Back to School Resources: Little Stars

Important Events

Please RSVP and let us know which Back to School events you plan to attend.

Summer Family Gathering — July 26th, 10:00 AM

All families are invited to “Popsicles in the Park,” a family gathering at Norwood Park this summer, hosted by the OFS Parent Association! Light refreshments will be provided. 

Back to School Night — August 28, 5:30 PM

This important event sets the tone for the year and vital classroom information is shared! We request that one adult from each family attend. 

Welcome Brunch — September 13, 10:00 AM

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet people in the school community and welcome our new families.

What To Bring to School

Items To Bring

Slippers

Proper footwear is required for indoor and outdoor play. Shoes are mandatory for outdoor play. They should be comfortable and have toe and heel coverage. Each student should have a pair of slippers to wear during class time. Your child’s slippers are kept in school at their cubby. Please make sure the slippers are secure and comfortable, and have a rubber sole (no anti-slip socks). Remember to label them!

Nap Supplies

Children attending full-time should bring a small blanket for nap time after lunch. (Please avoid bringing large pillows or stuffed animals). We provide a cot and a sheet for each child. 

Every Friday, we will send home both the sheet and blanket to be washed. Please return everything on Monday morning. 

Diapers and Clothing 

Each child will have a plastic container to store diapers and two extra sets of clothing. There is only room to store two sets of clothing; please do not send more than this. Clothing should be brought to school in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. If your child is toilet training, send more clothing as necessary. We ask that you only send enough diapers for two weeks. A Little Stars teacher will email you when your child is low on diapers and/or clothing. If soiled clothing is sent home, please bring a fresh set the next day to replace it. Please label all clothing!

Water Bottle

Please provide an 8-ounce refillable water bottle for your child.  We ask that this be a bottle without a straw for easier sanitization. For the children, having this personal water bottle is a source of pride. Many children are excited to have their own water bottle in their favorite color or with their favorite animal or theme on it!

Arrival & Dismissal

Morning Arrival: 8:30-8:55 AM

Please arrive between 8:30 am and 9:00 am so that your child does not miss any important lessons or activities. You may enter the building from the door close to the Parish Hall at the end of the awning covered walkway. Both doors may be accessed using the school code 1988*.

Afternoon Dismissal: 3:15-3:30 PM

Half-day students will be brought, by a teacher, to the area by the cubbies around 11:50 am. Dismissal is between 11:45 am and 12:00 pm. Please pick up children promptly – the teachers need to be in the classrooms again at 12:00 pm. Any children not picked up by 12:00 pm will be brought to the office. Late pick up charges will apply. 

Dismissal for full-day students is between 3:15 pm and 3:30 pm. The children are brought upstairs, to the exterior door, in the lobby by the Parish Hall. Late charges will apply for students who are not picked up by 3:35 pm and who are not registered for After Care. Please note that there is no drop-in aftercare for Little Stars.

Parking

Remember that if walking up for arrival or dismissal, you must properly park your car. Please avoid parking in neighborhood streets if you do not have a local permit. Avoid any driveways, no parking zones, etc. Please, never leave your car parked in the driving lane of West Ave. Our setting is challenging, and we need to maintain our relationship and agreement with MOCO police and our neighbors! Staff members are always out with radios for arrival/dismissal time. If using the school parking lot, especially in the morning, please leave promptly, as this is the parking area reserved for staff who arrive at different times throughout the morning.

Snack & Lunch

Snack

We have a healthy snack each morning. Choices include fresh fruit and vegetables, whole-grain crackers, cheese, pancakes, etc. Our menu choices are vegetarian. Due to the potential ramifications of harmful allergies, we are a NUT-SAFE school. If your child has specific dietary restrictions, please talk to your teachers, so that we may meet your child’s individual needs. 

Lunch

Lunchtime begins around noon for full-time students. Please pack healthy and low-sugar foods. Please label your child’s box/bag. We encourage reusable plastic or glass containers for lunch foods. To inspire independence, ask your child to test opening and closing the containers before school starts. 

We supply spring water and milk for lunch and any necessary utensils. You are also welcome to send milk in your child’s lunchbox. Please refrain from sending cookies, juice, or candy, as children would always rather eat that before their “growing foods.”

We are unable to warm lunches. If you wish to send warm food, please purchase an insulated container. These can be bought online and in stores. Insulated or thermos containers do not have to be refrigerated at school. Lunch items that need to be refrigerated should be placed in a small container and labeled with your child’s name. Please remember that our school is NUT-FREE—be sure to avoid foods that say “may contain peanuts or nut ingredients.”  

Sick Policy

Visit our Health & Safety page for more information on health policies.

We strive to keep all children and teachers healthy. We ask that you keep your children at home if they are ill, especially because young children have not yet mastered skills such as covering coughs and sneezes.

Children may be sent home for: moderate to high fever (100.5°F or higher), vomiting, diarrhea, or signs of contagious diseases (lice, conjunctivitis, sore throat, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, cough, etc.).  

Children may return to school when they have been fever-free for 24 hours after the last dose of fever-reducing medication, 24 hours after the last incident of vomiting or diarrhea, or 24 hours after the first dose of medication prescribed for communicable diseases. With some communicable illnesses, we will require a doctor’s note before your child returns to school.

If your child becomes ill at school we will contact you to pick your child up. Please try to come in a timely manner to lessen the exposure to others. Your child will await your arrival in the main office.  If we are unable to reach you, we will contact the emergency numbers you have on file. 

Bathroom Independence

Many parents wonder when to begin toilet training with your child. The answer is quite simple: when your child is ready!

This readiness has to be physical and emotional. Training won’t take place until the child is biologically able to control their bladder and bowel movements. The child must also be able to break away from a fun game or book and go take care of something more “boring” like going to the bathroom. 

Only at that time do you want to begin the exciting journey called “Bathroom Independence”.

Signs that show your child’s readiness

Some children might go through an oppositional phase, so in that case, it’s wise to wait until that phase has passed. The journey to bathroom independence should not become a battlefield but a positive stepping-stone in your child’s conquest of independence.

It‘s better not to start toilet training when your child is handling other life changes, such as a new sibling or starting school. 

Every child is unique and special so they will let you know when the right time arises. Please be sure to consult your child’s teachers before you start the bathroom independence process so that they can best support your child.

Further Reading

Birthdays & Parent Volunteers

Birthdays

Please contact your child’s teacher at least one week in advance of your child’s birthday. We have a special circle time to celebrate birthdays and ask that parents send in a picture for each year of their child’s life with a few anecdotes for each.

Please check with your child’s teacher for the details and let us know if you would like to provide a special healthy birthday snack.

Parent Volunteers

Room parents will coordinate parent volunteers for special events that we have throughout the year. The children in our classes are very proud to have their parents help. Please email our Parent Association (pa@onenessfamily.org) if you are interested in being a room parent!

Maryland Infant & Toddlers Program

Maryland Infant & Toddlers Program

The Maryland Infant & Toddlers MITP provides free, family-centered support for children from birth to age three. Anyone can submit a referral to the MITP. If the child lives in Maryland and hasn’t turned three yet, MITP can help.

Program Brochure

referral.mditp.org
1-800-535-0182