbie because at this developmental stage, it is too hard for the others to refrain from taking it and it’s hard when special things get lost.
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER:
- Parking will always be a challenge here (especially on Wednesdays and Thursdays) so we suggest you plan to take extra time when bringing your child to school. The two spaces in the alley are for quick 5 minute drop offs ONLY so plan to park on the streets around the school. Watch for street cleaning signs. NEVER PARK ALONG THE FENCE IN THE ALLEY AND NEVER, NEVER PARK IN FRONT OF THE NEIGHBOR’S GARAGE. When your child becomes more comfortable and they feel good enough saying goodbye without you walking them into the school, you can think of taking advantage of our newly implemented alley drop off/welcome system on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Kris and either another teacher or parent will be ready with a clipboard for your signature and walk them in. This is also something you can volunteer for somewhere down the line when you and your child’s feet are on solid ground.
- Please consider the “settling in” period and allow enough time for a comfortable transition. We hope that with your playdays, your home visit, your photo album with pictures of NSW spaces, the note from the teachers that you should be getting in the mail during our break, and your family book pages, you and your child have developed a relationship with us and you will be able to say goodbye before our 9:00 meeting time on the first days of school. At least, that’s our goal! This start time is a crucial piece in securing a calm transition as the teachers and children plan their day together and we want to work together on this.
- To make this step easier, the teachers will be ready to support your child’s entry to the group. Make sure you have connected to make a secure plan for a routine departure. You can support your child by telling him or her what to expect. Who will pick them up? What time? If you are struggling with this, let us know and we can help.
- The Powell family have volunteered to open their home (3542 Meier St.) for you to have a cup of coffee and a nibble on the first two days of school. It’s been a tradition of ours to have one of our families host a morning for you to be together (if you wish) so you don’t have to go home alone and get all “worked up”. They’ll supply the tissues, too. Kris and the teachers will keep you posted as to how the children are doing. Trust me, they will probably be handling all this better than you will!
- Your child will have a file box with his or her first name listed alphabetically in it. This is kept on the shelves as you enter the Middle Courtyard. Remember to check it everyday and take whatever is filed in front of your child’s name.
- Walk your child into school. Carrying him or her in gives them an unequal view of their new world. Holding their hand and getting down on their level is very reassuring and has you seeing what they see.
- Remember to sign your name and time on the SIGN IN/OUT SHEET in the notebook on the shelf by the file boxes when you arrive and depart. Licensing requires that everyone who is signing in and out must be at least 18 years of age so even though siblings are helpful, adults must be the ones to take the child from the premises. A full signature (not initials) in ink is also required. It’s considered a legal document and we can be fined by Licensing if the number of children and signatures don’t match up. Thanks for staying vigilant about this requirement.
- There is a RED LINE that is painted on the ground just as you reach the hallway ready to exit. This is a safety line and the children are told that they are not to go down the hallway without taking their parent or caregiver’s hand. We tell them to put their toes on the red line and wait for the adult’s hand. This is strictly enforced and we appreciate your support on this. THIS IS NOT NEGOTIABLE since it’s all about being safe.
Information for Peggy Fisher and “Gymtastics” will be in your child’s file box on August 13th. If you want to contact her directly before that, her number is (310) 822-3714.
Be sure to get linked to our NSWparents blog. Play with it, enjoy it, and hopefully you will quickly feel a part of all the action here. If you have not turned in your Community Bio and family photo to Kris yet, please do, so we can post them on the blog with the others. OH, AND WE FORGOT TO TELL YOU TO BRING A FAMILY PHOTO IN A 4X6 FRAME FOR THE CLASSROOM. We want everyone to meet each other in a variety of ways so when school starts, you’re friends already! Contact Kris at Kris@newschoolwest.com if you have any questions about this.
WHAT I DIDN’T SAY AT THE MEETING: Keep the emergency number listed below in your cell phones. Information about our Emergency Plan and Drill Procedures are in the Parent Handbook but this number should be kept handy. It is the number of one of our former NSW parents who now lives in Maryland. In case of an extreme emergency, we will not be able to call all of our families to update them on what’s happening so we will send a message that will be recorded on the emergency phone number to keep you posted.
Emergency Plan and Drill Procedures
Remember this number: (917) 825-6917
Whew! All this is a lot of information at one time. But don’t panic! We’ll walk you through it and soon it will become routine. Your first step is to review the Parent Handbook in the “Important Docs” section on the blog and make notes if you have any questions. Remember to keep communication open. It’s not possible for us to know everything (boy, that’s a shocking reality!). Let us in on your concerns, things that might be causing some worries. We’re in this together! Here’s to a great year!
-Roleen and Kris