Meet and Greet Highlights

If you cannot make it to Meet and Greet, here is what we will be talking about.

Program Purpose: To help the children adapt to being part of a group, taking turns, etc. This will be done through lots of varied activities, both in small and large groups. We also want the children to HAVE FUN! ( and associate this pleasure with learning and “school”)

Their Day: PLEASE make you Goodbyes as quickly as possible OUTSIDE of the classroom, we promise to handle them loving attention, to redirect them to the MANY options in the room like playdoh, the rice table, art and craft activities, etc. Although the program time is from 9:30-12:30, last year the children could enter the classroom as early as 9:15, I am assuming the same will be true this year.

At 10 AM we will head for the playground.

By 10:45 we hope to be in our circle time. This is when we talk about the weather, what will happen next in the classroom, learn each others names, read a story, and explain what our “direction following activity of the day” will be.

At 11:00 we will eat snack. This is the only time the children MUST sit down if they want to eat. They may choose not to eat, in which case they may go to the book center. But in order to eat the snack, they must be seated. Each child will have a turn bringing snack. The snack calendar will be sent home monthly. When it is your child’s turn, please bring enough healthy food snack for 12 children, AND a favorite book. We drink only water at school and we use small paper cups. (No. sippies) They will be the “Line Leader” that day. The goal is to stretch out snack for 20 minutes, using this time to talk about healthy food, good manners, lots of other topics.

At 11:30 we go to Music, Spanish or Movement, depending on the day.

At 12:00 we will be working on our “teacher directed activity” (formerly known as “art” or craft), we may take a second turn on the playground, dance to records (yes, those huge CDs) or whatever idea comes to mind. Sometimes we parade through the hallways with musical instruments or play Barber Shop!

A comfort item is fine, please make sure it is either back in your child’s bag or with him when you leave. Especially the first few weeks it is hard to keep up with everyone’s “stuff”.

We use “Time out” for hitting, pushing throwing etc. The basic rule is “If you hit you sit!” When you pick your child up we may not mention that he was in time out if was a “typical two” behavior. So if he says he was in time out, chances are he’s right…it’s only a big deal if it’s repeated often or is something not typical of a two…and then I’ll contact you.

We love to party and will take every opportunity to celebrate. Party sign-up sheets will be posted outside the door about two weeks before the event. The parents do not attend but supply the food , paper products etc. I promise to send lots of pictures!

School Bags: Your child has picked his/her color for the year, please help him/her hang his bag on the hook that corresponds with his/her color the first week, so he/she will know where to hang it when it’s carpool time. DO NOT DO IT FOR HIM….this is the first of many tasks to be learned this year.

In the bag include a COMPLETE change of clothes appropriate for the weather (and a light sweater for when the AC is on overdrive) Any information we send home will be attached to your bag at Pick up

PICK UP TIME is 12:30. If we are coming back into the building at pick up time, the children MUST RE-ENTER the ROOM for a head count before they are released to you. If someone we do not have a photo of is picking up your child, we will need a note, or approved permission through the director AND identification (Yes, even if it’s Daddy)

The rules seem never ending….so I am sure that there are some I have missed…but most are common sense and meant to keep everyone safe and confident that your children are being cared for with appropriate attention.