Dear Stuyvesant Heights Montessori Parents,

Welcome back to the 2012-2013 school year! I am thrilled that you have decided to join us again or for the first time.  We are all excited about the opportunity to get to know the new families and to grow with the current families. I am planning for and anticipating a year filled with challenge, learning and excitement.  The following is a brief outline intended to supply you with information concerning the first week of school. Please make sure that you read this thoroughly to help prepare you for the first day. 

MANDATORY PARENT ORIENTATION

Parent orientation will be Thursday, September 13, 2012 from 6:30-7:30p.m. All parent(s) must attend. Please provide appropriate care for your children this orientation is for parents only.

FORMS

All forms can be found on the blog

All children must have the following forms by the first day of school.

Enrollment Agreement

Medical

Emergency contact

F.A.C.T.S. Form

All Outstanding Deposits

ARRIVAL

The first day of school is Monday, September 10, 2012. Arrival time will begin 8:00a.m. until 8:30a.m.  Circle time will promptly begin at 8:45a.m. It is essential that all children arrive before circle time. When you drop off or pick up your child, we ask that you keep your conversation with the teachers at a minimum so they can concentrate on settling the children and managing their class.

HOW TO BEGIN THE NEW SCHOOL DAY CALMLY 

If parents handle the situation correctly, they can reduce their little one’s separation anxiety. Follow these tips:

Before school begins encourage your child's independence in other areas, such as letting him pick out some of his new school clothes. The confidence they will gain from tackling the new task will spill over into feeling good about their new school (return to school) situation. Drop off  should be kept short and sweet. Let the teacher receive your child at the door, give her a kiss or a hug, say, “I love you” – and let your child walk into the classroom.  If you prolong the good-bye process, you are giving your child the false hope that you will stay. By lingering, you’re also encouraging her to be clingy the next day because she’ll see that "clinginess" gets results. Rest assured that once you leave, your child will quickly rebound. Within minutes, most kids are perfectly fine and happily engaged in an activity. Transitioning into school is a process and takes time. Your child needs your encouragement and support.  You have made a wonderful decision on choosing our school; trust your judgment and yourself -- we're all in this together!

DISMISSAL

The school day ends at 3:00p.m. promptly and extended day begins at 3:00p.m. until 6:00p.m. All persons picking up children must be listed on the emergency contact forms. We will not release your child without this form or written consent with your signature.  

LUNCH

Please put your child’s name on their lunch bag, thermos, spoon, water bottle, etc. Also remember that if you are sending a hot lunch to send it in a thermos. We can not heat your child’s lunch (no exceptions). Please remember to include napkins, utensils, an icepack, a drink, and water bottle. It is very important that you do not pack cookies, candies, chips, cupcakes, or other non-nutritious food in your child’s lunch. Remember we are a nut/seed free-zone (NO NUT PRODUCTS).  Please read carefully read all ingredients on labels.  If your child is staying for extended day, please provide an additional snack and drink.

SUPPLIES

All children will need the essential items on the first day of school, 1 - fitted crib sheet, Lunch bag with lunch (hot lunch in thermos), complete change of clothes (labeled), Pull ups (pottery training children), 

The following is a list of supplies specific for each class.

Tadpoles

Complete change of clothes(labeled)

Fitted crib sheet

Lunch bag

Labeled thermos(for warm food) 

Water bottle with drinking spout(not rubber)

2 pkg. Baby Wipes

1 pkg. diapers/Pull-Ups(easy-open sides)

2 rolls or paper towels

2 pkgs. of clorox/lysol wipes

Anti bacterial hand sanitizer

Art smock

1 pkg. of index cards(4x6)

2 bottles of Elmer's liquid school glue

1 pkg. of Crayola markers

1 Primary writing tablet(with dotted lines)

1 Plastic folder

Sunflowers

2 complete changes of labeled clothes  in a marked zip lock bag. (include underwear & shoes)

Smock

Labeled lunch bag and Thermos (for hot foods)

1 Fitted crib sheet

Water bottle

3 Boxes of Kleenex Tissues

2 packages of flushable wipes

Pack of pull ups (if not potty trained)

2 packages of Clorox wipes

2 rolls of paper towels

2 packages of Glue Sticks

2 bottles of 7 oz Elmers glue

1 pack of dry erase markers

Grade 1 composition books (Green) for writing

Rosebuds

2 complete changes of labeled clothes  in a marked zip lock bag. (include underwear & shoes)

Labeled crib sheet (no other type of sheets)

Lunch bag (has to be able to fit in the refrigerator)

Water bottle

Standard size tote will be provided to you at orientation

1 package of pencils with grip

2 packs of 8 Crayola Crayons

1 pencil case

1 pack of glue sticks

1 Coloring book

Smock

1 pack of Clorox wipes

5 grocery shopping bags

1 plastic folder

2 Composition notebooks (primary grade 1-can be found at Staples or Office Max)

2 pair of children scissors

1 big box of Kleenex

1 pack of wipes wipes

1 roll of paper towels

Hand sanitizer

Doves

1 pack of Glue sticks

One pack of Dry erase markers

2 Baby wipes

2 Clorox wipes

2 rolls Paper towels

2 packs of Index cards (4x6)

1 black & White notebook

2 Primary Composition early creative writing tablet stage 3

1 pack of color pencils (10 count)

1  box of facial tissue

2 Plastic pocket folders

Plastic cups and forks (clear cups)

1 box of gallon size zip lock bags

1 box of sandwich size zip locks bags

Picture of your child only and a family picture

Eagles

A complete change of labeled clothing in a marked Ziploc bag

Crib sheet (for rest)

Lunch bags (able to fit in the refrigerator w/ others). Hot food MUST be in a thermos.

Water bottle (daily w/ label)

Kleenex tissue boxes (3)

Flushable wipes packages (3)

Paper towel rolls (3)

Large bottle of glue

Clorox wipes (2)

Gallon sized Ziploc bags

Plastic shopping bags (2)

Folders for homework (2)

Painting smock

Box of colored pencils

Box of markers

Box of dry erase markers

Sharpies (2)

Standard binders (2)

Package of white paper for printing classwork and homework

Package of Q tips for pasting

Mission Statement

Stuyvesant Heights Montessori, guided by the educational philosophy of  Dr. Maria Montessori, inspires the development of the individual child in a safe, supportive environment that gives the freedom to explore, cooperate and become. We have unwavering confidence in the giftedness of all children. Your preschooler will realize their fullest potential in a child-centered environment where it is safe for them to explore with all their senses, have successes, make mistakes and enjoy learning.

Be sure to take time to regularly view the school blog at:

www.shmontessori.blogspot.com