Classroom Three

MEGAN LONDON

TOMOKO HONDA

MARNI TUEL

JAKE WADE-STUECKLE

 

Staff contact information:

  • Little School main number – (415) 567-0430 

  • Teacher email - teacherscr3@littleschool.org 

Drop off & pick up your child:

  • The morning program meets Monday - Friday from 9:00-12:30 (drop-off window 8:45-9:00am). Children staying for the afternoon can be picked up before 1:00pm or  between 3:00pm-5:30pm. We ask that you don’t pick up during rest/nap time, between 1:00-3:00pm. 

  • We meet in Classroom 3 in the Little School Main Building.

Orientation Day

Please join us for an optional short orientation visit on June 8th. For children new to Little School, orientation is recommended as an opportunity to see the classroom and meet the teachers before the first drop-off. For returning children, orientation is optional. 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:

Additional Notes from Marni, Megan, Jake and Tomoko:

Welcome to the Classroom Three summer class!  This letter is meant as an addition to the Little School parent handbook, which will give you a sense of our basic program.  You’ll also receive correspondence from teachers leading up to and throughout the summer sessions. 

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

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

Families joining Classroom 3 for the first time have the option to stay the first day, if it will support your child in their transition to a new school environment. Teachers will connect with you at orientation to chat more about this, if you are interested. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

A TYPICAL DAY IN Classroom Three includes:

  • Open Choice Time:  All parts of the classroom are available for open exploration (art, sensory play, manipulatives, blocks, playdough, books, science, pretend play, etc.) 

  • Clean Up time 

  • Snack time

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

  • 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.

  • Lunch This is a great time for kids to connect with peers and teachers while eating their lunch from home. 

  • Afternoon Program (if enrolled):  Nap/Rest Time, snack, and additional Open Choice and Yard Time

SUMMER CURRICULUM CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES 

We will share a calendar of activities with you and your child that details special events and things we will explore over the summer. We’ve found that for children this age, having something tangible to look forward to increases their investment in and sense of belonging in their school community. We hope you’ll enjoy discussing these activities with your child as a way to build the home-to-school connection. 

BACKPACKS

Every child should bring a backpack to school every day. 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, and any items we send home from school (artwork, wet clothes, etc.). 

*Please keep a plastic, ziplock bag or wet bag with a full change of clothes for your child in their backpack every day, and check it often to see if anything needs replacing. Feel free to include a bathing suit for water play on hot days. 

Additionally, please label with their name all items of your child’s clothing 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 water bottle every day, labeled clearly with their name. It's ideal if your child's backpack has an outer pocket that can hold their water bottle for easy access.

SNACK & LUNCH

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

In the three-to-four-year-old year, we all eat lunch together. Please send your child to school with a lunch box and a water bottle. We are a nut free school. We’ve found that bento style lunch boxes work best. 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. 

FAMILY PHOTO ALBUMS 

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. 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. Please 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.  If your child is continuing on in Classroom 3, please feel free to update their album with some new photos, if desired. 

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 during Open Choice time (and later in the day, as necessary). 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 is only enrolled in the morning program and strongly resists a diaper change at school, we will likely follow their lead and wait for parents to return and change wet diapers.

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 AND MESS

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. 

We do lots of messy activities at LS, and children often get dirty in the yard!  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

We will share a Google Photos album with you that you can access at any time, and upload photos each school day. Each week, we will communicate with you via email or Procare message about what is happening in the classroom. This is 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 in our communications, so please make sure to read them as they are sent.

If your child is not going to be at school, please email or message us to let us know. Please note that we primarily respond to emails during our off-the-floor work hours.  For time-sensitive issues, ProCare Messenger 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 great.  We are always happy to communicate at greater length over the phone, email, or via Zoom. Connecting and collaborating with families about their children is one of our very favorite things to do! 

We look forward to a wonderful summer together, 

Megan, Marni, Jake and Tomoko :)