KINDERGARTEN FAQ’S Laurel Elementary School

Welcome to Laurel Kindergarten! Please click on the questions below to

find answers to some of our FAQs for kindergarten.

How do I register my child for kindergarten?

How old does my child have to be to register?

Is transportation provided?

Is breakfast and lunch provided?

What is the school uniform policy?

What happens if my child has a toileting accident during school?

How many children are in each class?

Do you have an orientation?

How do I get in contact with my child’s teacher?

What is the Virtual Backpack?

What are your safety procedures?

How can parents be involved?

What time can children be dropped off in the morning?

Is there before and after-school program on site?

Can I walk my child to his/her classroom?

Will my child have homework?

Will my child be expected to wear a mask?

Will there be mask breaks?

What are the basic academic expectations for kindergartners?

How do you discipline?

Is there nap time for kindergarteners?

What are the procedures for dropping off and picking up students?

What is the procedure if my transportation needs change?

Are parents allowed to send cupcakes, cookies, balloons, gift bags to school for the student's birthday?

What time is a student considered tardy?

What are the procedures to report a student absent?

What is considered an excused/unexcused absence?

Will Chromebook be distributed this school year and if so when?

What is the cost of breakfast/lunch? How should parents pay for breakfast/lunch?

What are the procedures for applying for free or reduced breakfast/lunch?

Will the students have snow days this year or will they be considered distance learning days?

What is the Parent Portal and how do parents access it?

What is Dojo and how do parents use it?

HOW DO I REGISTER MY CHILD FOR KINDERGARTEN? Registration information can be found at the Bloomfield Public School website at

https://www.bloomfieldschools.org/parents_and_students/registration_information You will begin the registration process by completing an online form. Someone from the

registrar’s office will then contact you to complete the process.

HOW OLD DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO BE TO REGISTER?

Your child must turn 5 before December 31st of 2021 to be eligible for kindergarten this school year.

IS TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED?

Yes, transportation is provided for both morning and afternoons.

IS BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROVIDED?

Breakfast and lunch are available for all students. Please see the school handbook for updated meal purchasing options.

WHAT IS THE SCHOOL UNIFORM POLICY?

We do not have a specific uniform, however all students in Bloomfield Public Schools are required to wear dress code. The dress code policy is located in our school handbook and

available on the web here: Dress Code Policy

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD HAS A TOILETING ACCIDENT

DURING SCHOOL? We ask that all students keep a change of clothes at school. The clothes should be in a

ZipLock type of bag with the child’s name on it. In the event of a toileting accident or spill, the child will change into this change of clothes. If a child is unable to change or if there is no clothes available, parents/guardians will be called to bring in clothes/change the child.

HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE IN EACH CLASS?

Class sizes depend on enrollment for the year. A typical kindergarten class has 15-17 students.

DO YOU HAVE AN ORIENTATION?

Yes, this year our orientation will be held virtually on July 28th.

HOW DO I GET IN CONTACT WITH MY CHILD’S TEACHER?

Teachers are not able to take phone calls during the day as they are with the students. Teachers each have voicemails where you can call and leave a message. They can also be reached via email. In the event of an emergency, please call the main office (860-286-2675) and the teacher will be notified of the call. A list of all teacher’s extensions and emails is

available in our Virtual Backpack and in our Student Handbook.

WHAT IS THE VIRTUAL BACKPACK?

We keep a “Virtual Backpack” at the Laurel website. This backpack contains notices, copies our newsletter, how-to directions, and other information for parents.

WHAT ARE YOUR SAFETY PROCEDURES?

Laurel staff is committed to maintaining a safe learning environment. All visitors can only enter through the main office where they pass through double secure doors. Staff will only release students after checking the person’s identification and verifying that person is listed as a valid pick up for the child. Having said that, please tell anyone who is picking up your

child that an identification is required.

HOW CAN PARENTS BE INVOLVED?

Parents are our greatest partners in education and we want you involved! There are daily ways such as asking about homework and what your child has learned. You can attend

events and stay informed through our newsletter. If you are looking for an active way to be involved, please consider joining our PTO. PTO meeting information is sent out in the

newsletter.

WHAT TIME CAN CHILDREN BE DROPPED OFF IN THE MORNING?

Students cannot be dropped off prior to 8:35. Drop off at grade level doors, not in the main office.

IS THERE BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM ON SITE? Yes, we partner with Extension, a before and after school care program. Please contact

Kristine Johnson (860)769-4225 for more information. We also maintain different partnerships throughout the school year. Be on the lookout for more information.

CAN I WALK MY CHILD TO HIS/HER CLASSROOM?

Due to COVID restrictions, visitors are not permitted in the building. Please visit our website for a virtual tour and plan on attending our Virtual Open House on August 31st for

more information on the classroom.

WILL MY CHILD HAVE HOMEWORK?

Yes, your child will have homework. Homework will reinforce skills taught in class and should be able to be completed independently (with help reading the directions). If your

child is struggling to complete homework, please contact the teacher.

WILL MY CHILD BE EXPECTED TO WEAR A MASK?

Yes, all students and staff will wear masks in school buildings.

WILL THERE BE MASK BREAKS? Yes. We offer masks breaks at recess, gym, and during a scheduled “mask break.”

Students will also remove masks when eating.

WHAT ARE THE BASIC ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS FOR KINDERGARTNERS?

Expectations for foundational skills will be reviewed at Open House and Kindergarten Orientation. To name a few skills:

Reading: Name all 26 upper & lower case letters, Identify/produce letter sound correspondence, Sight Word Recognition,

Math: Identify/write numbers from 1-20, Count to 100 by 1’s & 10’s, Simple Addition & Subtraction, Name 1 more/1 less; 2 more/2 less than a given number, and

Identify number words from 1-20.

HOW DO YOU DISCIPLINE? Kindergarten is a time to learn new skills and how to be a caring community member.

Expectations are taught explicitly and reviewed throughout the year. Students who have difficulty meeting expectations will be given chances to correct behavior. If difficulty

remains, teachers will contact parents and a plan will be put in place for the child.

IS THERE NAP TIME FOR KINDERGARTENERS? We do not have nap time.

WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES FOR DROPPING OFF AND PICKING UP STUDENTS?

Students will be dropped off and picked up at their grade level door. Drop off times: 8:35-8:50. Students will not be allowed I the building prior to 8:35. Pick Up times: 3:25-3:35.

Anyone picking up a child MUST have a photo ID and be listed as a pick up person.

WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE IF MY TRANSPORTATION NEEDS CHANGE?

The teacher must be notified in writing of any changes made to dismissal procedures. Verbal notice will not be accepted. If you have a permanent transportation change, please

contact Mrs. Greene, the Executive Administrative Assistant in the main office.

ARE PARENTS ALLOWED TO SEND CUPCAKES, COOKIES, BALLOONS, GIFT BAGS TO SCHOOL FOR THE STUDENT'S

BIRTHDAY? We would love to help celebrate your little one’s special day. Due to allergies, we do not allow food items or balloons to be brought in. Feel free to send in a goodie bag, special

pencil, sticker sheet, or other non-edible treat.

WHAT TIME IS A STUDENT CONSIDERED TARDY? Our school day starts at 8:50. A child will be marked tardy at any time after 8:50.

WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES TO REPORT A STUDENT ABSENT? Please call the main office at 860-286-2675 to report an absence.

WHAT IS CONSIDERED AN EXCUSED/UNEXCUSED ABSENCE? Please visit Attendance Policy for a complete list. Generally, excused absences include

illness, religious observations, and participation in exceptional circumstances (ex. attending a funeral, court date, etc.). Unexcused absences are those not included on the excused list

and include vacations.

WILL CHROMEBOOK BE DISTRIBUTED THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND IF SO WHEN?

At this time, we do not intend to distribute Chromebooks. Chromebooks will be used in the building. Dependent on Covid procedures changing, this may change as well. You will

be updated with any changes.

WHAT IS THE COST OF BREAKFAST/LUNCH? HOW SHOULD PARENTS PAY FOR BREAKFAST/LUNCH?

Breakfast and lunch will be free of cost to all Bloomfield Public Schools students.

WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING FOR FREE OR

REDUCED BREAKFAST/LUNCH? There is no application needed for this school year.

WILL THE STUDENTS HAVE SNOW DAYS THIS YEAR OR WILL

THEY BE CONSIDERED DISTANCE LEARNING DAYS? We are awaiting further guidance on distance learning snow days and will update you

when that information is available.

WHAT IS THE PARENT PORTAL AND HOW DO PARENTS ACCESS IT?

Parent Portal is a data warehouse that houses information about the students. Parents can update contact information, view report cards, read our handbook, and complete district

surveys on the Portal. It is accessible at the Bloomfield Public Schools website by clicking on the “Parent and

Students” tab then clicking “Parent Portal.”

WHAT IS DOJO AND HOW DO PARENTS USE IT?

DOJO is a great parent communication tool that we started using last year. It allows you to communicate with your child’s teacher. You can receive notices, photos and “text” the

teacher. Teachers will send out sign up information at the start of the year. You can access it via the web or as an app on your smart phone.