Vancouver Montessori School Parent Handbook: Beginning School

Beginning School

Supplies Needed for School:

For their cubbie, every child needs:

A complete change of clothing, labled with their name
A comb or brush, labeled with their name
Rubber boots for outdoor play
A hooded coat, labeled with their name, to keep at school

Children under five, who stay past noon, also need a crib-sized, fitted sheet and blanket for rest time.

Additional items for communal use may vary year to year and will be announced in the August newsletter.

Children who stay past noon will have lunch at school. Lunch is packed from home each day (See “Meals” for nutrition guidelines and suggestions). Please send:

A soft lunch bag (devoid of cartoon or media characters)
Some teachers request a cloth placemat and napkin while others use tablecloths, so check with your child’s teacher for specifics in their classroom.

Preparing Your Child

Young children live in and understand the present moment. Future time is vague and enigmatic for children under five or six years. A lot of talk about beginning school can create anxiety and apprehension about a place of which he or she knows little.

Preparing your child for beginning school indirectly is the most helpful. Some ways to do this include:

Selecting library books about beginning school, making friends, etc.
Telling stories about playground activities or going to school—perhaps even your own.
Begin gradually readjusting your child’s bed and waking time a few weeks prior to their start date. Work towards a calm and orderly morning time by preparing lunches, laying out clothes, etc. the evening before. The new routine will be easier for your child to adjust to if it begins well before the first day of school.

Home Visit

Shortly before your child’s start date, their teacher will offer to come visit you and your child at home. This is not a requirement, but is very helpful to the child when he or she arrives for their first day of class, to be greeted by the familiar face of their teacher. It is at this visit that the teacher will give you the Parent Handbook to keep. She will be able to answer some parent questions but the focus will be on getting acquainted with your child.

Classrom Visit

Also before their first day of school, a 30-45 minute visit will be scheduled for your child to come visit their classroom. The teacher will introduce the child to the bathroom procedure, where to get a drink of water, where their cubbie and basket are and perhaps a “first lesson”. This visit is a good time to bring their supplies and any paperwork needing to be turned in.

The First Day

This is a big day for you and your child! Separation challenges are very common, but rest assured that the VMS staff is extremely experienced at helping your child to adapt to the new routine and to feel as comfortable as possible. Since children feel adult energy so readily, it is imperative that the “Good-bye” at the classroom door be cheerful, confident, and brief. This will convey to your child that school is a safe place that you picked out just for them. Parents are always welcome to call the office after leaving to check on how their child is doing. The adjustment period is usually short.

The First Weeks

Beginning school, as with any new routine, can be tiring for young children both physically and emotionally. They form new relationships within the dynamics of the social group and experience new procedures and lessons. Be sure that your child gets adequate rest and time spent with you.

Reluctance to go to school may manifest itself in the first weeks of school. Parents sometimes report verbal complaints by their children during this time. Please accept these, among other remarks as a sign of growth in your child. He or she is beginning to develop the ability to express feelings, but are just not always able to accurately identify the cause of them.

Your child’s teacher, being equally anxious for your child’s adaptation, will communicate with you during this time and let you know how your child is doing. If you have a particular concern, please leave a note or call the office for the teacher to call you after 3:00pm.