Welcome to Kindergarten!

It is our joy and privilege, year-after-year, to welcome another group of Kindergarteners into our school community. We are so glad to have you, and can’t wait to get to know our newest Great Hearts Irving scholars.

Information for New Families

We have compiled numerous resources you will find helpful in getting acquainted with your child’s new school at greatheartsirving.org/lowerschoolnewfamilies. Do be sure to pay it a visit to have all your questions answered.

Lower School New Families Page

Kindergarten Academy: The First Two Days

At Great Hearts Irving, the first two days of school for our new Kindergarteners look a little different. To help welcome our youngest students and ease their transition into the routine of school, the first two days—August 15th and 16th—will be early-release for all Kindergarteners. We call it “Kindergarten Academy.” The Athenaeum after-school program will also not be available to Kindergarteners the first two days of school. Parents will need to make other arrangements for these days. Parents should pick up their Kindergarteners in the Green Carline between 1:30 and 1:55. Older siblings will  need to be picked up separately at the usual full day dismissal time of 3:30.

May I walk my student to class on the first day of school?

Our carline procedures make it unsafe for parents to get out and walk students into the school building. Allowing your child to hop out of the car in carline that morning and walk into his/her new school ready for a great day of learning is a gift, especially for children who may be inclined to suffer separation anxiety. We will have lots of teachers available outside and in our hallways to make sure our newest scholars are given a warm welcome and make it to the right place. Please do not park and walk your students in.

One thing some families have found helpful is coming to school before the first day and driving through the carline with your child to practice! You can also help your child to recognize the type and color of vehicle that will be picking them up each day so that they can tell our teachers and we can get them to the right car in the afternoon as quickly as possible.

Who will my child’s teacher be?

Throughout the first two days, Kindergarteners will spend time in all four classrooms. That will allow us an opportunity to get to know our new Kindergarteners and for them to get to know all our Kindergarten teachers before we assign them to a permanent classroom. At the end of that first week of school, families will receive an email indicating who their child’s teachers will be for the rest of the school year.

Where should we go for Meet the Teacher?

Kindergarten families should visit the Lower School campus during one of our three Meet the Teacher windows like the rest of our families. Because Kindergarteners will not have been assigned to a particular classroom by the time of Meet the Teacher, families should visit all four of our Kindergarten classrooms during Meet the Teacher so they will have a chance to meet all the teachers they will be spending time with during “Kindergarten Academy” and to drop off their supplies.

What about carline placards?

We will have placards with your child’s name and carline number available for pickup at Meet the Teacher for you to use the first few days of school. After our Kindergarteners have been assigned a permanent classroom, we will send home new placards including their section.

Will students have lunch during Kindergarten Academy?

Yes! While Kindergarteners will be released at the earlier time of 1:30pm on the first two days of school, they will still have a lunch time before dismissal. Be sure to pack a lunch or add money to their school lunch account beforehand. Visit greatheartsirving.org/breakfastandlunch for details on our meal program and student accounts.

Should Kindergarten students bring a change of clothes to school?

While the basic expectation is that all incoming Kindergarteners will be fully potty-trained, occasionally accidents do happen. We strongly recommend that all Kindergarteners come to school all year long with an extra pair of underwear, socks, and uniform in their backpack just in case.

For additional questions about Kindergarten at Great Hearts Irving, please reach out to Mary.Pantin@greatheartsirving.org.