First Day of Preschool at Whitman Elementary

Good morning, everybody. Hello. Hi, Levi. Hello, my dear. Are you ready? You ready for your first day? I always say I will never leave preschool. Such a friendship bracelet. This is a great start to the day. Having kiddos who come in for the first time who are a little bit nervous about coming into a school community. Well, Levi, can I walk with you to the line? And being able to foster a love for learning is such a privilege. Let's see how quiet he can walk to our break ready. Whether it's their first child or their last child. Do you guys remember where your cubbies are? Leaving them for an extended period of the day and entrusting them to someone else is a big responsibility, and we don't take it lightly. Nice job. We want families to feel a part of their child's learning team. So whether that student does have an IEP or doesn't have an IEP, they're still connecting on their goals for the year. They're still a part of the learning community. After we wash our hands, can I show you your purple schedule? The first couple of weeks, if you look at our lesson plans, we have our general daily schedule of the different activities we go to. All right, teacher Marnie, I'm going to head over to circle. So we do have circle. We do have free choice. We do have small group. But all of those things are designed to make school a fun place. I love the enthusiasm, Amelia. A lot of patience and a lot of love for little people. Recognizing that they are humans. They're not just the smallest learners. They have interests. They have dislikes. They have preferences just like adults do. This year we have, I think, eight younger siblings. You ready for a big day in kindergarten? Getting to see the extended family members and then getting to see our kids grow. So I have kiddos that are in second grade now that walk past us in the hall and they say, hey, teacher Taylor, and we give a hug and they go back to line. I see riders, fingers are on the wall. Getting that connection piece and knowing that they have a familiar adult every year when they come back and they're still someone that they can bond with and connect with. I like chocolate chip waffles too. It is a tremendous responsibility. I am safe. Making school a safe place and making them feel accepted and valued and loved in a classroom setting is the goal. So if they leave this year being able to write their name, that's great. But if they leave loving school, feeling safe, coming into kindergarten excited to come into the building, that's the overall goal.