Classroom Two

Welcome to the Classroom Two summer class!  This introduction is meant as an addition to the Little School parent handbook, which will give you a sense of our basic program.  

Contact information:

Drop off & pick up your child:

  • The class begins at 9am.  Doors open at 8:45am for drop-off. Morning-only children get picked up in the yard by 12:25pm. Children who are enrolled in the afternoon program may be picked up anytime between 12:30-5:30pm, except during rest time for children who nap (1-3pm).

  • We meet in Classroom 2 in the Little School Main Building.

Additional Notes from Lisa, Sam, and Asia:

PHASE IN AND SEPARATION

We look forward to a summer of fun, excitement, discovery and connection!  If this is your child’s first drop-off school experience, we have a golden opportunity to help your child work through the developmental milestone of separation.  It can be challenging and a little scary, but handled sensitively, learning how to separate can be a source of tremendous growth and pride.   You may find it helpful to review these separation guidelines:

Before School . . .

  • Talk about school a few times

  • Give specific information – teachers’ names, songs they may sing, routines of the day

  • Emphasize that you will always come back

  • Acknowledge any feelings your child may show

  • Remind your child that, even with the above feelings, you know they will learn to say goodbye

  • Remind your child that the teacher will keep them safe and help them feel comfortable

  • Try to remain confident yourself

  • Make a clear, definite departure even if your child resists

Please join us for an optional short orientation visit on June 9th. Please note that if you cannot attend during your assigned time, you may come to one of the other designated time slots - but please check in with your child's teacher first. Please see your child’s scheduled time for the daytime orientation:


GENERAL INFORMATION

Now that we have begun to cover the subject of separation, we would like to share with you some important information about day-to-day logistics in the Summer Program. 

BACKPACKS

Every child should bring a backpack to school everyday. These will serve as “mobile cubbies”, as we do not have classroom cubbies. The backpack should be large enough to hold a set of extra clothes* (in case your child’s clothes get wet or soiled), a jacket, items from home, and any items we send home from school (art work, wet clothes, etc.). 

*Please keep a plastic, ziplock bag with a full change of clothes for your child in their backpack every day, and check it daily to see if anything needs replacing. Feel free to include a bathing suit for water play on hot days. No need to provide diapers, as we have them already. 

Additionally, please label with their name all of your child’s clothing, as well as their lunch box, and water bottle, and any comfort objects they may bring. (Mabel's Labels is a fundraising partner - visit http://campaigns.mabelslabels.com/ and choose The Little School!)

WATER BOTTLES

Please send your child to school with a clean, full water bottle every day, labeled with their name. It's ideal if your child's backpack has an outer pocket which can hold their water bottle for easy-access.

LUNCH

Please send your child to school each day with a lunch box and a water bottle. We are a nut free school. We’ve found that bento style lunch boxes work well. Here are some other options that families have had success with: Bentgo, Lunchbots, and Yumbox. A thermos is also great to keep food warm, as we are not able to heat up children’s lunches. 

Little School will provide morning and afternoon group snacks. If your child has dietary needs or allergies, please communicate that to us in multiple formats (forms, an email, and/or in person). Also, please feel free to provide your child’s own snack, if you wish. We are always grateful for your collaboration to make sure we are best meeting your child’s needs!

FAMILY PHOTO ALBUMS 

On the first day of school, we will send home an empty “family photo album” so that you can fill it with photos and return it to school, where it will live. If your child was with us last year in CR2, we will keep their current photo album; please feel free to take it home overnight and update as many photos as you’d like. 

Photos should reflect your child’s home life: pictures of family members, friends, pets, favorite places, birthday celebrations...whatever is important to your child. Please place a headshot of your child in the front window, and try to return the photo album by the beginning of the second week of the summer program. These albums will help bridge home and school, learn about and celebrate each child’s individual identity, find comfort from separation anxiety, and connect with friends. 

DIAPERS AND TOILETING

We provide diapers and wipes for children who are not yet using the toilet. We check diapers frequently and change when needed. We encourage each child in underwear to try to use the potty at regular times throughout the school day. Having a diaper changed or going potty at school for the first time often makes children feel nervous or vulnerable. So, until we have formed a trusting relationship with your child, if your child strongly resists diapering at school, we will likely follow their lead and wait for parents to return and change wet diapers (unless they stay all afternoon, of course).

We are happy to partner with you to support your child as they make the transition to underwear at school. Once your child is toilet trained, we encourage you to develop a routine of helping them use the potty at school before you say goodbye.

DRESS FOR WEATHER 

We will plan to play on the yard in most weather conditions. Please send warm layers as needed. Please send a raincoat and rain boots to school with your child on rainy days. On sunny days, please apply sunblock to your child in the morning before arriving at school for drop off. 

DRESS FOR MESS

We do lots of messy activities at LS, and children often get dirty!  So that your child feels free to take part in these valuable learning opportunities, please dress them in clothes that they and you will feel comfortable getting messy.

PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION

Each Monday, we will send an email to you titled “Photos and News of the Week” with classroom news and photos from our previous week together. The photos are intended to be a window into your child’s school morning, and looking at them with your child is a great way to start conversations about their school life. We’ll also often include important developmental and logistical information with Photos of the Week, so please make sure to read it every week.

If your child is not going to be at school, please let us know via email or Procare Messenger. Please note that while we do often read emails outside of our work hours, we primarily respond to emails during our off-the-floor work hours.  For time-sensitive issues, ProCare is a great way to get a message to us while we are with the children.  Of course, brief check-ins at drop-off and pick-up are also welcome.  We are always happy to communicate at greater length over the phone, email, via Zoom, or in person. Connecting and collaborating with families about their children is one of our very favorite things to do!  

We recognize that caregivers are often very important, integral members of your family. Developing a relationship with them is important to us. To help with this, please share with them our philosophy and approach, as well logistical information.

DAILY SCHEDULE

Our day in Classroom 2 includes:

  • Open Choice Time:

The “heart” of the Little School experience where all parts of the classroom are available for open exploration (art, sensory play, manipulatives, blocks, writing table, books, science, pretend play, etc.) This occurs once in the morning, and again in the afternoon.

  • Structured group times: Morning Meeting and Circle Time

Morning Meeting is a practice in group discussion. Together, we explore the children’s interests, social-emotional themes, group problem solving, skill building, and the like.

During Circle Time (aka “Music and Movement”), we sing, dance, move, play group games, act out stories, etc.

  • Clean Up time:

At the end of Morning Meeting, the teacher leading the meeting gives each child a tag with a photo of their clean up job.  Kids complete their job before they choose their next job.  

  • Yard time:

We all know how valuable outdoor time is for children’s motor development, connection with nature, spontaneous and authentic play opportunities, social learning, and independence.

  • Eating Times (Snack and Lunch):

We provide snack for the children in the morning and afternoon. Snack consists of items from at least two food groups, typically fresh produce and either a grain or protein. We eat snack together as a class to recharge, relax, and enjoy each other’s company.  

This year, lunch time takes place in the Yellow Building, which is an indoor/outdoor space that opens to the yard! Children and teachers sit together, often chatting and/or listening to stories or music while we eat. Teachers encourage children to eat, but also follow their lead to promote healthy eating habits and tuning into our body’s hunger cues.

  • Rest Time:

During rest time, the environment is set to help children rest their bodies: low lighting, relaxing music, and individual resting mats for each child. Children are encouraged to rest quietly on their mats and most will sleep soundly from 1-3pm. For children who do not nap each day, they will move on to quiet activities after a period of rest.

We look forward to a wonderful summer together, 

Lisa, Sam, and Asia