PS 261 Drop-Off Follow-Up
Dear Kindergarten Parents,
The morning of October 19, Principal Zip Mills held a "town hall meeting" to clarify morning drop-off routines for kindergarteners and discuss any concerns parents might have about it.
Morning Routine:
- 8:00 a.m. Family breakfast in the cafeteria; all parents are welcome.
- 8:20 a.m. Families not having breakfast may come to the cafeteria with their children.
- 8:25 a.m. Parents in the cafeteria are asked to say goodbye and make sure their children are seated at their class tables and leave the cafeteria. Volunteer table monitors will stay with the children until teachers arrive.
- Parents arriving after 8:25 are asked to say goodbye to their children at the hall table just past the security desk, and a staff member or parent volunteer will escort children to the cafeteria.
- 8:30 a.m. Teachers come into the cafeteria to pick up their classes; some teachers take roll there. It is important that children be sitting at their table.
- NEW: Kindergarteners will be dismissed first from the cafeteria, instead of 2nd graders first. This will ensure that kindergarteners spend less time in the cafeteria and more time in the classroom.
- Children arriving at the school after 8:30 are marked late and must receive a late pass.
- When there is a long line for late passes, it is acceptable for a child to go to class while the parent stands in line to get the late pass
Staff and Parent Volunteer Monitors:
Zip and Assistant Principal Lena Barbera noted that there should be staff or parent volunteers with new, brightly colored badges stationed at both cafeteria doors and the hall table to ensure that children safely arrive in the cafeteria and stay there. Parent volunteers are greatly needed to watch both doors and act as escorts for children arriving after 8:25, because often, staff members are not available until 8:30 or later. If you wish to volunteer to watch the doors or escort children to the cafeteria, please contact Parent Coordinator Carmen Perez: 718-330-9275, x430; cperez13@schools.nyc.gov.
At least two volunteer table monitors are also needed to oversee each kindergarten table in the morning. These volunteers would be responsible for ensuring a calm and orderly hand-off of the children to their kindergarten teachers. It was suggested that table monitors be given a class list so they can check off each child as he or she arrives. If you are interested in becoming a table monitor, please contact your classroom parent(s).
To ensure that the children understand the role of the volunteers, it was also suggested that the monitors go in with the teacher one morning and be officially introduced to the children. Kindergarten teachers could also conduct a mini-lesson in class so that children understand that the people with the bright colored badges are adults who can help them.
Kindergarten Drop-Off Committee
A kindergarten drop-off committee was formed to address any concerns as they arise. The next meeting will be:
Kindergarten Drop-Off Committee
Thursday, October 26
8:45 a.m.
Cafeteria
If you cannot make the meeting and have concerns or comments you wish to share, please contact Carey Johnson: 917-204-2291 or
Carey@donatoart.com. Also contact Carey if you wish to be on the Committee contact list.
