Welcome to Northside!  We are so excited to have your child in our class!  We want to make this an interesting, fun, safe, and rewarding year for your child.  This year will help to prepare your child for Kindergarten.  Two of the main focuses of this program are literacy and math skills.  Though the program is academic, there is also emphasis placed on social skills and learning through play.  Below are some important things to remember so we can have a successful school year.

My name is Susan Smith and I am your teacher for this school year! I am excited to let you know that our Preschool Teaching Team is comprised of myself and Sharon Hairston and Tiffany Lancaster and Julie Franscisco!  We are the inclusion team and look forward to providing inclusive activities for your child. We look forward to meeting your child and working with him this school year!  We will have lots of learning opportunities in a language-rich classroom.  I have been teaching early childhood special education for 13 years and was a medical social worker and also worked exclusively with students with Autism in a program prior to teaching. I enjoy spending time with my family and pets.  I also enjoy reading and doing water aerobics. 

Attendance is very important at Preschool.  Please let me know if your child is going to be absent.  The school will call home each day your child is absent. 

Morning Arrival
The school is open at 8:15am each day.  If your child is a car rider, they can be dropped off in the lower parking lot from 8:15-8:35 am each morning.  After 8:35 am, you must bring your child in the office to get a tardy slip.  

Afternoon Dismissal 

Dismissal of car riders and daycare van begins at 3:15pm each day. Adults will be outside to load cars until 3:30pm. This will take place in the lower parking lot.  Make sure the yellow name plate is visibly on your dashboard.  

Buses will begin loading at 3:30pm. If your child rides a bus home and there is no one there to get him/her of the bus, the bus driver will bring your child back to school.  

If you need to check your child out early from school, it must be before 3:00 p.m. Otherwise, parents will need to get in the car rider line. If you call to change transportation home, we will ask for the security password.  

Sickness

Please follow the health guidelines in the Northside Preschool Handbook when sending your child to school.  If your child has any of the symptoms listed, please keep them home for the day. The nurse will also call home if your child shows any of these symptoms at school.

Backpacks/Folders/Towels
Send a standard size backpack to school each day.  The backpack needs to be able to hold a regular size folder, towel, and possibly a change of clothes.  I will send home a daily folder.  Remember to check backpacks and folder daily.  Every Monday, a folder will be sent home with your child’s work and other important information.  Please review the information in your child’s folder each week and return the folder on Tuesday. Towels will be sent home on Friday to be washed. Please return them on Monday.  Make sure your child’s name is written in marker on their towel so they won’t get mixed up or lost.

Clothes                                                                                                                              

 Students should wear clothes that are practical for school.  This means that students must be able to fix their own belts as well as button and un-button their own pants when it is bathroom time.  If your daughter wears a dress to school, please have her wear a pair of shorts under the skirt.  We spend a lot of time on the floor with our legs crossed. If your child has an accident and needs to use their change of clothing, please send in another set of clothing the following day.   

Breakfast and Lunch
Free breakfast and lunch are offered daily to all students. Parents are invited to eat lunch with their children anytime in the cafeteria starting October 18th.

Parent/Teacher Communication
Communication between parents and teacher is essential for student success.  Please let me know any questions or concerns that you have throughout the year.  We will be using the ClassTag app this year. It is a great way to communicate and share fun activities we are doing at school.  You can always call the school at 773-8301 or email me at ssmith@mail.dps.k12.va.us

Here’s to a FABULOUS year at Northside Preschool!