• Arriving At School: How does my child know where to go?

    ARRIVAL PROCEDURES: 
     
    If your kindergartner is your first child coming to Pinehurst, you may be a bit concerned about how arriving and departing from school works. Children get off the buses at 8:52. During the first few days of school the kindergarten teachers assemble at the front door to gather our classes as the children get off the buses. There are MANY extra helpers at the door as well, just in case a kindergartner "slips by" without being seen. Each kindergarten student typically has his or her bus tag attached to his or her backpack or around his or her neck, which helps make for easy identification by the helpers.
     
    As I gather my class I check each child off on my class list so I know when I have everyone. When all of my new friends have arrived we walk in a line to our classroom together. I point out things to look for as we go so that when they have to walk themselves down they know where to go. (It's amazing how quickly they get the hang of it!) I continue to meet the children at the door for the first week and again on Monday of the first full week of school. I will meet them at the door for longer if I feel it necessary, but usually the children are ready to find their own way. Many helpers are still near the front door to offer assistance for the first several weeks of school. After that, there are still several teachers and staff that have their regular bus duty near the front door in case they are needed. (It's a good idea to remind your child to go and find a grown-up wearing a lanyard nametag if they feel lost.)  
     
    DISMISSAL PROCEDURES:
     
    Dismissal procedures are in place to keep your children safe and secure as well! As a class we line up by bus order in our classroom at the end of the day. We go into the hallway as a class and I "drop off" each child at their bus line, which is marked by a sign. "Safety Patrol" officers (5th graders) are also there to supervise the little ones that are on their bus. When buses are called each bus line steps to the middle of the hallway in the order that it was called and is taken right out to the bus by the safety patrol 5th graders. As is in the morning there are many adults scattered throughout the hallways and sidewalks outside to be sure that everyone gets to the right bus. Again, the bus tags come in handy because they allow us to see in an instant if your child is in the right place. So, please encourage your child to wear or display their  bus tag for at least a few weeks until they know where they are going.
     
    AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM:
     
    Children in the Afterschool Program go down to the cafeteria after an announcement is made BEFORE the buses are called. That way, no child who is supposed to be picked up or in Afterschool accidentally gets put on a bus. The ladies from the Afterschool Program come to the classrooms for the first few days of school to escort the kindergartners to Afterschool Program until they get the hang of it themselves. None of the buses are allowed to leave until every student going to the program is accounted for.
     
    PARENT PICK - UP:
     
    If you plan to pick your child up from school you will need to write a note and make sure that it is given to the teacher in the morning. This is easy for my Kolacki Kids because we have our bus totes. I ask that parents place all correspondence for me in the bus tote. I send your note to the office and your child's name is placed on the pick-up list. At dismissal time (3:10) you will enter the school via the door by the cafeteria, NOT the main door. Children enter the cafeteria and wait until they are called. After the teacher on duty has checked your PHOTO
    IDENTIFICATION, your child will be released to you for dismissal. Please note that you need to write a note each time you plan to pick up your child unless it is a regular thing. (For example, you could write and say "I will pick up my son Johnny every Thursday until further notice." Then, we will assume you will pick him up on Thursdays. You'll have to write a note to let us know if that changes.) No buses are allowed to leave until all students on the pick up list are accounted for.

    Although they may seem complicated, our arrival and dismissal procedures are very simple and exist for the safety of your children. You'll be amazed at how quickly they become part of the routine of your child's day at school. If you have any questions or concerns about arrival, dismissal or anything else feel free to contact me.