Ready, set, GO!
We are looking forward to kicking off the new school year next week! Please, if you haven't, refer to last week's message for a significant amount of communication that will help you start off the school year on the right foot! Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions in the main office or ask while you're at our Meet the Teacher event on Tuesday.
First Day of School & Hours
Please make sure you have noted important dates indicated on our school calendar. You’ll find information on all student attendance days, such as our daily program hours, days off, early release days, and district half-days.
Our first day of student attendance is August 15th, which is an Early Release Day.
Release Times for Early Release (Wednesday, August 15th)
Kindergarten: 9:00-2:00 PM (half-day kindergarten dismiss at their regular 11:50 AM) - (drop off starts 8:45 AM)
Blended AM: 8:45–10:45 AM - (drop off starts at 8:35 AM)
Blended PM: Noon–2:00 PM - (drop off starts at 11:50 AM)
Structured: 8:45-2:00 PM - (drop off starts at 11:50 AM)
Regular School Hours (Beginning Thursday, August 16th)
Kindergarten Full-Day: 9:00 AM-2:45 PM (drop off starts at 8:45 AM)
Kindergarten Half-Day: 9:00 AM-11:50 AM (drop off starts at 8:45 AM)
Blended AM: 8:45 AM-11:15 AM Monday-Friday (drop off starts at 8:35 AM)
Blended PM: 12:00 PM-2:30 PM Monday-Friday (drop off starts at 11:50 AM)
Structured: 8:45 AM-2:15 PM Monday-Friday (drop off starts at 8:35 AM)
Arrival & Dismissal
I highly encourage having your child routinely use the bus (students provided bus service). Our buses have all kindergarten students (or 3-5-year-olds in Blended/Structured busses). This is a great routine to begin with your child. Kids thrive with routine, and taking the bus is a wonderful part of the school routine. Most little ones are SO EXCITED to jump on the bus. Some are scared, and that's o.k. With practice, they quickly see it isn't such a scary thing. Showing love and a sense of confidence in your child and our school is helpful with this transition. Promise them their Willow Grove family will meet them at the other end, and that you (or who you've arranged) will meet them back home at the end of the day. Having your child ride the bus will also greatly help with our arrival and dismissal times of the day. We have limited parking, and ALL parents dropping off or picking up their children will need to park and walk their child to the main entrance of our school. There is no drop-off lane for parents. This includes families in our Blended and the Structured Learning Program.
Parents who drop off their children do so outside of the school at our main entrance, and may not enter the school. Parents may not walk children to their classrooms. With an entire school full of children and parents we are just getting to know, it is our utmost priority to maintain a safe and secure environment. As is our typical procedure, all parents entering our building must provide an ID to run through our security system, and this isn't something we can manage for large numbers of parents. Again, parents will not be permitted in the building when dropping off their child.
Anyone picking a child up from our school at any time MUST bring an ID/license for us to release the child. Anytime you enter Willow Grove to collect your child, bring your ID/license. If someone other than a parent or legal guardian is picking up your child, you must let the office know ahead of time (NOT a teacher email).
Parents may not pick up their child unannounced at dismissal time. If you need to pick your child up at dismissal, and this has not been communicated to us in your child's regular dismissal plans, you must notify us in advance, first thing in the morning. If you haven't notified us, we will send your child home on the bus and you'll need to get home to meet them. I also ask that if your child is a regular bus student, not to alter their dismissal plan if at all possible, especially as your children are getting used to our routines. This is very confusing for children as we're settling in. If you must pick your regularly bused child up from school, please provide the office with a written note - NO EMAIL. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!
Anticipate delays in transportation our first couple weeks of schools. As buses get used to new routes and traffic patterns settle at the start of the school year, pick-up/drop-off times will become more routine and efficient. We ask that you please are patient with us. Thank you!
Daily Snack
Approved Snacks: What Parents Need to Know
The District has revised the APPROVED SNACK LIST, adding more items to this list to give families more choices. The items the list includes are free of the Top 8 allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. This list includes the foods that are approved for students' Daily Snacks.
IMPORTANT: All items for Daily Snacks, with the exception of fruits and vegetables, MUST be prepackaged to allow staff to easily check that snacks meet the approved requirements. If you choose to send a water bottle with your child, it must be a "spill proof" top and non-glass. See the Kindergarten 101 handout in the Virtual Backpack for examples/non-examples.
Director of Educational Services Amy Gluck also has provided responses to FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) about foods approved for daily snacks/special events.
For your convenience, find links to the District 96 Approved Snack List and Approved Snack List FAQs on the homepage of the District 96 website and the homepage of each school.
If your child is bringing in a lunch, snacks must be packed separately from lunch!
A Note For ALL about Birthdays: You will see that the permitted birthday snack options on the last page of the Approved Snack List do NOT include Early Childhood or Kindergarten. Birthday food is not allowed at Willow Grove. If you choose to send something in with your child to recognize your his/her birthday, non-disruptive and safe non food items are acceptable (pencils, erasers, party store favors, etc.). If you are unsure if the birthday trinket would be acceptable (non-disruptive, safe, and non food), please reach out to your child's teacher.
PTO News
We are looking forward to seeing you at Meet the Teacher! Visit us in the Learning Center and see all the exciting things you can sign up for.
The PTO is hosting a back to school "Boohoo/Yahoo Breakfast" on the 15th from 9:15-10:15 at Sunset Foods! Hope to see you there!
The following is repeat information from last week's blog, but still current. You can skip this if you already reviewed last week's message.
Meet the Teacher, Tuesday, August 14
Kindergarten, Blended AM, and Structured - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Blended PM - 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
At Meet the Teacher parents and kids will meet their teacher, see their classroom, and while there, you may feel free to check out our building. The PTO will also be there and you can check out all the things they have to offer. Parents should bring supplies to drop at school this day. If you ordered from the PTO, those will be waiting in your child’s classroom. We will also have parents confirm dismissal plans and once confirmed, you’ll receive an ID tag for your child’s backpack. If you’re unable to attend this day, your child will receive his/her ID tag on their first day of attendance.
Curriculum Night, Wednesday, August 29
Please also make a note of our Curriculum Night for all parents/guardians (kindergarten, structured/low incidence, and blended programs) is on August 29th from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Children do not attend Curriculum Night. We talk about what your children will be learning and teachers review routines and classroom procedures, etc. It’s a nice evening to get to further know your child’s teacher and our school.
Kindergarten Parent Resources
If you were unable to attend Kindy 101 & Screening, here are some resources to support you and your child as you begin the school year.
Willow Grove Kindergarten Welcome Video
Kindy 101 Overview - This will give you plenty of information to get you off on the right foot! :)
First Day of School & Hours
Please make sure you have noted important dates indicated on our school calendar. You’ll find information on all student attendance days, such as our daily program hours, days off, early release days, and district half-days.
Our first day of student attendance is August 15th, which is an Early Release Day.
Release Times for Early Release
Kindergarten: 9:00-2:00 PM (half-day kindergarten dismiss at their regular 11:50 AM) - Drop off starts 8:45 AM
Blended AM: 8:45–10:45 AM - Drop off starts at 8:35 AM
Blended PM: Noon–2:00 PM - Drop off starts at 11:50 AM
Structured: 8:45-2:00 PM - Drop off starts at 11:50 AM
Regular School Hours
Kindergarten Full-Day: 9:00 AM-2:45 PM (drop off starts at 8:45 AM)
Kindergarten Half-Day: 9:00 AM-11:50 AM (drop off starts at 8:45 AM)
Blended AM: 8:45 AM-11:15 AM Monday-Friday (drop off starts at 8:35 AM)
Blended PM: 12:00 PM-2:30 PM Monday-Friday (drop off starts at 11:50 AM)
Structured: 8:45 AM-2:15 PM Monday-Friday (drop off starts at 8:35 AM)
Class Assignment & Bus Route Communication
Student’s classroom teacher assignment and bus route information will be emailed to you at about 3:00 PM on August 9th. If you do not receive it, please email our administrative assistant, Karen Graham, at [email protected] or give us a call in the office.