• NES KINDERGARTEN GENERAL INFORMATION

    Please refer to the NES Safety Protocols 2020-2021 for more detailed information.

    TRANSPORTATION 

    Please refer to the bus routes schedule that you received in the mail. If a kindergarten child is taking the bus home, an adult must meet them at the bus stop. At your kindergarten orientation meeting, transportation choices will be clarified.  Please notify the teacher in writing/through Remind if special transportation arrangements are occurring, e.g. going home with a friend, being picked up by a relative.  We cannot alter transportation arrangements based on the child’s report, as young children do not always clearly understand the arrangements. 

    *A set weekly routine is easiest for everyone (parent, teacher, and child) to remember. Please try to keep each day’s plan as much the same as possible, rather than a different plan each day.

    ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL

    Children may be dropped off at school beginning at 7:45 am. School begins at 7:50 am. There will be a labeled drop off and pick up spot for each class outside of the building. Teachers will meet the children outside at 7:45 am. Students will not be allowed inside the building until 7:45 am.

     

    Dismissal is at 2:20 pm at the designated drop off / pick up spot. Parents must park and walk over to pick up their children. Children will need to alert their teachers that their parent has arrived before leaving school.

    ABSENCES/ILLNESSES 

    Please use good judgment when deciding whether or not to send a child to school who is not feeling well.  Children who are ill should be kept home to prevent others from exposure. When children are not feeling well, the benefits they receive from the class are minimal. This year’s policy is that the child should be fever free for 72 hours before returning to school.  A child who becomes ill during the school day will be sent to the school nurse.  If necessary, she will contact the parent and request that the child be taken home.  If your child is not coming to school due to illness, please call the NES absentee line (508-228-7290 Ext. 2196). 

    SNACK & LUNCH

    We encourage children to bring healthy snacks to school. Candy and excessively sweet foods are discouraged.  Some suggested snacks include: popcorn, fruit, cookies, crackers, yogurt, pretzels, dried fruit, raw vegetables, rice cakes, muffins, dry cereal. At times we will make group snacks as part of a unit we may be focusing on.  Families may be asked to send in the necessary ingredients for a baking project. We encourage reusable water bottles that can be kept at a child’s desk, as they cannot use communal water fountains this year.

    Lunch is eaten in the classroom this year. Children may bring a bag lunch from home or purchase a lunch. Lunch menus are posted on the school website and must be ordered the day before. Parents may set up a lunch account for their child in the cafeteria so that young children do not need to keep track of their lunch money.

    BIRTHDAYS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

    Children frequently make the food for various holiday parties, however, parents are sometimes asked to donate food, juice, paper goods, etc.  As a birthday treat alternative, we are encouraging healthy treats such as muffins, fruit, popcorn or bringing in a book to donate or share with the class. We ask that no "goody bags", party hats, or similar items are brought to school. Parents may choose to join a child for lunch, but class treats will be enjoyed at a separate time. Please check with your classroom teacher regarding any specific rules and arrangements.

    **Please send birthday invitations by mail, as children’s feelings are easily hurt.**Please let the teacher know of any special circumstances regarding observances of holidays.

    CLOTHING/BACKPACKS

    EXTRA SET OF CLOTHES: Your child should keep an extra change of clothing (mask, pants, shirt, underpants, and socks) in a labeled ziplock bag in his/her cubby. If wet clothes come home, please send in a new change the next day. 

    OUTDOOR CLOTHING: During colder weather, please dress your child warmly (mittens, hats, boots), as we will try to get outdoors as often as possible. We will go outside until the temperature feels below 20 degrees. If you need any help finding appropriate clothing for the colder days, please talk with your child's teacher. If possible, send in shoes for your child on days that boots are worn so that they can be comfortable in the classroom (boots are awkward to play indoors in). Slippers and flip flops are not suitable, due to unexpected fire drills, wet floors, and/or wood chips stuck in between shoes and feet.

    PLEASE LABEL CLOTHING as children do not always recognize their own clothing.  If something comes home that does not belong to your child send it back in and we will try to locate the owner.  Similarly, if your child is missing an item, let us know and we will make every effort to locate it. Lost and found is located outside of the cafeteria.

    BACKPACKS OR BOOKBAGS: Backpacks are helpful to organize items in and to ensure that belongings make it to and from school. Please consider full-sized bags to accommodate papers and folders.

    PAINT SMOCK: Please send in a labeled apron, adult or large tee shirt, or some type of paint smock to protect your child’s clothes during messy activities.  We may send it home to be laundered over vacations.  Please send it back to school as soon as possible.

    ITEMS FROM HOME

    We encourage children to share items from home that correlate to an ongoing unit or discussion in the classroom, special collections, discoveries, or educational games. This year we are asking parents to share using photos and teachers will show it on the SmartBoard. Occasionally, bags might be sent home to allow children opportunities to share. Please return these items the next school day, so that there is time for each student to have a turn.

    We discourage action figures, dolls, toys, stuffed animals, fidget spinners, Shopkins, etc. These items serve their purpose at home, but tend to detract from the school learning environment.