Children's Peace Garden - Oneness-Family School

37 YearsSince Oneness-Family School was founded in 1988.
75 CountriesRepresented by our students, families, faculty, and staff.
1 FamilyUnited by a belief in courage, compassion and love of learning.

Dear Students and Families,

Hello to all of our new and returning friends of the Children’s Peace Garden! Summer is here and as you plan vacations and time off, we want to send a little info for the start of next school year.

The Children’s Peace Garden classrooms are places where we work to help your children learn and grow academic skills while becoming independent thinkers and problem solvers. They will have a complete experience with self-guided learning that their teachers oversee. They will learn how to manage emotions, express their needs, and find calmness when needed. They will grow in their consideration of others and how to make meaningful social connections at work and play. Montessori classrooms are designed to be supportive environments where students can explore and progress in tune with their abilities and interests, ideally through a three-year cycle of building a more profound understanding of themselves and the world.

The First Day of School is Tuesday, September 2, from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. This is a “play day,” a time for old friends to meet again and for welcoming new faces to our classrooms. We will be following our half-day schedule, starting our back-to-school day at 9:00 a.m. (with arrival beginning at 8:30 a.m.) There is no before-school care for Moon or Sun Room on this day.

We will enjoy a morning meeting and some “get-to-know-each-other” games. Then we will play together and have a healthy snack before the children are dismissed at 11:30 a.m. All students must be picked up by noon.

Full-day classes begin on Wednesday, September 3 with arrival starting at 8:30 a.m. Before-school and after-school care, provided at an extra cost, begins on the 3rd as well, from 7:30-8:30 am and 3:30 – 6:00 pm.

Extended Care Registration

Back-to-School Night is on Thursday, August 28 at 6:30 p.m. and will last an hour at most. All families are asked to attend this orientation. We will introduce our team and share many important and useful details about the school year that you will want and need to know, such as arrivals, dismissals, schedules, specialists, field trips and so on. Please plan for at least one adult to attend so that you begin the year well informed. You might tell us whether your child will take Spanish, French, or Italian as their World Language class that evening. Each of these will provide enriching language development skills, so consider each a wonderful opportunity before choosing.

Below you will find essential details about our classrooms that will help you navigate the first few weeks of school as your child transitions into the Children’s Peace Garden. Please bring any questions you may have to Back-to-School Night!

We hope everyone enjoys the summer and gets all the fun and rest they need. We look forward to having everyone together in September!

Thanks and see you soon,

The Children’s Peace Garden Team (CPG)

Additional Information

Important Events

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

All families are invited to 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, 6:30 PM

This important event sets the tone for the year and vital information is shared! The event will take place in the Moon and Sun Room classrooms. Please note that childcare is not provided during this meeting.

Welcome Brunch — September 13, 10:00 AM

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet people in the school community and other new OFS families at the beautiful Norwood Park in Bethesda! Please RSVP using the Back to School event form.

What to Bring to School

What Your Child Should Bring to School

Blanket, Sheet & Pillow
Slippers & Shoes
Spare Clothing
Water Bottle

Blanket, Sheet, and small Pillow (Preschool)

If your child is a preschooler, please have them bring a crib mattress sheet for their sleeping mat. Also, bring a child-sized (airline-size) pillow and a small blanket – no bigger than a backpack; we will let you know if they are too large so you can replace them. PLEASE LABEL ALL PERSONAL ITEMS and bring them in a reusable grocery or tote bag. Items will be taken to the nap room on Mondays and sent home on Fridays for washing.

Slippers and Shoes

In the classroom, footwear is mandatory. Shoes must be fully secured to the foot, suitable for outside running, climbing and playing (i.e. sneakers or sandals with full heel and toe coverage). Children should bring slippers, spare shoes, or sandals to wear indoors. Please keep footwear simple and non-commercial character oriented.

Spare Clothing

Please send a complete change of seasonal clothes – including socks and underwear (two pairs for younger students). We send any soiled clothing home in a plastic bag. These items need to be replaced the following day. Anyone can have a spill or accident, not only those who are toilet training. We are helping to empower your child to manage to change their clothing. Please provide easy clothing and shoes to put on and take off, and practice at home if needed. Velcro straps and slip-on shoes are suitable for those who cannot yet tie. For PE class days, Kindergarteners should have pants/shorts and sneakers.

Water Bottle

Each child needs a labeled, reusable water bottle every day, all year. Children use them for snack and lunch time, specialist classes, outdoor play, and after-school enrichment activities.

For clothing and other belongings, iron-on and sticky labels are available online at www.mabelslabels.com.

Arrival & Dismissal

Morning Arrival: 8:30-8:55 AM

Arrival is between 8:30 and 8:55 a.m. To help with a smooth transition, please drop off in the carpool line along the front curb, or park and walk your child to the front entrance. Staff will be present to receive your children. Children enter and begin their work right away. We advise keeping goodbyes short and sweet; we want each child to enter independently and with empowerment. Loving and reassuring short goodbyes help them grow much more than long separations and negotiations for a little more time together.

It is essential that children arrive on time (by/before 9 a.m.) daily so they will not miss (or interrupt, such as birthday celebrations) important lessons, activities, or work time

Afternoon Dismissal (3:30-3:45 PM)

Dismissal is 3:30 – 3:45 p.m. The hallways are busy and crowded at this time as students wait for parents or caregivers to arrive. You may wait in the carpool line along the curb or, if on foot, on the sidewalk along West Avenue. Once you arrive, a staff member will call your child’s name over the radio, and a teacher or office staff will walk them out to you.

Parking

Parents who want to accompany their child into the school, or enter the school to pick up their child, may use the school parking lot for up to 15 minutes. Please only use spots marked “Oneness-Family School.” Neighborhood parking is available only for families with local permits.

Please note that the OFS-marked parking spots are primarily for staff members who may arrive at different times throughout the day. The school is not responsible for any cars parked in non-OFS spots or the neighborhood without a permit.

Snack & Lunch

Snack Time

Our selection includes fresh fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, seeds, pure jams, whole-grain crackers, breads, corn chips, salsa, hummus, applesauce, yogurt, cheese, fruit spread, and more. Due to the potential risks with common allergens, we do not serve tree nut or peanut products of any kind and we are a nut safe school; please do not pack anything with tree nuts or peanuts in your child’s lunch. Also, avoid foods that say “may contain peanuts or nut ingredients.” Unfortunately, these will need to be returned home.

Guidelines for Lunch

Lunchtime usually begins at about noon in the Sun and 11:40 in the Moon Room.
Ideally, foods should be sent in reusable containers in small portions. Use containers your child can open and close; please include appropriate cutlery.
Unless you request otherwise, we will refrigerate foods such as meat, eggs, and dairy or items that contain them. Because full-sized/insulated lunch boxes do not fit in the refrigerator, please pack the items needing refrigeration in a large zipper bag or bento-style box and label this with your name and date. The other foods can remain in the locker; just this bag/box will be refrigerated. Consider compact, reusable options like those below. When sending a lunch needing refrigeration, it must be labeled with the name & date.
We suggest you send a balanced meal, including leftovers from family meals, sandwiches, a serving of dairy, sliced vegetables or fruits, and non-sugar snacks. We encourage children to eat balanced and healthy foods; therefore, items with high sugar content, chocolate, etc., will likely be returned home.
It is helpful to send fruits and vegetables already cut and peeled. Practicing this at home with your child involved is a great way to engage them in helping; plus it is tidier and less wasteful.
If you wish to send warm food, please purchase an insulated container. These can be bought online and in stores. Insulated/thermos containers do not have to be refrigerated at school. We are unable to heat student lunches.
We always have filtered water; at snack or mealtime, we also offer 1% cow’s milk. We can store rice or soy milk for children with allergies or intolerances. Simply let your child’s teachers know.
We strive to maintain a healthy and environmentally friendly atmosphere at our school, so please avoid disposable items such as “Lunchables,” yogurt tubes, pouch drinks, or other pre-packaged foods. These are often difficult for children to manage opening and eating by themselves, and they tend to create extra mess and non-recyclable waste.
Let’s teach our children to care for the Earth and themselves!

We have a NUT SAFE policy

Teachers may communicate about nuts and other allergies in each classroom, though we always ask that snacks, lunches, etc. contain no foods with nut ingredients or which may contain nut ingredients.

Play, Sharing & More!

We Aim to Go Outside Every Day!

Send appropriate attire for inclement weather such as rain jackets, boots, gloves, hats, etc. Even in light rain or snow, we can go out if students are adequately prepared. In these conditions, we strongly request that you send your children the right clothing to get out and experience the weather.

Toys and Items From Home

Please have your children leave all toys, money, jewelry etc. at home. Remind them that we have plenty at school to do and enjoy in our classrooms. Extra items often become distractions and may get lost or broken.

Sharing Ourselves – The Me Bag*

We honor each child and their unique interests through a special activity. A cloth bag called the “Me Bag” will go home with a different child each day and be returned the next day. This is a way for the child to experience leadership and “public” speaking as they share the precious and meaningful objects from their lives.

Please help your child select a single, special item (unless a small collection such as rocks, shells, etc.) that represents their interests and experiences. Some examples are crystals, books, pictures, special music, instruments, crafts, souvenirs, or any other educational or unique object that helps us know them better and may even support our curriculum. The “Me Bag” child will present and talk about the particular item at circle time and be the class helper and leader for the day.

Hints: Quality over quantity! Please avoid toys, stuffed animals, and commercialized/character items.

Field Trips

Off-campus field trips typically occur in the fall and spring. We may visit museums, the theater, parks, and more. In addition to these scheduled events, we may occasionally take spontaneous teacher-led excursions, such as nature walks in the neighborhood. Watch for announcements about lunches, schedules, and chaperone requests.

Birthdays

We celebrate each child’s birthday at school with a special circle time. Normally, from 9:00-9:30 AM, we invite parents to come in and tell the story of their child’s life as we celebrate their years of growth. We ask that you share a photo or two from each year of their child’s life. These can be printed or shared digitally. Bringing in a snack is optional. Due to allergy considerations, we do not accept snacks made at home, though non-sugary store-bought treats can be shared, provided they are unopened and in original packaging.

Examples of suitable birthday treats include naturally sweetened carrot cakes and cookies, fruits or vegetables, bagels, cheeses, yogurt, etc. These should be in portions ready to serve and planned ahead with the teachers. Please, NO nuts.

We have a NUT SAFE policy. Teachers may communicate about nuts and other allergies in each classroom, though we always ask that snacks, lunches, etc., contain no foods with nut ingredients or that may contain nut ingredients.

Quote: Felix Jäger

My favorite memory of OFS is probably all of the different teachers I had over the years. They were all formative for me in their own unique way and the environment they created let me explore a lot of interests I had. They also helped me develop a lot of skills such as proficient reading, maths and typing that all benefitted me greatly throughout my school years. Besides that, I loved our field trips in the old bus back in the 90s!

Felix currently works as a sound editor for films at Shepperton Studios near London, UK. There he mainly works on dubbing blockbuster films for the international market. His favorite parts of the job are getting to put his language skills to use and being able to see upcoming films many months before they hit the cinemas! He also does freelance photography on the side.

Summer Checklist

Dear Students and Families,

Key Resources