Kindergarten First Day of School, September 2016

By: Marc J. Smith

Following last year’s first day of school experience along with the feedback we collected from students, parents and staff, we are excited to share with you all our plans for the first day of school in the 2016-2017 school year. Last year we had an abbreviated day for all PreK-2 students, this year we will reserve the abbreviated day for our kindergarten students only.

The “Big Picture”

On September 6th , kindergarten students will be invited to attend school with their parents during one of three sessions that day. Each session will last approximately one hour and will include a visit to the classroom, an opportunity to meet the teacher, and to participate in a family activity within the classroom.

Additionally, parents will be able to visit the nurse, set up lunch accounts, confirm emergency information with the office, and much more. This is a fantastic opportunity to support students as they transition into the school year. This special event gives parents an opportunity to meet teachers on the first day of school, see their child’s classroom, create a powerful positive memory with their child and help start the kindergarten year off on the right foot.

Students in Grades One and Two will come to school on the bus on September 6th for a full day.

Kindergarten students will join them on the bus on Wednesday, September 7th .

Logistics:

So how is this all going to work?

Parents (or other relative/friend) will bring their kindergarten child to the Forestdale School on the first day of school, September 6th, in one of three sessions.

• The first session will be for families with the last name A-H and will be from 9:00 – 10:00 am.
• The second session will be for families with the last name I-Q and will be from 10:30 – 11:30 am.
• The third session will be for families with the last name R-Z and will be from 1:00 -2:00 pm.

Parents and students will start by going to their new classroom to meet the teacher, drop-off school supplies, see the classroom and participate in a family activity. At the conclusion of the activity (30-45 minutes), families can visit other areas in the school (cafeteria, gym, nurse, etc.) and then the children will go home with their parents for the day while we welcome students in the next session.

On September 7th , the buses will pick up kindergarten students at their bus stops at the normal time with the neighborhood first and second graders, and participate in a full day of school with the knowledge, comfort, familiarity and experience that they gained the previous day.

If for any reason you cannot make your “assigned” session and need to come during one of the other sessions, just give us a call and we will let the teacher know when you will be coming.

We are very pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to students and their families. This is a great way to meet the developmental needs of the children in a way that helps them have a great start to the new school year.

We can’t wait to welcome everyone next September!