August, 2021
 
Dear Parents of Students in Early Childhood Room 7, 

Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year at The Montessori Academy!  Please review the documents below and return all forms to the office no later than Friday, August 13th.   
 
Hopefully everyone is having a nice summer break and will be ready to get back into the swing of things soon!  I hope to answer many of your questions with this letter – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY.
 
IMPORTANT DATES
Parent Work Night – Tuesday, August 17th, 6:00 p.m.  a/k/a “Wine and Work Night”.  Feel free to come help us clean, cut paper, polish silver and help with the finishing touches to get the classroom in order.  This is an adults only evening, and a great opportunity to meet in an informal setting and ask all kinds of questions while getting to know one another.

Open Class Visits - Friday, August 20th, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.  This is a time for the parent and child to visit the classroom for a short time (10-15 minutes) prior to Phase-In/Orientation Week.

Phase-In/Orientation Week – Please refer to the Phase-In Schedule below for your child’s schedule the week of August 23rd

All Parent Opening School Meeting – Wednesday, August 25th, 6:00 p.m. 

EC Parent Ed. Meeting – Montessori In The Home – Thursday, September 23rd, 6:00 p.m. 
 
SCHOOL INFORMATION
What To Bring on the First Day – On the first day of school, please send your child with a complete change of clothes (shirt, pants, underwear, socks and extra masks) all labeled with the child’s name and secured in a Ziploc bag.  Please also send a pair of “inside shoes” and a reusable water bottle.  These items should all be labeled with the child’s name and will be left at school.  Inside shoes should be comfortable and easy to put on and take off.  I have found that very thin soles really help the children feel the floor and give them greater success at controlling their movements.

Bathroom Independence – All children in the Early Childhood Program should be bathroom independent.  This means that they can handle bathroom related tasks with little or no assistance.   We do anticipate that in a new environment some children will have some mishaps.  However, we expect that children have had a good deal of experience listening to the cues of their body as to when it is time to go to the bathroom, that children have had experience dressing and undressing themselves, and that all children have been taught how to handle basic toilet hygiene.

Supplies – All school supplies are provided by TMA.  Your child will receive a personalized tote bag to bring things back and forth between home and school.  Due to limited space, EC students may not bring backpacks. 

Mental Preparation – As the school year approaches, begin to explain to your child about what to expect at school.  If your child is a returning student, you can remind them of their familiar routines, and friends who will be at school.  If your child is new, explain how you’ll be dropping them off and picking them up.  Give them a few basics like: There will be singing, drawing and snack time. And make clear that there is a toilet at school that they will be able to use whenever the need arises.  Please know, our staff are all experienced at calming children who have separation anxiety.  The quicker you say good-bye, the quicker your child will settle in.

Morning Arrival – Our classroom is a community of learners.  When your child is absent or late to school, your child is missed!  If your child is late, other children are interrupted as they will stop the work that they have begun to kindly greet your child.  Arrival starts at 8:20 a.m. and school starts at 8:30 a.m. We understand that on rare occasions circumstances occur which prevent you from arriving on time.  Please see Important Information for all Parents for procedures on what to do if you’re late.
 
QUICK RECAP

• Send your child with a complete change of clothes, inside shoes, and a reusable water bottle on the first day
• Practice bathroom independence
• No backpacks
• Prepare your child mentally
• Be on time!
• Confirm receipt of this letter by sending me a quick email to hdenolf@tmael.org

 
We look forward to seeing you soon!
 
Mrs. Hedy De Nolf
Lead Teacher/Early Childhood Division Chair
574-256-5313 ext. 235
hdenolf@tmael.org



PHASE-IN SCHEDULE
CONFIDENTIAL CHILD PROFILE FORM (new students only)
EARLY CHILDHOOD Q & A

2021-22 SCHOOL CALENDAR
ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL PARENTS
IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION
​HEALTH FORMS
NOW & THEN BEFORE AND/OR AFTER SCHOOL CARE REGISTRATION FORM