Dater Montessori Welcome Packet

This Dater Welcome Packet is brought to you by the Dater Montessori Parent Teacher Network PTN. It is distributed with the intention of letting new families know about some of our traditions. A calendar will be sent home with the projected dates of all Dater events early in the school year. At that time the calendar on the Dater website will be updated as well.

Quick Reference:

For preschool families:

Before school care is available for a small fee from 7:00 am to 8:45 am. For more information contact the school office.

Drop-off for Preschoolers

Follow the drive and turn left before the flag pole, do not enter the circle in front of building. A Paraprofessional will be near the preschool playground entrance to help your child out of the car from 8:55 to 9:15. You will sign in your child at the car and your child will either play outside, weather permitting, or go into the classroom for activity time. If your child arrives after 9:15, you must walk your child to class and sign them in.

Preschool students will eat breakfast in the classrooms and have lunch at school. Their morning schedule will look something like this:

  • 8:55-9:15 drop off and play.
  • 9:20 in classrooms where they will have breakfast and brush their teeth.
  • 9:45 to 11:30 work time.
  • 11:30 go to lunch. Lunch is served family style and there is no charge for preschoolers.
  • 11:50 is dismissal. Please follow the dismissal procedures as listed below.
Pick-up preschoolers

Pre-school pick-up is from 11:50 to 12:00pm in the circle, near the front door. The first car should pull up to the end of the circle – all the way around. Staff is there as needed, will walk your child to your car, and you will sign out your child.

Aftercare for Preschool

There are Dater staff members who provide afternoon preschool, from 12 noon until 3:45. Call 363-0900 for more information. There are a limited number of spots available.

For All K-6 Students

Before Care- The YMCA on site program is available for before and after school care for students 6-12. Please call 362-2881 to arrange for care for your child. Kdg students can also attend the Dater Before School Care program; call the office for more information

Drop-off

For car riders- You will enter the main driveway and stay to the right and into the circle to the right of the flagpole and then pull up along the sidewalk to let your child out. To make this time smoother please have your child on the right hand side of your vehicle, all bags packed and ready and coat on. Staff is there from 8:45 to 9:15 to help your child get inside. Please drop off your child before 9:15.

Once in the building, children go to the cafeteria for free breakfast and then report to the auditorium. If not eating, the children report directly to the auditorium. At 9:10 all children go to their classrooms. If your child arrives after 9:15, he/she must report to the office for a tardy slip.

For bus riders - Paraprofessionals are stationed at the bus drop off to greet and direct the children to the cafeteria for breakfast and then report to the auditorium. Everyone is welcome to a free breakfast. Dater staff will be stationed in the cafeteria and throughout the halls to direct students. If your child has any problems on the bus, please call the main office.

Class Time

Each level (3-6, 6-9 and 9-12) functions differently. We highly encourage you to spend some time in the classroom and to attend the Parent Orientation in August and Open House in September to learn more about what your child's daily routine.

From K through 9-12 level, each child attends "specials" which include gym, art, music, library and technology once a week. Your child's classroom teacher will let you know what day of our cycle they will go, so they can be dressed appropriately for gym. Our weekly cycle is a little different from other schools due to the way specials (art, music, p.e., library, technology) are scheduled. Dater runs on a day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4 and day 5 schedule. These days rotate, so no one misses specials or other weekly activities. Wednesday, August 18, our first day of school, is day 1. If a Friday is day 4 and we are off on Monday for a holiday, then when school returns, Tuesday will be day 5. Your teacher will work with you to help you learn this.

Volunteer in the Classroom

It is most important that you talk directly with your child's teacher about volunteering in the classroom. Some possible options for volunteering include: chaperoning field trips, giving spelling or math tests, listening to children read, reading to children, giving timed reading tests, preparing classroom materials, helping with classroom parties, putting together Tuesday folders, sharing a skill with the children. The opportunities are endless! Each family is required to volunteer at least 10 hours a quarter.

A badge is required for anyone who volunteers with any activity at all CPS schools. Please pick up more information at the table in the front hall and/or look for it in your Tuesday folder.

Lunch

Lunch can be purchased for $1.75, milk for $0.50 or students can bring a packed lunch. Children pay when they are in the lunch line. Menus can be found at-http://www.cps-k12.org/menu/menu.htm

Dismissal /Pick-up

Dismissal occurs in the loop in front of the main entrance at 3:45. Give your child’s name to the staff member with the walkie-talkie. Car riders will be waiting with their teachers in the gymnasium until their name is called. There will be lots of staff to supervise the children as they exit to the sidewalk for pick-up.

After School Care

The YMCA on-site program is available for before and after school care for students 6-12. Please call 362-2881 to arrange for care for your child. The YMCA runs an on-site aftercare program. Please call 362-9530 to arrange for care for your child.

Dater Events & Traditions

Book Fair
Each year, our wonderful library staff and volunteers host a book fair, or two to support the Dater library. We earn credits for Scholastic books to supplement the school library, while adding to our own book shelves at home.
Fine Arts Night
This is a showcase for the Enrichment Programs provided by the Parent Teacher Network and the Specials (Art, Music, Gym, and Technology/Library) classes available at Dater Montessori. This event happens each spring.
The Harvest Moon Festival
This is one of the most popular events every year. It's a great reward for the kids at the end of the first quarter. Each classroom sponsors an activity, which is organized by the room parent. There are lots of fun things to do and prizes to win. It is coordinated by the PTN's Room parent Committee and Friends of Dater Montessori.
The Ice Cream Social
Each August new Dater families are invited to the building, when they will be connected with current Dater families to go over their Welcome Packet, take a tour of the school and have a chance to ask questions. The event is planned by the Parent Teacher Networks Welcome Committee.
Inner City Outings (ICO)
These outdoor activities are sponsored by the Sierra Club for grades 1-3. It is a community outreach program that provides opportunities for urban youth and adults to explore, enjoy and protect the natural world.
Suzuki Lessons (violin and cello)
Instruction is available at Dater Montessori. You will receive information at the beginning of the year.
Teacher appreciation week - May 2nd
In May, we spend a week celebrating all of the hard work and enthusiasm our teachers give our children each day. Somehow, a week just doesn't seem long enough!
Unity Dinner - January 20th
This is a night of cultural discovery. One or two teams from each age level take a continent to explore. All ages work together to make visual displays. Parents and staff bring dishes from their assigned continent potluck-style. The event is planned by the Home School Committee with the help of PTN and the room parents.
Volunteer appreciation lunch
Each year, the staff hosts a luncheon to thank the parent volunteers for all of their hard work.
Walk-A-Thon
This Dater event takes place at the end of the year. It is the largest FUNdraiser of the year and is followed by a huge party. Last year we blew our own minds when we raised $22,000! You'll see committee members throughout the year at different events working to make this a great success.