Is your LO school like this?

mrsseguin

DS started JK (junior kindergarten) last week.  He goes tuesday, thursday and every other friday from 9-3:30.  I dropped him off at his class, spoke with the teacher, she showed me and DS where his stuff goes, and talked to me a bit about the routine for the kids.  She started talking about drop off and pick up.  She said DS is to be dropped off outside in a fenced in supervised playground after 8:45 and the teacher goes and gets the kids for her class and brings them in to the classroom.  Parents are NOT allowed to bring their kids into the school.  At pick up, parents are to gather on the lawn in front of the school, she will be at the front door and when she sees you she will send your kid to you, parents are not allowed to go up to the door to pick up their child. 

I was kinda taken back by all these 'rules'.  They send home a communication envelope, in which the teacher will provide parents with communication, homework, notes etc...she said if we have any questions, write her a note and send it in the envelope.  I tried to ask her from afar how DS's first day was, she smiled, mouthed the word "he had a good day" and gave me a thumbs up. That was it.  I was kinda upset I couldn't have a 2 minute conversation with her about how things went.  Another thing that bothered me was the bathroom.  They have a student in SK (so a 4-5 year old) bring DS to the bathroom.  I was asking DS a ton of questions about how his day went, and obviously being little, he couldn't tell me a whole lot.  However, he did tell me 'a big kid took me too the bathroom, he left to talk to the teacher and then came back to get me'.  The bathroom is around the corner and down the hall.  DS has never been there before, what if wondered out and got lost looking for this kid?  I'm just thinking either his school is crazy strict, or this is the way things have changed since I went to school.  I don't like that there's little communication with the teacher and DS can't tell me much.  Is your LO's school like this? I'm thinking about calling other schools in the area and see if they do similar things.  I'd even consider switching him to a different school, it bothers me that much. 

macchiatto

My boys attend preschool at our local Y. They were in the 2's class there last year and we just had the Meet & Greet yesterday for the 3's class, which starts Monday. Parents bring the kids directly to the classroom and pick them up there too. Last year they had 12 kids in the class and 2 teachers so it wasn't too hard to have a brief chat with the teachers about how their days were. The teachers took them to the bathroom and that's how it will be in the 3's class as well. Not sure if they do anything differently in the 4's class. I wouldn't be thrilled with the situation you're describing either. Hope your child does OK with it!

ElatedMom2B

DD goes to a church preschool which is only two hours a morning, three days a week.  She was in the 3 yo class last year.  I had to bring her to the classroom every morning and the teachers bring them downstairs to a locked door to let them out to their parents (the door is locked right at 8:45, when school begins and can only be opened from the inside - if someone needs to get in, they must ring a door bell).  When I went to DD's orientation for her 4 year class, they told us that we are to drop them off downstairs at the front door and allow them to go upstairs to their classroom on their own.  Now, again, it is in a church and its small, so to get to the classroom and/or for them to go to the bathroom, it isn't very far at all and they have a hall monitor/aide that wanders from room to room (there is a separate room for 2s, 3s and 4s) to see if anyone needs anything.  Also, for those 2 hours, I am sure that most kids don't typically need to use the bathroom if they've gone before school - as we were also instructed to enforce.  Anyway, when someone asked about why they want us to get the kids to walk to the room on their own, the teacher made a valid point that when they get to K they will have to walk to their classes on their own.  Perhaps your LO's school is thinking along the same lines.  K is going to be way different and really will look for a lot more independence in our LOs.

ElatedMom2B

ElatedMom2B:

DD goes to a church preschool which is only two hours a morning, three days a week.  She was in the 3 yo class last year.  I had to bring her to the classroom every morning and the teachers bring them downstairs to a locked door to let them out to their parents (the door is locked right at 8:45, when school begins and can only be opened from the inside - if someone needs to get in, they must ring a door bell).  When I went to DD's orientation for her 4 year class, they told us that we are to drop them off downstairs at the front door and allow them to go upstairs to their classroom on their own.  Now, again, it is in a church and its small, so to get to the classroom and/or for them to go to the bathroom, it isn't very far at all and they have a hall monitor/aide that wanders from room to room (there is a separate room for 2s, 3s and 4s) to see if anyone needs anything.  Also, for those 2 hours, I am sure that most kids don't typically need to use the bathroom if they've gone before school - as we were also instructed to enforce.  Anyway, when someone asked about why they want us to get the kids to walk to the room on their own, the teacher made a valid point that when they get to K they will have to walk to their classes on their own.  Perhaps your LO's school is thinking along the same lines.  K is going to be way different and really will look for a lot more independence in our LOs.

ETA: As for the not being able to have more time to speak with the teacher, I don't know how many kids there are, but perhaps they're just trying to minimize the time that parents would take up speaking with the teachers before or after class.  Obviously, she was willing to give you the heads up that he had a good day, so its not like she isn't open to communicating with you about your child.  I would think that it is also asserting some independence, maybe, in the parents!?!?!  I know when I go to the school to drop DD off, there are some parents lingering around talking to the teacher forever.  It was always so frustrating to me if I couldn't get one word in to let her know that my husband would be picking up or if she wasn't going to be there for some reason.

KdgTeacher

ElatedMom2B:

ETA: As for the not being able to have more time to speak with the teacher, I don't know how many kids there are, but perhaps they're just trying to minimize the time that parents would take up speaking with the teachers before or after class.  Obviously, she was willing to give you the heads up that he had a good day, so its not like she isn't open to communicating with you about your child.  I would think that it is also asserting some independence, maybe, in the parents!?!?!  I know when I go to the school to drop DD off, there are some parents lingering around talking to the teacher forever.  It was always so frustrating to me if I couldn't get one word in to let her know that my husband would be picking up or if she wasn't going to be there for some reason.

As a teacher, I totally understand wanting to talk to your LO's teacher for 2 minutes about their day...but so does every other parent.  Granted I teach elementary school, so it's a bit different but if I spent 2 minutes talking to every parent about how their child's day was, that's 32 minutes everyday I'm talking to parents after school is out.  32 minutes times 5 days a week (yes I know your child goes 3 days/wk), that's over 2 hours a week I'm having 2 minute conversations.  And that's just in the afternoon!  Also, assuming she is by herself, she's not able to watch her students as she shouldwhen she's talking to you--that's not a good thing

I ditto PP about this fostering independence in your child!  That's a good thing.

For now, go with the good intention that your LO's teacher will inform you right away if there was a problem or issue that day.  If you want to talk in more detail about anything, send a note/call to set up a conference.  We're more than happy to do that. 

mel72

I've never heard of not being able to drop off or pick up your TODDLER from the actual building.  I would check other places!

ldcoffel

DD is in a public school preschool in a class of 3,4,5s. We take them in or drop at he door. Pick up we wait outside the door and the teacher dismisses individually when she sees the adult. We don't really get to talk to the teacher, but I have found that when she needs to discuss something, she either calls home, or makes a beeline towards you... 

The bathroom thing.. They are supposed to go potty independently, so someone older showing where the potty is, I don't think is a big deal, unless he was really upset about it. Independence is a huge thing at her school. 

rsd12

Depends on the preschool. My sons church preschool I went in for drop off/pick up and talked to the teachers. For my middle sons preschool last yr I was able to do the same different preschool, but they encouraged him to take the school van and we wrote notes and emails back and forth. This yr I drop him offf at the curb, and pick him up at the curb. We will get notes back and forth again. Also I can email too! I don't think it is a big deal, but I might have with my 1st kid!

Colsdoll

Our preschool is contained in one house-type building. But we drop off on the front porch (parents don't go in) and the kids are released to us from the porch. I can't imagine trying to have a conversation with DD's teacher at that moment because she is concentrating on getting 12 kids safely to the right parent and making sure they don't run off the stairs. 

However, we can send a note in or call her in the afternoon if there is something that concerns us.  

macchiatto

-auntie-:

mel72:

I've never heard of not being able to drop off or pick up your TODDLER from the actual building.  I would check other places!

This isn't a toddler class, it's junior kindergarten.

Yeah, I think of toddlers as age 1-2; 3-5 (till they start kindergarten) are preschoolers.

And what you all said makes sense about preparing them for K. That's still 2 years away for us so I haven't thought much about that yet! I think we were spoiled last year in the 2's class. The boys' 3's class has twice as many students so I doubt we'll get much chance to talk to the teachers!

Topi-Jan

I'll give you a couple of scenarios.  I have a friend whose daughter went to their local school's Pre-K program when she was 4.  For her they had to drop off in front of the school and pick up from there as well.  It took mom (not her DD ) some getting used to but she felt comfortable with it because they had already been inside the classroom, met the teacher, etc.

 My kids go to a Montessori so they have mixed age groups (18-36 months, 3-6 years, etc).  Starting at 18 months, if the student is attending only for the regular school day they constantly ask that you drop off via the carpool lane (they pick up your kids from the car and take them inside) or that you drop them off at the door so they can walk into the building and to the classroom on their own.  In addition to independence their reasoning is that while a child is walking down the hall they have some downtime to mentally transition from family to school mode which I think makes sense.  Now, those of us whose kids are in the before/after school program walk our kids all the way inside their classrooms and pick them up from there also because we are not dropping off or picking up anytime near academic instruction.

As for communication with the teacher, I agree that if there is something big going on they will let you know.  If you have an email address for her maybe you can drop her a note asking about your concerns otherwise the folder is a good tool.  As a teacher I agree that there is just too much going on before and after school to be able to have brief conversations with anyone and take good care of our students at the same time.  At our kids' school each class has a two way mirror/window so if you want to come in and observe (well after drop-off times) you can watch from the hallway.  However, we are asked (understandably) to make an appointment with the teacher if there is something we want to discuss and not interrupt in any way.  At my friend's school parents pretty much dropped off and picked up in the way you described with no other types of visit during the day.

I can't help you with bathrooms, though.  I have no idea what they did at her school and our kids have a restroom attached to each classroom so it's totally different.

HTH! 

Smores730

This is way out there for my area!! Any schooling done before Kindergarten is either through a MDO program (usually at a church) or a daycare facility. Either way, the parent is bringing the child to and from the classroom. All of the MDO establishments I've seen have bathrooms accessible from inside the classroom. It's usually a shared bathroom space in between 2 classrooms.

brownmouse

Maybe I am the exception, but when I read the description of this school, it seemed super weird and "sketchy" to me. I would never send my 4 year old (my daughter is 3, but still) to a school where I wasn't allowed in the building whenever the he!! I wanted during the school day. But maybe this stems from the fact that my DD attends a Reggio Emelia/Monterssori type preschool. I work at her school in another classroom, but even if I didn't, I feel very welcomed anytime I happen to stop in, and parents are encouraged to make visits, and volunteer in the classroom if they want to. We are required to bring the kids to their classroom, and ensure that a teacher greets them, and we sign them in and out each day on both a sign-in sheet by the classroom door, and a keycard swipe near the front door of the school. The front door opens freely, but second inner door has a key card that you have to have your card, or check in with the office lady to let you in. But as long as you do this, you can come and go as you please within school hours.

It seems really weird to me that schools (preschools or elementary schools) exist that parents are not allowed in. Makes me wonder WHY they don't want parents to be in the school. If I were you I'd be finding a school that welcomed parents rather than banning them.

EDIT: Also, I have done Practicum and Student Teaching in many of the schools in my city, and even in the fifth grade, parents have the option to walk thier kids to their classroom if they want to. I probably wont be walking B to class when she is 10 years old, but 5 or 6? You bet I will.

Littlejen22

We use a Montessori preschool and we drive up and the teachers get the kids and walk them from the car to the building.  I would expect something similar for a JK since I assume that it is in a school that goes until 5th grade or higher, I think of JK like a younger Kindergarten and I would not expect to be allowed to walk my kid into a Kindergarten class, I have never heard of parents walking kids into an elementary school.  Not sure if I misunderstand what a junior Kindergarten is so maybe it is really just a preschool and not in an elementary school.

rsd12

brownmouse:

Maybe I am the exception, but when I read the description of this school, it seemed super weird and "sketchy" to me. I would never send my 4 year old my daughter is 3, but still to a school where I wasn't allowed in the building whenever the he!! I wanted during the school day. But maybe this stems from the fact that my DD attends a Reggio Emelia/Monterssori type preschool. I work at her school in another classroom, but even if I didn't, I feel very welcomed anytime I happen to stop in, and parents are encouraged to make visits, and volunteer in the classroom if they want to. We are required to bring the kids to their classroom, and ensure that a teacher greets them, and we sign them in and out each day on both a signin sheet by the classroom door, and a keycard swipe near the front door of the school. The front door opens freely, but second inner door has a key card that you have to have your card, or check in with the office lady to let you in. But as long as you do this, you can come and go as you please within school hours.It seems really weird to me that schools preschools or elementary schools exist that parents are not allowed in. Makes me wonder WHY they don't want parents to be in the school. If I were you I'd be finding a school that welcomed parents rather than banning them.EDIT: Also, I have done Practicum and Student Teaching in many of the schools in my city, and even in the fifth grade, parents have the option to walk thier kids to their classroom if they want to. I probably wont be walking B to class when she is 10 years old, but 5 or 6? You bet I will.

I would not say parents are not welcome, and personally I like the car pool lane! I don't have to schlep all my kids in, especially in the winter. I have done both preschools, and also put my son on a school van and he has done very well every way and I have developed a wonderful relationship with all of his teachers.

mrsseguin

Thank you for the replies.  I also talked to a lot of co-workers last night at work.  They all said it seemed kinda weird to do this type of drop off/pick up in JK, but they thought it would get the kids into a routine of how school is going to be.  I understand they don't want a ton of parents walking around the school dropping off and picking up their kids, I can see how it could be chaotic.  His school is for grades JK-8. 

I'm just so used to picking him up from daycare and having a 2 minute conversation with his teacher to be reassured he had a good day.  I agree with the poster who said if she did that with her students parents, it would be 30+ minutes a day...it would definitely cut into their time.  I also just have to trust that the teacher would contact me if there was a need.  It's just so different than what I'm used too.  I hope after a few weeks we get used to it and I won't see it as a huge problem, but if for any reason it becomes an issue, I'd look into a different school.

Court0026

I wouldn't be comfortable dropping my child off like that. I want to see their room, their teachers, the director, etc.  I want to be a familiar face and a "presence" at their school.  Plus DS has severe food allergies and I would not be able to not have conversations on an ongoing basis about them.  And DD would never transition if I didn't walk her into the building.  Weird.  And I am a teacher too.  And I taught 2 pre-k sessions a day, talked to parents (never all of them) and liked that interaction. 

ridesbuttons

This sounds very similar to the set up my kid's school has.  He is in SK now but last year was (obviously) his first JK year.

He takes the bus so I take him to the bus stop and pick him up at the bus stop.  He rides on a regular school bus with kids from JK to grade 12.  Parents are instructed that if they are driving their kids to school (which is strongly discouraged) that they are to arrive at least 10 minutes before the bell rings and take their children to the playground, NOT the classroom.

The JK room had an attached bathroom but the SK room does not.  I do not see a problem with the way they handle the bathroom at all.  The SK kid took him and brought him back while giving your DS privacy.  Good job on the SK kid.

The envelope system is exactly what I encountered as well.  It worked very well.  I did have a few emails for specific questions regarding DS (handedness being one).  I obviously attended the parent-teacher interview as well.

It is an odd transition to go from getting every.single.detail about a child's day to getting relatively very little in terms of feedback. 

ridesbuttons

macchiatto:

-auntie-:

mel72:

I've never heard of not being able to drop off or pick up your TODDLER from the actual building.  I would check other places!

This isn't a toddler class, it's junior kindergarten.

Yeah, I think of toddlers as age 1-2; 3-5 (till they start kindergarten) are preschoolers.

And what you all said makes sense about preparing them for K. That's still 2 years away for us so I haven't thought much about that yet! I think we were spoiled last year in the 2's class. The boys' 3's class has twice as many students so I doubt we'll get much chance to talk to the teachers!

This is not a preschool, it is public junior kindergarten. In Ontario, kids start JK the year they turn 4. My kid/s go to junior kindergarten in a public school that houses kids from JK (age as young as 3y9m) to grade 8.

 

jlw2505

My 4 1/2 year old is in a PreK program at the elementary school.  We have to bring the kids to the classroom and sign them in and make sure the teacher sees them before we leave we also pick up in the classroom and do the same process so we are able to talk to the teachers briefly about the day unless you happen to pick up your child when they are still doing circle time or some other classroom activity as the teacher is then busy.  I typically get there when the kids are playing outside or at stations in the room.  For the bathroom, the class goes as a group down the hall to the large bathrooms (about 7 stalls) and the teachers wait in the hall right outside until all the kids are done but if the child needs to go at another time, my DD"s classroom does not have a bathroom in the room and they go use one that is right across the hall and they go themself.  The first few weeks  of school the teacher watches them from the door of their classroom to make sure they are OK.  The bathroom is connected to the other PreK class so their is staff very close by if needed.

My older DD is in kindergarten and after the 1st few weeks of school, parents are encouraged to walk their kids into the building (a must for kindergarteners but older kids can just be dropped off if they don't take the bus) but then let them walk themself down to the kindergarten room (my DD goes to before care so I do have to walk her to the room and sign her in and the group of kids that are there are walked together to their room by a staff member for now but I am assuming as the year goes on, the group of kids will all go together without a staff member).  For pick-up, the teachers walk the kindergarteners to the main door and they must make eye contact with the parents before the child is able to be released.  KIndergarten parents must come into the building - older kids can go outside and parents just do the car line and they have staff patrolling the area.    Kids that take the bus are walked out to the bus area.

I am at a school with a very high open enrollment rate so a ton of kids do before/after care or are parent driven so the car lines are crazy long and the parking lot is full and we have a lot of staff that patrol the areas for safety.

MLR04

brownmouse:

Maybe I am the exception, but when I read the description of this school, it seemed super weird and "sketchy" to me. I would never send my 4 year old (my daughter is 3, but still) to a school where I wasn't allowed in the building whenever the he!! I wanted during the school day. But maybe this stems from the fact that my DD attends a Reggio Emelia/Monterssori type preschool. I work at her school in another classroom, but even if I didn't, I feel very welcomed anytime I happen to stop in, and parents are encouraged to make visits, and volunteer in the classroom if they want to. We are required to bring the kids to their classroom, and ensure that a teacher greets them, and we sign them in and out each day on both a sign-in sheet by the classroom door, and a keycard swipe near the front door of the school. The front door opens freely, but second inner door has a key card that you have to have your card, or check in with the office lady to let you in. But as long as you do this, you can come and go as you please within school hours.

It seems really weird to me that schools (preschools or elementary schools) exist that parents are not allowed in. Makes me wonder WHY they don't want parents to be in the school. If I were you I'd be finding a school that welcomed parents rather than banning them.

EDIT: Also, I have done Practicum and Student Teaching in many of the schools in my city, and even in the fifth grade, parents have the option to walk thier kids to their classroom if they want to. I probably wont be walking B to class when she is 10 years old, but 5 or 6? You bet I will.

 

I have to agree with most of this except to be allowed in the classroom for drop off after like kindergarten.  I, too, think it sounds weird not to be able to walk your child to the classroom and have to drop them at the door.  In my son's school (Pre-K) you have to enter a code on a keypad to get into the lobby, sign in via the computer with a self-chosen code, walk the child into the class, you can speak with the teacher if you wish, but I think most of us know not to overstay our welcome.  Picking them up is exactly the same thing.  As for the bathrrom, it's inside the classroom so I can't relate.  There's an open-door policy, same wiht the last school he was at.

AndLyn

That sounds a lot like DD's JK class last year; she was also on the Tuesday/Thursday timetable. We do drop-off and pickup from a fenced-in playground and are also not allowed to take the kids directly to the door of the building. Even though I didn't get to chat with the teacher daily, she as very quick about responding to my notes and was willing to make time to talk if it was necessary.