At arrival, children should go potty and wash their hands with a parent supervising. Please encourage children to find their own cubby so they can place their belongings inside and join the class in free play until breakfast.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served from 8:00 until 9:00. If you would like your child to have breakfast, please arrive by 8:45 to ensure children have enough time to enjoy their meal before morning meeting.
Toys
Please keep "home” toys at home. We have plenty of things to play with here at The Applewood School. Children are welcome to bring a stuffed animal for nap time.
Show & Share
Every Thursday, we will have a theme-related show & share. For example, if we are discussing the ocean, a child might bring in sand or a seashell. Keep an eye on our announcement board or the weekly email update for what the theme will be. Items will be kept in the show & share bucket for safe keeping throughout the day and placed back in cubbies after show & share. Please label items so we know what belongs to each child. Encourage your child to follow along with the theme or letter of the week so they have an opportunity to share.
Morning Meeting
Circle Time or Morning Meeting is a very important part of our day in Great Minds 1. We do much of our learning during this time. On any given day during circle time, we may greet each other, talk about the weather, go over the calendar, discuss the theme, practice Second Step, or participate in a Zoo-Phonics activity.
Jobs
Students have an opportunity to get a job daily. We draw name cards to be sure each student has an equal chance for every job.
Learning Centers
During Learning Centers, children will split into small groups and have an opportunity to participate in all curriculum-based centers. This provides children with an opportunity to interact with different groups of friends and ensure each child can have a turn in every center. We work on skills including math, writing, language, and literacy while doing fun activities.
Self Help Skills
Three-year-olds are at an amazing, capable age. Children in GM 1 are expected to use their self-help skills such as getting dressed, putting on shoes and coats, blowing noses, brushing teeth, etc. Please encourage your child to do these things at home also.
Family Style Dining
During family style dining, we focus on sitting down at the table together, scooping and serving food, and pouring milk. This is an excellent time for children to practice manners and build social skills.
Nap Time
Children are welcome to bring a small blanket, a pillow, and a stuffed toy for nap time. We wash these items weekly (on Thursdays). Children are not forced to nap, but each child is required to rest on their bed for 30 minutes. After this time, children may choose to read books or participate in quiet activities for the duration of rest time. If you would like to adjust your child’s natural sleep cycle, please provide a doctor’s note.
Clothing
Please be sure to dress your child in weather appropriate clothing and ensure that your child has enough extra clothing in case they need to change. We ask that children keep the following in their cubbies:
Belongings
Please label your child’s belongings with their name or initials so they do not get mixed up. Many children have similar or the exact same items, and we want to be sure every child goes home with their own things.
Potty Training
If a child is not quite ready for underwear, we are happy to help them get there. Please let us know what you are doing at home so that we can be on the same page. We are always available to discuss potty training with you.
Questions
We like to keep communication open. If you have any questions or concerns, we are here to help!
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