Rising Kindergartener at APS - first timers here - what should we expect?

[Anonymous]

We haven't heard a word from our daughter's school...supplies needed, open houses, schedule, how does lunch work, etc.? Some friends at different APS schools have gotten emails already but crickets from ours. Is that normal? Does each elementary school operate differently? With that said - are they still quarantining healthy kids for 10 days if they were a "close contact"? Are all APS covid policies the same? or is it school by school?
Thank you!

[Anonymous]

You should find out your school code from Sprout. Nottingham is NES001 for example. Supplies are basically impossible to procure on your own. Order yourself the box and don't worry about trying to find the obscure things on the list. Look on facebook to see if there is a school group or a PTA group. They would usually have the supplies info, or ask a neighbor.

We didn't get an email until about 10 days before school started with teacher info. Our school does a meet and greet with the teacher in the classroom the Thursday before school starts.
They are not quarantining at all for close contact. A child can come to school until they test positive if they are vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should find out your school code from Sprout. Nottingham is NES001 for example. Supplies are basically impossible to procure on your own. Order yourself the box and don't worry about trying to find the obscure things on the list. Look on facebook to see if there is a school group or a PTA group. They would usually have the supplies info, or ask a neighbor.

We didn't get an email until about 10 days before school started with teacher info. Our school does a meet and greet with the teacher in the classroom the Thursday before school starts.
They are not quarantining at all for close contact. A child can come to school until they test positive if they are vaccinated.

Never heard of Sprout or school codes so I guess I'll get on that - thank you! I did look on FB but didn't see anything Just feels like I'm sending my 5 year old off into the horrifying REAL world and don't have a clue what to expect (does she buy lunch by herself? does she get snacks? do they keep the doors locked? is there a "curriculum" I should be aware of?)

[Anonymous]

I would kindly suggest to chill a little, the school year isn’t even over yet. They are busy with end of year testing, managing kids and teachers out for Covid, field day, fifth grade promotion ceremonies, etc. They will shift to letting new families know what they need to know over the summer. School supply list should be on your schools website if not now, will be over the summer. many schools do kindergarten play dates in the summer. If you give us the name of the school we may be able to point you in that direction. If you go ahead and join your school PTA now, you’ll be added to that email list so you can see what’s going on at the school over the summer. For example, some schools have library nights for the kids and they go check out books and see each other. Typically you don’t find out your teacher until about a week before school starts. Open house is typically the Wednesday or Thursday before school starts. It lasts about an hour.

[Anonymous]

^ not all schools use Sprout for supplies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would kindly suggest to chill a little, the school year isn’t even over yet. They are busy with end of year testing, managing kids and teachers out for Covid, field day, fifth grade promotion ceremonies, etc. They will shift to letting new families know what they need to know over the summer. School supply list should be on your schools website if not now, will be over the summer. many schools do kindergarten play dates in the summer. If you give us the name of the school we may be able to point you in that direction. If you go ahead and join your school PTA now, you’ll be added to that email list so you can see what’s going on at the school over the summer. For example, some schools have library nights for the kids and they go check out books and see each other. Typically you don’t find out your teacher until about a week before school starts. Open house is typically the Wednesday or Thursday before school starts. It lasts about an hour.

This exactly. PTA mom here. I'm just trying to get my kid through their last SOL and then I'll turn to getting the ball rolling on events this summer for rising Kindergarteners. I'm sure the teachers are in the same place until June 17. It will all come shortly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should find out your school code from Sprout. Nottingham is NES001 for example. Supplies are basically impossible to procure on your own. Order yourself the box and don't worry about trying to find the obscure things on the list. Look on facebook to see if there is a school group or a PTA group. They would usually have the supplies info, or ask a neighbor.

We didn't get an email until about 10 days before school started with teacher info. Our school does a meet and greet with the teacher in the classroom the Thursday before school starts.
They are not quarantining at all for close contact. A child can come to school until they test positive if they are vaccinated.

Never heard of Sprout or school codes so I guess I'll get on that - thank you! I did look on FB but didn't see anything Just feels like I'm sending my 5 year old off into the horrifying REAL world and don't have a clue what to expect (does she buy lunch by herself? does she get snacks? do they keep the doors locked? is there a "curriculum" I should be aware of?)

This will sound meaner than intended, but welcome to elementary school. With a large district much of your early years will be trial and error. If there are significant problems, you’ll find out. Otherwise, you’ll need to go with the flow or you’ll drive yourself nuts. Communication will come later than you think it should and will be vague or unclear. Just put on a happy face and let it all go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should find out your school code from Sprout. Nottingham is NES001 for example. Supplies are basically impossible to procure on your own. Order yourself the box and don't worry about trying to find the obscure things on the list. Look on facebook to see if there is a school group or a PTA group. They would usually have the supplies info, or ask a neighbor.

We didn't get an email until about 10 days before school started with teacher info. Our school does a meet and greet with the teacher in the classroom the Thursday before school starts.
They are not quarantining at all for close contact. A child can come to school until they test positive if they are vaccinated.

Never heard of Sprout or school codes so I guess I'll get on that - thank you! I did look on FB but didn't see anything Just feels like I'm sending my 5 year old off into the horrifying REAL world and don't have a clue what to expect (does she buy lunch by herself? does she get snacks? do they keep the doors locked? is there a "curriculum" I should be aware of?)

Not all schools let you pre purchase supplies. Your school may be a school that doesn't participate. Our school does but we do not use Sprout. Honestly with you won't hear much until August.

[Anonymous]

Big deep breaths. Our school (Claremont) has a terrific PTA, so they have already tried to reach out to the rising K class. Several families have already offered to host playdates over the summer for the kids going into K. The PTA helps organize this a little.

One thing to keep in mind is that the kindergarten teachers KNOW that your sweet 5 year old doesn't know jack sh*t about how elementary school works. That will be the main thing they work on the first few days, just acclimating to school and the new routines. This includes buying lunch! Lunch if not free next year, so she will need money on her account. This information will be sent to you before school starts, but probably not until the middle of August.

So, sit tight and wait until August. Reach out to your school's PTA to see if there is a Facebook page of the like. Most schools have an open house the week before school starts, so plan on attending that.

And mostly, buckle up for a LOT less information coming home from the teachers. This is just what school is like!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should find out your school code from Sprout. Nottingham is NES001 for example. Supplies are basically impossible to procure on your own. Order yourself the box and don't worry about trying to find the obscure things on the list. Look on facebook to see if there is a school group or a PTA group. They would usually have the supplies info, or ask a neighbor.

We didn't get an email until about 10 days before school started with teacher info. Our school does a meet and greet with the teacher in the classroom the Thursday before school starts.
They are not quarantining at all for close contact. A child can come to school until they test positive if they are vaccinated.

Never heard of Sprout or school codes so I guess I'll get on that - thank you! I did look on FB but didn't see anything Just feels like I'm sending my 5 year old off into the horrifying REAL world and don't have a clue what to expect (does she buy lunch by herself? does she get snacks? do they keep the doors locked? is there a "curriculum" I should be aware of?)

She will have help with lunch, they know the K kids need to learn the ropes. Our K allowed a snack from home, but this may be teacher dependent. The doors are locked. Yes, there is a curriculum, but I would ask about that at Back To School Night in September, because you don't need to do anything over the summer.

Things to prepare her: make sure she can put on her own jacket and zipper. Don't send her tie shoes if she can't tie them herself. If you send a container, make sure she can open it alone. Can she use the bathroom alone? Things like that will be the most helpful.

[Anonymous]

Coming back to say that before my kid was is in kindergarten I was worried about how they would know where the cafeteria is, how will they know how to get to their class, what if they get lost on their way to the bathroom, what if they forget their lunch money, etc. and on and on. Please be assured that the first week of School this sweater working on every day, and even past the first week! Every other kindergartner is going to be in the same position, your child will never be alone, they’re going to feel empowered to navigate elementary school. It’s going to be OK mom!

[Anonymous]

OP here - thank you. Not offended - just don't know what to expect and want to ensure we are in town and available for necessary events. Trying to avoid fire drills as we have a baby and two full time jobs. Looks like they don't partner with Sprout so I'll go off of last year's supply list which I just found and get the ball rolling there. Also - FWIW - i have friends in North Arlington who HAVE already received emails from their schools and/or PTAs so that's what prompted my outreach. I was worried I was missing something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thank you. Not offended - just don't know what to expect and want to ensure we are in town and available for necessary events. Trying to avoid fire drills as we have a baby and two full time jobs. Looks like they don't partner with Sprout so I'll go off of last year's supply list which I just found and get the ball rolling there. Also - FWIW - i have friends in North Arlington who HAVE already received emails from their schools and/or PTAs so that's what prompted my outreach. I was worried I was missing something.

We use EPI at our school. It's ok to reach out to the school and ask if you want to order. But you WILL be told all the info you need. Ask other families you know when the open house before school normally is. Ours is the Friday before school starts, but other school do them other times. That's the main thing I'd plan around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thank you. Not offended - just don't know what to expect and want to ensure we are in town and available for necessary events. Trying to avoid fire drills as we have a baby and two full time jobs. Looks like they don't partner with Sprout so I'll go off of last year's supply list which I just found and get the ball rolling there. Also - FWIW - i have friends in North Arlington who HAVE already received emails from their schools and/or PTAs so that's what prompted my outreach. I was worried I was missing something.

We use EPI at our school. It's ok to reach out to the school and ask if you want to order. But you WILL be told all the info you need. Ask other families you know when the open house before school normally is. Ours is the Friday before school starts, but other school do them other times. That's the main thing I'd plan around.

We don't know a single soul going to her school. We live in a condo building with no kids around us and her friends from activities are all at different schools. What is EPI?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Coming back to say that before my kid was is in kindergarten I was worried about how they would know where the cafeteria is, how will they know how to get to their class, what if they get lost on their way to the bathroom, what if they forget their lunch money, etc. and on and on. Please be assured that the first week of School this sweater working on every day, and even past the first week! Every other kindergartner is going to be in the same position, your child will never be alone, they’re going to feel empowered to navigate elementary school. It’s going to be OK mom!

Thank you