School Routines

(excerpted from Parent Manual, click here to download full Manual)

All children are expected to arrive on time for class. By arriving promptly, you enable your child to participate fully and set a positive example for their first school experience. Morning meetings in the nursery classrooms will begin 15 minutes after class begins. Please understand that late entry is a distraction to both teacher and students.

The importance of prompt arrival to class cannot be overemphasized. Please be supportive of our educators who have organized the school day to maximize the children’s educational experiences and to ensure the flow of classroom activities. Please understand that each child is an integral part of the group. Children often become upset when they recognize that they have arrived late and missed the first activity.

It’s helpful to remember that most children need, and like, routines. If there is difficulty leaving for school on time, it helps to begin the day a little earlier in order to take time to encourage the routine. After arrival time, please be alert to the teacher’s cues as to when is the appropriate time to leave. Finally, please remember that teachers are not able to have a "meeting" with each parent at arrival/dismissal time. If you need to say more than a passing comment, it is a good idea to arrange an appointment before or after class.

Similarly, please try to schedule vacation time around school holidays whenever possible. Consistency of attendance is important for your child and it promotes understanding and self-confidence.

In the event of illness, please refer to our Illness/Infection Policy.

Please remember that learning in preschool looks a little different from learning in elementary school. We encourage you to refer to the booklet "A Parent’s Guide to Preschool" and "What We Learn In"… [each area of the classroom] which are posted in or near your child’s class.

Any artwork, drawing or writing that children bring home is a demonstration of what they learned, so please respect it accordingly. For example, if a 2- or 3-year-old draws a line or a circle, understand that this is the beginning of the writing process. If they show you a piece of paper with "fringes" that they cut around the edges, this indicates a great deal of motor planning and fine motor skills. It is important for both your child’s self-esteem, as well as his/her educational experience, for you to look at it, comment on it (i.e. "I see you cut short lines around the paper."), take it home, keep it in a special folder or box, and hang something on the wall or refrigerator.

By the time parent-teacher conferences arrive in December, your child’s teacher will have assembled a portfolio of his/her work, including photographs of "unwritten" activities, so that you will see, very concretely, the course of his/her development.

Teachers will communicate with you in a variety of ways including notes in your child’s mailbox. Please remember to check it daily or ask your caregiver to do so in order for you to be up to date on classroom activities.

In an effort to maintain proper supervision and Department of Health staff/child ratios, children in our 3s and 4s program must be potty trained. Although teachers are prepared to deal with accidents, the majority of their time should be spent in the classroom with all the children.

For snow days/emergencies, we will follow the schedule of New York City Public Schools.