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

[Anonymous]

You should expect dissatisfaction and disappointment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should expect dissatisfaction and disappointment

Just what every mom of a 5 year old wants to hear. Appreciate the honesty...I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should expect dissatisfaction and disappointment

Just what every mom of a 5 year old wants to hear. Appreciate the honesty...I think.

I wish someone had warned me earlier I would have done more to supplement school at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should expect dissatisfaction and disappointment

Just what every mom of a 5 year old wants to hear. Appreciate the honesty...I think.

I wish someone had warned me earlier I would have done more to supplement school at home.

Even in Kindergarten? When do you think you noticed an issue? Not sure how much time we will have to supplement with our work obligations, etc. Not even sure what I would be looking out for, frankly.

[Anonymous]

The PTA is a great resource - what school? We can help you get connected.

[Anonymous]

OP; you will get better advice if you name the school. APS has some general curriculum standards by grade you can find online. COVID rules are now 5 days after a positive, but that may change by the fall. Most Ks in my experience do a snack. At our ES, kindergartners ate in the classroom and teachers did the line for them, but that was years ago, and every school will be different. All Ks in APS have a teacher and an assistant. They will be shuffling kids across classes right till the last minute so class lists come out late. Most schools post their supply list somewhere on the website, and they tend not to change much year to year. You can generally set up a lunch account, and they charge by student ID number which they memorize pretty fast. You can always bring a lunch from home. K teachers are very good at orienting kids and teaching them what school is like.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and yes every APS school operates differently. Truly. That's a common complaint here. A lot has to do with the principal. Hope you get a good one.

re: supplementing, APS does very little work on handwriting and spelling. If I could go back in time, those are things I would have taught my kids on their own. Writing instruction is not great either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The PTA is a great resource - what school? We can help you get connected.

Barrett Elementary in North Arlington - Thank you!

[Anonymous]

At Ashlawn you will get all this info 1 week before school. The open house is always the Thursday before school starts. Kindergartners don’t need school supplies - they will be provided.

[Anonymous]

My biggest pieces of advice are to take stock now of school holidays and half days (if you have them). If you work, have a plan for snow days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My biggest pieces of advice are to take stock now of school holidays and half days (if you have them). If you work, have a plan for snow days.

Yes this too. Also, the early release days. If you are doing extended day, not so much of a concern. But the shift from private preschool (open most days!) to public school can be tricky with how many days off there are. There are always options for day camps etc, so just keep an eye out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My biggest pieces of advice are to take stock now of school holidays and half days (if you have them). If you work, have a plan for snow days.

I have feared this for 5 years. No idea what I'm supposed to do with her during winter break/regular snow days, etc. With so many two-parent working families in this area, I'm baffled by how people make this work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My biggest pieces of advice are to take stock now of school holidays and half days (if you have them). If you work, have a plan for snow days.

I have feared this for 5 years. No idea what I'm supposed to do with her during winter break/regular snow days, etc. With so many two-parent working families in this area, I'm baffled by how people make this work.

There are day camps on the random holidays / days off - we have liked Encore Stage and Tea with Mrs. B. During the breaks, too. Snow days are harder. Extended Day is clutch on early release days.

Plan weekend trips around the days they're off for conferences or non-Federal holidays (or when there's an early release on a Thursday or something) - you can do your conference on another day, and you can do a weekend away on a non-holiday weekend when things aren't as crazy. I wish we'd realized this one, hoping to take adavantage of it in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My biggest pieces of advice are to take stock now of school holidays and half days (if you have them). If you work, have a plan for snow days.

I have feared this for 5 years. No idea what I'm supposed to do with her during winter break/regular snow days, etc. With so many two-parent working families in this area, I'm baffled by how people make this work.

There are day camps on the random holidays / days off - we have liked Encore Stage and Tea with Mrs. B. During the breaks, too. Snow days are harder. Extended Day is clutch on early release days.

Plan weekend trips around the days they're off for conferences or non-Federal holidays (or when there's an early release on a Thursday or something) - you can do your conference on another day, and you can do a weekend away on a non-holiday weekend when things aren't as crazy. I wish we'd realized this one, hoping to take adavantage of it in the fall.

How early do I need to be booking these? Are places already open for booking for xmas break, etc.? I'm praying we get into extended day - although there seems to be an edge for NON kindergarteners since they give repeat families priority. We can't register yet and obviously aren't repeat so I'm super stressed about it.