2015-2016 Preschool FAQ What should I do to get my child ready for school, especially if CDS is the first school he/she has ever attended?

We know from years of experience that all children make it through the first weeks of school! In many ways, this transition is harder for the parents than for the children. Young children are built to adapt and need only loving support from all adults involved to get them through. With that in mind, here are a few tips to make the transition to CDS easier for you and your child. •

If you are a family new to CDS, bring your child to a Friday assembly this spring. o Friday assemblies are at 8:30 a.m. and are wonderful community events. o The remaining assemblies for the current school year are: • April 24 (Special Earth Day Assembly • May 1 (Kindergarten) • May 8 (Spanish Department) • May 15 (Teddy Bear preschoolers and 8th grade) • May 22 (Starfish preschoolers and 7th grade) • May 29 (Leaping Lizards and 6th grade) o Parking can be difficult, so plan to arrive early and join the parent coffee that begins at 8:00 a.m. o Please supervise your child during your visit. o Assemblies are canceled in the event of rain.

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Visit CDS during the summer. o We are open during the summer while our summer camp is in session and we welcome visitors! o Please check in with the receptionist at the front desk when you arrive to get visitor nametags, and then feel free to walk around the campus for 1520 minutes as observers. Thank you for being mindful not to disrupt camp activities. o Keep in mind that most of our classroom teachers do not work during the summer, and the preschool summer camp operates on a different schedule than the school year. o Please supervise your child during your visit. 1

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Have your child attend one of our summer camp sessions. o Summer camp can be a low-key way for your child to become familiar with the CDS campus and some of the classroom routines. o All entering CDS preschoolers (regardless of age) who are potty trained are eligible to participate in the CDS summer camp. o See the CDS website for more information about summer camp, camp.cds-sf.org.

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Use your class list to set up play dates over the summer. Class lists are sent to families in June.

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Browse the library or your local bookstore for children’s books about the first day of school to read to your child.

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Establish a regular sleep schedule. Set up your child for success at school with plenty of rest. The preschool day is busy and our preschool is fun, interesting and challenging. Your child will be exhausted at the end of the day, and getting him or her used to going to sleep early and waking with plenty of time to get ready in the morning will help ensure that you have a smooth exit from your home and your child arrives at school each morning ready to learn. Because our school nap time is probably earlier than when your child currently naps, it can be helpful to gradually transition your child’s nap to an earlier time.

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Have a positive attitude. Your feelings will be projected onto your child. If you’re anxious or worried, your child will sense this and may become anxious or worried him/herself.

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Attend our Preschool Parent Orientation. We will hold a preschool parent orientation (for parents new to CDS as well as parents of incoming siblings) on Tuesday, August 11 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Margaret Piskitel, Preschool Program Director, will talk about the logistics and details of your child’s day, in addition to all the things you can do in the following weeks to help your child get ready for school. This is an adults-only event.

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Does my child need to be potty trained to begin preschool at CDS?

Your child must be potty trained to begin preschool at CDS. If your child is not yet potty trained and you need some resources to help you navigate this process, please contact Margaret Piskitel, Preschool Program Director, at [email protected] or 415-861-5432 x349 prior to June 5 (the last day of school for the current school year). Every child develops at a different rate – there is no specific age when a particular child will be ready to go to the bathroom on his/her own. The following lists some of the signs that show a child is ready to be potty trained: Potty Training Checklist þ Being dry for at least two hours at a time – before a child can be potty trained, his/her bladder needs to be able to hold larger amounts of urine for longer periods of time. þ Having regular bowel movements shows a child is aware of and willing to respond to the signals his/her body is sending about releasing bodily waste. þ Being able to follow simple instructions shows a willingness to be directed by an adult when needed. þ Being or showing signs of being uncomfortable with wet/soiled underwear and/or diapers, and wanting to be changed. If a child is not bothered by a wet or dirty diaper/underwear or is unwilling to even sit on the potty, then you will probably not get very far with potty training. þ Asking to use the potty chair. þ Requesting to wear regular underwear. þ A child is physically ready when he/she can go on his/her own to and from the bathroom, is able to pull his/her pants up and down, is able to wipe him/herself and can get on and off the toilet/potty chair on his/her own. If your child is not fully potty trained in early August, please arrange a meeting with Margaret and your classroom teachers to talk about it. Our hope is that by being in communication with you about this issue before the start of school, we might be able to ease some of the pressure you or your child may be feeling and to share our considerable experience around this issue.

Is there a preschool orientation for my child?

Our preschool teachers host a classroom open house before the first day of school. The open house is the perfect way for you and your child to explore the classroom, see your child’s cubby and meet some classmates and teachers so that everyone feels more comfortable on the first day of school. The open house will be held on Monday, August 31. Families are invited to drop-in any time between 3:30 and 5 p.m.

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What should I expect at the August/September parent-teacher conference?

Parent-teacher conferences for new families will be held shortly before school begins, on Monday and Tuesday, August 31 and September 1. This conference is an opportunity to meet with your child’s teaching team before the school year begins. These conferences are extremely valuable for two reasons: • They begin to establish the parent/teacher working relationship and provide an opportunity to get to know one another as equal members of your child’s educational team; and • They give you an opportunity to share your wisdom, hopes and dreams about your child and the upcoming school year. During these conferences, teachers commonly ask questions such as: • What are your hopes for your child this year at CDS? • What are your child’s greatest strengths and growth areas? • For growth areas, are there any strategies you use at home that I can support in the classroom? • Does your child have any specific learning styles about which I should know? • Is your child receiving any counseling or outside services of which I need to be aware? • Are there aspects of your home environment or family that would be useful for me to know as I get to know your child? • Do you have any talents or hobbies to share with the class? • Do you have any specific questions or concerns? During the school year, we have two additional conferences, in the fall and in the spring. All conferences are mandatory for all parents, and we encourage separated or divorced parents to attend their child’s conferences together. Childcare is offered during your child’s scheduled conference time; check-in with the receptionist if you need childcare during your conference.

How can I make morning drop-off as easy as possible?

Drop-off, especially at the beginning of the school year, can be a difficult time. The first week or two can be very hard, but it does get better. Here are some tips for a successful transition: • Arrive as early as possible (the classrooms open at 8:00 a.m.). • Let your child walk on his/her own when on school grounds. Try not to carry your child once inside the gate – holding your child can make transitions more difficult. • Decide on a pre-arranged time limit to stay with your child before leaving, with a prearranged drop-off routine. Create the routine before school starts by either practicing at home or talking it over. The best routines incorporate quiet activities (reading a book, doing a puzzle), not roughhousing. We encourage you to help your child engage in an activity or with another child before you leave. When you leave, your child should be ready to participate in the group activities taking place. 4

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Communicate the daily drop-off routine to your child often and stick to it; children love rituals. For example, if you say, “I’ll read you one story, give you four hugs and four kisses, and then I have to leave,” do it the same way each morning so your child knows what to expect. It’s okay to leave if your child is crying. Ask one of the teachers to help you exit. Just make sure to always follow through with your routine. And always say goodbye to your child before you leave! Non-students (parents, siblings, etc.) need to leave the classrooms before the teachers ring the bell (at 8:25 a.m., with class starting at 8:30 a.m.). Trying to say goodbye after the bell rings is difficult, so plan for an 8:20 a.m. exit. Siblings and other family or friends are welcome in the classroom, but be sure everyone is ready to leave on time. It is important that your child arrives at school on time so that he/she has time to settle into the classroom and connect with friends and teachers. When children walk into class late, they can feel out of place and uncomfortable, like a grownup who is late for a meeting. Once you have left the school, feel free to call or e-mail to check-up on your child. The number for the front desk receptionist is 415-861-5432 x310 and the number for Margaret Piskitel, Preschool Program Director, is 415-861-5432 x349. Morning drop-off takes place between 8 and 8:25 a.m.; school starts at 8:30 a.m. As all CDS parking spots are reserved for faculty/staff, there is no parking in the CDS parking lot during morning drop-off (do not park in spots marked “NDP” at any time, as these spots are reserved for Notre Dame Plaza residents, and you will be towed). Most preschoolers new to the school are not ready for drive-through drop-off during the first weeks of school, so allow time to park on the street and walk your child in. If you walk in to school to drop off your child, please use the sidewalk on the north side of the Notre Dame Plaza building (look for the CDS logo sign with the words “Pedestrian Entrance”). Please find legal street parking so that we stay on good terms with the City and with our neighbors. Do not park in the pass-throughs (i.e., between the traffic islands) on Dolores Street. Not only is this a traffic violation that carries a hefty fine, it is a safety hazard that restricts emergency vehicle access to properties on Dolores Street. In the morning, both the main school gate and the fire gate (the large black gate near the preschool bungalows) are open for drive-through drop-off; when driving, please drop-off your preschooler at the fire gate. Your child is ready for drive-through drop-off when he/she demonstrates that he/she can exit the car without prolonged delays and can handle the responsibility of walking into the classroom on his/her own. CDS faculty and administrators staff the fire gate area during drop-off and will assist when needed. Leave strollers, wagons, etc., on the preschool yard or deck because the classrooms can get quite crowded.

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Make sure to sign your child in to school before leaving (licensing requires a full adult signature and the time of drop-off). Sign-in sheets are available at both the main school gate and the preschool gate. If your child is late, please go to the reception area in the main classroom building to sign him/her in with the receptionist. Don’t hesitate to communicate with your classroom liaisons or other parents in your child’s class regarding the morning drop-off routine. Sharing your experience with another parent who is going through the same thing (or has gone through it before) can be very comforting.

How does pick-up work?

Preschool pick-up is between 2:15 and 2:30 p.m. (unless your child is staying in our extended program). If you are walking in to pick-up your child, please use the main school gate. If you are doing drive-through pick-up, your child will be waiting at the Bower gate (under the 100-year-old trees). Your child cannot be released to you unless you have an appropriate car seat. If our teachers are aware that you do not have your child’s car seat, they will not release your child even if you park and walk in. Thank you in advance for your understanding of the need to enforce this important safety law. All parents must sign out their child with a full adult signature and the time of pick-up (teachers will provide sign-out sheets). If you pick your child up after 2:30 p.m., sign-out sheets are available with your child’s after-school teacher. Each preschool classroom has a board where you can note any changes in your child’s pick-up time. The CDS receptionist maintains the official, authorized pick-up list for your child, so make sure it is up-to-date. If your child has a play date or will be picked up by someone not named on the authorized list, prepare a note or e-mail for the receptionist and teachers. The note can be given to the receptionist or teacher, or posted on the classroom board. Please do not give another adult permission to pick up your child without formally notifying CDS or your child’s teacher.

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What will my child’s daily schedule look like?

Throughout the day we provide a mixture of challenging, open-ended activities that allow for individual preferences and abilities. Our classroom curriculum areas contain a variety of exciting learning materials for all of the children, regardless of age or cognitive and physical abilities. Subjects and skills are integrated, or taught simultaneously. Learning takes place through the active exploration of real-world topics that are meaningful, concrete and relevant to the students. The 2015-2016 schedule for each classroom has not yet been finalized. Once school begins, you can check with your child’s teachers for the daily schedule. Here is a sample of a typical daily schedule: 7:30-8 8-8:25 8:30 9:00

Early morning extended program available Morning drop-off Morning meeting Indoor/outdoor work time. During this time, children choose from a variety of activities in the curriculum centers both inside the classroom and outside on the yard. These may include reading, dramatic play, science, woodworking, writing, building with blocks and project-related work. In addition, during this time children may do art with one of our art specialists, work in the farm or garden with our environmental education resource teacher, make music with our music specialist or participate in physical education with our physical education specialist. Some of the activities with our specialists are choice activities (such as physical education) and some (such as music) are required activities. This time also includes access to a school-provided, self-help snack. 11:00 Lunch 11:45 Nap/rest. Children rest on mats on the floor using blankets provided from home. 12:30 Outdoor work time for children who are awake 1:20 Indoor/outdoor work time 2:00 Afternoon meeting 2:15-2:30 Dismissal to home or after-school program 2:30 Free play in the yard 3:00 Work time (including a school-provided, self-help snack) 6:00 School closes

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What do I need to send to CDS before the first day of school?

• Once you have received your classroom assignment, please e-mail a photo of your child’s face to your child’s teacher by August 15 (we just need a photo of your child’s face). Your child’s teacher will use the photo for classroom purposes (e.g., to identify your child’s cubby). Families assigned to the Leaping Lizards class should e-mail Alicia Perdue at [email protected]; families assigned to the Starfish classroom should e-mail Gretchen Ott at [email protected]; and families assigned to the Teddy Bears classroom should e-mail Candy Mabry at [email protected]. • There are a number of school and health forms that must be completed and returned to the school by July 1. Please return all required forms by this deadline so that your child may begin school.

What do I need to send with my child on the first day of school?

• A backpack (clearly labeled with your child’s name). • A lunch and drink (clearly labeled with your child’s name). • One small, child-sized blanket in a pillowcase for naptime (clearly labeled with your child’s name). These will be sent home for washing every Friday. No pillows, please! Any blanket the child cannot fit in the rest cubby him/herself will be sent home, as will any blanket that teachers deem too large. • At least one complete change of clothing, including shoes, adjusted seasonally, clearly labeled with your child’s name and placed in a large plastic bag. • One comforting blanket or stuffed toy from home, if necessary, to be used for a few minutes in the morning or at naptime, and then put away. • A picture (or pictures) of your child’s family members for classroom display. These can be comforting to children when they miss their families.

What should I pack for my child’s lunch?

Families have two options regarding lunch. Children may bring lunch, including a beverage, from home. Or families may choose to purchase lunch from School Foodies, which delivers directly to CDS. See below for more information about School Foodies. Preschool children eat lunch in their classrooms at 11:00 a.m. and then settle down for their naps or rest. Here are some guidelines about what to pack for lunch: • CDS has a no-peanut policy because we have several young children who have life-threatening allergies to peanuts. Please do not send any food to CDS that contains peanut products (e.g. trail mix, health bars, peanut butter, pad thai, cookies, etc.). • Reusable lunch boxes with thermoses are long lasting and easy to keep clean if rinsed out every night. Lunchboxes can be purchased at Walgreen’s, Target or any children’s store. Label your child’s lunchbox and all containers in permanent marker or with stick-on labels to make sure these items come back home each day. • Families are encouraged to use reusable plastic containers for drinks and food to limit waste. • CDS does not provide facilities for heating or refrigerating food, so use thermoses. Please do not pack anything that needs to be heated, and freeze or use ice packs to keep cold items cold. 8

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Water is always available in the classrooms and on the yard. During lunch, teachers will help your child open any difficult packaging. No sweets or soda, please. Many parents find it helpful to send an additional, separate afternoon snack for their child if he or she participates in the after school program (it helps if it is clearly labeled “PM snack”).

Here is a list of lunch suggestions compiled by preschool parents: Cheese and crackers Peas Rolled-up cold cuts Edamame Cut-up hot dog (or turkey or chicken Turkey and avocado sandwich dog) Cheese Cut-up fruit/veggies (baby carrots, snap Pre-cooked chicken nuggets peas, red peppers, apples, oranges, Turkey bananas, etc.) Tortilla chips Yogurt (remember the spoon) Small burrito or quesadilla Applesauce Veggie chips Pirate Booty Leftovers (chicken, rice, pasta, broccoli, Cold pizza macaroni and cheese) Pasta Granola (no peanuts) Berries or grapes Crackers Plain milk School Foodies CDS participates in a popular school lunch program operated by School Foodies, an independent company that prepares and delivers affordable, kid-friendly, bag lunches to schools, packed with health-conscious, nutritious foods. Contact School Foodies directly for more information at www.schoolfoodies.com. They have an easy-to-use website. Typically, preschool children bring their lunches most days and participate in School Foodies once or twice a week.

What do I do if my child doesn’t eat his/her lunch?

Children will eat when they are hungry. We encourage children to eat as much as they want. We will send home any uneaten food as a way to help you gauge portion size. It helps to ask your child what he/she would like to eat for lunch and to make sure that your child can feed him/herself. It is very normal for children to eat little at school, especially in the early days/weeks of school when they are adjusting.

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Will my child get a snack in the morning? What about in the afternoon?

Yes. We provide a nutritious, mid-morning snack that we select from items such as fruit, vegetables, brown rice, quinoa, beans, rice cakes, SunButter, hummus or cheese. Children are also provided a snack in the after school program. We also encourage families with children who participate in the after school program to send an additional, separate snack in their lunchbox.

What type of clothing is appropriate for school?

• Send your child to school in sensible clothes and shoes that can get dirty. • Since the children play outside in all kinds of weather, please provide a warm jacket, raincoat, rain boots, hat, etc., when it is cold and/or rainy. • If your child wears a dress or shorts, we suggest she/he also wear leggings or long pants underneath to protect against scraped knees. • Remove or cut off tie-strings from jackets.

Can my child bring a toy to school?

Our preschool classrooms have a wide variety of fun toys and other activities specifically designed to encourage development. Your child is welcome to bring one comforting blanket or stuffed toy from home to be used for a few minutes in the morning or at naptime, and then put away. Please do not send other toys from home, even if your child promises to leave the toys in his/her backpack. Toys from home often get broken or lost and sometimes cause conflict between children. If your child has a toy he/she really wants to share, please talk with your child’s teacher before sending it to school.

What should I do if my child loses something?

Check in your child’s classroom first. If you can’t find what was lost in the classroom, check both the preschool and the all-school lost and found (ask the receptionist where this is kept). Label everything you send to school with your child’s name in permanent marker.

How much communication should I expect from my child’s teachers?

You will receive written progress reports at the end of the first semester and again in June, and will have scheduled parent-teacher conferences in August/September, as well as later in the fall and in spring. Outside of these scheduled communications, the classroom teachers post informative blogs (via the CDS website) and emails to keep you up to date about classroom activities. Also, your child’s teachers will communicate with you informally as needed (usually in person or via e-mail), and they always welcome your questions. If you have questions or concerns, the best way to communicate with your child’s teachers is via e-mail or voicemail; the school directory published in the fall will have all contact information. The teachers check e-mail and voicemail regularly and respond within 24 hours.

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What types of personal events are important enough to notify the teachers?

Please notify us when your child’s routine changes or when any of these things happen, as they may affect your child’s behavior. With advance notice where possible, we can anticipate the changes and appropriately support your child and your family. • Your child is sick or has had a lack of sleep or food. • A parent, caregiver or sibling is out of town. • Your child’s primary caregiver changes. • There is a death in the family, including pets. • A family member is ill at home or in the hospital. • You are expecting a new child. • You are house-hunting, moving or visiting other schools. • A family member becomes unemployed. • You have visitors. • You have an upcoming vacation.

My child says he/she doesn’t like rest time. What do I do?

Young children need time to rest their bodies and minds. All CDS preschoolers have a rest time or nap after lunch. The agency that licenses California preschools mandates a 45-minute rest for all children enrolled in a full-day preschool. We know that this is often a time of day when children miss their parents. While pacifiers and bottles are not appropriate for hygiene reasons, you are welcome to send one comforting blanket or stuffed toy from home to be used at naptime. In addition, when parents and teachers agree that a child has outgrown napping, a child may do quiet activities on his/her mat during this time.

How does CDS celebrate birthdays?

At CDS, we like to recognize birthdays. Birthdays are announced each Friday at the allschool assembly. In addition, if you would like to do something special in the classroom in observance of your child’s birthday, please notify your child’s teachers in advance. Some of the more successful birthday celebrations have involved bringing a nut-free snack to share and/or reading a book or sharing a story with the class. Please save the party items, such as decorations, candy and goodie bags, for home. When inviting CDS children to birthday celebrations, please mail the invitations rather than passing them out at school. If you are inviting half or more of the class, please invite the entire class. It is everyone’s responsibility to help our classes be inclusive.

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How can I get involved in my child’s class?

We are proud of what goes on in our classrooms and are happy to have parents involved. Preschool parents participate in the classrooms in a variety of ways. Successful participation has included: • Reading a book that is special to your child or family, or telling a story. • Planting seeds or conducting a science experiment. • Demonstrating a skill or playing a musical instrument. • Helping on field trips. Students take field trips that correspond to specific classroom projects or topics of study. At CDS, we view field trips as research tools. Parents are given the opportunity to sign up for these types of activities on an on-going basis; speak to your child’s teacher if you would like to become involved. At the beginning of the school year, you will be given an opportunity to sign up for a time to visit your child’s class during morning meeting to share information about the culture of your family. Successful family share times are short – 10 minutes or so – and involve introducing your family with a picture or two, and reading a book or describing a recent adventure or vacation. Often families schedule their visits to coincide with a special family holiday such as the Persian New Year or Hanukkah. This is a wonderful opportunity for preschool children to learn about different types of families.

My child said nobody wants to play with him/her. What do I do?

Reassure your child that there are many friends at school. Help your child learn how to tell other children that he/she wants to join them in their play. For example, have your child practice saying, “I want to play with you.” Also remind your child that he/she can ask a teacher for help. Use the online CDS directory and set up play dates. It’s easier for a child to engage with another child on a one-on-one basis. Play dates will establish friendships that can be continued at school and can be a key to success for children who are struggling with the transition to school.

My child told me that another child hit him/her. What do I do?

Our teachers are trained to help children learn to appropriately navigate the social landscape at school, and will help your child if conflict occurs. However, if something happens at school that concerns you, try to get as much information from your child about the incident or situation as possible. Next, contact your child’s teacher via voicemail or e-mail to set up a time to meet in person or talk on the phone so we can work as partners to best address the situation.

What should I do when my child says, “I don’t want to go to school,” or has a stomachache every morning?

It takes time to transition into a new school. Sometimes this transition can last several weeks, sometimes longer. Children can experience anxiety about school at any point in the school year, even if they appear to have already adjusted to the transition. Reassure 12

your child that he/she will be doing many fun activities at school, and that the teachers are there to take care of him/her. It is important to maintain a daily routine of coming to school so your child learns what to expect and school becomes a safe place for him/her (and for you!).

When I asked my child what he/she did at school today, he/she answered, “Nothing.” What does that mean? Some children will share a lot about their school and their day, and some children will share very little. Rewording the question may help. You might try asking: Who did you play or work with today? What areas did you work in today? Who sat with you at lunch? What was your favorite part of the day? The classroom blogs also will keep you informed about what the children are working on – use the blog as a tool to help start a conversation with your child or to talk about posted photos. Some children honestly do not remember what they did during the day, while others may not be ready to share information about their new environment for a while.

When I’m at school with my child, who is responsible for his/her supervision – my child’s teachers or me?

Whenever parents are at school with their child or children – whether it’s at drop-off, pick-up or during a field trip – they are responsible for monitoring their child’s or children’s behavior. CDS staff typically will defer to the parent. It is up to all parents to enforce CDS rules while they are at school. If you have questions about what the school rules are or the approach to enforcing them, please ask a teacher. Some of our important yard rules are: • Tricycles and scooters may not be used on the preschool deck ramp. • Climbing is only allowed on the climbing structure. • Preschoolers may not play on the monkey bars. • To enter the CDS farm, you must be accompanied by a trained farmer. • Please do not pick anything from the CDS garden.

Who are the classroom liaisons and what do they do?

Each class at CDS has 2-3 classroom liaisons. Liaisons are parents who help facilitate a productive and fun working relationship between parents and teachers in the classroom. The responsibilities of the classroom liaisons include working closely with the teachers to identify ways in which parents can help in the classroom such as helping to coordinate field trips, acting as a support for parents in the class by answering questions and planning social events, facilitating the communication between teachers and parents (either electronically or with paper notices) and coordinating parents for the PTTA-eventhosting responsibility assigned to each class. Liaisons will be announced during the summer. The classroom liaisons welcome your questions. You can always communicate with the liaisons via e-mail, phone or when you see them on campus.

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