Full Day-K FAQs

The last few years we have engaged in collective inquiry to reimagine early learning for our youngest students. We developed a shared vision for kindergarten as a dynamic, student-centered learning environment where students become highly engaged in their own learning through collaborative inquiry, problem-solving, reflecting, making meaningful connections and real-world applications across subject areas. A full day program provides our youngest learners the time to master foundation skills critical for future success as well as ensures we have the time to achieve the vision of creating rich, student-centered, positive, and engaging early school experiences that nurture our students’ curiosity and wonder as they embark on their Lower Merion K-12 learning journey.

Universal Full-Day Kindergarten is an opportunity for students to experience the existing rigorous & engaging LMSD Kindergarten curriculum that comprises our current half day program and greater opportunities for engagement, inquiry, extension, and differentiation as well as social emotional learning and play-based learning.

Purposeful Play is a term that refers to play-based learning or playful learning that involves teachers setting up playful experiences that are intentionally designed to support a specific learning target. Learning targets align with state Kindergarten standards and social emotional learning goals for students. Play is in support of, not instead of, standards-based learning. Science learning will be integrated into purposeful play in our full day program

Throughout preparation work, the Full Day K Planning Team explored exemplar programs both local and national, researched models and considered our own vision for what Purposeful Play means for LMSD. This common definition will be used to help our teams align our practices with a common vision for integrating play as a meaningful part of learning. The LMSD Definition is below:

Purposeful Play is teacher facilitated intentional experiences for student autonomy, choice, curiosity, self-direction, and enjoyment. Students make playful and meaningful personal discoveries as they authentically connect with content, make real world connections, and progress toward standards-aligned academic, behavioral, and social emotional learning goals.

A sample schedule is below, but order sequence will vary depending on actual school schedules.

Sample Schedule

• Arrival, Check-In & Morning Work
• Morning Meeting /Calendar
• Fine Motor Skill Stations
• Humanities (English Language Arts/Literacy/Social Studies)
• WIN Time (What I Need)
• Lunch/Recess
• Math
• Specials
• Play-Based Learning (Embedded Science Instruction)
• Physical Activity (PA Time)
• Pack up for 3:45 dismissal

The kindergarten program is aligned with the standards for kindergarten. Students will build early literacy and math skills, enjoy expanded opportunities for science, social studies, physical education, art, music, library, and STEM, as well as enjoy play as a mode and expression of learning. Our full day experience for students will provide a fun engaging experience designed to foster a lifelong love of learning.

The goal of the elementary curriculum program is to provide instruction, resources, and experiences that are relevant, engaging, aligned to PA Core Standards and include transformative experiences that support students’ present and future success. For more information about our academic program please see the District website.

In addition to academics, our District focuses on social emotional learning through integration of Responsive Classroom Morning Meetings, the Second Step Guidance curriculum, Habits of Mind, and practices aligned with Restorative Practices. For more information about our school counseling program, see the school counseling page on the website.

After you register, your contact information will be used to send you important school and District notices through School Messenger. In some cases, families will need to check spam filters to make sure they are accepting and receiving school communications.

After registration, it is important to make sure you have submitted the required documents related to state health requirements and immunizations. Students must meet the School Vaccination Requirements for Attendance in Pennsylvania Schools. More detailed information about PA immunization law can be found here. We encourage you to contact your health care provider or the School Nurse if you have questions about your child’s immunizations. Your prompt cooperation is required if you receive a notification regarding missing immunizations to avoid your child’s exclusion from school.

See this helpful back-to-school checklist to assist you in getting ready for the school year.

There will be scheduled times for students to see their new schools. Kindergarten Orientation will be a spring opportunity for students. You will receive communications about your neighborhood school’s dates and times from your child’s home school principal.

In August, there are also Sneak Peeks in each of the schools that allows students to come see their classrooms before the first day of school. Summer 2024 Sneak Peaks will be on August 29th.

Registration for school takes place through the summer and bus routes will not be finalized until the end of the summer. You can expect to receive bus information the last week of August. Bus information is disseminated through the Parent Portal. You will receive instructions on how to set up your account.

See the District Transportation page for information on rules in place to keep all students safe on the bus.

See the Bus Safety video used to help ensure students have opportunity to learn safety expectations for riding the bus.

Families should be at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. Students should wait for the bus back away from the street and should not approach the bus until the doors open.

Kindergarten students receive special attention as our youngest bus riders. On the return home, kindergarten students must be met at the bus stop by a parent or guardian or older sibling. Unaccompanied students will remain on the bus and be returned to school if a parent can not be contacted. Families should develop a plan “B” in case you can not get to the bus stop in time.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to introduce yourself to your child’s driver and establish lines of communication.

Bus information (stop location and time) will be available the week before school starts via Power School.

Registration for school takes place through the end of the summer. You can expect to receive class placement information the last week of August.

Yes. Parents/guardians who wish to drive their child to school may do so, but should read carefully the dropoff and pickup procedures for each school as they will vary. It is important to follow the procedures described to ensure safety for students and staff. Your school principal will include that information in back to school information. Reach out to your home school with specific questions about arrival and drop off procedures.

Children begin school at various degrees of readiness, skills, and prior experience. Our instructional programs and practices are designed to meet the wide range of skill development that is normal in young students as they develop at their own varied paces.

There is not a required degree of readiness for students who are eligible for kindergarten. While parents do not need to do anything specific to prepare their children for kindergarten, there is a resource on the District Kindergarten page for parents interested in practicing skills to prepare.

There are no readiness criteria for entrance to kindergarten. Any child who meets the age criteria for kindergarten and has not already completed a kindergarten program elsewhere will be admitted to the program. During kindergarten orientation sessions, informal observations will help instructional teams get to know your child, but there is nothing you need to do to prepare.

Early learning instruction includes a balance of active and restful activities. Teachers create peaceful routines that support predictability and calm as well as movement breaks, center activities and individual and group time that keep students engaged. Teachers design the day’s activities to meet the needs of young learners as well as to be flexible as they assess the needs of learners in the moment. Students will also have brain breaks and a physical activity period in addition to a recess period.

Make sure you have submitted the required documents related to required state health requirements and immunizations. Students must meet the School Vaccination Requirements for Attendance in Pennsylvania Schools.

More detailed information about PA immunization law can be found here. We encourage you to contact your health care provider or the School Nurse if you have questions about your child’s immunizations. Your prompt cooperation is required if you receive a notification regarding missing immunizations to avoid your child’s exclusion from school.

If your child has specific health needs or medication needs, see the District health page for additional information about supportin medications and health concerns.

It is important to communicate with the school health office of your child’s school to make sure information about your child’s health is shared before the start of the school year.

Kindergarten students will be able to buy lunch. However, many bring lunch, especially at the beginning of the school year. See the Nutritional Services page for more information.

The District uses a computerized debit account system called My School Account. Families interested in having students purchase lunch should create an account and add funds for students to use for lunch purchases.

There is a program that provides free or reduced pricing on meals. Families apply through forms on our website linked here.

Yes. Your child(ren) may qualify for free or reduced price meals. The reduced price is $.40 for lunch. Additionally, other District fees may be waived or reduced if, when you apply for free/reduced meal eligibility, you also sign a waiver to share your eligibility with other Departments. See the Nutritional Services information about how to apply for free and reduced priced meals.

The District calendar on the website will have updated District events. Each school page has a calendar tab with dates unique to the school.

The Board-approved holidays calendar is on the District calendar page and linked here.

Some important dates for incoming kindergarten families are below:

• June 25: Pre-K SPIES summer program begins
• Late August: Homeroom assignments will be posted
• August 29: Classroom Sneak Peeks
• September 12: Back -to-School Night