New to school- when do we hear from?

[Anonymous]

We are new to schools in dc with our child entering PK3. We went to the enrolled families event, and since other than a welcome email, when will we expect to hear from the school on class assignments, etc? Will there be an opportunity to do a summer playdate/meet other children that the PTA will organize?

[Anonymous]

Varies by school. Which one will your child attend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Varies by school. Which one will your child attend?

Depends on the school some have tons of welcome new families all summer big back to school events etc in August.
Others you won't hear from until a week or so before school. No before school tours, meet your teacher/see the class room. Because the teacher don't start setting up their classes unitl a week or so before. I think our school Maybe has playground playdate the week before.

But it is Prk3 there isn't much that needs advanced planning. You will probably need a small nap blanket (bathtowel or small throw works well given they don't have much space to store them) and if you want small travel/airplane size pillow. You need a change of clothes with kiddos name (uniform like if your school has uniforms.)
You will get a list of a few basics to pickup for school. A few folders, maybe note books but mostly class room /group supplies. Nothing you can't grab quickly at Target or CVS.

The 1st day will be hard for parents no matter how much prep they gI've or don't give. But this is DCPS you might as well get used to the lack of formal communication and advanced notice for anything!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are new to schools in dc with our child entering PK3. We went to the enrolled families event, and since other than a welcome email, when will we expect to hear from the school on class assignments, etc? Will there be an opportunity to do a summer playdate/meet other children that the PTA will organize?

Teachers go back August 13, so presumably you won't hear until the teachers start working again.

[Anonymous]

Our JKLM school gives class lists and teacher assignments about 5 days before school starts.

[Anonymous]

Maury just sent out class assignments this week.

[Anonymous]

We got our child's class assignment and start date earlier this week and the PTA(?) hosted a playdate today

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our JKLM school gives class lists and teacher assignments about 5 days before school starts.

JKLM do not have PreK 3 - for PreK 3 - there might be a staggered start so call the school so that you understand the schedule the 1st week of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our JKLM school gives class lists and teacher assignments about 5 days before school starts.

JKLM do not have PreK 3 - for PreK 3 - there might be a staggered start so call the school so that you understand the schedule the 1st week of school.

Our JKLM has a staggered start for PreK 4 though, so either way you will want to find out when school starts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Varies by school. Which one will your child attend?

Depends on the school some have tons of welcome new families all summer big back to school events etc in August.
Others you won't hear from until a week or so before school. No before school tours, meet your teacher/see the class room. Because the teacher don't start setting up their classes unitl a week or so before. I think our school Maybe has playground playdate the week before.

But it is Prk3 there isn't much that needs advanced planning. You will probably need a small nap blanket (bathtowel or small throw works well given they don't have much space to store them) and if you want small travel/airplane size pillow. You need a change of clothes with kiddos name (uniform like if your school has uniforms.)
You will get a list of a few basics to pickup for school. A few folders, maybe note books but mostly class room /group supplies. Nothing you can't grab quickly at Target or CVS.

The 1st day will be hard for parents no matter how much prep they gI've or don't give. But this is DCPS you might as well get used to the lack of formal communication and advanced notice for anything!!!

Loved this post and the consideration this parent has towards the teachers, but as a preschool teacher, this is one of my pet peeves. Make sure your kid’s blanket is big enough to comfortably cover them and that it’s cozy. It helps them adjust to napping in a new place. And if the blanket is too small, they’ll be uncomfortable

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Varies by school. Which one will your child attend?

Please don’t tell these vultures which school. They want any ammo to say something negative

[Anonymous]

We're starting a new school this fall, and I admit I'm a little disappointed at the outreach to new families, or lack thereof. So far, they've scheduled two school-wide meetups at the school but on weekday afternoons, which is hard for families with working parents and kids in camp. At our previous school, the play dates were on weekends and also by grade, which was much more conducive to meeting classmates and their families before school started. And I know private schools (maybe some public schools; I just don't know of any that does this) assign each new family with a buddy family to help them with the transition.

Trying hard not to let this color our first impression of the school, though, because I want my kids to feel welcome! And yes, I do plan to volunteer and become involved with the school community. . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're starting a new school this fall, and I admit I'm a little disappointed at the outreach to new families, or lack thereof. So far, they've scheduled two school-wide meetups at the school but on weekday afternoons, which is hard for families with working parents and kids in camp. At our previous school, the play dates were on weekends and also by grade, which was much more conducive to meeting classmates and their families before school started. And I know private schools (maybe some public schools; I just don't know of any that does this) assign each new family with a buddy family to help them with the transition.

Trying hard not to let this color our first impression of the school, though, because I want my kids to feel welcome! And yes, I do plan to volunteer and become involved with the school community. . .

You will not find a buddy family program at a public school in this region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're starting a new school this fall, and I admit I'm a little disappointed at the outreach to new families, or lack thereof. So far, they've scheduled two school-wide meetups at the school but on weekday afternoons, which is hard for families with working parents and kids in camp. At our previous school, the play dates were on weekends and also by grade, which was much more conducive to meeting classmates and their families before school started. And I know private schools (maybe some public schools; I just don't know of any that does this) assign each new family with a buddy family to help them with the transition.

Trying hard not to let this color our first impression of the school, though, because I want my kids to feel welcome! And yes, I do plan to volunteer and become involved with the school community. . .

So why are you changing schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're starting a new school this fall, and I admit I'm a little disappointed at the outreach to new families, or lack thereof. So far, they've scheduled two school-wide meetups at the school but on weekday afternoons, which is hard for families with working parents and kids in camp. At our previous school, the play dates were on weekends and also by grade, which was much more conducive to meeting classmates and their families before school started. And I know private schools (maybe some public schools; I just don't know of any that does this) assign each new family with a buddy family to help them with the transition.

Trying hard not to let this color our first impression of the school, though, because I want my kids to feel welcome! And yes, I do plan to volunteer and become involved with the school community. . .

So why are you changing schools?

The commute, mostly. The buddy family program might be too much to ask for, but it wouldn't be that hard for room parents to reach out to the few, if any, incoming families in that grade (and I say this as a former room parent).