surprised by kindergarten orientation time

[Anonymous]

Our kindergarten orientation, which child and parent are supposed to attend, is from 2:30-4:30 on a Thursday. My husband and I would both like to go, so we're going to have to both take a half day at work to go. I guess I just need to get used to the different hours and expectations, but as dual working parents we really have been spoiled by daycare hours!

Is it a little odd to have an afternoon orientation? I thought it would be a little later in the evening.

[Anonymous]

When you pay for a service, they cater to you. When you are dealing with public school (where they don't really need your child to attend to keep them in business), they may or may not schedule things at convenient times. Daytime is convenient for them b/c the teachers, admin people, principals, etc. are paid to be there during the day. They don't really want to come in at night --- although some do set it up at night... most do not.

[Anonymous]

Really, only one parent needs to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you pay for a service, they cater to you. When you are dealing with public school (where they don't really need your child to attend to keep them in business), they may or may not schedule things at convenient times. Daytime is convenient for them b/c the teachers, admin people, principals, etc. are paid to be there during the day. They don't really want to come in at night --- although some do set it up at night... most do not.

I agree with this. Although having it in the morning would make more sense to me. Then parents could just head into work after that, rather than going in and then coming for the orientation, and then maybe heading back to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you pay for a service, they cater to you. When you are dealing with public school (where they don't really need your child to attend to keep them in business), they may or may not schedule things at convenient times. Daytime is convenient for them b/c the teachers, admin people, principals, etc. are paid to be there during the day. They don't really want to come in at night --- although some do set it up at night... most do not.

I agree with this. Although having it in the morning would make more sense to me. Then parents could just head into work after that, rather than going in and then coming for the orientation, and then maybe heading back to work.

In the afternoon is easier since it's close to the end of school. The K teachers can then be available to meet the parents. Agree that both parents do not need to go - it's just an orientation.

[Anonymous]

I agree with you completely, and had the same expectations when our child started K. When I was growing up, things parents needed to go to were done in the evening, and that was in a time and place where most moms stayed at home. But other than back to school night at our school, everything is during the day. Very hard with parents working 8-6 schedules. But then again, so are all these snow days...

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately this will be life as your child enters public school. Tack on sick days, snow days, delays, teacher conference days, class parties, etc. Many people end up keeping a P/T nanny just to assist and be on-hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately this will be life as your child enters public school. Tack on sick days, snow days, delays, teacher conference days, class parties, etc. Many people end up keeping a P/T nanny just to assist and be on-hand.

This. You have been spoiled by daycare hours and this is your first taste of how very over that is. You will miss it.

[Anonymous]

I think its really really tough for double-income families once your kids are in school. I've switched to working part-time with flexible hours and still find it challenging to juggle everything. Without family nearby, unfortunately its really tough. Try to befriend other parents that you may be able to lean on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you pay for a service, they cater to you. When you are dealing with public school (where they don't really need your child to attend to keep them in business), they may or may not schedule things at convenient times. Daytime is convenient for them b/c the teachers, admin people, principals, etc. are paid to be there during the day. They don't really want to come in at night --- although some do set it up at night... most do not.

I agree with this. Although having it in the morning would make more sense to me. Then parents could just head into work after that, rather than going in and then coming for the orientation, and then maybe heading back to work.

They can't do it in the morning bc school is in session. Bt 230, school is out, I assume, but teachers and staff are still there to do orientation.

Curious, what ES?

[Anonymous]

K orientation is usually during the day, OP. This is only the beginning, BTW.

[Anonymous]

OP, this is your clue that you need to line up backup babysitters for snow days, expect to use personal days for the kindergarten play, etc. Public school gives little to no thought to WOHM parents.

[Anonymous]

They usually schedule it for an early release day, so its just K-ers and their parents.

[Anonymous]

Why should they PP? It is public school and like a PP mentioned, this isn't a private enterprise. School is over or nearly over by 2:30 so the teachers are still on duty and they probably don't have to hire subs to cover their classes like they would in the morning. I can guarantee you OP that the admin isn't even considering the parents' work schedules when they schedule things. School is not free daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kindergarten orientation, which child and parent are supposed to attend, is from 2:30-4:30 on a Thursday. My husband and I would both like to go, so we're going to have to both take a half day at work to go. I guess I just need to get used to the different hours and expectations, but as dual working parents we really have been spoiled by daycare hours!

Is it a little odd to have an afternoon orientation? I thought it would be a little later in the evening.

Why would you assume that? School is not a daycare.