Hello KWMCS Community and happy new school year!
This is our first newsletter of the school year; each week I will post a weekly update about school events and other important information on our school’s web site – thanks for reading. A solid school-home connection offers optimum support for your child. For families who are new to KWMCS or Montessori education, I’m pleased to share resources on our school’s web site; be sure to check out the ‘All Things Montessori’ page, as well as the short video on the ‘About our School’ page. I also recommend the following podcast featuring Dr. Angeline Lillard, who is an expert in the Montessori community: http://www.parentsjournal.com/podcast/198/AngelineSLillard.mp3
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
We are fortunate to have a crossing guard – Mrs. Martha Fitch, who facilitates safety during arrival and dismissal times. Families are asked to assist in our arrival and dismissal procedures by maintaining a steady flow in the car line. Parking is not permitted the loading/unloading zone; if you need to park and walk your student in, please find a spot outside the loading/unloading zone to do so.
Our school day begins at 8:30 and ends at 3:30. There is limited supervision available beginning at 7:45. For safety purposes, students are not permitted on campus before 7:45. The classrooms open at 8:15; students arriving between 7:45 and 8:15 must wait at the Student Arrival Area. All students must be on campus by 8:30, as we must begin our day on time.
Students are dismissed @ 3:30. If your child is not yet at the dismissal area when you arrive to the front of the car line, please drive around the block to return to the cue, or find an available space to park & walk up to the dismissal area. For those families who prefer to walk up to retrieve their child, please check in with the KWMCS employee supervising the gate area before leaving.
The dismissal procedure ends @ 3:45 so that our staff may be able to close out the day on time. Students who are not picked up by 3:45 will be sent to Extended Care, where charges will apply.
It is a school policy that children will be released only to their parent/guardian or authorized persons listed on the dismissal record. Please keep this record up to date, including carpool arrangements. Special dismissal arrangements require advance notice in the form of a note or phone call; last-minute arrangements for play dates are not permitted.
Students who bike, blade or board to school are required by law to wear a helmet; thank you for ensuring your child complies with this rule.
If your child will travel to and from school without adult supervision, you will need to complete the Independent Student Travel release form (available online and from our school office).
Extended Care
KWMCS offers extended child care, after the school day until 5:30, to currently enrolled students. Payment is due at the time of registration. The cost for our After School Program is $12 per day for students who are pre-paid. Students who are pre-paid for the entire week are offered a discounted rate of $50 per week. A “drop-in” rate of $15/day will apply for students who are not pre-paid and will be due at the time of pick-up. A sibling discount is offered at a rate of $5 per additional sibling.
Lunchtime
Our school community places great emphasis on the importance of good nutrition as the first step to a lifelong wellness program. Packing a healthy lunch shouldn’t be a challenge; natural and minimally processed foods are relatively easy to pack. We strongly discourage the use of prepackaged “kid’s meals”. We also ask that you keep sugary desserts such as cookies & cupcakes out of your student’s school lunch. Gum, candy, soda, and caffeinated beverages are not permitted. We encourage the purchase of organic fruits whenever possible, as they are not contaminated with harmful pesticides. Please also read food & drink labels; avoid corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils, the food preservative BHT, and any artificial food coloring.
School Lunch times are as follows:
Lower Elementary: 11:30-11:55 Children’s House: 11:00-11:25
Upper Elementary: 12:30-1:00 Early Secondary: 12:30-1:00
All students will need a placemat for lunchtime at KWMCS. Please provide a plastic placemat that can be easily wiped at school. Students who bring lunch to school will need to supply their own utensils.
All School Meeting Next Wednesday
Our first KWMCS Community meeting of the school year will take place Wednesday, August 24 at 6:00 in the Blue Tang Classroom. Child care will be available onsite. Each classroom will host a welcome half-hour beginning at 5:30, so that families can become acquainted with their student’s Guide and Classroom Assistant. All-school meetings are scheduled three times a year for families to learn about the progress and developments of our children’s school. KWMCS families are required to attend at least two of the three meetings per school year. All school meetings (and other important event dates) are listed on our school’s ‘Calendar of Events’ page.
