First day of school - what's the protocol?

[Anonymous]

It is our first day of K in Fairfax County, and as parents, we are excited and nervous. We are doing kiss and ride all year on the advice of our allergist. So how does it go, can we both go, and then are we allowed to get out of the car and take a picture? If you want a picture, how is that done? I don't want to be disruptive, but I would like a picture of the big day.

[Anonymous]

Talk to other parents at your school or try calling the school before the day is out.
When my kids started K, we were allowed to walk them in to their class and take a quick picture before we left.

[Anonymous]

If you are in the kiss and ride line, you shouldn't get out of your car to take a picture. If you'd like a picture of your child going into school, it's best to park and walk your child to the door to get the picture.

Regarding if you both can go, you can have as many people in the car as you'd like.

[Anonymous]

Kiss n Ride is just that... pull up, open the car door and kid gets out.... you drive away.

If you want to walk the child into the school on the first day, plan to arrive early b/c parking at any school will be very tough. However, they probably will not let you enter the school more than 20 min. before school starts.

Usually the kids are allowed into the school and get in grade lines in the gym until 5 min. before school starts. Then they are released to their rooms. Kinders will be escorted by adults the first day and patrols in the future. The rest of the kids are expected to figure out how to get to their rooms on their own. You can probably wait in the gym and then walk to the room with your child when they are released. On day #2, your child will need to know how to get from the kiss/ride lanes to the gym on her own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kiss n Ride is just that... pull up, open the car door and kid gets out.... you drive away.

If you want to walk the child into the school on the first day, plan to arrive early b/c parking at any school will be very tough. However, they probably will not let you enter the school more than 20 min. before school starts.

Usually the kids are allowed into the school and get in grade lines in the gym until 5 min. before school starts. Then they are released to their rooms. Kinders will be escorted by adults the first day and patrols in the future. The rest of the kids are expected to figure out how to get to their rooms on their own. You can probably wait in the gym and then walk to the room with your child when they are released. On day #2, your child will need to know how to get from the kiss/ride lanes to the gym on her own.

This is very school-specific. Our school does not line up children in the gym. The only kids that line up are the kindies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is our first day of K in Fairfax County, and as parents, we are excited and nervous. We are doing kiss and ride all year on the advice of our allergist. So how does it go, can we both go, and then are we allowed to get out of the car and take a picture? If you want a picture, how is that done? I don't want to be disruptive, but I would like a picture of the big day.

Our school permits walking to classroom on the first day. They also held a "meet the teacher" day today.

When our oldest was in K, they did NOT want parents in the building b/c it was too chaotic. So, we basically lined up our kid outside the school, said "ciao, kid" and picked her up at 2:30. T'was no biggie.

[Anonymous]

I do think it's very school-specific. Ours was pretty laid back and understood the new kindie parents. They expected us to follow the bus in our cars and take pictures at the school entrance. They even had coffee and donuts set up for us. Enjoy and Congrats on the milestone! And see if you can check with a neighbor who has kids at the same school.

[Anonymous]

We take a picture at our front door each year. Last year, we also took a picture at the front of the school next to the sign. For K, they'll probably want you to bring kids to cafeteria, rather than classroom.

And yes, as others have noted, Kiss and Ride is not to be screwed with. No parking, no one gets out before your child.

And word of advice, first day of school is insane for everyone. Get there early if you want to park anywhere remotely close to the school.

[Anonymous]

Our school won't allow parents in on the first day. I would park your car, walk her to the door and take a picture as she walks into school on her own. Let her know she can do it!

[Anonymous]

Our DD starts K in a FCPS on Tuesday also and we are allowed to walk her to her classroom the first week of school. After that they can go to the cafeteria until the warning bell (5 min before school start).