Kindergarten Orientation

[Anonymous]

What does this involve? Are there structured activities or a lot of downtime? I’m awaiting a response from the school with details, but I’m very nervous. DC has ADHD/ASD 1 and does really well in a classroom environment but absolutely falls apart during unstructured times. I don’t want him to make a bad impression. They’re also requiring we stay for multiple hours. It sounds like a total nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Reach out to the special ed team to discuss w/ them, so they know your kid's needs for that day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reach out to the special ed team to discuss w/ them, so they know your kid's needs for that day.

+100 there will be more unstructured situations in your dc’s future; they need to know what to expect

[Anonymous]

Isn't staying good? I'd want to be able to manage my kid instead of leaving him on what will definitely be a less structured day. Orientation isn't school, so I wouldn't expect anything close to their normal routine that will be taught when they actually start.

But I agee to reach out again and to the special ed team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reach out to the special ed team to discuss w/ them, so they know your kid's needs for that day.

+100 there will be more unstructured situations in your dc’s future; they need to know what to expect

OP here. I’m not optimistic. They didn’t even tell us the teacher assignments until I inquired because how can I sign up for a conference slot if I don’t even know which class he is in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't staying good? I'd want to be able to manage my kid instead of leaving him on what will definitely be a less structured day. Orientation isn't school, so I wouldn't expect anything close to their normal routine that will be taught when they actually start.

But I agee to reach out again and to the special ed team.

Sorry of course I don’t mind staying. I’m saying I wish we both had the flexibility of leaving early if it’s too chaotic. There are going to be at least double the number of people in that room and that’s assuming only 1 parent and no siblings. A sensory nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't staying good? I'd want to be able to manage my kid instead of leaving him on what will definitely be a less structured day. Orientation isn't school, so I wouldn't expect anything close to their normal routine that will be taught when they actually start.

But I agee to reach out again and to the special ed team.

Sorry of course I don’t mind staying. I’m saying I wish we both had the flexibility of leaving early if it’s too chaotic. There are going to be at least double the number of people in that room and that’s assuming only 1 parent and no siblings. A sensory nightmare.

I'm not your child's teacher, but I am a kindergarten teacher. I would welcome you reaching out to me prior to orientation and would support you using your best judgement around if and when your child needs to leave. I would want a kid's first experience with a school and my classroom to be peaceful and lovely. I think it's okay to leave early. When we do orientation, families can come anytime within a two hour window, look around the room, find their cubby, find where they will sit, maybe play with some blocks or Legos or other table toys, maybe color a paper, meet the teacher, grab a packet of info and then take off. Fwiw, I bet your child is going to have a fabulous year. I hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

It’s no big deal and you can skip it especially if there is also another meet the teacher day.

Basically you go in an auditorium filled with families and the principal talks about parking and drop off and holidays and lost and found and introduces the staff. Then the teachers take their students to their classroom to draw a picture or do a craft. Then the kids all come back. You could go alone, or just watch the slideshow they email afterwards. Usually there is a separate meet the teacher or conference night that is calmer and you could bring your kid then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s no big deal and you can skip it especially if there is also another meet the teacher day.

Basically you go in an auditorium filled with families and the principal talks about parking and drop off and holidays and lost and found and introduces the staff. Then the teachers take their students to their classroom to draw a picture or do a craft. Then the kids all come back. You could go alone, or just watch the slideshow they email afterwards. Usually there is a separate meet the teacher or conference night that is calmer and you could bring your kid then.

This is just one possible way it is done. Neither of my 2 kids in different schools had this type of setup. And we didn't get a teacher assignment until 2 days before school open house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't staying good? I'd want to be able to manage my kid instead of leaving him on what will definitely be a less structured day. Orientation isn't school, so I wouldn't expect anything close to their normal routine that will be taught when they actually start.

But I agee to reach out again and to the special ed team.

Sorry of course I don’t mind staying. I’m saying I wish we both had the flexibility of leaving early if it’s too chaotic. There are going to be at least double the number of people in that room and that’s assuming only 1 parent and no siblings. A sensory nightmare.

I'm not your child's teacher, but I am a kindergarten teacher. I would welcome you reaching out to me prior to orientation and would support you using your best judgement around if and when your child needs to leave. I would want a kid's first experience with a school and my classroom to be peaceful and lovely. I think it's okay to leave early. When we do orientation, families can come anytime within a two hour window, look around the room, find their cubby, find where they will sit, maybe play with some blocks or Legos or other table toys, maybe color a paper, meet the teacher, grab a packet of info and then take off. Fwiw, I bet your child is going to have a fabulous year. I hope this helps.

Thank you for the kind words. I hope all goes well. No response from the teacher or team and I know they’re probably super busy getting ready. I was hoping the school secretary would have an idea but she said she didn’t know. I’ll be prepared for whatever (snacks, noise cancelling headphones, iPad) but ultimately we’ll leave early if we have to. They can’t hold us hostage especially if they didn’t offer any information to help us prepare.

[Anonymous]

Just a reminder- you don't have to go. We moved to our current district the day before Kindergarten started. Other families will be traveling. Orientation is to help the kids get settled, have a chance to be in the school without all the older kids present, let parents see what the school is like and what the classroom will look like. But it to help parents and kids - if it will not be something helpful for you, just skip it. You will not be missing any crucial information. You could also go without your dc. You could take a picture of the class and drop off his supplies, so you can show him what to expect on his first day. The actual beginning of school will be very structured.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no big deal and you can skip it especially if there is also another meet the teacher day.

Basically you go in an auditorium filled with families and the principal talks about parking and drop off and holidays and lost and found and introduces the staff. Then the teachers take their students to their classroom to draw a picture or do a craft. Then the kids all come back. You could go alone, or just watch the slideshow they email afterwards. Usually there is a separate meet the teacher or conference night that is calmer and you could bring your kid then.

This is just one possible way it is done. Neither of my 2 kids in different schools had this type of setup. And we didn't get a teacher assignment until 2 days before school open house.

Same. 2 nights before school they get their teacher name and can go drop off supplies in their class and give medications to the nurse during the open house. There are 700 kids in their elem plus everyone's siblings and parents, and it is a madhouse. For 3rd dc I just skip. I think the whole "orientation" thing sounds like it is designed to help anxious / excited parents. It is not an inherent or necessary part of starting kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Why don’t you go without your kid? As others have said, plenty of people miss this and their children are fine. Or just walk in to show him the room and leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don’t you go without your kid? As others have said, plenty of people miss this and their children are fine. Or just walk in to show him the room and leave.

With what help? Spouse works a ton to pay for the expenses I’m sure you know come with autism and grandparents are out of state. Drop and go play places can be very dysregulating not to mention a germ factory two days before school starts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don’t you go without your kid? As others have said, plenty of people miss this and their children are fine. Or just walk in to show him the room and leave.

With what help? Spouse works a ton to pay for the expenses I’m sure you know come with autism and grandparents are out of state. Drop and go play places can be very dysregulating not to mention a germ factory two days before school starts.

Goodness, OP. I’m not sure you’re flexible enough to teach your kid how to get unstuck. It sounds like you’re anxious and catastrophizing. Stop making a little deal so stressful.