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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

If you register during the summer window for extended day for new families, you're 99% likely to get a spot. They try hard to hire enough staff to accommodate all the people who sign up during the open windows before the start of the school year.

As for the breaks, you don't need to be figuring this out now. A lot of places won't release their schedules until the fall. But there will be plenty of places. Post back here once the school year begins, and you'll get more up-to-date suggestions.

It will be ok! Promise.

[Anonymous]

Bail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bail.

:'(

[Anonymous]

Don't listen to the naysayers. We have had a great time in APS (I have one kid in first and one kid in 4th). Yes last year sucked but this year has been fine. My kids are very happy. I am happy. We both have made great friends and my kids have learned a lot.

[Anonymous]

First of all, we love our APS school (Claremont) so don’t go into this with the expectation you’ll hate it. Yeah you might, and it also might be great for you and your kid.

Connect to the PTA’s Facebook page for information (eg school supply orders and summer play dates). Ask them if there are whatapp groups for parents (we’ve already started one for K at Claremont).

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063632095297

[Anonymous]

Twitter too
https://mobile.twitter.com/bptae

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The camps usually open up in the late summer/early fall - you'll want to book them ahead, but it's not a crazy rush like the summer camp sign ups or anything. And the only people I know who had trouble getting into extended day were people who tried to get in midyear (but I understand that varies by school).

[Anonymous]

I had another thought for you -- expect transportation to be a mess the whole first week, maybe two. Busses do not run on time the first week -- often very late arriving or departing. Traffic is a mess. It settles down, so don't panic, but don't count on it being smooth for a while either, and plan accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OMG - you really need to chill. For xmas break, most parents take one week off and do camp another week. You cannot book anything until mid-fall, but we have never had a problem getting into winter break camps. Lots of families travel for both weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OMG - you really need to chill. For xmas break, most parents take one week off and do camp another week. You cannot book anything until mid-fall, but we have never had a problem getting into winter break camps. Lots of families travel for both weeks.

This family works and doesn’t celebrate Christmas so enjoy your break and keep your opinions to yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Barrett Elementary in North Arlington - Thank you!

Barrett uses EduKit
https://www.edukitinc.com/schools/882/Barrett%20Elementary%20School

My DC is a kindergartener at Barrett and he's been doing great socially and academically. He loves his teachers and it seems they are very caring and responsive.
If you need aftercare, the extended day program at the school is very good and well managed. I think the extended day registration for new families will start soon.

The school sent the official letter with the teacher's name and open house information in mid-August. Pre-pandemic, they did school tours for rising K in June, but those events were canceled. I remember we had a couple of rising K playdates in August organized by PTA, so you might want to reach out to PTA to get on the mailing list.

[Anonymous]

I'm above pp with a Barrett kindergartener and I realized I missed your post about the extended day.
I don't think you'll have trouble getting in as long as you sign up when the registration opens.

Barrett is like 95% walkers, so you'll meet a lot of families who live close to you once your DD starts school. It's really a nice community.

[Anonymous]

If you both work then the only thing you need right now you is to make sure you are signed up for extended day.

You will be amazed what your kid can handle. They know their student ID to buy lunch within three weeks, if not less. And remember, these teachers are professionals. They deal with new kids every year and have a system that works.

Have a great ride. Enjoy every horrible recital and each piece of junk artwork brought home. ES is a great age!!!

[Anonymous]

You will start to get electronic flyers from the school, once the school year starts, advertising all sorts of camps for when there’s random days off. Sometimes it’s only a few weeks ahead of time so I wouldn’t worry about that. Way different than summer camp. If your kids an extended day you don’t have to worry about all of the early releases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OMG - you really need to chill. For xmas break, most parents take one week off and do camp another week. You cannot book anything until mid-fall, but we have never had a problem getting into winter break camps. Lots of families travel for both weeks.

This family works and doesn’t celebrate Christmas so enjoy your break and keep your opinions to yourself.

NP. You may have trouble finding camp coverage for both weeks of the holiday break. Even families who don't celebrate X-mas often travel one of those weeks. If you really need coverage the whole break, you may need to find a babysitter, nanny or other coverage besides as camp.