Supplies
1 COMPLETE change of clothing (including a complete outfit, socks, and 2 pairs of underwear) in a labeled large ziploc bag.
1 COMPLETE package of diapers, pull-ups, and wipes if your child is not yet toilet trained.
1 box of gallon ziploc bags.
1 box of sandwich ziploc bags.
2 large boxes of tissues.
3 large containers of Clorox or Lysol wipes.
Separation Plan
Be prepared……….Every child goes through separation at one time or another! We can make it easier though! Think about a separation plan. Some tools for separation include: a transition toy such as a cuddling doll, teddy bear or blanket, a picture of the family that your child can hold or look at throughout the day, or an appropriate item from home that a child can hold for security. (Be sure that it is an item that you can do without – one that won’t matter if it gets misplaced or lost).
Plan YOUR schedule accordingly as you may need to spend a few days in school with your child. Tears sometimes happen during initial separation. We will provide lots of hugs and support while your child adjusts to the separation. We will make every effort to contact you with an update so you know how it’s going!
If your child tries to cling to you, please do not push him/her away. Allow us to try and interest him/her in an activity. At first you may be asked to sit near and interact with your child, and then move to the perimeter of the room to observe only – eventually you and your child will make the separation!
Some kids prefer to sit and watch before becoming actively involved in a game or project. This is a form of learning and will lead to participation.
REMEMBER….When your child is emotionally ready for you to leave, please say a speedy goodbye (kiss and hug) and leave with a happy face.
Biting
Biting is never an accepted behavior; however, it does happen in an early childhood setting. Children bite for many reasons including the development of autonomy, communication, frustration and oral stimulation. Children sometimes bite when they are frustrated as well as when they are happy and excited. If a bite does happen, the teacher will attend to the child that is bitten as well as to the child who did the biting. In most circumstances the bite is washed, iced if necessary and covered. Extra hugs and kisses are also administered!
When responding to the child that bit, we let him/her know, in an age-appropriate manner, that biting hurts and is not okay. We stress using words! All parents concerned are notified and the incident is documented and dated.
If there is a pattern of biting, (more than 3 times in a week setting), and we find it necessary to take further actions, then we reserve the right to make that determination and follow through with appropriate actions. These may include, but are not limited to: sending the biter home; requesting a shadow for the child for a period of time; or in the most drastic of situations, asking a child to leave our school.
Above all, we want all of our children to know and feel that they are in a loving, safe environment where we respond to their needs.
Toilet Training
We do not require the children to be toilet trained to start school. It is our hope that this important milestone is as easy as possible, and as early as possible, but not before your child is ready! Parents will need to supply an ample amount of diapers and wipes. Please label your child’s diapers.
Tips: Belt buckles, snaps, zippers can be obstacles when learning to toilet train. Plan to dress your child in clothing that allows maximum independence and ease. Please keep this in mind when choosing clothes for your pre-potty trained child.
Dress Code 
Getting Dirty is part of learning!
Please dress your child in “play clothes” that can get dirty and messy!!!! We do lots of hands on work, such as painting and digging in dirt. We require manageable, comfortable clothes in which to do our work!
All boys over three are encouraged to wear a Kippah and Tzitzit as we daven every morning.
Everyone MUST wear closed toe shoes for safety purposes. SANDALS or BACKLESS SHOES ARE NOT SAFE FOR SCHOOL!
Shabbat Party
On a rotating basis, each child will be the Shabbat Abba or Ima throughout the year. The Shabbat Abba and Ima will be responsible for bringing: 1 large PLAIN Challah, NO SEEDS, and 1 large Grape juice. Please be sure that EVERYTHING brought into school is labeled with proper KOSHER CERTIFICATION. Please do not send chocolate challahs. We invite parents of the weekly class Abba or Ima to join us for a school-wide Shabbat sing-a-long!
Birthday Parties at School
Celebrate your child’s birthday by adding a book in your child’s honor to our school library! We will put in a special NAME PLATE with your child’s name in it to commemorate your child’s special day. Your special book will be read to the class as part of the birthday celebration!!!
Birthdays are sooooooo special! If your child would like to celebrate his/her birthday at school, please notify us so that we can make proper arrangements. Any birthday foods brought to school MUST BE STRICTLY KOSHER, with proper certifications.
Birthday NO-NOs:
1. No baked goods from home.
2. No invitations for parties in school.
3. If you have a party outside of school and are planning to invite classmates – please invite ALL classmates in your child’s class.
4. In line with the school philosophy, please do not schedule birthday parties involving your child’s classmates, on Saturdays – Shabbat – and please be sure that what you serve is kosher so that all can participate.
If you have any questions with this or would like suggestions of where to get your party fare from, please do not hesitate to ask!
