We've been back in school for a week. During the first week parents are allowed past the drop-off gates and they can be seen walking their child to the cafeteria for breakfast or to their classroom. Our campus is rather spread out and it can be confusing for a new student. For those students who have been here in previous years it's not so hard.
Last Friday was our Boo-Hoo Tea.
This is a formal acknowledgement that it's time to let go and let the child come on campus by themselves and make it to the room solo. Boo-Hoo because parents are sad and may shed some tears and Boo-Hoo because it is a rite every kindergarten student has to face. They can do it on their own. Mommy is NOT going to come and take them home. Come Monday.....it's called Independence Day.
The staff who man the gates will not let parents through the gate. IF they need to come on campus they have to go around to the front of the campus and come in through the office. This year they have installed a new security feature where adults have their driver license swiped. This will check the database of people who should not be on campus because of divorce agreements or a noted child molesters. Their picture is taken and the reason they need to be on campus is punched into the machine.
Once school starts all of the gates are locked and no one can get on campus without going through the front office as the front entrance now sports gates and doors that only open outward for fire drills. We are very secure this year. I don't know if there has been a problem, but I'm sure it cost a LOT of money and not every school seems to have it yet.
Independence Day is tomorrow and I'm pretty sure those on gate duty will have to turn away some determined parents. I'm glad that is not my AM duty. I just have to get ready for the closed-circuit morning news program and be available to help teachers in the library. No tears for me!
One of my alter idenities when I'm incognito.
3 comments:
Boo Hoo.... My mom's going off to school by herself this week. I'll be thinkin' of you!!! Hope you find your room OK
It is hard to let your little kid go off into the unknown, but it gives kids independence and a feeling that they can do it themselves.
PS. Become a volunteer and you can get into school easier!
EVERYONE has to go through the office. If you've already been 'swiped' then you will get a badge, but you still have to tromp through the office.There is no other way in.
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