DAVIS HILL KINDERGARTEN UPDATE
August 21, 2019
ATTENTION KINDERGARTEN PARENT(S)/ GUARDIAN(S)
I wanted to reach out with a few 'Kindergarten specific' notes prior to Open House tomorrow.
The energy in the building is amazing as we put the finishing touches in place for next week. Our staff is thrilled to have your students begin their elementary journey here at Davis Hill with us! We can't wait to get started!
Please note that for tomorrow's Kindergarten Playdate, feel free to meet and play on the 'Kindergarten Playground' by the side of the building from 9:30-10:00. I will be outside to say hello and touch base.
I am looking forward to seeing many of you tomorrow!
Kindly,
Jay C. Norton, Principal
Highlighted Events/ Information
POWERSCHOOL PARENT PORTAL/ CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENTS
POWERSCHOOL PARENT PORTAL
As of today, everyone should have had access to their teacher assignment in PowerSchool. If you are having trouble accessing PowerSchool, please feel free to reach out to me and/ or connect with me tomorrow at the Open House.
A reminder that Kindergarten students will have a paper letter/ packet, which will include a name tag for the first day of school, at the Open House tomorrow in their classroom. Any letters not picked up at the Open House will be mailed Thursday evening.
OPEN HOUSE-REMINDER
OPEN HOUSE
We will be holding our annual Open House on Thursday, August 22nd at 10:00am-11:00am and again at 5:00pm-6:00pm.
The Open House is designed to allow students and parents time to visit your child’s classroom and provide new students and families the time to walk through the school. During each Open House session (approximately 10:30 and 5:30), I will invite any new students and their families (as well as any kindergarten students and their families who may have missed our Kindergarten Orientation in June) to join me so that I may introduce myself, provide general information, and answer questions.
Due to all the work that is being done by teachers and custodians, the time frame for the Open House has to be kept to what is listed. Also, I ask that parents please let your children know that teachers are not present at the Open House and that the school is still being prepared for the first day. The meeting of their classroom teacher happens on the first day of school, not at the Open House. Additionally, not all rooms will look ready for the first day of school, as some rooms will be in the process of getting ready for the start of school.
I want to thank all of our staff for the work that they do in preparation for the Open House! We are fortunate to have such a dedicated group of custodians and teachers!
As discussed at Kindergarten Orientation in June, this year all Davis Hill Kindergarten students will come in for a brief 'drop-in' day on August 27th (Which is the first day of school for students in grades 1-5). Parents and students will have the opportunity to explore the classroom, lunch room and playground during their visit.
The schedule for the drop-in day is as following:
AM SESSION (Students with last names beginning A-K)
LOCATION: Meet in Davis Hill Front Lobby
TIME: 10:00-11:00
PM SESSION (Students with last names beginning L-Z)
LOCATION: Meet in Davis Hill Front Lobby
TIME: 1:30-2:30
TRANSPORTATION LETTER
Reminder to please complete and return the transportation letter on the first day of school (a hard copy will be available at the Open House and an electronic copy is available via link HERE). Having this information helps us to ensure that we have accurate transportation information on the first day. If the routine for transportation will be changing after the first day, please take the time to write a letter to your child’s teacher describing the routine.
LUNCH:
Kindergarten students will eat lunch in the cafeteria. Please make sure that our school nurse, Mrs. Sandra Berquist, has any information regarding allergies/ health concerns. Staff supports students in buying lunch if needed, opening containers and making sure that student needs are met. We do our best over the course of the year to support independence with all these procedures; however, at the beginning of the year we focus on making sure that students feel comfortable and secure in their surroundings.
REFERENCE ON SEPARATION ANXIETY:
I have included information from an article below that outlines suggestions for easing separation anxiety. I believe it is an excellent resource. I have included items specific to the first-day of school. The website link is included below HERE.
By Lisa Medoff
Updated on Oct 26, 2012
When children are getting ready for their first day of kindergarten, most of them are pretty excited about finally being a "big kid" who gets to go to "big school". At the same time, their parents are preoccupied by picturing the worst-case scenario: screaming, terrified children who will be traumatized forever by the forced separation. Note that in this case, as in many parenting situations, it is the child who is originally looking forward to the new experience, and the parent who suffers the anxiety, which is then transferred to the child.
The good news is that kindergarten does not have to be a bad experience for anyone. Children pick up cues about how to act from you. If you are positive, calm, and optimistic about your child going to kindergarten, then your child will be just fine. To minimize separation anxiety, keep some of the following ideas in mind:
-Ask your child if she has any questions about school. Answer them honestly, and if you don’t know, find out the answer. If your child is worried about making friends or talking to the teacher, practice some easy phrases, such as, “Can I play with you?” and “Can I go to the bathroom?”
Give your child many chances to talk about how he is feeling about going to school. Do not assume he is scared, or plant the idea in his head by asking, “Are you worried about going to school?” However, if you are sensing that he is apprehensive, but can’t communicate that feeling, say, “Are you a little unsure about what kindergarten is going to be like?” Try to figure out specifically what the concern is. Let him know that whatever he is feeling is okay and normal. Share a time when you went into a new situation, how you felt at the beginning, and how it ended up okay in the end.
-If your child says that he doesn’t want to go because he will miss you, respond by saying, “I will miss you, too, but I’m really excited about everything you will get to do in school. I can’t wait to hear all about it when you come home.”
-When you get to school, keep it short, and stay calm. Hug your child, and say, “I love you. I know you’ll have a great day. I’ll pick you up at 1:00. Good-bye.” Smile and walk away. It is helpful to tell your child ahead of time what you will do and say that morning, so she is prepared.
Do not hesitate when you leave. Be prepared for the fact that your child might cry and be upset, but have confidence that the teachers know how to handle the situation. The more you drag out the good-bye, the more painful it will be, and the longer it will take your child to get adjusted to leaving you. If you run back the minute your child starts to cry, you are teaching him that crying will prevent you from leaving, and he will do it every morning.
Children will pick up on your slightest bit of anxiety and will wonder why you are concerned. It is incredibly important to prepare yourself, in addition to preparing your child. Practice what you will say to your child and how you will stay calm. If you feel like you are going to cry, do your best to hold it together until you are out of your child’s sight.
-Make it your absolute first priority to pick up your child at exactly the time that you said that you would. It will be easier to get her to school the next day if she trusts that you will be there on time to pick her up. Ask her questions about her day, focusing on the positive. Tell her how proud you are of her and how she must be excited to go back tomorrow.
-Prepare yourself for a few days, or even weeks, of difficult mornings and separations. Remind yourself to be consistent, be calm, and be optimistic. If you can soldier through a few rough days, your child will get used to the routine and future separations will be much easier.
Davis Hill Elementary School
Email: jay_norton@wrsd.net
Website: http://www.wrsd.net/davishill/
Location: 80 Jamieson Road, Holden, MA 01520, United States
Phone: 508-829-1754
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavisHillDragons/
Twitter: @DHPrincipal