first day of school for new kindergartener

[Anonymous]

Already starting to think about the first day of school for my soon-to-start kindergartener. Some background: DH and I work full time. DD has been in preschool and in daycare since she was 9 months, but transitions can be hard and she can be quite shy in new situations. She did OK at kindergarten orientation, but DH & I were right by her side.

I'm wondering about that first week of school and whether I should put her on the bus or drop her off. Sometimes, she says she wants to ride the bus, but I'm pretty sure she will back out of that the closer we get to the first day. The bus stop is literally one house down from ours; we can see it from the front yard. I'm thinking about dropping her off the first few years, but then I'm worried that if I do that, after the first week, she won't want me to stop dropping her off. And actually, pretty sure I could swing it, then go to work. But she will have to ride the bus in the afternoon, to bring her home and to aftercare, so I guess it would be good practice for her to ride it every day.

Also, what is the drill the first few days? I had heard they won't let parents in the building to drop kids off at the classrooms. Will I have to leave her at the door with someone to usher her in?

Please share your experiences and thoughts. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Our MCPS principal said to do from day 1 what we plan to do all year. He said it helps them transition faster. My DD was very nervous, but handled it really well. Once the bus arrived, she was super-focused and just wanted to get on it and go. She did ask me to follow the bus, which I did, but she did not look for me when she got to the school. Busriding went very smoothly.

Plus, in those first few weeks, everyone is helping the kindergartners since they are all new together. Having her transition a week later than everyone else may make it actually harder for her.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP - the advice at our child's school was also to have kids follow what is going to be their routine from the very first day. There is a lot of extra help on the first day and in the first week to get the kindergarteners used to the routine. I think parents must have been allowed in to take pictures on the first day because I saw pictures from friends of their kids lined up to go into their classrooms - my daughter was very clear that I was not to follow her bus so I didn't do it.

Good luck, OP! I had a lot of anxiety when our oldest started kindergarten and while it is indeed a very big transition, it's also a really fun time.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if all schools do this, but ours have kindergarteners wear little signs that say their name and their teacher for the first week, so all the staff and patrols know where to direct them in the school. The school seems to take care of them well. Our school also has a visiting day on the Friday before school starts where they get to meet their new teacher and see where their classroom is. I would agree with others that it's best to start your routine on the first day. If she will ride the bus then put her on the bus. She may make friends on the bus too.

[Anonymous]

Start with the bus. Otherwise it seems like something that's negotiable. Talk up the bus and how exciting it is, how finally your DC gets to ride it, etc. Explain how you enjoyed the bus when you were younger (if true).

[Anonymous]

we had the same thoughts and went with the bus. Best decision we made. The kids (we had twins) made friends with the other kids at the bus stop and the patrols were amazing. go with it day one.

[Anonymous]

Put her on the bus, but then drive to school and meet her there.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I should add that the ride on the bus is quite short, as we live close to the school. I can't imagine it would take them more than 15 minutes to get there, if that. I'm thinking more like 5-7.

I guess I'm struggling because I COULD drop her off every day. She does know some of the kids on the bus, but I wouldn't say they're friends. Most of the kids at our stop are older, 3rd-5th graders. She's intimidated by them, for sure.

[Anonymous]

I agree with starting with the bus. Plus make sure to take her to the Open House day the Friday before, you can find her line up line and her classroom so Monday morning everything should look a little familiar. Our school also has cards with string that the Ks wear for the first few weeks that state their arrival/dismissal plan and patrols on the bus who are assigned to make sure the Ks get from the bus to their lineup in the morning and from their classroom to the bus in the afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Put her on the bus. My sister and BIL did not. They drove her, and 5 years later are still doing it. On the first day your child should go to school just like what will happen for the rest of the school year. You can follow the bus if you want (I do know some who do that so they can walk their child in on the first day). I did not. My kid rode the bus to and from school. I was at the bus stop to put her on the bus and meet her at the end of the day.

[Anonymous]

Find out what the rules/culture is at your school.
At our MCPS school, the rule is that you can walk your K-er to the classroom and wait with them in the hall on the first day of school ONLY. As a result, most of the K kids do have a parent waiting there and taking pictures. I took the morning off work for my kid, as she was new to the neighborhood and I didn't want her to have the added anxiety of not having a parent there when most other kids did.
But after first day, I encourage you to encourage her to ride the bus. It's a big independence thing; there may be other new K students and they usually all sit together; it provides a nice social environment that crosses classes (so when she sees that 3rd grader on the playground, they know her as the K-er from the bus); and next year she'll be the "big kid" on the bus that can help the new K-ers feel comfortable and welcome.
Plus drop-off is an utter madhouse.

[Anonymous]

It is better to get into the routine of riding the bus, even if you walk or drive over to take pictures and see the teacher. Plus if she is riding the bus home, she has gotten some of her nerves out in the morning and not worried about what to expect at the end of the day.

[Anonymous]

I agree with bus from day 1. We drove our kid for the first week, and we considered driving the whole school year (we already have to drive to the bus stop and it's not that much farther to the school). But driving was awful. Drop off was ok, but pick up was a nightmare waiting in the pick up line with people trying to bypass the line. I would 100% recommend the bus especially if it's so convenient to your house and a short bus ride. And start from day 1. Well, I'd consider drop off on day 1 for pictures, but our poor second child probably won't even get that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I should add that the ride on the bus is quite short, as we live close to the school. I can't imagine it would take them more than 15 minutes to get there, if that. I'm thinking more like 5-7.

I guess I'm struggling because I COULD drop her off every day. She does know some of the kids on the bus, but I wouldn't say they're friends. Most of the kids at our stop are older, 3rd-5th graders. She's intimidated by them, for sure.

PP1 here. I could've dropped mine off too, but it ended up being a really fun experience for her.

And like another PP mentioned, there are signs on the kindergartners' backpacks, etc, so everyone knows these are new and young students. On our bus, kindergartners were required to sit at the front, all together.

[Anonymous]

Do the bus on day 1.

At our school, parents do not enter. It only causes excess disruptions. There are plenty of teachers & staff at the front to get kids into the building and to their classroom.

Just realize what time your bus comes in the morning and afternoon. Many working parents have problems relying on bus only, without an aftercare (and sometimes beforecare) in place. The ES bell times are not ideal.