Hellobee Boards

@Adira: The lack of info is terrible. Until a few weeks ago, we had heard absolutely nothing since dropping off paperwork in May. When we called, the office said they were still processing paperwork. Then last week we checked in again, and they said they had no record of us, and could we resubmit everything. This sent me into a tailspin, since I was going to have to get all new medical paper work (note to self: make copies!!). Then a few hours later they said they found our paper work in a drawer. They said they are mailing us all of the info about after care and school supplies, etc., but it still hasn't arrived?! Luckily my husband dropped by one day and got at least some of that info, but it's all a little too disorganized for me to handle.

I'm sorry you are all dealing with this disorganization, but I have to say it makes me feel a little better! We've been having all kinds of trouble with communication around getting my daughter enrolled in art and music at the school and I was starting to feel like it was a little personal or that they were making assumptions about me as a homeschooler! Maybe its just all chaos!

We did find out that the specials schedule is a 4-day one, so the days of the week that my daughter goes to school won't be consistent. This is pretty annoying, and it seems like a weird choice for them to make because it doesn't offer the kids a lot of consistency or predictability, but whatever. We can work around it.

Oh man I feel for all of you who are in limbo or waiting on communication. Reading your posts makes me feel very lucky that we have had as much info as we have which seems like it's connected to the small charter school setting vs. public school. I hope you all get more communication soon!!

Open house is next Friday , 8/10 and I am excited to meet her teachers, let LO see the classroom again, and possibly meet some other students and *fingers crossed* some she knows from last year on the playground will still be there. So far none of her classmates from VPK at the same school are staying on for Kinder.

@Mrs. Carrot: For us Kindergarten starts on the 5th, and his last day of Pre-K/Daycare will be the 31st, so he'll have the weekend, Labor Day, plus Tuesday off before he starts K. So... not a ton of time off, but the Daycare really isn't the school format during the summer - they have a ton of fun stuff going on that he won't want to miss. Plus once he starts real school, he'll be in summer camp during the summer, so no real breaks anyway except vacations...

We’re not doing anything special in between. We’re going on vacation all next week, and school starts 9/6, so technically Labor Day could be our special day off.

We just got our teacher assignment and it’s a neighbor we just started seeing socially! She came over for a bbq the same day we got our letter in the mail. She used to work at the local Montessori school and thought she would stay there forever, but started working in the public schools a few years ago. The first time we met her we talked about how strong our district is and how the alternative schools are struggling to stay alive because the public school is doing such a good job of incorporating different learning opportunities. She does yoga in the classroom and takes them out sometimes twice a day. Needless to say I am so relieved!

We have a supply drop off and bus orientation on 8/30, so now the only thing I’m still nervous about is getting myself organized enough to pack good lunches!

@hitchhiker: I love the idea of celebrating your own milestones! Definitely will talk to hubby about that.

@erinbaderin we're in the same boat with class assignments. I heard from the school that we won't find out until the open house, which is the day before school starts! And our bus info is supposedly coming to us the week before school starts. We're in a huge school district so I think this is the norm but for first timers, it's definitely anxiety inducing.

DD’s new teacher called today to introduce herself to me and say hello to DD, which she really loved. L’s been excited but nervous, and I think hearing that her teacher was friendly and equally excited helped put her at ease. We go in to see the classroom and meet the teacher in person on Monday evening, and school starts Wednesday. It’s been an awesome summer, but I feel like it’s flown! I’m dreading getting back into a school routine!

@mrsbookworm: I was just wondering when we’re supposed to bring school supplies in. DD needs 6 reams of paper plus lots of bulky things (tissue boxes, paper towel rolls) I know she can’t carry it and I’m going to have trouble walking it to school.

We had meet the teacher day today. We saw his classroom and met the teacher, who is very young and in her second year of teaching. The supplies we bought through the PTA are already there. We are planning to have DS buy lunch, so the only additional things we need are a backpack (we have a Mario one), a water bottle, and a snack (we are planning on a banana). Lunch is at 10:30, so he might not be too hungry. Everything was labeled with his full name, while he goes by a nickname, so they will change that. We should be able to do a birthday celebration some time next week, but they prefer no food.

Our school district seems to start earlier than the surrounding school districts, I am not sure why.

@hitchhiker: I am also taking off the first day of school.

DS had a great first day of kindergarten, and was excited to go back today. Noone cried. Walking to school was a nice short walk. They went to the library, and he checked out a book. It does not have a due date, though. He bought his lunch with no problem, although did mention that he was not that hungry at lunch (at 10:30, I can't blame him). I am pretty sure they didn't do anything academic, just settling in to school. He did not seem unusually tired or energetic after school. All we brought to school are a backback, water bottle, snack, and cash in case the the lunch money account did not go through.

We missed an e-mail from the teacher indicating that we can pick them up 15-30 minutes before the school officially gets out, and also with other information. Now we are on the teacher's e-mail list.

@JCCovi: We have a take-home folder, which does not seem to necessarily require homework. It did have a share and tell bag, though. It has a behavior sheet, a drawing, forms for us to fill out, a schedule, and a carpool sign.

Today is our first day of school! Good luck to everyone else in the same boat!

Good luck everyone. Due to circumstances our new kindergartener starts next Tuesday.

@erinbaderin: When I lived in the northeast, school always started in September, because the schools did not have air conditioning (at least when I was growing up). Now I live in Texas, where you need air conditioning for half the year. My school district seems to start unusually early, most around here start next week, with a few not starting until the following week.

First day of school was Monday for us (Florida). I'm used to this schedule as the year has always begun around this time, even when I was growing up but I know it's way earlier than most of the country.

It went great. My apprehensive/nervous all-summer LO was transformed into a bundle of excitement after the open house last Friday. She went from not even wanting to go inside when we arrived that day to not wanting to leave when meet-the-teacher was over. Her first day was smooth sailing thankfully. We left sunscreen, bug spray, and cortisone cream with our medication release thanks to the FL mosquitos and sunshine.
The kids only 'homework' ahead of the first day was to bring a picture of themselves from summer to use in a craft. Then they got 'all about me' bags to fill for share time on Friday. They also have a primary journal to draw pictures or practice writing in at home if they want, but it is not a formal assignment and does not get turned in.

She did go to bed that night very tired and (I think because of her tiredness and everyone talking to her about school ALL DAY) reluctant to go back in the AM. She complained that it is so much longer than last year (3pm release vs. 12:30 for VPK), how they only get story time with snuggle buddies at the very end of the day, etc. but we just kind of said "tomorrow is another day, let's get some rest" and she woke up happy and ready to go. We talked about why the day is longer - more fun things to do, extra recess time, etc. and she was happy with that.

Good luck and happy starts to all!

@Mrs D: I bought Mabel's labels. We've used them throughout daycare years and they're great. I really like the shoe stickers.

Our first (3 day) week went well! My daughter was exhausted after every day but said she loved it.

The only problem is she sat out of PE 2 days in a row because it was too hot. She’s very active but she’s never had to workout/run around when she didn’t want to. I’m not sure how to fix this before next week, any ideas? She’s always been really sensitive to being hot.

We also passed out her birthday party invitations and have already gotten some RSVPs, so that seemed to work out well. We weren’t going to be given a class list with contact info until the second week in September (give people time to opt out) so I’m just counting on the kids to give them to their parents.

Ugh, just heard from our transportation department that or bus won’t pick up at our house and the stop is around the corner. And my kid is 4. So I’m looking for creative solutions that won’t put too much pressure on my mom and MIL who will be getting her on the bus while also watching our 2 year old. If we lived in California it would be a nice morning walk, but we live outside Buffalo so that means bundling up 9 months out of the year and walking through snow December-March. I begged them to switch the stop to the end of our “block” but I’m not 100% comfortable letting her stand there alone despite living in a safe town (ok I’m not even 5% comfortable). We can’t drop her off at school because the earliest drop off is 8:30 (Isn’t everyone at work by then?!). And then on top of it she will be getting off the bus at a time her sister is usually napping. Kind of panicking because we were counting on reducing our daycare costs and if we have to send her there this will raise them, and I don’t even know if they would have room. Oh, and school starts in 2 weeks.

@2littlepumpkins: My mom could never get me to school on time and has a hard time doing anything on time so she wouldn’t be able to do it. My MIL will bundle them up though. That’s a good point though about heating the car up to do it in the winter!

DD starts next week and I'm just ordered her uniform and school supplies! Do you put labels on their lunch box and water bottles??

@dolphin: I was going to label everything! Backpack, jackets, snack container (I won't be sending lunch), water bottle, etc.