Drop offs and pick ups

Kia ora, whanau,

We are noticing some impressive independent behaviour in many of the children at drop off and pick up times each day. Some of the things that you can do to support your children's growing independence are:

• encourage your children to help to pack their own bags at home before school
• ensure that your children carry their own bags to and from school
• give your children verbal reminders, once they're at school and unpacking their belongings, but allow them to be responsible for this part of their daily routine.

It is extremely helpful for us all if parents remain on the deck or even at the bottom of the steps at the start of each day. There is a teacher rostered each day on the veranda to welcome the children and this person will also be available for any parents who may need to speak to a teacher eg someone different is picking your child up that day. We find that the children happily sort out their belongings and settle to a quiet activity much more readily, if goodbyes take place well before the bell goes at 8:55 a.m., and outside the learning spaces. This also allows them time, once in the learning spaces, to quietly check in with teachers and their friends, have a chat and settle into Learning Through Play.

Similarly, it is much easier for teachers and children to focus on the learning right up to the end of the day, if parents and caregivers wait out in the courtyard for the children to be released from class. It can be very distracting and unsettling for children when they know that there are parents at the windows or on the veranda. We thank you for your support with this, as we work together on developing the children's independence in these early days at school.

You are more than welcome to come into the learning spaces after all of the children have been released, if your child would like to show you something, or if you have something you'd like to discuss with your child's Home Group teacher. Teachers will also come out on to the veranda at the end of each day to catch up with parents. 

If you have anything in particular you wish to discuss in more detail, please make contact with your child's Home Group teacher to make a time to meet.

Ngā mihi,

Koru team teachers