New Parent Orientation

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New Parent Orientation
2
Welcome

• Parents are an integral part of the Woodland
  Hill Montessori experience. We welcome your
  partnership in educating and caring for your
  child.

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Getting to know WHMS and the Montessori Philosophy

• Calendar
• Parent Handbook
• Observations
• Parent Education and the Voyage

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Phase-In Week
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During Phase-In children learn

• about coming to and dismissing from school.
• the general rules of the classroom.
• through a tour of the school.
• beginning lessons
• where their hook and cubby are, where to get a
  drink and where the bathroom is
• to feel safe in their new environment

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Adjustment

• Separation anxiety
• Often the first couple days are fine and then
  they have some anxiety.
• Toileting issues
• There is often some regression.
• For elementary students, the change itself can
  produce anxiety as well as excitement. The
  prospect of schoolwork can be stressful. (from
  K-1st is a significant jump)

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Drop-off and Pick-up

• Please follow car line rules. Please explain car
  line rules to grandparents, spouses, etc.
• Drop off and pick up are curb side. Do not get
  out of your vehicle. (Exceptions if you drive
  down to the lot and come in)
• Place a colored sign in the passenger window with
  the childs name. We will call your childs name
  and your childs teacher will escort your child
  to and from the car.
• Please do not pass cars unless directed by staff.
  The car line moves forward in a group of 8-10
  cars. The line moves quickly if rules are abided.
  
• Do not park your car (even for a minute while you
  run in) in front of the school between 8-9am or
  between 230-315.

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Attendance

• Please arrive on time to school. WHMS serves
  families who are working, however, we are a
  school and not a day care. We expect students to
  arrive between 820-830. If your child will be
  late or absent, please call the school or e-mail
  to let us know. Please include the reason so we
  might be aware of circulating illness.

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Illness and Medication

• Please do not send your child to school until
  s/he is symptom and fever-free for 24 hours.
• Other symptoms vomiting/diarrhea stay away for
  24 hours after feeling better.
• Lice- all nits must be removed.
• Medications must be in original container, with
  form attached, and delivered by the parent to the
  main office.
• Medications are logged by front office, usually
  Meg Parascandola.
• If your child is sent home sick- do not bring
  them the next day.

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Swine Flu

• Because of the severity of this flu, and the
  speed in which it spreads, we are paying close
  attention to this disease. If you suspect your
  child might have the flu, err on the side of
  caution and keep your child at home. Symptoms are
  a fever (over 100 degrees) and a cough (and often
  other symptoms) The flu lasts about a week,
  during which the person is contagious. Sometimes
  there is a lingering cough, but the illness is
  not contagious then, and it is o.k. to come back
  to school.
• The best way to prevent the flu from spreading is
  through hand washing, covering the mouth when
  coughing (followed by hand washing) and keeping
  the sick away from the healthy. Flu viruses live
  on warm hosts- not on cold surfaces for longer
  than a hour or two.
• Although not recommended in most cases, school
  may be closed for a few days if we have a large
  outbreak of the flu. Please have a contingency
  plan in place for this, or if your child(ren)
  become ill. Again the illness lasts a full week,
  and they cannot come to school during this time.
• Go to the CDC website for more information

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Allergies

• Please make sure you fill out the allergy section
  of the health form, and if your child has
  life-threatening allergies, please fill out the
  Allergy Action Plan and have preferably two
  epipens and prescriptions on file in the office.
• Do not bring in any peanut products to share. We
  discourage peanut products at the school, and ban
  them in classrooms when there are peanut allergic
  children in the school. If you pack peanut
  products in your childs lunch, please let the
  teacher know by indicating it on or in the
  childs lunch.

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Healthy Nutrition

• We encourage all families to pack healthy
  lunches. Please pack a balanced lunch with
  primarily non-processed foods (for example whole
  grain breads, cheeses, fruits, and veggies.)
• Birthday treats. While cupcakes are permitted,
  mini-muffins, fruit kabobs, and frozen juice bars
  are preferred.
• Snacks In all primary classes, a snack basket is
  sent home once or twice to each family during the
  year. There will be a list to buy a variety of
  snacks and food prep items for the practical life
  area.
• In the elementary and middle school, students
  pack their own snacks.
• Dont forget schoolcare!! Please pack a large
  healthy snack for after school. Children are
  hungry.
• Pack lunches in a lunchbox your child can open.
  Include a soft foldable placemat, utensils,
  napkin and a refreezable ice pack to keep lunches
  cool. We encourage green lunches and will send
  home all recyclables. Pack small sized yogurts
  (for most children.)

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Communication

• WHMS main office communicates primarily by
  e-mail. We do this for convenience and because it
  is better for the environment. Please check the
  website www.woodlandhill.org for pictures, news
  and the calendar. Please let us know if your
  e-mail or contact info changes. Please let the
  office know if you do not use e-mail.
• The teachers send home regular correspondence.
• The website has links to middle school and upper
  elementary sites for homework assignments and
  updates.
• If there are school cancellations, they will be
  on tv stations WNYT, WRGB, WTEN, the TU website
  and radio stations. To sign up for mobile alerts
  go to http//albanyny.zebramm.com/ through the
  Times Union website and sign up for school
  closings. You will receive a text message if
  there is a change in school opening.

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Nap blankets and extra clothing

• Three year olds need a nap blanket and small
  pillow. Each Friday they are sent home to be
  washed. Please send back on Monday.
• Primary students should send in a zip lock bag,
  labeled with childs name, with 2 sets of
  underwear and socks.

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Book bags

• Each primary and lower elementary child should
  have a book bag. WHMS sells them with the logo,
  or you can purchase a similar canvas bag. Please
  no backpacks (save them for sleepovers)
• Upper elementary and middle school students can
  carry backpacks.
• WHMS t-shirts and other items are available for
  sale. Each Friday we encourage students to wear a
  Woodland Hill t-shirt.

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Academics at the Primary Level

• Children have a great capacity to learn at a very
  early age.
• We provide opportunities to learn, but do not
  want to push children to academic pursuits when
  they are not ready.
• Daily reading to promote interest is most
  important in helping children learn to read.
• Take joy in your childs interests, questions,
  and accomplishments- they grow up quickly!

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Transition in the older grades

• The transition between levels can vary
  depending on the child. K to first is probably
  the most significant change. They are moving from
  being the oldest to the youngest. Some cannot
  read yet and they can feel intimidated or
  worried. The transition period is usually short
  and children become comfortable in their new
  classroom.

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Field Trips

• There are not a lot of field trips scheduled at
  the very young ages. Children can become
  frightened and overwhelmed, and so they are
  limited to only a few trips. Three-year olds
  with car seats are not permitted to ride on the
  school bus, so parents have to drive or we will
  help make arrangements to go with another parent.
• At the elementary ages and up, field trips are an
  integral part of the curriculum and they usually
  about 10 per year, some which may be in-school
  field trips when a guest speaker is brought in.

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After School Programming

• There are three sessions for extracurricular
  classes. Fall, Winter and Spring
• There are fewer offerings for the three year old,
  as the day can be very long for them!

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What Can I Do at Home?

• Create ways for your child to make limited
  choices. Pre-determined paired clothing choices
  (remove the shorts when the weather is too cold
  for them!)
• Help with food prep and cleaning (carrot peeling,
  counter wiping) Avoid making a special dinner for
  your children.
• Simple rules-consistent follow-through
• Daily reading
• Writing, paying for items at stores, games
  (Parcheesi, checkers, etc)
• Go to museums, Sunday symphony concert series
• Avoid over scheduling!
• Have routine bedtimes and mealtimes.
• Teach good manners.

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Conferences and Progress Reports

• Conferences are scheduled two or three times
  per year, once in November, once in March, as
  needed, and at the end of year if requested.
  Teachers are available to meet with you
  throughout the year. Progress reports are sent
  home twice a year.

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Dress Code

• Students should wear comfortable clothing they
  can put on themselves.
• Shoes must have a closed toe (or protected toe)
  and children must be able to fasten or tie shoes
  themselves. For primary, velcro shoes are
  preferable, unless they can tie their own shoes.
  Sneakers are good shoes to wear, because all
  children need sneakers on gym days.
• WHMS does not permit t-shirts with violent
  images.
• Students should cover midriffs (this applies
  mostly to middle school students)

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How to get involved

• There are many ways to get involved.
• Join a committee
• Come to the Friends meeting
• Board of Trustees
• Parent liaison
• Become a Parent Ambassador at an Open House
• Come to an event or activity (Golf! Gala!)

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Calendar and Website

• The calendar includes most events. There is a
  calendar notes section that explains each event
  on the calendar.
• The website also is very informative, featuring
  information about the teachers, and the latest
  news.

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Parent Education

• The best way to learn about Montessori education
  and Montessori philosophy is to come to The
  Voyage. The Voyage, offered two or three times
  annually, takes place on a Saturday and focuses
  on an academic area- math for example. A teacher
  from each level educates parents on a thread of
  the curriculum, from primary through middle
  school. A delicious catered lunch is served at
  the end of the workshop and parents share a
  little about their experience. The Voyage is a
  great way to discover or learn about Montessori.
  We hope that you experience this program at least
  once during your first year at WHMS.

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Giving to WHMS

• We ask parents to contribute to the annual fund.
  Not all parents can give a lot, but we hope that
  each family can support the fund by making a
  contribution.
• There are also other fundraisers throughout the
  year, and we try to limit these so that parents
  are not bombarded with requests. The biggest
  fundraising drives/events are the annual fund and
  the gala. The gala generally costs between 75
  and 100 per person and includes entertainment,
  dinner and beverages (incl. beer and wine) We
  also hope that people will donate more by
  purchasing something from the auction. The gala
  is in the spring. We have a silent and live
  auction and this year we will be celebrating 45
  years.

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Thank you for coming!

• We are very happy to have your child and you as
  members of our Woodland Hill Community. We look
  forward to partnering with you as we help your
  child grow and learn.
• Please do not hesitate to ask questions, get
  involved, and be an active member of our school!