Tuesday 12 September 2017

Start of the School year!



Dear Parents,

Here we are, at the start of a new school year! We finally have met all of our students and their families.
It was so nice to see the many smiles on our children’s faces on their first day of preschool.
We are looking forward to a fantastic and exciting year with our pre-schoolers!

September will be a busy month for all of us. In order to help with a smooth transition into the year, I would like to provide you with some important information and dates.

If you have not done so, please read the 2017-18 Parent Handbook that each of you should have received at the sneak peek day in May. It contains important information about school policies, curriculum etc.
Here is a list of things that we will help you to keep on track.

CLASS TIME  9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

ARRIVAL
Brevoort Park School opens the doors for their students at 8:50 a.m. and it can get a bit busy in the hallways around that time.
Our classroom door opens at 9 a.m. (If you are still in the hallway and hear the Canadian National Anthem “Oh Canada”, Brevoort Park School asks all parents, students and staff members to stand still until the anthem is finished). We thank you in advance for your co-operation in regards to this daily routine.

ABSENCE
We keep daily track of attendance. If your child will be absent, please let us know by emailing or texting (306-2814-428).

SCHOOL DOORS
ALL back and side doors of Brevoort Park School will be locked after 9 a.m. and remain locked during the day.  If you are arriving after 9 a.m. you will have to enter the school through the main door at the front.
However, you are still able to EXIT through the boot room doors throughout the day!!

REMOVAL OF WET FOOTWEAR
When entering the school, we would like to remind all parents, care givers to remove their (and their child’s) wet/muddy footwear.

BATHROOM
As we start this new year, I strongly encourage you to take your child to the bathroom prior to when class starts. The need “to go” seems to be as contagious for pre-schoolers as yawns are, for most people. Once one of their friends has to go, it always unleashes a tide of others. J Thank you for your anticipated co-operation.

OUTSIDE PLAY AND WEATHER APPROPRIATE CLOTHES
Please remember that we will take our students outside on nice days until it gets cold or muddy. Please dress them in weather appropriate clothes and shoes that they can run with safely.

Most of our students know how to take off their shoes and how to put them on with no or little help. We encourage, teach and foster independence and cheer for every step along the way. It’s very empowering for children to realize how much they can do by themselves!

DISMISSAL
Dismissal time will be 11:45. Parents (or whoever will pick up your child) are invited to join us for the last 5 minutes of class time. We will open the door at 11:40 a.m. and invite you to hear about our day.
Children will get dismissed only with the designated person that is on your registration file. If someone else is picking up your child, please let us know.
Depending if we are outside or inside dismissal will be in the classroom or the boot room.
Don’t forget to check your mailbox and take your lunch kit before leave.

Thank you in advance for being prompt on your pick up, and drop off times. It means so much to us, but especially to your children!

SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDERS
Please find more information on the September order form that you have in your mailbox.
October book orders might have to go out before the September books have arrived to ensure that next month fall themed books will arrive on time.

BIRTHDAYS
If you would like to, you may bring a small treat (cookie, sticker etc.) to share at school when it’s your child’s birthday. If you want to share baby pictures of your child to document their growth, please share them with our class. Our class will also learn how to sing “Happy Birthday” in German. Please remember Brevoort Park School is nut-free and we ask you to not bring anything that contains nuts.

VOLUNTEERING
What would the world do without volunteers?  There will be occasions that we have to rely on helping hands from parents, grand parents etc. We will have a sign up sheet in the hallway for certain activities that we will need help with.
Especially when we go on field trips with  (12-16) pre-schoolers, every extra hand will help us to keep our ducklings in a row. J

NEWSLETTERS
I will email a monthly newsletter to give you an overview of the month’s theme and activities.
Each month I will send home a calendar with your child. It will remind you of special events, school closures and your child’s day to share. The newsletter will also be posted here on the blog.

(If anyone needs a paper copy of the monthly newsletter, please let me know)

Happy Beginnings!

Uli Hecker & Larissa Lorenz