Hellobee Boards

@looch: we do have to have a backpack - totes are not allowed - I would check with your school to see if they have a rule on this

Our Kinder placement testing is last week of July and the kids start 2 days after testing is completed, which is first week of August. So we drop off school supplies in July before school starts. We find out LO's teacher the day before they start! Which means, I am sure there are no changes....not that I would change. We have to put a depo$it in their lunch account two weeks before placement. I thought that was pretty early so watch out for that.

Our schools use a three ring binder. So it has to fit at least that. The smaller PBK bag will hold a binder, but the large works much better when they have extra things to tote along (change of clothes, spring/fall jacket, library book, etc.).

@MamaG: I kind of don't want to post specifics (there's more to the story) because of privacy concerns. Not that I have a stalker...but if I did.

@808love: Understood. Let me ask this question and answer only if you are comfortable? Are you in a year-long school environment? I have a friend that lives in a state different from me and they are considered year-round. So I think they start back early August too and they only get like a 6 week summer break (if even that long). They get more time off during the school year. It's different than my normal, and if that's your normal, I was curious on your thoughts about the different schedule. Again, totally ignore me if that's putting too much info out to the world.

@MamaG: There's even more to this story that would be an identifier but yes, we have a year round schedule and I love it! The kids and teachers are refreshed regularly as needed. Time to regroup, adjust and reflect. Kind of like a 'new year' within the year at the end of each quarter. Lots of room for enrichment and camps. We get to travel off peak.

We used the Lands End bag listed for our Pre-K backpack (in the public school where she had to carry a three ring binder for communication and papers back and forth). She also had a hoodie in her backpack for most of the year and a change of clothes. When she took lunch, she'd either clip it to the outside, or put on the inside, depending on the day. The difference in size between the Lands End bag and PBK bag aren't much.

The photo is from her first day of school last fall, she was 42 inches tall at the time.

Lands End ClassMate Medium backpack: •18"H x 12 1/2"W x 7"D; 1650 cu. In.

PBK Mackenzie Large backpack: Overall: 13.75" wide x 7.5" deep x 17" high

I bought the fjallraven kanken backpack (regular, not toddler) for LO in preparation for kindergarten. I made him pose for a picture for size.

To size the backpacks perfectly, the bottom is supposed to go to where their waist bends.
(That sweet spot will happen for about two seconds until they start to grow again.)
Yesterday I had LO do a dry run with her initial Paw Patrol backpack. Showed her how to pack it in the morning (water bottle was tricky) and picked out a stuffed animal for the other side pocket. Was fun! Showed her to put the heavy stuff closest to her back and how to tighten her water bottle well. I also tested out which lunch containers she could open easily and which water bottle slid in most easily.

Now if I could just get DH to put LOs name on everything....

@MamaG: LO was not impressed with my PBK selection as she gave a less than thrilled response. I got the navy with multi colored hearts. I chose it bc it was the most girlie girlie dark colored one that I liked.
I guess nothing will beat the beloved Paw Patrol Skye backpack she chose. It is the right size and price so I think it will work out until she outgrows it or it gets filthy. (3D golden stuffed animal ears flop out of the back. ).

We had our first parent information session this evening. It mostly went over the hours (because pick-up is at a different time 3 out of 5 days), some health stuff and, most importantly, after school care. Our school ends at 4:00 most days and parents have until 4:15 to pick up. Every day from 4:15 to 5:30 there is a childcare option for an extra fee, which they haven't disclosed yet. The great thing is that it's a pay as you go service; you don't even have to inform them. If the child isn't picked up by 4:15, they automatically go to aftercare. It's nice to know that I can have that as backup if I need it since I will most likely always be at pickup right when school lets out. That also solves our Wednesday problem since school lets out at 12:00 on Wednesdays...now I know that, as far as pick-up goes, I can just come at the regular time, or even use the after care if necessary.

@Mamaof2: doors open at 8, school starts at 8:25. The reason it's so crazy is because, even though the school is French and models itself on the French national education system (and hours) it also has to abide by certain Austrian laws. So one of the days is half an hour shorter to be under the weekly time limit and on Wednesdays they have 2 hours of mandatory religion class for Austrian citizens and anyone else who wants to opt in (those who opt out, like us, are done with school for the day).

I also found out that, by law, all students must have a (free) medical exam at the school at some point during the year.

@808love: her love for flamingoes started when I randomly bought a flamingo stuffed animal. It felt random and out of the ordinary. She's named Pinky of course. After being dragged everywhere for about six months Pinky has black feet, poor girl. This was a year ago before flamingos were a thing! And last summers birthday? Paw patrol with Skye.

1. Child's name (or identifier), date of birth - Beatrix, September 12, 2011

2. Type of program (public, private, charter, magnet, etc) - neighborhood school

3. How is your kid getting to school? - It's only four blocks away, so we'll just walk or bike it.

4. Special things about the program you want to share - My daughter's birthday falls just past the cutoff of September 1, but she's just now been granted early admission through our Talented and Gifted program. I'm so thrilled for her, it's a great school, she's really ready, and it's going to be fantastic.

@looch: that sounds like a good start. I bought 7 shirts total just because LO is still growing into her small shirts so I know it will come in handy for future. Plus I am not that good at doing laundry consistently! We got all short sleeve and will layer with a coordinating solid color long sleeve base on colder days. We live in a year round warm climate. We have option between tshirts and polos but I like polos better. The kids like the tshirts. That's cool you have long sleeve polos.

@looch: Aren't you working with PTA this year? This is exactly the thing the parents would totally support! Great idea.

People who move, kids who outgrow sizes don't need the shirts. We don't have a secondhand sale but we have a uniform donation program set up. Counselors and health aide benefit as they use it for the needy and sick children. Once upon a long time ago, a student of mine threw up on me and my shirt caught some droplets. They gave me a kid shirt for the day!