Back to School Basics
Drop off and pick up within your appointed car line time window and give a brief, cheerful hug goodbye to your children in the mornings. This conveys confidence that they are going to have a wonderful day at school!
Keep an eye on the weather each day and dress children accordingly. Classes will often go outside even if raining or snowing, as long as weather conditions are not dangerous, and individual children may not remain inside while the rest of the class is outside.
Put sunscreen on your child in the morning before arrival at school each day. If you would like it reapplied in the afternoon, please teach your child to apply it independently and send a bottle of sunscreen labeled with their name in their backpack, as staff are not able to reapply sunscreen on your child in the afternoons.
Observe all aspects of our Parent Handbook.
What Should Your Child Bring on the First Day?
One (1) full change of clothes (top, bottom, underwear, socks)
- Place in a Ziploc bag labeled with your child’s name. This will be kept in the classroom in case your child needs a change of clothes for any reason.
- Please label each individual garment with your child’s name as well.
One (1) pair of clean indoor shoes, to be kept at school.
- Indoor shoes should be closed toe, have good traction, and have a back heel.
- Please label shoes with your child’s name.
Any additional items that may have been requested by your child’s teacher
One (1) full change of clothes (top, bottom, underwear, socks)
- Place in a Ziploc bag labeled with your child’s name. This will be kept in the classroom in case your child needs a change of clothes for any reason.
- Please label each individual garment with your child’s name as well.
Any additional items that may have been requested by your child’s teacher.
One (1) full change of clothes (top, bottom, underwear, socks)
- Place in a Ziploc bag labeled with your child’s name. Your child may keep their clothes in their backpack in case they need a change of clothes for any reason.
- Please label each individual garment with your child’s name as well.
One (1) pair of clean indoor shoes, to be kept at school.
- Indoor shoes should be closed toe, have good traction, and have a back heel.
- Please label shoes with your child’s name.
One (1) water bottle, labeled with name
A daily morning snack.
The elementary program does not provide snacks in the morning. Please send a healthy snack in a zero waste container labeled with your child’s name.
The following items are not permitted: peanut/tree nut/seafood products, chips, cookies, candy, junk food, and other overly sugary items. This is the fuel for the students’ minds and bodies during their morning work period.
A daily healthy lunch that is peanut, tree nut, and seafood free.
All needed utensils must be included; the lunch must not require refrigeration or heating. You may opt to purchase school lunch, if desired.
One (1) full change of clothes (top, bottom, underwear, socks)
- Place in a Ziploc bag labeled with your child’s name. Your child may keep their clothes in their backpack in case they need a change of clothes for any reason.
- Please label each individual garment with your child’s name as well.
One (1) pair of clean indoor shoes, to be kept at school.
- Indoor shoes should be closed toe, have good traction, and have a back heel.
- Please label shoes with your child’s name.
Any additional items that may have been requested by your child’s teacher.
Will My Child Be Able to Meet Their New Teacher Before the First Day of School?
Yes! If your child is new to their classroom, your child’s Directress will reach out to you directly to schedule an orientation time for your family to come in and get to know her and the classroom. The Directress may either email or call you to connect, so please be on the lookout for an email or phone call prior to the start of school! Students who are not new to the classroom will not need an orientation meeting prior to the start of school and should plan to arrive at school on the first day as usual.
Can I Come In to See How My Child Is Doing During the Day?
We welcome all families to the school! However, it will be extremely helpful if you are able to wait until the first 2 weeks of school have passed to schedule a time to observe your child in class. This allows our new students to get adjusted in a stable environment and helps our staff to be able to focus on all of the logistics of getting the school year rolling smoothly.
Once the first two weeks of school have passed, we welcome you to make an appointment with the office to let us know when you’d like to come by to observe. On the day of your scheduled visit, drop your child off for school first, and then come back at 9am or after for your visit. This allows us to handle the logistics of drop-off and get all of the classrooms settled for the day without interruption. The best time to observe the children’s “work cycle” is generally between 9-11 am. Later in the afternoon, the lights will be dimmed as we prepare for nap and resting time.
When you visit the Primary or Toddler classrooms, please use the observation windows and DO NOT enter the classroom as it can disrupt the children’s concentration. For Elementary classrooms, you will be guided with more specific protocols as their building layout is different. In all of our classrooms, we ask that no photos or videos be taken/recorded. This is to protect the privacy of all of our students.
We ask also that families do not stand outside on or near campus to watch children on the playground at any time as this is disruptive for the children and can create safety concerns. Thank you for understanding that this is part of establishing a secure and stable environment for your children.
Still Have Questions?
If you have any other questions after carefully reviewing the Parent Handbook, please feel free to reach out to us at any time by emailing Ms. Maddie Lazaro, School Manager, at schoolmanager@montessorischoolofcu.org or calling (217) 356-1818. We look forward to seeing your child and family on August 12th for the first day of the 2024-2025 school year!